Question:
Is the post op pain from open RNY comparable to either C-Section or appendectomy pain

I am hoping to have open RNY surgery and have had 2 c-section births and an appendectomy. I am trying to be prepared for the recovery of the open RNY. I bounced back pretty well with the previous surgeries and was hoping this would be similar. Thanks!    — Metsfan91 (posted on May 29, 2002)

May 29, 2002
I also had 2 C-Sections, Open Gallbladder, and a hernia before RNY. My RNY was the easiest. Good Luck!!
   — Candiss T.

May 29, 2002
I have only had open rny, but my husband has had an appendectomy and rny and he said the rny was much easier as far as pain. good luck!
   — rebecca N.

May 29, 2002
20 years ago I had 2 c-sections and the pain for the first 48 hrs was unbearable. The pain reliver of choice at that time was IM demerol injections. My WLS was a lap rny. The pain control was outstanding. The difference was that I addressed the pain control issue with my surgeon before surgery and emphasized the need for good pain control. As an oncology nurse, I am educated in pain control and knew what to ask for. Get in touch with your surgeon and discuss the alternatives and insist on good pain control. You can decide together what will work best for you. Everyone is different, but it is possible to have little or no pain after surgery. The secret is communication!!!!!
   — buttrrfli

May 29, 2002
It was 10 years between my c-section and my open RNY so I may have forgotten much of the pain of the latter, but it seemed to me that the RNY was more difficult. Of course I was 10 years older and 80 lbs heavier with my RNY so that may be why. Also, I had the thrill of having my first baby and I'm sure that she made all that pain seem worth it. Somehow, coming home with protein shakes didn't have quite the same effect lol. In any case, within days of my Open RNY, I was on nothing stronger than Extra Strength Tylenol and if I had to, I'd go through it all again in a minute for the wonderful results I've had from my RNY. Besides having my beautiful daughters, this was the best thing I have ever done for myself. Good luck to you and keep thinking positive thoughts. Its so worth it.
   — Donna L.

May 29, 2002
I thought the pain from the C-sections was harder to recooperate from than the RNY.( I had 2 sections) The RNY was more of a bruised feeling than a "pain". However, I had my RNY Laproscopic and the gas pains in the shoulder were really bad. They did seem to go away within a week though.
   — Leah H.

May 29, 2002
I had Open RNY six months ago today. I found the post-op pain much less than I had from my c-section 18 years ago. And the recovery was very easy. I never took any pain meds after leaving the hospital and had very little after my IV was discontinued on Saturday after my surgery on Thursday. Most of the pain medication I took was for a knee injury which was excruciating - not for the post-surgical pain.
   — Patty_Butler