Question:
I'm Having lap band on Tuesday 5/27. What should I really expect after surgery

How much assistance will I need when I come home. I'm a single mom with not a good support system. Just 2 teens. Trying to make any needed arrangements.    — tunnell (posted on May 23, 2008)

May 22, 2008
I am also a single mom and had to tend to my 1 yr old and 8 yr old after surgery. I did have my mom for the first day after surgery and thats all I really needed her for. The recovery is not bad with the lap band. You will have some pain where your incesions are but they will give you pain meds before you leave the hospital. You'll be up and moving around in just a day or two. Also, after surgery you will probably have alot of pain in your chest and arm from the gas they use during surgery. WALK WALK WALK.. It's the only way to work the gas out. Also, if you need to lift anything that is heavy have one of your teens do it . Lifting can cause a hernia. Hope this helps
   — willish

May 22, 2008
I had Lap Band 4-16-08 and I went to the hospital at 7:30a.m. checked in, the nurses came in to get my history and to make me comfortable and my doctor was late a little and he came in about 10:30a.m. and the doctor that was going to put me to sleep (that was what I was scared of..because I am allergic to certain drugs they use and he was so senitive to my fear and promised he would not use any of those drugs and we walked to the surgery suite and my fear went away. We talked in the surgery suite about five minutes and he told me he was going to give me something that would relax me and that was it...I woke up after the surgery in the surgery suite and the two doctors were talking about how to get me on the other bed to go to recovery and I said I would move and they said you are awake and I went to recovery and talked with the nurses there for a bout an hour and went to my room at 12:20p.m. and from there they gave you liquids to see if you could keep it down and wanted to know If I needed anything for pain and I didn't, just had a little discomfort in the incision where the port was located and I went home at 3:30p.m. I never had pain just a little discomfort from just that one incision where the port was located and liquid Tylenol is what I used for pain---I had a headache from the drug they gave me to sleep..which was common. Since I wasn't on a rx for pain you can drive when you think you can. I was real tired the next day but being going strong since then. It really wasn't a bad surgery. My PCP's nurse had it done on a Friday and she was back at work on Monday. You will be able to take care of yourself and your family..maybe a little slower but then again everyone is different and I had no problem, got a four year old and 10 year old in the house....Good Luck you will do fine.....
   — dyates2948

May 22, 2008
I just had my surgery Tuesday (5/20/08). I had very little pain afterward. I did not need pain meds. at all. My chest and shoulder pain was even very minimal. My surgery was at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and I was home by 10 a.m. on Wednesday. I spent most of the day by myself with my daughter and husband checking in on me by phone. I was able to get up and walk around the block a couple of times to help with any blood clot fears. On Thursday, I visited work, did a little shopping and got a needed hair cut. Today I go to get my stapples out and am feel quite good. It truely is the easiest surgery I have been through. Good luck and keep in touch.
   — Beth63

May 23, 2008
Hi Sarah, I just had my lap band done on Monday and was out of the hospital Tuesday afternoon. I'm at work today and loving it. I went shopping and for a pedicure yesterday. It was great.
   — mannecote

May 23, 2008
I had my band and went home the same day. I rested that day and took it easy the next, but did not require any assistance from anyone. It would be better if you kept moving anyway, it will help work the 'gas' out of your body. Get some Gas x strips, you'll need them if your doing a laproscopic procedure. I was riding a merry go round 3rd day post op, walking the mall too. My post op pain was minimal and limited to the incision sites.The gas pains were annoying but went away after a couple days. It is TOTALLY worth it. Focus on the future skinny, healthy you! Good Luck, let us know how it went once you get home. Patty
   — pattyann

May 25, 2008
I had LapBand surgery on May 20th came home on May 21st about 4:00. I only have my 19 yr old son at home with me who is still not completely happy about me having the surgery, so he hasn't been over helpful, but not ignoring me either. He has been working all week so he has been in and out checking on me. I have been fine. It seems like I had more pain/soreness than others. I haven't ventured out anywhere except to walk around the block, and I have made sure that someone was with me when I did that. I haven't felt like going out anywhere or had the desire to do so. I haven't taken any rx drugs during the day for yesterday and don't plan to today either. I took it before bed for the past two nights just to help me sleep but I don't think it helped last night. I took it as frequently as I could Wed, Thurs and slowed some on Fri. I am glad I did the surgery, but I just wanted to let you know that everyone does not recover REALLY fast and go out and do stuff and you shouldn't feel bad if that happens for you. I did a few dishes yesterday - very few, and had my son take the wet laundry out of the washer this morning and I will take a few pieces to the dryer at a time today and try to wash another load. Maybe I am just scared because I am alone without help and don't want to do anything that will set me back at all. I don't plan to return to work until June 2nd and I am glad I took next week off too. I am going to work at home half days this week though - luckily I can. I have a really long commute and just didn't want to try driving it until I felt completely normal or as really close to normalas possible. If you have any questions or need anything serach for LizzieNJ. Come to the LapBand board we would love to have you. Take it easy and Good Luck - you will be fine!!
   — LizzieNJ

May 25, 2008
Hi Sarah, Actually I didn't need any help when I came home except for the driving. I came home on a Friday, was giving myself my own blood thinning medicine in the form of a shot. I only took pain med at night for sleeping and on Sunday I was at church. So it really depends on the person and how well you get up and do what you need to do to keep from getting stiff and sick.
   — Mz.Willie26