male only Sleeve Pain Level - From a Guys Perspective?

[Rhodes 66]

I need a guys perspective:

How much does the sleeve surgery REALLY hurt?

I've only talked to two people that have had it done in person, both are female.

One said she was uncomfortable, but not in agony, the other said it was a living hell.

Since male/female pain tolerances are about as different as a race car and a T-Rex, I thought I'd ask some of my male comrades here who already went under the knife what they thought about the pain/recovery time.

What say you?

[defibvt 348]

I really had very little pain, once I left the hospital (2 nights in the hospital). I had the sleeve March 2 and I had scheduled IV pain medication, IV anti Nausea medication, IV antacid medication and IV antibiotics for the 2 days I was in the hospital. I was given some oral toradol to take at home and got a prescription for tramadol as well. I was off all pain medication 2 days after I got home. I had some dull soreness that was controlled with tylenol. I was up walking the neighborhood and mowing the lawn (riding mower) a week after I got home from the hospital and back to work in 2 weeks.

[Rhodes 66]

@@defibvt - Thanks

I had umbilical hernia surgery about 3 years ago. I was more out of it from the anesthesia than anything else. I felt fine 24 hours later. My doctor told me I had an inhuman pain tolerance...

Am I correct to believe you meant March 2, 2015 for your surgery?

I ask because we are the same height and you only had me by a pound for Starting Weight.

I know everyone's results are different and dependent on many factors, I was just trying to get a baseline for weight loss..

Thanks!

Edited May 12, 2015 by Rhodes

[Rhodes 66]

I'm asking so I have a reference point to go by - If my pain tolerance is off the charts, I don't want to injure myself but moving too fast...

[Dallas_P 34]

I think the pain level varies by individual and by the surgeon and the methods that they use. I think how much effort you put into getting physically and mentally in shape prior to the surgery also matters.

I had virtually no pain from the surgery. I even asked if they had aborted the procedure when I woke up. I lost over 40 lbs prior to the surgery and was working out as well. I'm 60 by the way. I was constantly on the message boards reading all the stories about the excruciating pain from the procedure and the gas and fully expected to be connected to a morphine drip. I can tell you that I had no need for any pain medication any time after the surgery. My wife and son also had the surgery after I did. My wife experienced quite a bit of pain (mainly at the large incision site). My son had some fairly severe pain the first day or two but was fine after that. The best advice I can give you is to put all your efforts into losing as much weight as you can prior to the surgery while working out to build up your cardio and muscles If you do that post op will be a breeze. Get up and walk as soon as you can after the surgery and continue to walk. Stay upright as much as you can. Sit in a chair rather that lie in bed. All these things will help. Just keep moving and you'll be fine.

Best of luck to you with your surgery. It was the best move I ever made in my life. Absolutely no regrets!

Dallas

[Boombalatty 94]

The sleeve was my first surgery, so I was worried about it. It turned out not that bad at all. I was in the hospital for 30 hours maybe and very rarely hit the pain pump (mainly when getting up to walk which I started hours after the surgery).

They gave me a prescription for liquid Tylenol with Codeine to take home with one refill. I maybe took 4 doses of it. I did take it easy for several weeks, though, as clock watching and sipping every 15 minutes was a full time job (and somehow the short term disability paid more than my actual job, so I stayed out for the whole approved time )

[Boombalatty 94]

Dallas_P brought up a good point. Before the surgery, I had lost 100 pounds (I was very large - 585 highest recorded, 515 pounds starting wls effort, 415 at surgery) and was exercising regularly and I think that really helped.

[Rhodes 66]

@@Boombalatty -

Thanks for the info!

Congrats on your fantastic progress! How much have you lost to date?

[Boombalatty 94]

Thanks. I'm down a total of about 236 pounds so far from the 515. 136 since surgery 8 months ago. I am really looking forward to the day I am literally half the man I used to be. (Although if I count the historic high, I guess I already passed that... but I tend to think of the 520-515 since I was at that weight longer. )

[Rhodes 66]

@@Boombalatty

That is amazing! Great job on your progress!

[defibvt 348]

@@Rhodes Yes I had my surgery March 2, 2015. I agree with @@Dallas_P pain is an individual experience and we all have different pain tolerances. BTW... I had my surgery in Mexico, as my health insurance did not cover the procedure. I also agree the activity you start with and put into yourself, prior to surgery does pay off... I also believe walking as soon as possible and as often as possible, after surgery was the best thing I did. Of the 7 others, in my group, who had surgery on the same day... those that walked did best, two of the 7 had issues with nausea and vomiting, but none really complained of pain.

Good luck on your journey and @Boombalatty... congrat's on your success.

[Rovobay 920]

I took a week off of work. I went home 24 hours after surgery. slept in the recliner for the first 5 days. hurt to be straight. pain was fine. I did almost die (or so I thought) when I sneezed on day 6. whatever you do, do NOT sneeze. holy crap that hurt. I looked down expecting to see my guts coming out of my scars! never took too much pain meds after the first couple days. good luck!

[Rhodes 66]

@@Rovobay

Oh, Dear, I have terrible allergies.. Sometimes I sneeze multiple times daily...

Have to see my allergy Doc about this...

BTW: Congrats on your success....

[cube68 70]

I used the pain meds in the hospital, but not so much once I got home. I even went to my daughter's chorus concert like two hours after I got home from the hospital. (About 36 hours after surgery) you'll do fine with the pain, my one piece of advice is to pee right before they start to prep you for surgery. I didn't, and they wouldn't let me get up for a couple of hours after I woke up, seriously needed to pee, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't pee in a bed pan for the life of me. .. lol

Edited May 12, 2015 by cube68

[defibvt 348]

@Rovoboy WOW... great success... I am ten weeks out and down 60 pounds... Thanks for sharing.

@@Rhodes I also believe in the long term benefits of the surgery. My two week recovery was a bit complicated by developing strep throat, 3 days after I returned home, but I recovered and was back to work. Even some discomfort is worth it in the long run....