Congrats to everyone

I just want to say congrats to everyone for having such courage! I'm having some issues in that area. I'm not afraid of dying but all the things no one mentions likes what the pain is REALLY like and how long the scars REALLY are. It makes me think of when someone asks if getting a tattoo hurt..no one ever says Duh- YeaH it hurt! Anything anyone is willing to input would be wonderful!!!! Thanks in advance and congrats again!

Rachel, Everyone's tolerance level for pain is different. My tolerance is on the high side. With that said. I have 6 approx 1/2 inch scars and very little pain. My last pain meds was 4 hours before leaving the hospital. Believe me, I wouldn't lie and I haven't forgotten. I have a full bottle of pain meds in the cabinet that have never been touched. Best wishes! Valerie

Hi Rachel! Well, as you know, everyone is different ... from pain tolerance to healing rate to health issues, etc. Now with the laparascopic RNY, there are only 4-6 very small incisions, approx. 1/2 inch long. of course, with the open style, it's a good sized length, exactly how long I don't know, as mine was done lap. Pain ... hahaha ...that's very individual, even for the same proceedure. The woman next to me was laying on the side where her drain still was and slept like a baby. My drain tube bugged the bleep out of me. She didn't fuss when her drain was removed ... but you'd have thought someone was manually removing my beating heart when my tube came out! The body type of my room mate was the opposite of mine and I think that had something to do with the disparity of our discomfort. Let me tell you ... once that tube was out, it has been a totally positive experience for me! Zero problems with compliance and proper intake. Anyway, Rachel, it's hard to say what some of these things are REALLY like. Much like your analogy of getting a tattoo, you could also stack up stories about labor and childbirth ... it's very individual! Darn! I didn't give a single satisfactory answer, did I? Just be cool , follow the pre and post op rules and see how the journey rolls out for you! Looking forward to your progress Sandi

Hi Rachel, I am extremely afraid of dying. I have much to much to live for. But anyway, there is a varying degree of pain. I like Val never used that stupid bottle of pain meds that I stopped and bought on my ride home from the hospital. I do remember that when they removed the drain prior to being discharged it felt like I got get kicked in the stomach by someone with a large shoe. Pain went away quickly. Scars heal differently for different people, but I can't even find mine anymore. Also, some people end up black and blue around the whole surgical area, and some don't even look like they have anything but holes. Good luck with your decision, Rob

Hi Rachel, I had one moment of pain when I first woke up due to the drain, after that, nothing. I used my pump in the hosp and like the others, never even touched my bottle of meds when I got home. I didn't even have pain when the drain was removed, just a really creepy feeling for about 2 seconds, then nothing. As far as scars go, I had what looked like 1/2 inch long ( if that even ) cat scratches. I had my surgery lap. I got a bruise on my lower left belly from the lovenox injections I received in the hosp, it looked bad but caused me no pain. Those injections like modern day insulin injections don't hurt at all with such tiny syringes. Oh and BTW, I have had a tattoo for over 20 years now and it didn't hurt either LOL All in all, I mainly had discomfort. Discomfort from the bed, that kind of thing. I spent most of my time in the chair with a pillow and that helped that alot. I have had 2 C- Sections, there is NO comparison..those were very painful for me with long recovery time. I was doing normal activity ( within reason ) as soon as I got home. The first day home I was tired and slept on and off, after that, it was more and more normal everyday. Linda Linda

Rachel, The last days before my surgery (7/27/04) I went back and forth in my head...yes or no, God, what do I do! I wanted to do it for myself first and my daughter second! It indeed was the best decision of my life; which is now a longer, happier life thanks to this surgery! BTW I have 6 tattoos, and I was in tears for every one of them! But the only reason I used any of my tylenol w/ codiene after coming home from the hospital was just to get some sleep--not for pain!! Good luck!! Sue

Hi Rachel, Honestly the Lap WLS surgery has minimal pain associated with it. I had a hernia operation about 4 yrs ago that was very painful, this was nothing in comparison. I too got the Tylenol with codene on the way home, but never took any. Oh I did have a urinary track infection about 5 weeks out. I took a spoonful to get some sleep. As soon as I told Brett, about the pain, he ordered lab work, then medication for that. I threw out the rest. Read my profile, Tina & I did have Dr. Godzilla, the Anesthesiologist from Hell. That was the worst part for me. Elissa

Hi Rachel One of the reasons that I had the surgery was that I did not want to die before my time. I was in pain all the time with my back, my hips and my knees. Now in my past, I had a tattoo on my ankle. (That did hurt and I was sedated) I also had a C Section after 30 hours of labor. (That really hurt. I wanted to get off the table, go outside and have a truck run me over to stop the pain. It hurt that bad.) Comparing these to gastric Bypass Surgery, I really didn't feel the pain. At the hospital I did use the pain meds available. I was uncomfortable due to the drain and that darn hospital bed. But not really in pain. Once the drain was removed, (that felt kind of weird) I was able to breathe deeply and once I got back home, I was able to rest comfortably in my bed. I never used the pain meds I picked up on my way home from the hospital. I am very happy that I had the surgery. I feel so much better. My back and my hips no longer hurt. My knees still bother me, but that is becasue I need to have knee replacement surgery, however my knees do not hurt me as much as before surgery when I was popping NSAIDS every few hours. The weight loss has helped remove the pain from my body. Hope this helps. ((Hugs)) Rose

Rachel, like everyone else says pain is relative to the individual. I am 6 days out and feeling great. Just tired of this liquid diet. My time in the hospital was spent constantly pushing that magic button(drugs), more to sleep than anything else. The nurses are constantly asking you to rate your pain level on a scale of 1 - 10 and mine was always the low end, 1. Stopped taking pain meds when I came home, but also stopped taking my Metformin, sugars have stabilized. Have yet to see my scars as they are covered by bandages for another 3 days. If you want this change you can deal with just about anything. Walking for an hour on the treadmill everyday. The only discomfort I have had is in the lack of diversity on my liquid diet. I will never drink chicken broth again!!!!