Open RNY post op pain???

Hello everyone, I am going to get approved on my external appeal and I want to know some more of what to expect with the post op pain? Thanks Angela

Hey Angela, I just had an open RNY 3 weeks ago. When I first woke up the pain was bad, I'm not going to lie to you. But I went back to sleep and when I woke up again it was better. I think that the meds hadn't taken effect yet. In 1 full day I was able to walk around. The sooner you get up the better off you are. I'm doing great now. Good luck and God bless you on your journey.

Thanks, Kim, I am more excited than scared...Of course, its premature, my ins has to deny me again and they have already said they would, then I hire an Obesity Lawyer, whom I have done talked with, and get approved thru the external appeal. So I am confident it will happen in a month or more, well more than a month I know, but at least its not the year I thought I was going to have to wait. Thanks and congrats on your surgery. Angela

Hi, I had my surgery on Nov.2. I had an epidural for pain and I didn't have any pain. I chose this over the morphine pump because I didn't want that drugged feeling. The epidural runs all the time so no pain. Good luck on your upcoming surgery.

Hi, June, I hadn't heard about epidurals. I will have to check that out when I have surgery. I don't like morphine, the one time I had it, it made it seem like it was hard for me to breath and I didn't like that. It didn't make me sleepy at all. With the epidural though, were u still able to get up and walk? I know walking is very important to recovering and I don't want to do anything that would make me not walk. I may have to check what other meds they have besides epidural and morphine. Thanks Angela

Angel, Kim was right in telling the pain was bad when you first wake up. But, I Know in my case I had enough meds to dull the pain. The day of the surgery I got up and went to the bathroom. The next morning being the clean freak that I am, I had an nursing assistant to sit a chair in the bathroom and I took a cup ana managed to wash my hair by pouring water and washing with the hand that didn't have an IV in it. I found the more I walked around the halls of the hospital the less sore I was. BUT,I was still sore. When i came home the 1st few days I walked several times a day just in the house. Then outside around the house and within 2 weeks I was up to 1 mile. I had surgery in 6-14-02. Now look at me go Diane

Hi Diane, thanks for your reply. I am expecting pain, but the result of me having this tool will be so worth it...I am a clean freak also, I can't stand to go a day without a or shower or washing my hair. I don't know what I will do, lol. Thanks Angela

By the time I left the hospital I was allowed to have a shower. But, not until the drain tube came out the last day.

Angela, I had no pain. I did have the morphine pump, but I used it to make me sleep. I was plenty sore and moving was very difficult, but the more you move, the better off you are, especially with the deep breathing to keep the pneumonia from occuring. It's not a piece of cake, but it is worth it in the long run. At first (about 3 months) I questioned, what have I done to myself - Oh how I wished I had never done this - but now. I'm glad I did.