Have you asked? All Drs are not created equal

[Balance 8]

Went to the doctor yesterday for my 1 week post op. I told him I was shocked at how much better I've felt than I expected from reading lots of others on this forum...no nausea, able to drink and eat mushy foods fine, little gas. He said everyone recovers differently but told me two things that make his patients generally recover much better (He didn't say it in a bragging way)....

1) He has done so many of these and has state of the art equipment so his surgeries generally take ~45 minutes while some doctors take up to 3 hours. 3 hours of anesthesia is not good for the body and makes recovery much longer.

2) He gives some anti nausea medication right before surgery. It helps to avoid nausea right after and if you don't start with nasea, you will likely not get it later.

I never thought to ask these things pre surgery and just wanted to pass on so others could ask.

For those who had surgery already, how long was your surgery? Did quicker surgery time correlate to quicker recovery?

[rking 484]

My surgery was 2-3 hours. I did not have any nausea at all thank goodness. Not sure if I got anti nausea med.

[The Candidate 3,215]

I honestly don't know how long my surgery was, but the recovery was very easy. Like you, I expected it to be hard, but it wasn't. I had arranged to stay with family the first week as I had stairs. I ended up only staying the first night after discharge, and the next day I drove myself home. I was also able to sleep in a bed from the get go, when I'd read that so many others had to sleep in a recliner. It was my first surgery ever so I planned for the worst, but ended up getting the best.

[Miss Mac 6,261]

I went in for prep at 6am, had surgery, and recovery, and was in my room by 9am. So, three hours for everything start to finish.

The thing I appreciated the most about my surgeon was that he extracts as much CO2 as possible before closing up. I was terrified of getting that horrid shoulder gas, but it never happened.

It also help to allay my fears knowing that he teaches bariatric and robotic surgery at Loyola University. Over all, I had a much better experience than I was expecting.

[jane13 2,256]

My surgery was about 45 min to an hour from the time I left OR waiting area to they wheeled me back to recovery. I was given an anti nausea patch in pre-op. I haven't had any kind of surgery and I think no scar tissue and stuff makes it easier. He also only left me with 3 pin holes and one in my belly button (stomach exited there).

[Susan Lewis 25]

Hi. I'm nearly 2 weeks post op. Unfortunately I had severe nausea and wind from th start. First week was th worst. I still get bouts of nausea and wind seems t build up in th evening. I,m noe managing undiluted Soup, bout 3/4 mug at a time. Have tried pushing it with a few things but revert back t soup. I'm sooo glad th nausea has eased as it made me feel so ill. I have tried drivin once but it was too soon. Luckily husband is off work for 2 weeks so he,s drivin. I,m havin trouble sleeping, unable t get comfortable, so very tired at mo. How is your weight coming off. Mine is quite slow considering how little I,m eating

[Susan Lewis 25]

Forgot t add my surgeon took 50 mins. But was very mean with pain relief

[cindyw41 761]

My surgery will take 3 hrs but I am also having a hernia repair so that takes longer.

[Susan66 128]

Like Balance stated I also feel very fortunate to have not had any complications. I'm 2 weeks post op tomorrow. My surgery including hernia repair, my husband tells me was about an hour and 15 minutes.

No nausea, dizziness, headaches, trouble swallowing, drinking or keeping fluids down. I hardly had to take any pain meds. My anesthesiologist mentioned in pre op that he would be giving me pain blockers during surgery that would keep me comfortable for the first 24 hours or so.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I believe mine was about 45 minutes with a hernia repair.

[cherri2082 149]

My surgery will take 3 hrs but I am also having a hernia repair so that takes longer.

I am having hernia repair also. I had to have an ostomy for about 6 months and now I have an incisional hernia. Will you have to have an incision for repair?

[cindyw41 761]

My surgery will take 3 hrs but I am also having a hernia repair so that takes longer.

I am having hernia repair also. I had to have an ostomy for about 6 months and now I have an incisional hernia. Will you have to have an incision for repair?

My surgery will be robotic laparoscopy. It's kind of neat/scary all at the same time that my surgeon will be at a computer.