Questions

Best regards to all.  I'm approximately 2/3's way through 3 month Aetna required program. I have 1 more physician visit and 1 more psych visit to complete the pre-surgical program. 
  I was just wondering as I was catching up on reading the board, was the pain following RNY surgery intense/severe or moderate?  Did the pain last very long or was it short lived?
  What has been the hardest part of the entire journey for you?
  How long does it take to return to work after surgery?  Thanks.

Hi William...

  Good to see you again...  Congrats on rounding in to the last stretch. 

  You will be kept as comfortable as possible.  Unfortunately they cannot take all of the pain away.  Most people experience soreness at the operative sites if your having it laparoscopic.  Now I don't know about the open procedure.  Usually as soon as you are able to tolerate liquids, they change your pain medication to a liquid medication.  But by all means tell the nurse if you are experiencing any pain.  But you are gonna do great......

  Most that I read or hear about generally people return to work 2 weeks after surgery.  But that doesn't go for everyone.  If you have open procedure it could be longer than that.

Hi William, I know everyone is different but for me I think the flu was worst then the recovery. I can't remember any significant pain other then the anesthesia gas working it self out. Now I did get short changed on the Morphine right out of surgery which was painful but after that and at home no problems. Good luck glad to have you aboard. C'ya Bob

I agree with Bob - it wasn't bad at all for me.  It did take a few weeks to get my energy back up to a fair level, though.  I returned to work for 1/2 days after about 2 weeks and full time at 3 weeks.

We are all different and it takes others longer to recuperate  sometimes.  But I have had bronchitis that set me back worse than the WLS surgery did!

Hi William, you'll be put on a pain pump while in the hospital so if you are in pain, you can push the button and receive an extra dose from the pump.  I couldn't be put on morphine but was on hydromorphone (Dilauda), no pain what-so-ever.  You'll be given some when you come home. For open surgery that takes about 6 weeks before you can return to work, and no lifting what-so-ever. For Laproscopic, after about 2-3 weeks.  You'll do fine.  Trust the post-ops on that one.

May God be traveling with you on the rest of your journey, Kathy

I had some pain in the hospital but very little after I came home.  M worst part of nausea for 48 hours after I got home.  Don't know what caused that.  I was tired for a very long time after surgery, but I also have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia so I'm sure that's why I'm been so tired.

One thing I do that I would recommend is that I wrote down everything I ate and drank (still do 2 months out).  It is hard to get in all your protein and fluids.  It is something I have to think about all day.  I'm sure as I get further out it will become second nature to me but so far I still need the crutch of pen and paper.

Good luck and know that the board is always here for you.

B

I didn't have any significant pain.  I was sore but not in pain.  As a matter of fact, the morning after my surgery, I was getting queezy from the pain pump so my surgeon put me on pain pills!  Yes...that's right...I swallowed pills the day after surgery.  No problem.  And unless my memory fails me...I woke up perky and ready to get out of the bed and walk around!

You will do great!  Don't worry about pain...just get up and walk out the gas from the surgery.

Good luck!!
Freddie

Congrats on sticking to the plan! 

As far as pain goes, the worst part for me was at 2-3 weeks out.  It seems I felt a little ambitious and went for a mile walk at the park.  I felt good and pushed the envelope and payed for it the next day.  My left side had a sharp pain that would not stop.  After talking with my Doc, I found out this was the deep incision where the stapler went.  I had actually pulled the stitch.  It was better by the end of the week and have never had any other pain!  I feel blessed that it was short lived.