Lapband post-op Question

I remember the night after my surgery was awful.  I took my pain medication, but I was still in alot of pain.  I had a hiatal hernia repair also.  Everyday got better, I never experienced any gas pains just pain from the incision sight.  Good luck to you...

I forgot to say be sure to get a prescription for the liquid nausea medication as well.  I can't take pain medication without it.  Together they kept me feeling pretty good.  I had no little children to take care of and didn't have to go back to work, so I rested when I felt tired, walked, and sipped my liquids.  The advice to stock up on different liquds is good so that you don't get sick of one thing.  I drank a lot of chicken broth made from boiling chicken.  You can make it ahead and freeze it to use while you recuperate.

It has been a year, and we forget pain and discomfort, but I would say don't be afraid of it at all.  Also, if you can,  get the doctor to give you the pain meds and nausea precriptions.ahead of time and get them filled.  Not all pharmacies carry them.  They had them at the hospital pharmacy and that is the best place to get it filled before you leave home.  Have your support person, husband etc. do that for you.

Popsicles help a lot.

 Everyone is different.  Neither were difficult for me.  The surgery was a piece of cake. I walked home from the hospital and went out that night to the movies and to go shopping.  But, I might be the exception!

The second day was the first time I ever had shoulder pain from the gas. It only lasted a day, but the gas/bloatedness lasted a couple weeks. Definitely not as bad as when I had my hysterectomy! You'll survive easily!

My first 2-3 days were horrible...even with pain meds.  I felt like a truck hit me.  My pain level was through the roof to the point it even hurt to breath.  I kept ripping the sleep apnea mask off and I refused to wear it because all the air pressure breathing causing that much more pain.  I did oxygen only!  

I could not go to the bathroom myself.  I could not even get up myself - I had to have someone pull my arm to get me out of the bed or chair or wherever.  This is probably TMI but I'm saying it anyway.  My stomach was so sore, swollen, pissed off in side that I could not even reach down to friggin' wipe myself after going pee on days 1 and 2...I had to call my mom in the bathroom like I was 3 years old! Ugh!

I do believe that my weight had a lot to do with how much pain I was in and also the difficulities during surgery itself.  My surgery took several hours and much longer than it normally takes a band to be put in.  Not only was the size of my stomach a factor with them doing it laprascopically but also issues with my connective tissue.  I felt like my entire abdomen had been roto ruttered!  

I took pain meds for a ful week and the gas lasted about 3 days for me. I had surgery done on a friday and I did not go back to work for 11 days and I was still exhausted and tired. 

My band surgery was not easy for me at all.  However, 8 months later after dropping lots of weight, I had to have my gallbladder out - similar incisions to band surgery and moving things around in there.  I was much better off after my GB surgery than my band!  I had pain meds but not as much, I could go potty on my own hahaha and I took a week off work just because! 

Everyday is better....

Hello everyone,  Im gotting banded on March 2nd.... I will be looking for all your help.. On what to do and not to do..

Thanks  All

 I was told to walk in hospital to avoid the gas pain. Dumb me over walked. 19 laps in hospital. The next day a person that did not exercise prior paid the price. So definitely walk but don't over do. The body has to recover. A friend had surgery and went back to work a couple days later. Me- I was out a week but I was older than her. Not sorry I had it done. Good luck. 

thank you so much for sharing your expreiences :-)

I think the first week was really hard for me....more so than the first day...