Lap Band Surgery Monday!-Nervous :-|

I was just told last week that I wouls be having surgery on Monday! ahhh! I was excited because my insurance approved me over the phone in 3 days... they are paying 100%. How did I get so lucky? I've been so excited but I think that the nervousness is kicking in. How much pain will there be?? Will I be able to walk around? Kinda scared. Does anyone have an tips on speedy recovery?? Thanks! Jenny

Hi Jenny, Thats great news!! I don't know anything about the lap band procedure. I can I only tell you that I was in the hospital for 2 nights. I had a lap RNY. I did not expernice much pain at all. I think you will be fine. I woke up with oxygen on and a foley cath in. Also a PCA pump. (moraphine pump,so that when you push the the button that they give you it automatically pumps the moraphine into your veins,through your IV.) I got to my room the day of surgery around 1:00 or 2:00 pm. Slept most of the day and night. Next day I had the foley cath removed and I was up walking the halls alittle with help and of course using the bathroom. Got started on pain pills. Went home the next day. I hope someone who has had the lap band will respond to your post. I don't regret this surgery. I'm on the road to a healther and happier life.. You will be on that road soon too. Prayers, ~Jeanne -67 lbs PS: My tip for a speedy recovery would be: Walk and move around,and be sure to use your little "do dad" oxyimeter???can't remember what it's called,but you put it up to your mouth and suck in air and it helps expand your lungs and prevents pnenomonia and other "bad" things from happening. It will sit on your table and you won't want to bother with it,but please use it! Thats my two cents!! Keep us posted..

Congrats! Try not to get too worried. I have a very low pain tolerance. I was so well managed, both in the hospital and in the days after I got home. I found the overall experience so positive, that I was able to handle the physical challenge. You will too! You will be walking the first day. Maybe slow, they get you up and moving. In the early days, be good and gentle with yourself. Get plenty of rest, let yourself nap. I think one of the most important things is to get in your fluid!!!!!!!!!Water, water, water! Good luck! Patty

I agree with Patty M. You will be fine. I was so nervous to but believe me it was nothing compared to what I thought it would be like. I was up and around right after my surgery. I did not use any of the morphine drip. I did take the pain meds they perscribed through - it will keep you nice and loopy for the first couple of days - use this time to rest and get all that anesthesia out of your system. Your tummy will grumble and growl and you will have MAJOR gas for about 3 days. Then all of the sudden you will wake up and feel pretty good. You will want to get some things done around the house and sit at the dinner table with your family and make some calls. After a week it will be time to take off your bandages that look totally gross and - it's a miracle - you will uncover small pink healthy looking incesions and will think - Oh my gosh they look really good! Drink lots, and lots, and lots of fluid. It will get thinks movin again and help your body heal quickly. Just follow your physicians orders, be sensable about what you can and can't do and in a week the surgery will be a distant memory and you will think to yourself, "that was not bad at all - why did I stess so much?" You will do good and being nervous is totally normal. I mean afterall there has got to be something a little wrong with the person who goes into surgery without being nervous and a little anxious. Hope this helps. Good luck and remember you will do fine (notice how many time I have said that? Because you really will do fine). You had better let us all know how you are doing after your surgery. XOXO

Well, I defer to the others here who had lap or lap band, but just to give an illustration, I had an open RNY and felt wonderful. I needed NO pain meds when released from the hospital 2.5 days after surgery. I was just weak is all, but protein drinks helped that out tremendously. Lap band I would think would affect you the least regarding weakness and sleepiness, but I suspect you will still have some of that since everyone gets the anesthesia... You're almost there! Congratulations!!! Dina

Hi Jenny. We're here for you. Lots of prayers going for you. Take care, and hope to hear you are up and about real soon after your surgery. Peggy

congrats and good luck tomarrow!! please post as soon as you can to let us know how your doing... Theresa

Hi Jenny You will do just fine .Its a hard journey .Im 6 months out But I tell you its so very worth all the hard days .I now can say I would recomend the surgery. if you have read and understood all the changes it will make in your life! It Is a new life. .Nothing to worry about. Just life to look forward to.