Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

How painful did you find VSG to be?



Recommended Posts

Susan,

Wow, you got a lot of bang for your buck! Did he charge extra?

Did you have spinal as well as general anesthesia?

Cajun

Like Vegas said, Dr. Aceves is wonderful and did not charge extra. He explained to both my husband and I before surgery that while he is "in" there, he looks around just to make sure there are no other medical problems, and if he sees something, then he goes ahead and corrects it while you are already in surgery. I am eternally thankful that he does that, considering he found and removed the tumors!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

LAN2K -- I have heard and been told by 2 surgeons that the open gallbladder surgery is one of the worst surgeries - i.e. painful and recovery wise that you can have. And, having been there when Bearded had his hernia repaired, I believe that, too, is a painful surgery ... so I don't think you have a low threshold for pain. HOpefully the sleeve will be an easy surgery for you and that they will repair your hiatal hernia while they're in there -- Dr. Aceves repaired mine for me while I was under.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

LAN2K -- I have heard and been told by 2 surgeons that the open gallbladder surgery is one of the worst surgeries - i.e. painful and recovery wise that you can have. And, having been there when Bearded had his hernia repaired, I believe that, too, is a painful surgery ... so I don't think you have a low threshold for pain. HOpefully the sleeve will be an easy surgery for you and that they will repair your hiatal hernia while they're in there -- Dr. Aceves repaired mine for me while I was under.

I hope that I'm not in for a pain shocker when I come out of the surgery. I agree that the open gallbladder was an intense procedure. Even the hernia repair, although painful for a couple of days, was not the nightmare the gallbladder surgery was. I just read about intense gas pains right out of VSG surgery...great! I hope there is some medication to help with that as well as nasuea. I am bracing myself for the worst and praying that in reality it won't be too difficult. With regard to the hiatal hernia, the doctor who reported it (who did the endoscopy) said it was "small" and since I hadn't any symptoms he said it was not a problem :confused1: Hmmm now I'm wondering if my surgeon would also do the repair. I will ask him tomorrow when I see him, if he doesn't that might be an issue for me. Thanks VegasAngle.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I didn't have any gas pains at all, let alone intense ones. Most of the gas pains come from the CO2 they pump you up with. My doc sucks out as much as he can and that helps and so does walking. I walked A LOT because I was afraid of blood clots.

The hiatal hernia is on your esphosogus so it won't cause surgery to have to be done open. But prior abdominal surgeries might.

My two c-sections and my open gallbladder surgery didn't require an open procedure and I haven't heard from anyone who had those surgeries who had to go open. (And those are VERY common surgeries!)

I don't know about your prior hernia repair though. But your surgeon will tell you what he thinks your chances are, if you ask him.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had an open partial gastrectomy to have my lap band removed in March. I had staples from my breast bone to my navel. The pain I had then was not anything close to what I had with the VSG (which was so minimal it was non existant) I think you are in for a pleasant surprise.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow I'm so sorry you had such an ordeal to get through. Thank God you got that band out. I hope my surgeon is as good as Dr. Aceves. It seems that anyone who has had him perform their surgery has great results and great things to say about him. Thanks Ruthi.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Kay Kay.

My response was a bit simplistic, sorry. The stomach and other internal organs don't have the type of nerve endings that "feel" cutting, for example. But they do register what is called functional pain when distended by food/gas, or twisted for example. Sometimes this pain feels like it is coming from somewhere else...such as the shoulder pain you might feel after laparoscopic surgery because all the gas is pushing up on your diaphragm. When an appendix is inflamed, sometimes the pain is felt at the umbilical area instead of in the area of the appendix, especially at the start of the attack. Our skin, on the other hand, has a lot of nerve endings that "shriek loudly" if we are cut. (Thank God for anesthesia!!!!!) The nervous system is peculiar in a lot of ways, and there is still a lot being learned about how it works

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i found out i am now allergic to morphine that why it hurt so much for me

It's a good thing you found that out! I'd also like to know how. It is interesting since the morphine is supposed to deaden pain. Did your allergic reaction cause the drug not to work effectively? :confused1:

PS- I do hope you are feeling much better.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Can someone tell me how to create / post a weight loss ticker? I found the application, but not sure how to post it. Thanks! :lol0:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hee. There is a link to the same tutorial right on this site... no need to venture into LapBand Land. :lol0:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×