making post op the easiest it can be

Ok bandsters. I am looking for any tips, tricks and I wish I knew then what I know now's for how to make post op as easy as possible.  I have 5 kiddos and a not to helpful spouse and need to do this right as to keep everyone from being totally miserable. I know I have seen lists somewhere of things people said were great to have on hand after, but I cant seem to find it. Anyone have great advice for one trying to cross into bandland with grace and maybe even her chin up??

Is your kids at the point that you dont need to pick them up or carry them ? If not then I would really suggest you get somebody to help you out for at least six weeks if your hubby wont help to much.  It's really important the first six weeks not to lift anything over 10 pounds so you can heal.  Your port will be stitched onto your stomach muscles and it wouldn't take much lifting to maybe pull them stitches. 


The first week I took alot of naps in my recliner and you will sleep the first couple of days . I had trouble getting in and out bed the first three days . And I am a tummy sleeper and I was scared that I would turn over lol.

If you do sleep in bed put a pillow by your side and that will help remind you not to turn over .  I think it was about 7 days out for me and I was back to sleeping on my stomach again :o)

Alot of people use heating pads. I went and bought one and never once used it. I use it now for monthly cramps that thing comes in so handy for that lol.   I was lucky I never did have gas, or any kind of pain from my surgery and hopefully you will be like that also :o)

They will give you some pain meds I took them for one day , the only really pain I felt was my upper stomach felt like I did a million and one sit ups .  Other then that I had no gas pain, incision pain or anything .  If you take them pain meds they will make you very sleepy so make sure you have somebody to watch the kids if you take them :o)   Also no driving if you take the meds. If you need to take the meds take them they are there to help you with the pain if you have any.

I dont know the age of your kiddos but if they are old enough I would tell them your tummy hurts or even show them the incision (if they are old enough to understand) that way they know not to jump on you if they get into bed with you , or if you are laying down .  That would hurt really bad if a little one did a running jump you on you .  Same thing with fur babies.  I got two pups that love to sleep with me and lay on my stomach in the lazy boy. Make sure you keep a pillow over your tummy so when they do the doggie flop to lay down it dont hurt you .


I would make some premade meals ahead of time at least for the first three days so you dont have to worry about making meals if your hubby dont help out in that area.  Or keep some easier foods for the kids.  My son is 16 so he could fend for himself but I kept like frozen nuggets, noodles, soups and cold cuts for his meals or his dad would cook dinner for them .

Most important follow the post op diet to a T if it says dont eat mushy for three weeks then dont eat them.  What I did is if it was like three days or so before I could make the transition over to a stage I would call my doctor and see if it was okay before I did it . 

It's so important to follow those guidelines because if you dont you could end up doing damage to your band or to yourself .  

Dont worry about losing weight the first six weeks in fact you might gain weight during this time. I gained almost 7 pounds from week three to week six . So dont freak if that happens .  This is a time to heal not worry about losing weight . :o)

No exercise the first six weeks unless you are walking .

I think what saved me so much was when I was wheeled back to my room I was up and walking 15 min after I got there. I never stopped from 3 pm to 7 pm that night.  I went home that night also even though my surgery wasn't till almost 1 in the afternoon.  Walk walk and walk even when you get tired of walking and you will need to do this at home also .  It helps healing and gets the gas out of you .  I really swear that is what helped me so much and the reason why I had no surgical pain .  I never stopped walking . I would rest then walk.

Good luck with your surgery if I can think of anything else I will add it .

Oh yes one more thing make sure you are stocked up for a good three or four days .  Soups (broth) , SF jello, SF pudding, your protein drinks,  that is what you will live on the first week maybe two weeks that is what I had to do.

Thanks for the tips, I am getting banded tomorrow, I went shopping last night and stocked up so that i eat correctly when i get home.  I do have a doggy that likes to sit on my lap - and I never thought about him and me after i get home from the hospital.  And good to know about the walking walking walking...

Why won't the husband help you? And why do you allow that???

Steelerfan said it all LOL. I have nothing to add except I REALLY do agree with getting another
helping hand or a heart to heart with hubby. Only you know what will work better but good luck with it all! 5 kiddos  Whew. Makes me tired just imagining..hehheh.  My youngest is almost 18 yrs old.

I have four kids 12,7,5 and 3 years old.  My husband helped me alot and so did my mother.  I was in alot of pain after my surgery, I also had a hiatal hernia repair.  I took the pain medication (lortab) ever 4 hours and used a heating pad.  I tried to rest alot and walk too... good luck to you....

My kids range from 13 to just turned 4. The 13 yr old says she will help, but that will remain to be seen. I know that things family wise are going to be crazy since my middle children have special needs and life on a daily basis is crazy and it seems that any time mommy is down even for a day everything goes to the dark side. My mom may come to help with things like laundry and making sure the kids get bathed properly and little ones get buckled in on the school bus so that will be a great help. I would love to know things for your own personal comfort though. If everything around me is going to be stressful (and this is something that I already know and have accepted since it always has been) I would just like to make the rest of it as dare I say positive as possible. I know that there are going to be things inherent to having surgery that make the day less than sunshine and rainbows but I am the kind of person who will plan things to the T and hope that it makes things even 50%better than they would have been without the extra effort. Outside of the heating pad and gas x, does anyone have any "oh this worked great for me" or "man I wish I would have had ..." wisdom to pass on? 

(For the poster who asked why my spouse doesnt help and why I allow it.... he is in the military and not often able to be home. When he is home he is not well versed in our home and children to be productive enough to be helpful but instead he is like a preschooler that needs a hand held and be walked through how things are done here. I understand that a lot of husbands arent like this or wives "crack the whip" to change them... I prefer he do his job and do it well and when he is home he play with the children and make the most of that time with them. )

He has my respect for being in the military and serving his country, but it is very unfair to you that you would have to take on most of the responsibility rather than him being a man and taking care of his family as he should.

I'll leave it at that though. Best of luck with your recovery!

A heating pad or ho****er bottle can help with the left shoulder pain, if you have it. Walking is the best to help get rid of the gas, but that left shoulder pain can be a real pain. So, if you do experience it, place a ho****er bottle under your ribcage (don't make it too hot!)    It can help relax the diaphragm at least a little bit and give some relief.


Good luck to you.