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I Wish Someone Had Told Me....



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I think that its important to remember that everyone is different. One person's pain is another person's uncomfortableness, or non-issue. I've never had a c-section. I've never had a baby. I can't compare. I can compare this to other surgeries in the body for myself - which is where I knew I would be for pain. I prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. On a scale of 1-10 for the worst pain I've ever been in for surgery, I would say it was a 2 or a 3. On a scale of 1-10 for the worst pain I've EVER been in overall it didn't even register on the scale. It was like a -5.

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I think that its important to remember that everyone is different. One person's pain is another person's uncomfortableness, or non-issue. I've never had a c-section. I've never had a baby. I can't compare. I can compare this to other surgeries in the body for myself - which is where I knew I would be for pain. I prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. On a scale of 1-10 for the worst pain I've ever been in for surgery, I would say it was a 2 or a 3. On a scale of 1-10 for the worst pain I've EVER been in overall it didn't even register on the scale. It was like a -5.

You are exactly right, pain is very subjective. However I've read many references to the Sleeve pain being much less than C section pain. Just the thought makes me feel better and hopefully it's true for me too!

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When it comes to the pain of the surgery, it was more soreness around the incision area and the abdomen muscles than anything. I'm sure there's an explanation (I just don't know what it is) but for a week after the surgery, my abdomen felt like I just did1000 sit-ups or something. Made getting out of bed an experience! Lol.

Now what was painful for me was the gas that was stuck. It hurt to lie down, sit up, walk, etc. I admit to being a wuss when it comes to pain. I have broken my knee before, and that hurt a LOT worse than this surgery, though. I've never given birth, C-section or otherwise, so I can't compare the surgery to any other sort of stomach pain.

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Wow, you woke up with a tube down your throat??? ugh! I'd been fighting people and yanking it out...

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Does everyone have to inject blood thinners into themselves after surgery? I can't even remove a splinter from my toe without it being a show.

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Does everyone have to inject blood thinners into themselves after surgery? I can't even remove a splinter from my toe without it being a show.

I didn't have to inject anything after surgery. I've never had blood problems that would require blood thinners, though. I'd ask your surgeon. If you don't get clots or anything like that, I assume you don't need thinners. The only thing they had me do to help prevent clots was keep those hospital compression stockings on.

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That is funny about getting cold. I can't believe that I get cold now too!! I have been hot for so long that I never thought I'd ever be cold. I have literally saved probably 200 dollars on my electric bill since this surgery. I had to keep my house so freezing cold that I was paying unbelievable amounts. Now I'm cold! I love it!

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I can't believe some people are even remotely trying to compare this surgery with a C-section! In a CS they cut through your MUSCLE WALL. Which is a lot of the post-op pain and discomfort.

When you have arthroscopic surgery it's nothing close or even comparable to that.... :wacko:

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I can't believe some people are even remotely trying to compare this surgery with a C-section! In a CS they cut through your MUSCLE WALL. Which is a lot of the post-op pain and discomfort.

When you have arthroscopic surgery it's nothing close or even comparable to that.... :wacko:

Well the stomach is a muscle too so I would suppose that some people might find it moderately painful. But of course the laparoscopic incisions are small so that is better.

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I can't believe some people are even remotely trying to compare this surgery with a C-section! In a CS they cut through your MUSCLE WALL. Which is a lot of the post-op pain and discomfort.

When you have arthroscopic surgery it's nothing close or even comparable to that.... :wacko:

My OBGYN does not cut muscles at all, nor do most anymore. They separate the muscles on the midline and then just bring them back together when they're done. They only cut the skin and other tissues.

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Love this forum very informative Thank you all I'm a future sleever

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I wish someone had told me that I wouldn't be able to sleep on my side for awhile.

I've ALWAYS slept on my side or at least fallen asleep that way. Tuesday will be three weeks post-op and I'm only just now starting to be able to sleep somewhat comfortably on my left side (if I'm careful and go slowly). I can lay on my right side for a few minutes, but its still painful.

I didn't really care what position I slept in as long as I was taking the percoset every night, but now that I'm off the pain meds I get sore laying on my back for too long. It'll be a relief when I can roll-over at will again.

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Lots of great information on this forum. This does help me prepare for my surgery. Thank you all.

I have only read a few post about losing hair. Does everyone experience this or is this just like everything else, everyones body reacts differently. This is a big concern to me because I have very thin hair. Do you lose a lot of hair?

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Wow! Sounds like I was a lucky one...No tube down my throat when I woke up & no drains! I did have a sore throat for about a week. But nothing I couldn't handle. I was off pain meds after a day being home. I just need to get my butt on my exercise bike more. Good Luck to all. I feel this was the best thing I have done for myself!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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