I ma getting a little nervous. My DR. assures me this is the right procedure, an dI am convinced, too. Can anyone tell me about your experience immeadiately following surgery or a few weeks after?

Immediately after: Woke up in recovery with absolutely NO sense of time passing. One minute I was chatting happily in pre-op and getting reeeeallly drowsy, the next minute I heard a nurse saying "You're done honey, time to wake up," and having to pee RIGHT NOW. Hello, bedpan LOL.

In the hospital: Visited with the family for a little while once I got put in my room, then they left and I slept. Had some pain at the big incision site, but ONLY when moving in bed or standing up... nothing intolerable at all. Was able to drink Water, broth, and have a little Jello, and had to get up to pee every couple of hours or so... the IV really puts a lot of Fluid into you (so don't be surprised if you go home a few pounds heavier--it's JUST fluid).

Went home the next day, with the same little jab when moving, but never had to take any of the pain meds at all. Abs felt like I'd done a thousand sit-ups, but both the pain and the soreness were gone within the first 3-4 days. Day three, hubby, son and I went to visit with my parents, and day four I drove myself to the store to do a little grocery shopping. By day 5, I was getting stir-crazy and decided to clean the bedroom--no problem.

Other than having to sleep on the loveseat and recliner for the first week (I had a drain and couldn't get comfortable in bed), life was pretty normal and I went back to work on Days 10 & 11 (6-hour shifts), then full-time the next week, with no problem other than some mild afternoon fatigue--but I work 13-hour days, so that's normal.

I have to say, the whole thing was not at all difficult for me.

I hope that's my experience! Fingers crossed.

Here you are, in great detail:

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/13287-step-by-step-guide-to-the-vsg-experience/

If I'm honest, the first 72 hours were AWFUL. I didn't have the dreaded gas pain, but my damn little tummy HURTHURTHURT. Plus, I had intractable nausea and kept violently vomiting, which made everything hurt worse. But once I got past that, I felt better very quickly -- and now just 12 days out, I'm feeling quite good -- get tired and am still obviously mending, but feel pretty well.