Question???

I went in for my pre-test appointment yesterday and was told by the medical assistant that the first week following surgery is the worst...I am having a gastric sleeve surgery.  Can any body tell me about their experience following surgery... please and Thank you.

 She ain't lie.  First week sucks.  Second week sucks more.  Third week REALLY blows and then you start to turn the corner. 

You're sore, you're groggy - you have to walk when you don't want to and you can't eat.  You can't stay drugged up, but you can't move like you want to - you'll doubt yourself for having surgery, question if your doc ****** you up and curse the world for allowing fast food to thrive. 

and then.......

it gets a lil better! 

You are a mess...Ok, thanks for letting me know.  I will have to prepare my self for this.  Oh, Lord be merciful!!

I had lap RNY.  Recovery can vary widely by person.  I was prepared for the worst pain imaginable but in reality I had zero pain.  At first I kept hitting the med button waiting for pain to strike.  Then I relaxed overjoyed that I felt fine.  When I was released they discarded both morphine vials in my pain pump unused. 

My week went something like this: 

Mon
Surgery early morning
Walking early afternoon
Full liquids, jello, diet gingerale, water, broth etc
Unassisted laps around the hospital floor by nightfall

Tues
Swallowing 47 pills a day begining 18 hours after surgery (Yes, I am a medical mess with non wl related issues.)
Cleared for release 24 hrs post op; held until the 30th hour for observation, "just in case"... 
Shopping and gambling at gaming parlor on my way home from hospital
Spent night with a friend

Wed
Drove myself home
Ran errands
Rested
Full liquids
Home alone and doing fine

Thurs
No issues
Full liquids
Normal home activities and rest
Home alone and just fine

Friday
No issues
Started puree stage
Normal home activities and rest
Out dancing for Valentines Day dance

And so on and so on...

Most people will have more discomfort than I did; but, I am convinced that my daily exercise helped.  Its my totally unscientific opinion, but my abdominal muscles were strong and I did regular cardio.  I believe this lessened the pain and made walking immediately post op a breeze.  In a nutshell, be in the best physical shape you can be in for your procedure. 

Another unscientific opinion: I received medications for an unrelated condition during surgery as a precaution.  This may have reduced post op inflamation, swelling, etc and therefore lessened post op pain as well.   

No need for my pain perscription at home either but I had it on hand before I went in for surgery.  I hope your recovery is a breeze too. 

Wonderful, thanks for the information.  I hope that my recovery is a breeze like yours.  My friend compared it to having a c-section. I had one and I was up the very next day so hopfully this should be similar.  We will see.  Thanks again!

I had a lap band done as an outpatient procedure. The doc tried to convice me to stay overnight, but I figured I'm a nurse-my roommate at the time was a nurse's aide and all my friends were nurses. I got home and literally cried. I have a pretty high pain tolerance but I was caught off guard.

I got some pain meds on board and dragged my roommate out at midnight to walk the apt complex with me to help dispel the gas from the surgery. The gas pain was by far worse than the incisional pain.

Miraculously the next day, I was a little sore, found the wonders of gasx strips and started feeling better pain wise. The worse thing after that 1st day was being so thirsty and only being able to sip fluids. And just feeling plain ole tired.

I've had two other surgeries to compare to and breast reduction-the worse white hot pain I've ever imagined. LapBand-middle of the road, but tolerable pain. Having the port replaced for my band-twice as painful as the original surgery.

Anywho, enough about me-best of luck to you!

Thanks so much, I will be sure to keep what you have said in mind and hope for the best...

I think it depends on the person.

I had a great recovery. I didn't have to take pain meds after surgery. I was pretty mobile and did a alot of walking.

My only issues were the cravings. My docs program wouldn't let me eat anything until a month after surgery. It was Full liquids.

It wasn't that I was hungry. I just wanted to chew something.