NYC_gal

I was in a lot of pain and didn't feel like myself for a good 3 or so weeks. Only recently [i'm just about 1+ month out] I've been able to walk for long periods of time without any pain in my incision! I was due to START work @ a new job exactly 8 days after surgery and I couldn't do it. I have [had! :thumbup:] a more physical job though, it involved a lot of up and down stairs and carrying heavy items all day long. I still wasn't feeling up to it another 10 days later. [At that time I also wasn't able to laugh, sneeze or cough without being in pain]. I would take off at least 7 days. Heal properly and do not rush yourself into anything. Nothing is worth causing any complications or being in pain. Also keep in mind you have to allow yourself enough time to adjust to this new diet and for me, I needed to get used to others around me eating like normal while I was still on liquids. :thumbup:

To be honest, I wasn't at all aware that I'd be in so much pain after surgery. Everyone, [even the packets of information I was given] was saying that I'd be up and around pretty much immediately. Everyone IS different, of course. But I didn't at all appreciate the comments of "Everyone's different..... but most people recover fairly quickly" from fellow Lap Band patients. That's not going to help ANYONE. You need to be prepared and I'm sorry I wasn't. That would've been a major factor in my decision. I didn't feel back up to 80% until about 3 weeks after my surgery. I have bad days where I just wonder what the hell I did to myself... its never a sadness over not being able to eat a certain thing though. I still experience pain in my largest incision and I'm over a month out. BUT I look at what I eat now and I really feel good about myself. The surgery has made me much more aware of what I put into my body and I feel healthy. I never eat and feel sluggish or regret. :thumbup: