Question:
I am to have my surgery one week from today. I am starting to get a little nervous.
I guess I just want to hear it will be fine. I have read I think all I can about the surgery itself. I think not knowing what to expect after I wake up is what is bothering me. Please pray for me and god bless you all. Marian — 0204 (posted on June 19, 2007)
June 19, 2007
I am 3 weeks post-op. I had the same feelings that you are having. Expect
to have pain and be very sore the first few days. Expect to not due much
for at least 2-3 weeks. Everyday will get a little easier. At 3 weeks I am
still having things that I can not do yet but it is getting a lot better.
— Alvernlaw
June 19, 2007
Hi Marian,
I understand how you are feeling. I am two weeks away from surgery myself.
I fluctuate between nervousness and excitement at any given moment. I'm
not quite sure how to feel. I am not really frightened about the surgery
at this point. Maybe I'm crazy...I am feeling more of a sense of "my
god...I'm making some serious life changes here!"
— JackiM
June 19, 2007
I am almost 3 months post op, but remember like it was yesterday. I woke
from the surgery while still in the operating room, said "Pain"
the nurse asked me where...I pointed, next thing I know no more pain (found
out they had me hooked up to pain medicine and released it to me whenever I
needed it while in recovery which was only 3 times that I remember) next
thing I know I was being wheeled to my room...told my daughter and friend
there that I was fine but sleepy...slept off and on for about half hour
till HORRIBLE pain started again....next thing I know a nurse was coming in
stating it was gas pain and the ONLY way it would go away was if I got up
and WALKED. I said WHAT????? Felt like going off on her and looked at her
like she was crazy! She made me get up off the bed, (she helped a little
bit) and as soon as I sat up I felt sooooooooo much better...I was like
wow...she said "see? if you walk around now it will make the gas move
out of yr system. I again didn't believe her till I stood up and took 3
steps...I was like OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....she giggled and said "I
told you so" from that moment on...everytime pain came, I was up and
walking down and back up the hallway. The more you walk the faster the gas
will leave your body....I had only like 2 other times of actual non gas
pain and after only 6 hours after surgery, no longer needed pain med...the
nurses were amazed....and no I can't tolerate pain-- I'm a big baby
lol...when I saw the surgeon the next day, he said it was because I walked
so much and so often that I had such little pain. I asked him how he found
out that I walked a lot, he said all the nurses can't stop talking about
the woman that walks about every half hour without anyone telling her to do
so! You will be thirsty also unfortunately...you will probably only get
ice chips....you can't wait for them to melt, you have to crunch on them.
Bring some chapstick as your lips will get super dry. The next day had to
go down to have a catscan and dirnk this horrible tasting stuff, but that
showed I was leak free....then later that day they gave me cranberry juice
and since I could keep it down I was free to go....remember each
surgeon/hospital is a bit different but that's my story. You will be fine!
Most surgeon's do this on a regular basis now and know exactly what they
are doing! Good luck!
— crystalsno
June 19, 2007
Marian..... I am 4-months out. I can remember a lot from that time in the
hospital....here are my tips/suggestions: 1.) you will wake up groggy and a
bit unoriented - don't fight it, just close your eyes and go back to sleep;
when you are ready to wake up fully...you will. 2.) they will expect you to
get up and start walking almost immediately - do it! If you have gas pains
from surgery this will help get it out faster. Plus...truly...you do feel
better after and during the walk. Don't get my wrong, it's great to sit
back down, but it does feel good to get out of bed and walk. 3.) Bring
tennis shoes. I did several laps the first and second day in my slippers
and that was a mistake. I had the worst shin slipnts ever and as my body
was feeling better, I couldn't walk...it was silly. 4.) I was very sick to
my stomach when I woke up, wanted to puke on anyone near me. I realized it
was the pain meds they had me on (delauded sp?) and it was bad news. I
asked for something else (they gave me a morphine shot) and within an hour
I felt human again. 5.) You will have pain and you will be uncomfortable -
but nothing untolerable. 6.) Know when you next dose of pain medication is.
