Delicate Subject...Still Gonna Ask

OK All, here's one for all of you that are post op and are willing to confide.

I have recently seen a video on YouTube that was a woman just 8 days out and mentioning the things that she discovered but had not been warned about.

She did it in a light hearted way, so I hope I can do the same.

#1  - Sleeping on your back is rough
#2 - Rolling out of bed because of the inability to sit up too easily from bit o' pain
and...here's the delicate part

#3 - How do you wipe your butt if you can't manuver well due to the bit o' pain?

So I hope that I communicated that delicately, however I am nonetheless curious because ... well...

I did not see the video, but my first guess is that she had her procedure done OPEN vs. laparoscopically (sp?).

If that is the case, I had my DS performed open and can respond as follows:

#1 - Not true. Sleeping on my back was not an issue. The only issue was more that I preferred my head to be a little elevated for comfort, and you cannot twist and turn the way you could before your incision. So, you do have to be careful.

#2 - If you're flat in bed, then yes, it can be tough to get out. However, during my stay at the U, they had a physical therapist work with me on the proper way to "log roll" to get in and out of bed. And they make you practice this many times while there, so you really know how to do that correctly when you get home. It was uncomfortable, but not unbearable.
Remember, you do go home on pain meds!

#3 - You use a bottom buddy (or a medical grade pair of tongs) quite frankly. This isn't so much from pain, but it is purely from the open incision standpoint. You can't be stretching and reaching around to wipe. I was lucky enough to have my DH wipe my ass for me quite frankly. And he did it with love and understanding. I did buy the tongs in the hospital and did use them as well. But in the first few days home, I loved having my DH there. Remember, this is a real physical and emotional ride, so the more support you can get from your loved one's, the better.  He was like my nurse, I guess.

So, again, I'd remind you that it's possible she had an open procedure and thus the above topics were discussed.

I've had WLS both lap and open.

#1 - Sleeping on your back is a damn lot easier than on your side or on your stomach. I usually sleep on my stomach and side and trying to sleep in a different position sucked. I tried to sleep on my side or stomach and it hurt like hell, especially after the open surgery.

#2 - after open surgery just moving hurt. I needed help getting out of bed because using the stomach muscles after open surgery is insanely painful. That's why you get pain meds.

#3 - I didn't have a problem with wiping my butt, either after lap or open surgery. Most likely you won't have a bowel movement right after surgery anyways especially after anesthesia and pain meds. I think this is a bigger problem the larger you are before surgery.

good luck!

I haven't had my RNY yet (this coming Wednesday) but I have been cut open from the breast bone to past my belly button.  Sleeping on my back at the hospital was not fun but OK since you are on pain meds.  After getting home I used the pillow propping method and it worked pretty good. 

As far as getting in and out of bed, I was taught to use my arms and to log roll.  The only problem I had was at home with our bed....I have to use a step stool to get in bed normally and that is the tricky part without stomach muscles believe it or not!!  I did sleep in the guest room for a couple of nights but then I was able to manage our own bed.

As far as wiping my butt...I have a very embarrassing story on that one.  I was put on Colace a day after surgery.  Well the colace REALLY worked one night and yep...I left a liquid trail all the way to the bathroom!!  It was a shower in the middle of the night kinda thing.  Otherwise I didn't really have a problem with the wiping but really never want to take colace again!!

The only thing I will add is one night in the middle of the night I woke up and I was drenched in blood.  Scared the bejeebers out of me....I called the nurse and when she came in I was standing and it was everywhere!!  The on call dr came in and pressure on my incision where I was bleeding and all I thought of was the move....Something about Mary...we have a bleeder!!!  So when I knew I was not going to die...lol  I told the dr what I was thinking about while he had his fist pushing on my incision.  We all laughed and all was well.  My surgeon was so nice when he came in the next morning and said if you ever have surgery again and this happens don't worry this does happen.

Sorry to have rambled on but now the world knows my last surgery story!!  I plan to have my husband home for a few days when I come home just in case I need help.

Donna

I had lap RNY and none of the things mentioned were an issue for me.

#1. yes.  That's why I slept in a recliner
#2. I was taught how to roll out of bed properly.  PT was part of my recovery in the hospital
#3. I had a nurse wipe me for the first couple of times and then at home I was fine to do it on my own

there is no question you can't ask here....

I had lap RNY-

#1 I had a hard time laying on my left side, no problem laying on my back....

#2 My stomach was sore like I had done 10,000 sit ups and  yest i was hard to sit up and get out of bed... as others mentioned you just sort of figure out how to "roll" up and out of bed...

#3 I was abdominally sore (10,000 sit ups again) and my incisions were a bit sore, but no real problem wiping... had to stretch a little more than was comfortable at times but no over stretch


You can feel free to communicate non delicately too.. I think we've all asked or answered questions pretty out right

Indelicately???  I spent so many years TRYING to learn how to be delicate. 
You don't want me to undo all that would you? 
LOL

Hi Teresa - it's nice if you put your type of surgery in the profile or in the question, so we know how to be helpful!
  I had lap RNY and no problems with any of the 3 things you mentioned.  My pain was minimal.

Thank you all for your replies.  I think I feel better about it now.  Will the questions ever stop coming!  I feel like such a pain in the batooty!

My sister suggested using a peri bottle like after having babies.  I thought that would be good too.

As far as what I am going to have done, I am asking for an RNY and most likely it will be lap.
I haven't put in my kind yet..should I?  I am still pre-op.  I have about 8 weeks left.