Exactly what the title says... I've researched this surgery up and down. I know it is the right choice for me. I am not concerned about the strict diet afterwards (I have lost over 100 pounds in the past through diet and exercise). I'm just having this really irrational fear of the recovery pain. I just want to know what to expect but of course everyone has a different experience. Especially with a lot of people posting "I have really high pain tolerance but..." lol. I don't even know what kind of pain tolerance I have. Sorry for this whiney fear-induced post.

Thank you all again for all your answers! <3

You are going to have pain but it is brief. I felt absolutely miserable the first 48 hours and the next 48 hours I had pain but it was tolerable. After that it was clear sailing. We are all different but there is no way to get around the pain -- it's going to happen. That said, the joy of being healthy and how abso-freaking-lutely great you feel once you heal and lose the weight is heaven.

So really, I'd make the trade again. Four days of agony for a lifetime of pure bliss.

8 hours ago, MeanSleevedMachine said:

You are going to have pain but it is brief. I felt absolutely miserable the first 48 hours and the next 48 hours I had pain but it was tolerable. After that it was clear sailing. We are all different but there is no way to get around the pain -- it's going to happen. That said, the joy of being healthy and how abso-freaking-lutely great you feel once you heal and lose the weight is heaven.

So really, I'd make the trade again. Four days of agony for a lifetime of pure bliss.

The only things here I can agree with is that we are all different, and that the joy of being healthy is amazing. I really had no post-surgical pain AT ALL. I had some muscle tenderness the first day, but I've had worse abdominal pain from doing too many sit-ups.

And all of us make it through, some by the skin of our teeth!

9 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

And all of us make it through, some by the skin of our teeth!

Lol. I made it through and all went well! My anxiety over the surgery was far worse than anything I have experienced so far (*knock on wood*). Now it's time to be anxious about other things.

So - I've had 2 kids by c-section. Multiple knee arthroscopies, open abdominal surgery to remove an ovary, removal of half my thyroid and one tattoo. This was nothing. I used pain meds in the hospital day of and day after surgery. Took one does after getting home day after surgery and used Tylenol after that. The gas is the bigger problem.

I understand the fear. I'm 2 years out and only regret I didn't do this sooner.

You were one tough lady, Diana, I will always think of you as my Philadelphia Freedom fighter! A tip if my helicopter beanie to YOU!

I've been active in the bariatric community for a few years now - on various boards and volunteering for my bariatric clinic. People are all across the board with pain (as you can probably tell by the responses here), but it seems the majority experience little to no pain. I've had other surgeries and thought this one was a breeze. I had no pain - just really sore abs that made it challenging to get in and out of bed the first few days. But the pain pills they send you home with will help with that..

Pain lasts for a little while. It rises and falls like the sun. It comes and goes like the seasons. Don't let it scare you.

The pain from what i remember isn’t bad and it goes away within a few days. A few days vs the rest of your life is a no brainer for me. I had more gas pressure than actual pain because of the co2 gas. So just remember to walk every 30mins to get that to move and that should go away within a few days too. I was totally fine by day 5. And the pain that you do have, they give you meds for. Just do it. Nothing to fear.