How long to recover?

Good evening, i was just wondering after surgery, how many days does it takes to do stuff on your own, like making breakfast for kids, walking and getting up without dificulty , does it take more than a week? 2 weeks? and how painfull is the whole thing after surgery ?

Hi Victor, I was doing a lot for myself right after I got home. Bendinig was tough for about a week or 2 and I wasn't able to pick up my 25lb daughter for about 2 weeks. As for cooking, because food just wast very appealing, I had to remind myself that I had 3 other mouths to feed in the house and I had to cook for them. What was helpful, was that my mother in law and a good friend made a few dinners for me so all I had to do was heat them up for Jack and the kids. About walking, well Dr Aranow insists on all his patients to get up and walk walk walk pretty much right after surgery, so I was walking a mile a day from the 2nd day after surgery. Getting up out of a chair and out of bed was probably the biggest challenge. The 1st couple of nights home, I slept in the easy chair. Some people rent the chairs that help you get up until things get better, but for me that discomfort only lasted for a few days and I managed without it. The worst pain I dealt with was the 1st day after surgery. I won't lie, it was pretty bad. But! It got remarkably better each day and I was off all pain meds after the 2nd week. That was my experience anyway. Terri

I was driving the day after I came home. I cooked dinner for everyone at home. Di get annoying after a while, but food did come back into my life so it was annoying for only a short time. Walking.... you better be doing it the day you get home, and continue for a little while at least. 30 or 40 years should work out pretty good. I had put my couch up on blocks (I'm vertically challenged in the opposite direction) and had no problem getting on or off the couch. I had little to no pain. One key word....BINDER!!!!!!! (Ladies...sure sounds like a male, huh )

I was able to do some things fairly quickly, but did not really start feeling like myself for a couple of weeks. I didn't use my morphine pump more than twice on the first day and had them take it away after that. In my opinion, the more you walk, the less pain you have. Maggie

Victor, I walked about 1 mile the second day I was home. Of course they make you walk in the hiospital, but I felt very board in the hospital. I could not concentrate to read and so when I got home I wanted to get outside. Even though it was Feb. it was still cool but not freezing cold. I made lots of meals for my family before surgery so I took 1 serving out of the freezer every day for my husband. I was able to get up and do my own shakes and get my crystal lite myself. Besides you are so focused on yourself that you need to keep track of what you are doing-not someone else. Good luck!! Elaine

A lot of it depends if you have open or lap.... I had Lap RNY & hernia repair and felt good as soon as the morphine stopped. I was up and walking around, getting up and down with minor discomfort before I left the hospital. On my way home I went to Wal-mart and walked around and did some shopping (45 mins); stopped by work to fill out some paperwork and did a couple other errands. The entire time I was off work "recovering" I got my daughter up and ready for daycare/nursery school w/ no problem (I had someone drive her for me). The most uncomfortable thing for me wa****ting bumps in the car, then the staples were irritating the second week..... If I didn't know better, I would not have though I had major surgery!!! Carmen