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Pain / life afterward



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Hi, this is my first post on this site. I look forward to many more in the future. I made arrangements to attend an information session next week. I have a couple of questions I was hoping some of you could answer for me. How much pain were you in after your surgery? I have had 2 c-sections and was wondering is it is at all comparable. Also how long until you were able to do things like drive, housework, caring for your kids. I am a full time mom and part time student and was wondering how long I will need help at home, and how much time I will need to recover before going back to school. I am trying to plan ahead and any experiences would be appreciated. TIA

Beckie

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Beckie, I was also a student when I was banded. I was banded April 19th. School was in session for another month. I needed very little help at home. Reading some of the posts leads me to believe that C sections are MUCH worse than the lap band. I have never had a c section, this is just coming from what I have read on other posts. I was doing lite housework about 3-4 days out. Some things hurt worse than others and of course I was told if I start to do something and it hurts, STOP!! I have older children so lifting was not an issue with me. I also talked with my professors who let me "take" the rest of the semester off, and do my work from home. That was a big issue with me, but I was having it done, whether I had to haul a bookbag around or not!!! Read, read and read some more. That is the best information you can get.

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It is nothing like a c-section (I've had 3). It is much easier. The first few days are the toughest (still not like the c section) you are sore and tired but that does not last long. I had a very strange port pain that only a few people get and if it wasn't for that, it would have been a breeze. Make sure the doctor that you choose has plenty of experience, do not be afraid to ask "how many have you done etc". Plan on a good solid week before you get back too your daily routine but there are some people on here that were back to work in a couple of days but I would recommend at least a full week.

Good Luck....see you in bandland!

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I had it on Thursday went back to work on Monday......... MUCH easier than my c-section. Take the time to read this site, you will learn SOOOO much that you may even know more than the nurses who tend to you after surgery. (I did) I was told several times they were not really familiar with the procedure I had done... I asked them to remove the leg thingy's so I could get up and walk around... and I did .. walk walk walk it was the best thing I could of done for myself!

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Thanks so much for your insights. I have two kids 4 and 1. I didn't have trouble at all recovering from the c-sections. A little soreness, but on my feet within 8-10 hours.

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Totally different to a Csection. Although I found my one Csection quite easy to get over too. But nowhere near the limitation to movement etc that you have with a Csection.

But its different because you have to get over a general anaesthetic and that does kind of lay you out for a few days.

But I was back to regular mild daily activity within a week and certainly well enough for a gentle 3km walk the day after my surgery.

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Hi, this is my first post on this site. I look forward to many more in the future. I made arrangements to attend an information session next week. I have a couple of questions I was hoping some of you could answer for me. How much pain were you in after your surgery? I have had 2 c-sections and was wondering is it is at all comparable. Also how long until you were able to do things like drive, housework, caring for your kids. I am a full time mom and part time student and was wondering how long I will need help at home, and how much time I will need to recover before going back to school. I am trying to plan ahead and any experiences would be appreciated. TIA

Beckie

Oh my goodness! A C-section is about 500,000,000 times worse than banding. Okay, so that is an exaggeration. If you can do a C-Section and dare to get preggers again, banding will be a piece of cake.

With banding no muscles are cut with the incisions and that makes a huge difference.

Each person is different but usually those with desk jobs can easily go back in a week or so. Many go back in 3-4 days. For me the one issue I noticed most of all was that for two weeks I would simply get tired easily. Very easily. I am not one to take naps but I was the first two weeks after surgery.

Lifting your kids will be a different story. Many docs don't want you lifting anything over 10 lbs or so for a few weeks. This is something to ask your doc.

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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
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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. summerseeker

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        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.

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        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
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