Question:
How long til you can be on your own?

I am planning on lap rny and I wonder how long after I come home from the hospital will I need help? Should I be able to be on my own right away? I don't know if I will have help yet and I worry about this. Thanks!    — Lori P. (posted on November 11, 2002)

November 10, 2002
I had LAP RNY 8/15 and could pretty much do for myself when I came home from the hospital. I was sore and had a lifting restriction of nothing more than 10 pounds, but I could go and do pretty much what I wanted.
   — Cathy S.

November 10, 2002
The first day you come home from the hospital you should have someone with you then you will be fine. I felt 100% and was doing everything for myself even driving on my 2nd day home. I went back to work after a week. I only took the pain meds on my first day home. For me I felt worse just sitting around at home, it helped me to get out and I was dying to get back to work. I had to beg my surgeon to let me go back after a week. Just take it easy, don't over exert yourself. Lap RNY 3/6/2002 -162lbs total
   — Angie B.

November 10, 2002
See, now, everyone is different. I had lap RNY on a Monday, and needed someone with me through at least Saturday. Today will be three weeks, and its my first day back at work. I was surprised at how long recovery took -- I had my gall bladder removed laporascopically in June and was ready to go back to work three days later. Good luck.
   — Tamara K.

November 11, 2002
I had open Rny with gallbladder removal on 10/15/02. I got home on fri and on the following Tuesday (one week post-op) my husband went back to work, leaving me with a 2 yr old to care for. It was not that bad. the hard part was conning her into climbing onto the bed so I could change her and reaching to pull her pull-ups down so she could use the potty chair. Once we worked out those things everything else was easy. Good luck!
   — cherokey55