Question:
I live alone and want to know what I can expect to be able to do a 1-2 days post-op

   — Susan P. (posted on January 10, 2004)

January 10, 2004
You didn't say how you will be having surgery, lap or open? This will depend on what your first 2 days would be like. Would they actually be days 6/7 after surgery (being in hospital 5 days with open) or days 3/4 from lap?<p> I had my surgery open, so can only speak from it. I would strongly suggest you have someone staying with you for the first few days. Invite a close friend, relative etc. You may need help getting up from bed, or the recliner, help changing bandages, showering, reaching items, etc. Since I had surgery 6 hours from my home, I stayed with my mom for 2 weeks while hubs came home and worked. It was a perfect arrangement for us.<p> Hope this helps. Good luck to you!<p> Sharon
   — Click

January 10, 2004
I had my surgery on a Tuesday, left the hospital on Thursday and stayed with my parents until Monday then went home and was on my own from there. My surgery was done lap. I was still very tired and for the first couple of days had a hard time going up and down stairs, I live on the second floor but made sure each day I went for a walk around the block.
   — tazfan

January 10, 2004
You may want to have a family member or friend come stay with you or go stay with one. I had surgery on a Thursday and was let out of the hospital on Saturday evening. I too live alone, so I stayed at my parents house for a week. I'm 35, but it's still nice to have Mom take care of me. Granted, I didn't need to stay quite that long, a few days was all I really needed. But it was so nice to have some one to help. If you don't have anyone to help, you might discuss this with your doctor and they might keep you in the hospital an extra day or two. But if you have someone offer to help, take the help.
   — Patricia T.

January 10, 2004
Hi I live alone also... had my surgery on a TH, was out of the hospital on Friday.... I expected to go stay with my sister and her family right out of the hospital....but once I got there, I felt out of place....there was so much food around..chips, candy, cookies... none of which I could eat... I ended up going back to my own place... I had an rny lap...and really felt terrific... the next day, I went to the grocery store... and really just worked to get back into the swing of things... within 2 days I was back to my old self... walking 2 miles on my 4th day post op.... even cleaned the house my first weekend home! Good luck to you... listen to your own body (and mind)... lap rny 4/9/03 311/194/-116
   — Peg L

January 10, 2004
I agree that a whole lot depends on whether you have lap or open, and how long you stay in the hospital. I had lap RNY on Tuesday, went home Thursday, and was well able to take care of myself. I had a friend or family member stop by each of the first four days, but I didn't really need them for anything.
   — Vespa R.

January 10, 2004
Gosh, Peg must have had an awesome surgeon. I was in the hospital 3 days and I could barely move those three days. Every movement was an effort, but I did as I was told and walked in teh halls. I had lap rny, went in on a tuesday, went home on friday and still had quite a bit of soreness and needed help getting up and down off the bed and sofa. And NO WAY was I back to my old self in 4 days. I was walking down the drive way and back and down the street and back by day 5 but no where near 2 miles. That is amazing peg. After 9 days i felt great. Lisa A, lap rny 5/13/03 291/166/140
   — Happy I.

January 10, 2004
I had open rny and I stayed with my mom for a week. then came home to finish my recovery which was still slow. I had my kids there with me. so that made things alittle better.
   — Naes Wls J.

January 10, 2004
I had open & was home alone & happier that way!!! Sandi 5-20-02 -206
   — Sandra B.

January 11, 2004
I had open RNY on a Friday at a hospital 100 miles away. I was discharged on Monday and stayed by myself from Monday through Friday at a motel near the hospital and surgeon's office. I brought my broth, sugar free jello, bottled water and pain pills. There was a tiny kitchen with a microwave and refrigerator so I could keep my foods. I managed by myself. I was in pain but know I was so close to the MD helped. It was doable for me. Now, my kids are grown so I didn't have to deal with children. Husband was at work and brought me home on Friday. I walked daily, fixed my teensy meals, dressed, showered, read my trashy novels and watched TV. Slept in a normal bed. I managed okay--but every recovery is different. Good luck.
   — Margaret S.

January 11, 2004
Everyone is different. But for me I was blessed that I had no pain (off pain meds in hospital) and was able to take care of myself right after surgery. I was alone but my Mom did stop by once a day to check up on me. Before I left for the hospital, I had stocked up on foods that were easy to fix (oatmeal, protein shakes, ect...) and had a jug of Crystal light already made up and waiting for me. Best of luck to you. ~Sidney~
   — Siddy I.

January 11, 2004
I also live alone and for the first week after lap RNY surgery, I lived with my mom "just in case". For the first couple of days after surgery, you will feel very stiff and sore when you sit up or stand up and it will be hard to bend to pick something up off the floor. But honestly, it's do-able and I think I could have gotten through it by myself. I left the hospital on Monday and while it was nice to have that security of other people around or to run errands for me, by the weekend I was more than ready to go back home! And as someone else posted, it's tougher to smell food and watch others eat while you're on a liquid diet. If you don't want or can't stay with someone a couple of days I think you'll be fine as long as you have someone who can check in on you or run errands for anything you forgot to buy. By the end of the first week home I was driving with no problem.
   — sandsonik

January 11, 2004
here's another tip for you if you are going to be at home alone after surgery, take the time and clean your house, do your laundry, etc before surgery, so when you come home you won't have housework to do. The night before my surgery I didn't sleep at all and was washing the sheets off my bed and making the bed so that when I got home, it would be fresh and clean. <br><br>I see that some other posters said being around other people and food was hard for them, I have to say when I got out of the hospital I had no desire at all for food, I stood in the kitchen and talked to my mom while she fixed dinner for her and my dad. I would often sit there with them and drink a shake while they had dinner, since it was just nice to talk. being around food or smelling food didn't (and still doesn't) tempt me in the least. But I guess you won't know if you're one of those people or not until you're a postie -- Best of luck with your surgery!
   — Patricia T.

January 11, 2004
What really made me feel better was i fixed my bed up some so i wouldn't have to rock to get out of it..and a cordless phone came in handy when i was bord. I spent most of my time on the couch with my water. Have what you might want to drink and eat stocked up. I had a VBG which means they cut me from my breast bone to almost my bellybutton. I had very little discomfort from that. I also got the use of a cane to help me get up off the couch. Best of luck to you!!! Sally
   — Sally H.

January 11, 2004
I had Open RNY and stayed with friends the first week home. They were just great to me but I would have been fine alone. It'd be great if a buddy could stop by daily just to check on you - and be sure to have people to call "just in case". I would strongly suggest keeping written track of your fluids and your meds. Your brain will be a bit on vacation from the anesthesia and of course if you require prescription pain pills that could throw your memory off even more. You want to watch even over-the-counter meds - Tylenol particularly - to be sure you don't get too much (and your prescription pain med is likely to contain Tylenol too so be careful). I paid to have my place clean as a whistle when I got home - some of the best money I ever spent. Best of luck to you, you big loser!!!
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 15, 2004
Susan, think about it this way. Everyone has different pain tolerances. If you have had surgery in the past, you know how high your pain tolerance is, or is not, whatever the case may be. This is a major surgery and if you have any doubts, at least make sure there is someone you can contact if you need help. Although I have not had this surgery yet, I have had several others and know that I have a high pain tolerance. Everyone is different, so listen to what you know about yourself. Best of luck to you.
   — Linn D.

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