5 days post op and first full day home

My revision took 3.5 hours due to adhesion removal and a hiatial hernia repair. The pain was manageable but I was exhausted for the first 5 weeks or so but I don't recall the pain being bad.  But you are right - it is vastly different in every way.  Time will tell which kinda sucks, but that's all I got.

I had an extended tummy tuck with massive muscle repair and 3 hernias repaired 13 months post-op RNY and that was agony.  I don't use the word lightly.  10 days after that surgery I started dry heaving and developed an internal hernia which I had repaired with adhesion removal this past March.  I am only just recovering from that.  Both of those surgeries and the recovery time were extremely painful.  Morophine based pain meds and bed rest for over 9 months in total.  So I hear you! It's hard to get out of your head when you are suffering. 

Moving around the house - standing up - made me feel better in the early days post-op.  Put on some trash TV or loud music and turn your mind off.  Stay on top of sipping your water and taking your meds.  I really think we know deep down when something isn't right so if you feel that way then call the doc.  Hang in there - it is totally worth pushing through! 

I had a panni removal after I lost my weight with the band.  Removed 33 pounds of skin and repaired a hernia.  OMG the recovery from that was excruciating!  12 weeks before I left the house, and the swelling was still bad till 6 months.  I had 2 drains in for what seemed like forever, and I had 2 staples that were missed in the initial removal and I dealt with that odd pain and feeling for a month before they believed me enough to check for a mistake.  This is definitely me just whining because noting compares to that. 

Its funny, I gave birth to my first as emergency delivery, 8cm, cut WAY open and all without any drugs.  Plus the recovery of my panni removal was so bad.  Then when I was in the hospital a few days ago and they were asking for my pain levels I laid there, shaking, hyperventilating, tears coming out and I said "Six to seven".  The nurse said "I think you might be at a 9 or 10 baby.  Don't be modest."  I looked at her and said "I've seen 9 to 10.  This isn't it."  My husband laughed out loud and said "she's right".

I have figured a cycle to my pain.  I take my meds, I have 10 minutes for them to hit completely.  Then I have 45 minutes to do stuff.  I'm using this time to walk through the house, take the dogs outside in the back, prepare whatever I am going to drink for the next 2 hours, and just generally stay standing.  Then I start feeling like I'm hunching over and I head back to the bed.  I spend about 15 minutes in pain with stomach cramps, then I start drinking my liquids.  During this time the pain slowly gets worse and worse and I spiral down into a funk.  Then the timer goes off and I take more meds and the cycle starts again.  Now that I know the cycle will be easier to utilize and I might be able to be productive.

You are doing great! You went and are going through so much more than I did.  Stick with it and before you know it everything will be normal again. Xoxo!

Hi, AmyDee.  You will be doing so much better soon.  It really is hard on so many levels at first, and it sounds as if you are having some additional troubles. Extra pain, your mom, being away from your kids.  I believe it will get better.  I was so fatigued afterward.  The pain was not too bad for me, but it was definitely a hard time.  Try to keep your eye on the prize.  Do things to help the time pass while you heal.  Next week will be better, and the next, and the next.  

Just curious, how old are you?

38

I didn't have a revision so I can't speak to the pain level. I too have a high pain tolerance I didn't take pain meds once I left the hospital but loved the pain pump while I was there. I had my gallbladder taken out at the same time and was supposed to go home the next day. I ended up staying 3 days. I was surprised how depleted of energy I was and it lasted a good 4-5 weeks. I had and still have difficulty getting in 64oz of water. I noticed my energy and tiredness got better the more water I drank and the closer I got to my protein goals but it was definitely 4-5 weeks after surgery. You're only 5 days out and your body is telling you it wants you to rest. It's ok to take your pain meds and crawl back in bed and watch daytime TV. You might be doing too much. For the first time in my memory I had to force myself to eat. I just didn't have an appetite but knew I needed to. Concentrate on getting your fluids and as much protein as you can and rest, rest, rest. Everyone will tell you things will get better and about day 10 I knew everyone was lying to me. As soon as I got out of the liquid stage and into pureed foods it definitely got better. I'm 2 months out and finally starting to feel more myself. My taste buds have changed and I'm still figuring out what foods I can tolerate but it is definitely much better than that first week. Your body is still healing it's ok to let it. Good luck and keep posting. It definitely helped me get through the early stages.

The longest paragraph in your post is about the mom-nurse-monster, so guessing it's the most bothersome issue for you.  A friendly suggestion to paraphrase what you said you are feeling, "I really don't want you here," and ask her to leave.  If she doesn't go, let someone know she has arrived late, battled with you over coffee, ate Starbucks food in front of you instead of making your jello, and threw a dog on your stomach--maybe that person can get her to leave or take her place?  You would be just in not paying her for her time if she was charging you.  Good Luck.

The above reply before this one was meant tongue-in-cheek but no one challenged it!  What I really think is your post-op pain and misery is making you hyper-sensitive to your mother's presence and once you are feeling better, I'm thinking you may regret some of your comments about her.  Then again, maybe not. Either way, wishing you better days ahead :)

I'm about as far out as you, and I have what I call weak moments!  It has no specific time of day, but they do pass.  I think it's because I have no nutritional value going into my body. I can’t drink as much as they say either! I don’t even think I’m drinking half of it actually. I actually did feel hungry for the first time today though! I’ve cried many times through this process, mostly pre-op, but hang in there!!! This site is great!!!