Question:
Losing a leg vs. RNY Surgery

Okay, my pain tolerance is going to be based on going through two surgeries in which my left leg was amputated due to a traumatic motorcycle accident. The first (didn't really hurt, too much shock) was to clean things up (leg was already traumatically amputated) the second (incredibly painful) was to fix up the leg, tie muscles down to bone, blah blah blah. Would it be a fair estimate to say that this won't be as painful or will it be different type of pain?    — sharon M. (posted on September 27, 2004)

September 26, 2004
To really decrease pain get your surgery LAP, which also avoids incisional hernias. about a third of opens get at least one uincisional hernia, LAP the rate is near zero. On pain its not bad, and very controllable. My step dad was a double amputee and that was horrible. WLS should be very easy in comparison. See my profile it pretty detailed about stuff like this. Sorry about your leg.
   — bob-haller

September 26, 2004
Just to preface, I have never had a limb amputated, so take this as you will... <p> I have read that the pain following amputation can be very high. So high that doc will prescribe some pretty powerful narcotic pain relievers and the patients take these pain relievers for a period of time (how long depends on the person). I have had 3 open surgeries. The first, VBG, my doc sent me home on liquid motrin (OTC strength), I took it for 3-4 days post op. My second surgery, open RNY, I was sent home with liquid Lortab. I only took that for 2-3 days post-op. My third surgery, to correct a small bowel obstruction and remove my gallbladder, they sent me home with a vicoden script, and I did fill it, but I only took it for one day. Part of that was I was only 4 weeks out from having my baby and I wanted to continue to breasfeed, so I did not want to be on the vicoden, but I really did not feel I needed it for the pain. I took extra strength tylenol and was fine. <p> Most of the pain is due to the incision and it's healing. If you can get it done lap, do it that way (only with a very experienced lap surgeon). If you have to have an open incision, it will be painful, but I really don't think it will be as painful as your surgeries for your leg. <p> Good Luck!
   — Ali M

September 27, 2004
First of all, God bless ya... Second of all, I had Lap RNY on a Friday morning, and left the hospital on Sunday afternoon needing nothing more than Tylenol. I hope that helps, and God bless you on your journey! :)
   — momstah

September 27, 2004
Unless the surgery is done without anesthesia, I can not imagine it being anywhere near as painful as your previous surgeries. It is definitely managable as the others have mentioned. Even with the variety of circumstances and pain thresholds that the posters here may have, you will probably see this as a walk in the park in comparison. Best of luck to you!!
   — Fixnmyself

September 27, 2004
In Jan of 99 I had surgery on my left knee. The main purpose was a patellar realignment, although there were a couple other things involved. During that surgery they cut tendons, ligaments, muscles and pieces of bones and reattached them. I'm sure this was not a serious as your surgery, but, I hope you can use it as a bit of comparison. The pain after that surgery was a 10, no question, even with the epidural and lots of pain meds. It made childbirth seem like a piece of cake. I had Lap RNY on Friday afternoon, ended up finding a massive haetel (sp) hernia and repairing that too. I did ask for the morphine pump, but only used it 1 day. I was up and walking around the day after surgery, which helped the pain so much (my back was killing me because the bed was so uncomfotable). I would say at my worst, the pain never exceeded a 7. Too me personally, it mostly feels like really sore stomach muscles, like too many sit ups or something. The incisions are a little uncomfortable, but mostly just weird having staples, and I worry they will get caught on something! I am taking some tylenol w/ codine occassionally, but will probably switch to plain liquid tylenol within a day or so (I am only taking something twice a day as it is, and the pain is only a 4-5) I hope this helps you, please fell free to contact me if you would like! Carmen
   — Carmen S.

September 28, 2004
I like everyone else here is very sad that you have had to go through so much in your past. I had RNY in Jan 2004. I ended up having a little of the lap and open. I was sore for a couple of weeks but nothing that was to terrible. My mother had RNY lap a couple of months ago. She made me so jeleouse. Two days after surgery she looked like normal again. I hope this you figure that the pain is in no way what you have experienced.
   — Cameron Van Winkle

September 29, 2004
I had an open and the pain was tolerable. For me the pain was mostly very sore muscles and not sharp stabbing pain, which I have a much harder time dealing with. I was on paid meds for 5 days and then switched to tylenol. I had way more pain and pain meds after my two PS's. I'm guessing you will deal just fine with the pain associated with WLS, open or LAP. I'm sorry to hear of your ordeal. Good Luck on your journey!
   — zoedogcbr