Questions..surgery date is 7/11/07

Okay so I have not posted much on here at all, BUT I do sit back and read everyone else's posts...soooo much information.  Thank you.  I do have a question.  I have never had surgery of any sort...so my question is does it hurt bad??I am having the laparoscopic of course..so I have heard it is easier..but am a bit worried because I havent had surgery...kinda scary.  Someone please reassure me:)

We all respond differently.  For me, I had lap band surgery and felt fine for the first couple of days then the gas pain**** -- from the gas they pumped into me for the surgery.  Ouch!  Nothing could touch the pain, either. Let me put it to you this way, I've had dental pain far worse than my lap band surgery and recovery. Again, we all have our own experiences so what I felt may not be what you feel. Lori

Hi Chrissy, First to let you know that there will be some pain but don't panic.  I too had my surgery with Dr. Umbach here in Eugene.  I remember waking up in the recovery room with a nurse right next to me talking to me.  She was asking me how my pain was and I remember telling her that I hurt sooo bad, but the funny thing is that now I don't even remember how much pain I was in.  The anestesia (sp?) is so strong that you are pretty loopy.  Even though I was so loopy the nurse was right there to give me pain medicine through my IV and I felt much better (I think :).  You will be hooked up to a pain pump that you can control for most of the time you are in the hospital so you will be able to control how much meds you get (to an extent, you can not overdose).  The nurses and Dr.'s are always asking what your pain level is while you are there so it WILL be managed.  I was not in much pain through the whole process.  I heard from a doctor recently (at a support group, I think) that your insides have very little if any sensory organs so there will be virtually no pain from the restructuring of you insides the only pain will be from the incisions and they are very small. The one word of advice I have for you to manage your pain when you go home is to get the Dr. to write your pain med prescription either prior to surgery or the day before you leave the hospital so that you have your meds when you get home.  My meds were liquid vicodin (which not all pharmacy's have) and it took my husband a couple of hours to get it filled and I was home with the 8 month old baby!!!!  It wasn't pleasant but it wasn't excrutiating (sp?) either. Good luck and congratulations!  Your life will never be the same! (in a good way of course) Tara ps.. sorry for all the spelling  mistakes!

For me there wasn't alot of pain, I was just extremely tired, and the nurses want you to get up and walk.  The worst pain I had was in my arm and shoulder a few days after surgery, but I didn't need to take anything, it was just uncomfortable.    Just take it easy and do what they say.  You'll be fine

The good thing about pain (I know, that sounds weird), is that we quickly forget it.  As my orthopedist says, we wouldn't be walking if we remembered how much it hurt when we fell after the first time we tried to stand up!! I'm sure you will have some level of discomfort, but they will give you medication for it and make you comfortable.  I haven't had my RNY yet, but I've had lots of surgery.  About the only painful thing I remember is a kidney stone.  It didn't require surgery, but I'd rather go through a hysterectomy again instead of that!! Linda

Hi there, everyone's experience is different, but I lucked out and didn't have much pain at all. I had some discomfort, but it was very manageable. You will be given a pain pump at the hospital, which helps, and you will be sleeping a lot.

Thanks for the replies!  Less than 24 hrs to go, I think waiting is the hardest.  I wish the surgery was done and over with so I wouldnt have to wait anymore.  I appreciate the responses very much.  I will try and attend the support meetings here locally but its kind of hard without a babysitter and my hubby is always gone to work.  Good luck to all of you! thanks

hi again, well I had surgery the 11th was out of the hospital on Friday the 13th.  I was up and out of bed within 2 hrs of getting back to my room from recovery...really no pain was up and walking laps quickly.  I havent had any kind of pain medication since Thursday the 12th. The only icky kind of thing that happened is Dr Umbach encountered something wierd in surgery, my pancreas was attached to my stomach where he needed to cut...so they had to detach that first..therefore I have a drain until the 24th..yuck!!!  he said he has seen them stuck before but mine was completely on my stomach..ewww!  Everything is going great..feeling good..and hope to meet some of you at the next support meeting...which is when????!!  Thanks so much for the help you have given me to this point...this site is great!! Christina

Christina, So glad that things went well.  I am glad that there was little pain for you.  Sorry to hear about your pancreas issue. The support groups are always the 4th Tuesday of each month at 5:30.  If Karlyn has your email she will send you a reminder.  There is usually something on here as well.  I think that Kathy is supposed to talk at this one and Ive heard that she is very good.  I am looking forward to it also. Tara