Question:
Please compare post op pain and pain from a c-section

I here the varying degrees of pain post op...I gave birth to one of my children by c-section (cesearan sp?) is the pain from post op comparable? if so how? Thank You    — Sheila J. (posted on March 12, 2003)

March 12, 2003
I had 3 c sections and my open RNY was much easier. More mobility when it is the top of your torso with the wound. My sections were all vertical tho so not sure if yours was bikini line then I can't help you out. Took me 3-4 weeks after each section to feel normal and 2 weeks after my RNY I was back to work. Wendy
   — Wendy H.

March 12, 2003
I had a horizontal c-section with my son, and my WLS was done laproscopic. I think the c-section was much worse! I had pain from the c-section for about 10 days, and only 3-4 days from the RNY surgery. Try not to worry too much about the pain. If you had a c-section, then this surgery should be easier for you. Good Luck!
   — Trula B.

March 12, 2003
I had 2 low transverse c-sections and lap RNY. I had much less soreness with the lap RNY. of course, the c-section was lower abdomen and the RNY was upper abdomen.
   — koogy

March 12, 2003
Well I went into surgery thinking that this would be a breeze compared to my c-section. I WAS TOTALLY WRONG. I had a much harder time with my Lap RNY. Now matter which way you move, your using all those muscles that they just cut through. I also had a lot of gas pain from the the way they blow up your stomach. I don't mean to scare you, but this was my experience and there's a lot of people who had a much easier time. Everyone is different, GOOD LUCK!!
   — Kelly* P.

March 12, 2003
Hi Sheila! I would say hands down my Csection was worse. I had open RNY and was moving around doing housework within a week! I even drove myself to the DR to have my staples out (Dr's office an hour away from my house). I felt great and could have returned to work at 2 weeks post op but decided to stay out 4 weeks. One good thing about it... you'll have flashbacks of rolling to your side and pushing up to get out of bed...just like you had to do after the csection =)
   — blueyez2668

March 12, 2003
I had the same exact experience as Kelly! I went into my lap RNY thinking that after 2 cesarians this would be nothing. I too was SOOO WRONG. The pain I had post op rny was much more intense and lasted longer. Still only a few days but i was really surprised by it. I was 10 years tounger with my last c-section and a whole lot lighter so i don't know if any of that made a difference. I do know that a c-section is a much less intricate and invasive surgery. Good Luck! I almost think that if I had expectred more pain I would have handled the pain that i had better.
   — Carol S.