Gotta hear good stuff...

Hello all, Since I'm pre-op, I probably made the biggest mistake and read posts on the complications board so now I'm freaking out a little bit. Those that are post-op, give me something. I know of 4 people that have had this surgery and are doing great, but now I'm getting nervous (3/23 is my big day). Let's hear it post-ops...is it worth it and exactly how bad is it?

Kevin, I am 8 days post-op and doing great. I had no complications and was out of the hospital and home in less than 48 hours. I did you one better prior to surgery and was reading the memorials page. It is good that you are informed on what the complications can be and what you can do to prevent them. There are the surgical ones, that are in God's hands (and your surgeon), and the post-op ones that you can assist on. The biggest thing you can do is get up and walk as often as possible. That and coughing up the garbage that starts to fill your lungs. In the hospital they gave me breathing treatments every few hours as a preventitive measure, but walk, walk, walk. Keep the blood circulating and it also keeps down fever. As far as how bad is it? When I awoke after surgery (my surgery ended around 6pm), my pain was in my upper abdomen, and a tightness in my chest. It was not intolerable, and felt like I had done a couple hundred sit-ups for the first time, and the muscles were sore from that. I had a self-medicating morphine drip, but only used it the first night, a little the next morning, and maybe twice the second night strickly to help me sleep because it made me very drowsy. Within 3 hours after surgery I was up and walking the halls (I was 478lbs). Once I got home, I only used two doses of my pain medication, again once each night just to get some sleep. My problem wasn't pain, but I hated being on my back to sleep and that is all I could do in the hospital and for the first several days at home. By the fourth day, I was able to go for a walk outside for a surprisingly long distance, maybe even longer than prior to surgery. I began to notice some improvements in my physical symptoms almost immediately. Every day gets much easier than the day before. Yesterday I walked over a mile with no lower back pain at all, much further than I could prior to surgery. Don't freak out about the possible complications, but use that knowledge to your advantage. You have to be determined to not let that happen to you if you can take control of the situation. If you don't feel like getting up and walking, do it anyway! You'll do fine. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Good luck! Chris S.

Well I have to say it's not bad at all I have Never had surgery before this and I feel great..I don't remember to much about the surgery day or the day after I had open .... I would do it all over ... I just can't wait to enjoy my new life and you will do great,,,I will be Praying for you on your day you can do it just think how much more you can do this Summer .... good luck,,, Shelly

Kevin I am also pre-op but I do know of people that have had this surgery and their all success stories....... Best of luck to you . janice 3 more days

Hi Kevin! I did the same thing you did AND read the memorial wall. I had myself completely unable to sleep for a couple days preop. I had my surgery on the 1st and while I am still in the middle of some complications (wound infection) I wanted to encourage you to fullfull your dream but keep your eyes WIDE open. You may or may not get a walk in the park. I know that the day I woke up I was wondering what the holy heck I had done to my body and thinking that I was nuts but that memory has faded for me. I am down 20 plus pounds at this point. Even with my complication, I continually remind myself that every single person I have personally talked to has not regretted surgery after the first month. I personally know 2 people who had some pretty significant complications and both assure me they would lay back down on the table tomorrow and go thru it all over again for the results/life they have now. Thats an amazing testimony if you ask me! Anyway, keep your eyes open, listen to your gut and Good Luck to you! Amy

Kevin, as I got the pregame jitters before my surgery last week, I did two things: I looked at the before and after pictures posted by other men who had this done. I didn't read their profiles, because you can't dwell on what can go wrong. Gotta stay positive. I did this for a week. I was amazed at the changes. I told myself "This can happen to me. It will! It MUST!" The other thing I did was a visualization: I closed my eyes and pictured myself on March 7, 2006, my one-year anniversary date. I pictured what I looked like, the clothes I wore, my clean bill of health from my PCP, the reaction of friends and family, the things I could do that I couldn't do pre-op, etc. I made it all as vivid as I could. Then, I visualized what I would be like if a year down the road if I DIDN'T have the surgery. That lasted about 10 seconds. I practically RAN into the OR last Monday! FYI, I'm six days out and I feel FAR better than I thought I would. Two things to remember: While nothing is a guarantee, statistics favor your complete recovery with minimal issues. Also, your surgeon isn't a novice. Put your body in your surgeon's hands and everything else in God's. You will be fine! Good luck.

Kevin, Not to side track here, but I'm on deck for 3/22 and, while I'm not nervous at this point, I am doing my best to keep it that way. I've done my homework and I'm ready for this surgery. I also checked the complications and memorials boards a few months ago...but I'm staying away from them right now. No need to psych myself out so close to the starting gate... Anyhow, I just wanted to say what a wonderful reply this is...it really puts things in perspective and what a visual! I'm a visual person and as I was reading your post, I was picturing what you wrote, only in relation to me...it makes me wish I could fast forward through this next week! It is really great advice and I am going to keep it in mind for the bumps in the road. Thank you again! Best of luck to you! Sheila

OOps...sorry Greg...was thinking about Kevin's situation and my fingers had a Freudian slip ...but the rest of my note still stands....thanks again

I am about 80 hours out of surgery and doing good, no major problems, just a little more pain than I was expecting. I spent the last few days of pre op feeling the morbid thoughts, and worrying about my boys being left motherless. I had to do a will and a power of attorney papers and such...This made me feel scared and aprehensive, but now I know I did the right thing and it will make a huge difference in my life. It did feel like I had done 200 crunches and my abs were really sore, it was not too bad. The pain drip helped alot with the pain and sleeping. My first day home has been hard just because of the whole trying to eat thing. I have slept alot on and off today, have not been able to get in any water though. The food makes me too full, so the water is just not a pleasent thought. I now I wanted the truth from post ops and not to make it sound so perfect, I wanted them to be honest and I hope that I have been. Good luck, I know that everything will go perfectly. My prayers are with you, Cassandra

Hello all again, Thanks for the words...they were exactly what I was looking for. I was more freaked than nervous yesterday (if that makes sense). I'm ready, just need to stay away from the bad stuff and just see the good possibilities. Gotta do this for me...gotta be here for my wife, son and baby that's on the way...bottom line. Thanks for all the comments! 3/23...just 10 days away!!