And home

Hi everyone. I'm home in my comfy chair now.  Sill on pain meds and in some pretty considerable pain.  Hoping that goes away before I run out of pain meds.  Of course I hate they way they knock me out and make me so tired and useless feeling - just can't go without them yet.  How soon did any of you wean off them?  How soon were people really up and moving around a lot?  I am home and I only really get up to go to the bathroom...

Anyway, just wanted to update everyone.  Apparently the surgery went very well, all lap.  Definitely more pain than I was expecting tho.

Hi Jenn,

Good to hear you are home.  Remember, the pain meds provide a very useful purpose.  The more you rest, the fast you will heal.  And remember, everyone is different.  I ended up staying overnight with the lap band, while most went home the same day.  Each day will be better than the last.  Remember to drink your water, so you stay hydrated. 

Welcome to the other side!!!!

Congrats on a successful surgery!  I was told it takes at least 6 weeks to fully recover.  I was feeling blah the first week after surg, then the second I felt great and started doing more.  By week 3, I was over tired and realized I had to slow down.  I took a nap daily that week.  Week 4 was better (I didn't over do it.)  Now I'm feeling pretty good.  I think I stopped the pain meds the Saturday after my surg, or if I needed it, it was just to fall asleep.  You should take them as long as you need them.  There's no need to be in pain.  Rest, rest & more rest is the best thing to do.  Soon you'll forget about the pain.  Remember, you just had major surgery!  Give it lots of time to heal.  I'm sure everything will work out fine for you!!  Best of luck.

Lisa

Hi Jenn,

Welcome home! I'm so happy to hear all went well. I think I stopped the pain meds 3 days or so after returning home. You should take them as long as you need to. I remember feeling very good one day and not so good the next. Get as much rest as you need and soon this will all be behind you. Welcome to a healthier lifestyle. :)

Welcome home, Jenn.  I just want to say that if you still need your pain meds, then take them, and don't worry about it.  That's what they are there for.  And if you run out and find that you'd still like to take them, then call your doc for a refill.  I'm sure he/she will oblige.  I don't remember the time line, but I remember wishing I had something to help me get and stay asleep.  I was still having a little pain at that time, but it didn't seem like it was enough pain to warrant the percusset (sp?), so I called my doc, and he prescribed a very low dose of ambien for me.  Worked like a charm.  Also, if you're feeling weak, then rest.  Your body needs this time to rebuild up strength.  If, in a few days, you feel like you can take a walk, start with a very small one, maybe 5 minutes.  Just listen to your body, and you'll be fine.  Welcome to the loser's bench!

Hey Jenn!  So glad to hear you finally made it through your surgery !  Pain is completely normal but will get better every day!!!! 

Hi Jenn:

When I had my surgery the first week I used my pain meds religously.  Starting the second week I used them mostly at night so that I could get a good nights rest.  The pain was mostly when I got up from sitting or lying down.  That seemed to disappear at the end of the second week.  Now that it is week 3 for me, I seem to be able to do most anything but I do get tired if I pu****  I am planning on going back to work tomorrow so I will see how I feel after a day at work and also it is my bowling night.  I haven't done that yet either so it ought to be interesting.  I might be pushing it and if so I will not go back to work for the rest of the week.  Every day you will get better and better.  Just make sure to get your water and protein in.  It is really hard for some (including me) for the first week or two but it will happen.

Best of luck in your recovery!

Dianne

The nurses at the hospital explained to me that your body can either be in pain or heal but it can't do both at the same time.  So if you are vaguely uncomfortable, that's okay.  If you are feeling pain, you should medicate so your body can stop focusing all it's energy on coping with your pain and move on to the healing part.

So when I went Dr. Gens said some people don't even take the pain stuff for more than the first day or two after going home, if that, I realized it's kinda like having a male gynacologist.  He's sweet and caring and I know he knows what he's doing, but he ain't really been there so he doesn't really know.  I was on the stuff day and night the first week, just nights the second week, and after the second week I was able to sleep on just adult tylenol instead of the pain meds. 

Every day you take a step towards healing.  And even though everyone takes a step back now and then, your moving closer towards feeling "okay" and away from feeling "sucky/exhausted/in pain"  Take care of you, rest up, the great part will come.