Pillow talk to all preops

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know I had my surgery December 16 and I am doing great. I surprisingly had a painfree surgery. I still cannot believe it is over. I just wanted to let you know what helped me the most during the first week....find yourself a pillow that is not really thick and hold against your stomach when trying to move around or in the car on the way home. Your belly will thank you.

wow, thank you for that tip. Did you take your own pillow with you to the hospital? And did someone give you this tip? or did you discover this one on your own. thanks, I'm scheduled for 1/12/04, so this tip comes just in time.

Hi Lucy, I took my own pillow to the hospital to sleep with and did not discover the belly pillow until I was home. the ride from the hospital home was torture because my big ole belly kept sloshing around...so if you hold it in place it does not hurt at all. I think that is where the discomfort comes in...is your belly moving around. I also found I could sleep on my right side after the surgery but I could not sleep on my left side....must have done more work on the left side??? Still not sure of that...I can now sleep on my left side if I tuck the end of a pillow on my left side. The pillow is a great thing!

If you are having the open procedure and ask them at the hospital, I'm sure that they would supply you w/ one of these pillows. It is a great pillow, I had surgery for an ectopic pregnancy a few years back and they gave me one.

Did you all know you can buy a "Bari Bear" here on the web site? It's a Teddy Bear but it is also a firm pillow to hold on your tummy, for all the things Kathy mentioned and also for coughing. It works great -- I liked it much better than the pillow the hospital provided. Good luck to all you pre-ops! Ruth Open RNY 9/9/03 379/294/170

My ICU nurse made me a pillow from a hospital blanket...it was the best..every time i had to cough or laugh i'd hold it on my stomach...It really helped. My nurses that were with me right after surgery were the best..and YES the ride home was a doozy no matter how slow my husband drove..

HI Kathy- Did you have open or Lap? Thanks, Mea

Hi Mea, I had lap RNY and I simply have not had any pain. It is amazing how easy this was compared to how scared I was. I thought I would have a stroke before they wheeled me into the holding area for the anesthesiologist to do his thing. Its a wonder they did not send me home because my pulse rate was up to 108 and my blood pressure was up there too. I was terrified....but it has been a breeze!

Great tip, Kathy! I don't know what I'd do without my Bari Bear (my surgeon's nurse gave me one post surgery) and my pillow. Riding in the car or sitting on the couch would be a nightmare without them! =) --Tracy C