Question:
I can not stand the though of pain and I get worried about the surgery.

Please help. I worry too much I guess. I know I need to lose this weight. I don't want to go back I want to move ahead I have lost but gain back the weight. Same o Same o... help! Why can't I go through with the surgery? Anyone tell me?    — nancy A. (posted on April 7, 2002)

April 7, 2002
I am 4.5 weeks post-op and let me tell you - I FEEL GREAT!!!! And have felt great for quite some time. I can't even say that I ever was in severe pain either. It was just SO much better than I thought it would be. I would say it was more of a bad discomfort than a severe pain. And while you're in the hospital, they'll give you enough painkillers that you won't remember much of your stay anyway. I sure don't! I just made sure I got my big old butt out of bed and walked, walked, walked while I was in the hospital. They actually teased me about trying to win a marathon. Didn't walk fast, but I walked a lot. I'm sure that helped a lot. And you know what - 4.5 weeks out, I haven't had to see my chiropractor yet and I was going about one a week before surgery. And my knees don't hurt at all like they used to. I'll take some short discomfort over daily pain for years any day!
   — Katy B.

April 7, 2002
I wasn't afraid of dying, having complications or anything else BUT the pain! I will be totally honest with you...It hurt BAD the first two days, but the second I started having intense pain I hit the pain button and I was fast asleep in about 5-10 minutes. For me, two days of misery and about a week and half of discomfort are worth a lifetime of healthiness and self esteem. I am now 10 weeks out and down 60 pounds! :-) Best of luck!
   — Paula Prichard

April 7, 2002
I am 6.5 months post-op and i never had any pain, and i am a big baby when it comes to pain. In the hospital I had a morphine(sp) pump. And when I went home they gave me demeral(sp). I used it for about 3 days when I gat home and then took extra strength tylenol every 3or4 hours for about 4 or 5 more days. I really felt no pain. So please dont you worry about that. Worry about how you will fit all the things you could never do into your new healthier lifestyle.....wink. Best of luck to you! Nancy
   — nkoehler88

April 7, 2002
If you are having the procecure done lap, there really is NO pain involved......not cramping pain....just muscle soreness. You will feel as if you just did 100 situps. In the hospital I had the morphine drip and when I was going home they gave me a Rx for tylenol with codeine. Never even filled it.
   — Dianne K.

April 7, 2002
Nancy- I am 12 weeks post Lap/RNY and I can honestly say that I never had any pain. Maybe some discomfort the first day or so but that is sooo managable with the medication. I never even used my morphine pump in the hospital and didn't use anything but tylenol when I came home and let me tell you I am a BIG BABY when it comes to pain. I'm sure that you will do great! Good luck to you on your journey to better health. Vicki
   — vmize

April 7, 2002
You CAN do this! I did! The first 3 days are the worst but you have pain medication at your fingertips! It really was not as bad as I had expected.I am 3 weeks post-op and I do not regret doing it!I have lost 18# so far!!
   — Karen S.

April 8, 2002
I am 2 months post-op lap RNY. The only pain I ever had was from my back from a pre-existing back problem that laying on my back for the surgery aggravated. Aside from the back pain, I had about a week's worth of a bruised feeling in my stomach. I couldn't take the Tylenol Codeine because it gave me headaches, so I essentially had no meds after my hospital stay and the morphine. I would do it (Lap RNY) again in a heart beat. I feel terrific now.
   — Kathy J.