open RNY

Have any of you recently had open RNY? My surgery is scheduled for Friday June 10th and I am wanting some insight into the pain factor! Thanks!!

Tomorrow will be 5 weeks out for me and I didn't take any pain meds after the 2nd day. It is in a place on your body where everything moves it, so there is discomfort, but not real PAIN in that sense. But don't be a hero (my surgeon told me that, LOL) if you need the pain meds, take them. And they're good!!!

That is good to hear. That makes me feel better! I hope to do as well as you have! Thanks for replying!

Stacy I had my open RNY on May 13th..they had the machine hooked up for pain where you can just hit the button to give you the pain med. I used it for 2 days, then when I got home I only took the pain med for 1 day, the pain wasn't unbearable, and I felt I needed to clear my head from the medication. But everybody is different, if you feel you need it..use it!! i'm going on almost 4 weeks out and I am really startin to feel much better! My doc is lettin me go back to work for light duty only this Wensday...I'm ready to get back to some kind of routine. Good luck with your surgery, hope it is an uneventful one! Kim B.

That's so good to hear. Thank you for replying. I feel more at ease and hope that my surgery is as uneventful as yours.

Hey Stacy, Nice to see a fellow Dallasite on the board. Well I had Open RNY on Thursday May26th. Let me tell you that everyone is so very different in terms of the pain they may or may not have, and in terms of what they can tolerate etc. I will tell you that I had absolutely 0 pain if you can believe that. I really didnt use my PCA pump , because I never really felt any different after I squeezed the button. The most pain that I experienced was getting my IV and having some IV tape removed. I was given Hydracodone for pain, but I only wanted it to go to sleep. I expected to be in so much pain after having open. But thank the lord I didn't. I only experienced what I would term slight soreness as if I had done too many crunches. And for that they gave me muscle relaxers. If I could give you any advice it would be to get up and walk. I walked about 3-4 hours out of surgery and I walked 8-9 times a day in the hospital. The latter I think along with prayer were key in maintaining my level of comfort. I hope this helps. ~Morgan

Wow, that is great to hear. I hope I do as good as you did. Thanks for replying. That makes me feel better. See you on the losing side. Stacy

My husband had open RNY 10 months ago (I did mine lap a few weeks ago), he never took any pain meds when he got out of the hospital. He was climbing the walls a week after the surgery and still off the next week and went buggy. LOL! He returned to work 2 weeks after surgery and did just fine. Good luck to you! Your day is ALMOST here! Best wishes, Kathy lap RNY 5/20/2005~ 5'7.75"~276/244/224.5/160 (consult/preop/curr/goal) Hubby Rich open RNY 8/5/2004~ 6'5"~ 450/437/256/240

That is good to hear. I hope that I am the same way. Thanks for your reply! Stacy

Stacy, I had my open rny about 2 weeks ago.... now i can only speak for myself, but the pain is very managable. In fact, there isn't alot of actual incisional pain... if any. It's just a general feeling of discomfort, not real pain. I will say that the worst pains are gas pains from all the air that gets in your digestive tract... it will sound like a war going on! You might wanna have some chewable Gas-x ready, LOL! I would pick up some bottles Zero Carb Isopure (40 grams of clear protien, in a 20oz crystal lite type drink). You'll find it at GNC type stores, in their cooler. If you're on a liquid deit after surgery, this will greatly boost your protein levels & help speed your healing. Best of luck to you! Mike