Keep taking it. Don't get behind and have to catch up to get past the pain
again. 7.) Walk! Walk! Walk! I cannot stress that enough. Good luck...U
will do great!!
— jammerz
June 19, 2007
My dear Marion...You are about to be in for the ride of your life.Know that
each day it gets better. Upon waking up you'll probably be a bit
uncomfortable. Just request something for pain, and try to get some rest.As
the others have posted...Walking will really help from this day
forward(smile).Before you know it, you'll be on the losing side.Little
things like driving a car and chores will be difficult, so take your time
and allow yourself time to heal.Each day really does get better and before
you know it, you'll be giving advice and sharing you positive experience
with others. May God smile upon you and your surgeon on your special
day...best of luck to you.
— purnellj
June 19, 2007
Very normal to be nervous. When you wake up, you'll probably be groggy and
in pain. I just pretty much did the pain pump most of the first half day.
There was a toddler running the hospital halls so I was scared to walk.
After about 12 hours, I had the courage or level-headedness (after drugs)
to mention it to the nurse and she made the parents control their kid. I
then got up and walked as much as I could. This is very important to do in
the first 24 hours. You won't feel like getting up. You'd rather push
the pain pump and go back to sleep but you must get up. It really helps
shorten your recovery. After that, I went home. People have varying
levels of pain. I was able to just take pain meds when I needed to sleep.
Walking up stairs was a cinch. Going down was harder. Probably the
hardest thing was laying down in bed b/c you use so many stomach muscles
getting down and up. That took longer than I expected to lessen but I
wouldn't say it was extremely painful. I just couldn't do it well - the
muscles wouldn't do it. You'll do great!
— KC
June 20, 2007
Hi Marian, thanks for writing. I am a Christian, Marian, and I will pray
for you today. I believe we have a great God, that loves and cares for us
in everything. I hope that your praying didn't begin today, but began
before you started to read books. Seeking God first is so important in
every decision we make. He is the controller of Life and Death, and to
seek Him first and regular is my advice to anyone. I think, personally,
you have every reason to be anxious. Most of us are, it is a huge surgery,
and in case no one has said this to you, it is also a huge responsibility.
Many people want the benefit of surgery but take no thought to their
responsibility to take care of their pouch, or the battle that insues post
surgery. Obesity is a head issue, not a body issue. A head issue with a
body consequence. It is also a spiritual battle. The body (the head)
wants you to stay obese, the head will help you cheat, it will discourage
you. You need to be on your guard. I am 3 1/2 years post surgery, and for
me I did a lot of prep prior to surgery. First I sought God and his
blessing. When I believed that I was at peace with Him about surgery then
I waited on God to get my husbands heart on board with my surgery. In the
meantime I read books, chatted on line, researched like crazy and prepared
for the surgery. Just like you. I also did a few things most people done,
one of them was to read all the memorials on this website for those who
died during or after surgery. I wanted to pay respect to those who didn't
make it. I felt it was the right thing to do. I make sure my will was
updated, and my advanced directive paperwork was in order and clear, in
praying and reading God's Word, I searched for anything that was left
undone, with my children, my husband and family and church family and
friends. If I had any issues that I had to dig out and clean up, that was
the time, and I did that. I knew when I went into surgery that I had done
all I could to prepare to live, and be at peace with dying. I had peace
with God and my family, and my faith and trust was fully in the God who
sent His Son to die and rise again for my salvation. I accepted Jesus
Christ at the age of 21 (now 46), and I believe the Bible to be true. So
when everything was done, I put my life in His hands, and He chose a good
outcome for me. In the end it is God's choice, so you need to be at peace
with Him. If you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and want
to, just let me know, I will be glad to share the gospel of Jesus Christ
with you. He controls my eternity and my present. I went into surgery
with complete peace, not a doubt in my head. Went to sleep and began my
journey just a few hours later. I wish you well and pray you will have
peace with God through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Take care, Patricia P.
— Patricia P
June 20, 2007
Marian,
This is so natural. I had my surgery on March 15...just a short 3 monthsa
ago. I just wonder now why I waited so long. I have lost 55 lbs. I started
off at 245 and I am now at 190. I have so much more energy and I am
constantly reinforced by people who see me.
As far as eating, I do not lack for anything. I had already resigned myself
to the fact that large amounts of sugar was a thing of the past. But there
are so many other things you can safely have! I just got back from a three
day conference in Dallas, and the people who attended were surprised to
discover that I could eat anywhere they ate. We ate Mexican food and I had
a salad and a cup of tortilla soup. (And couldn't eat it all) We ate
Italian and I had the grilled chicken with pente and veggies. I cut the
chicken in half so I could eat the best part...the middle....and had a few
veggies. And was completely full. We went to Starbucks and I had sugar
free french vanilla non fat latte. I never let it interfere with others
plans. They would always ask, Where can you eat? And I would say anywhere
you can eat.
I wish you the best of luck and you will not regret having this done. The
pain was absolutely NOTHING. In fact, I wondered when I woke up if he had
refused to do it for some reason. I had 5 tiny puncture holes that healed
in no time at all. They are so small.
Good luck to you Marian. Please email me at [email protected] if you have
any questions. I may not be able to answer all of them, but I can surely
share my success with you.
— Txgal8437
June 20, 2007
I will pray for you. Good luck. i was nervous even as i was being wheeled
into the operating room. To help my nervousness i thought about what i was
going to look like when i lost 50 pounds. and what i would feel like. I
am 7 months out and have lost 142 pounds.
— jasonhildreth
June 20, 2007
Marian, hey I remember being sooo nervous too. I think that's normal. I am
almost 6 months post op (down 147 lbs) and so glad I had the surgery! You
will be too! I remember waking up and it was really hard to breathe---
like I had a bad chest cold and I was really sore. I was lucky-- no nausea.
The pain meds help of course to keep you a little disoriented. I started
walking a couple laps around the wing within 2 hours and I would walk every
couple hours even in the middle of the night. The tube in my nose bothered
me-- but just because it itched a lot. ( it's not pleasant when it comes
out but at least it's quick)... I did well in the hospital but when I went
home I had a bad reaction the the LorTab (liquid narcotic) they gave me...
it made me feel like I wasn't breathing and made me forget who I was (VERY
scary). I went off pain meds immediately. The first few days were ROUGH for
me. I was very depressed and feeling like OMG what did I do? I think the
trick was to get up every time I went to the bathroom and pace my hallway 6
times up and down-- keep moving. And remember; while it's overwhelming
every day REALLY does get better. Just remember that, if you're having a
hard time and a bad day just think that tomorrow you WILL feel a little bit
better. I went through a "mourning" process about food. How sad
is that? I'll say it lasted about a month. I had "head" hunger
where I felt like I wanted food (even though physically I wasn't hungry). I
cried when my daughter and husband ate a cheeseburger in front of me.
Ridiculous I know. But just remember that now you are truly "eating to
live" not "living to eat". You'll do great!! Aaryn :)
— airbear762000
June 21, 2007
I am praying for you, marian! It is perfectly normal to be a bit scared.
after surgery, you won't be able to eat or even drink much. They will want
you to do alot of walking pretty much right away. Being in the hospital is
boring, so you might want to take something you can use to amuse yourself,
like reading material, or knitting, or crosswords - anything you like.
— Novashannon
June 24, 2007
Marian,
And understandably so. The day after surgery I wasn't sure if what I was
feeling was pain or gas -- it turned out to be gas. Sure I was sore for
about a week or so and that is normal especially after any surgery.
You will be fine.
— the7thdean
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