Hi

I was just banded 3 days ago and have been upset ever since, feeling that I've done something awful to myself - did anyone else have serious doubts AFTER surgery - will I ever feel normal again?

My back is painful, I'm bloated and I havn't slept hardly at all for 2 nights, the stitched areas are painless and healing well but the port area is just so sore that I am still in a great deal of pain and others seem to be fine after only 48 hrs. Is this normal, did anyone else have pain and doubt but a happy ending? I feel that i discuss it much with my family as they were so agaqinst the band in the first place.:cry :help:

:)Hi Tidge. When I woke up in the recovery room, I remember the first thing I felt was this tremendous pain in my stomach (port sight!) and it wrapped around to my back. It was horrible!! I said to my Mom several times over the first week after surgery "what did I do to myself?" I would have never believed how different I would feel once I got about about 8 or 9 days out from the surgery. Things began to heal and I started feeling human again. I am almost 4 weeks out from surgery and still have tenderness and swelling in my port sight. I asked the Nurse Practitioner if this was normal. She said it is. I truly believe that when they attach the port to the muscle, it refers pain around to the bacK. A heating pad felt wonderful on my back. Give yourself time to heal. You will feel like a different person next week at this time!! Everyone reacts differently to surgery. I know some people that bounced back within a couple days. We, unfortunately, were not that lucky but it will get better! Best of everything to you.

Hey Tidge. My pep talk was too late! But heartfelt nonetheless! How are you doing now??

I was so relieved when I found this site after my surgery as I too had terrible port pain. I found out that some do and some don't. I had to take the strongest pain meds they sent me home with for nearly 10 days. I also have been told in the past that I have a high pain threshold, so I don't think I was being a whimp. I on the other hand did not get the shoulder pain. Take the pain meds, use a heating pad, try to walk around, it does help to get rid of the gas pain. Take comfort please, in knowing it does get better and you will not be sorry. This is a big step and it takes time. Good luck!

It'll be okay. I think worse than the physical pain is the mourning for your old existence. It's scarey to know that you took this step and your life will never be the same.

Keep reminding yourself of the reasons that brought you to take this step, and you'll get through.