Hi,

I have surgery in just over 3 weeks and have a few questions if anyone has any answers. 1.) When will I be able to be up and moving again, or at least walk around? 2.) Do ice packs help at all? 3.) How do you handle the hangry or irritability from cutting out things or food cravings? 4.) How long was it before you were able to go back to the gym? 5.) Any advice or things to keep in mind for the surgery or after? I know that was a lot, but I just want to ask these questions beforehand so that I can be as prepared as possible and settle my nerves a bit. Thank you!

Hello, The nerves are very normal, we would not be human if we didn't. It is a very safe surgery.

1. They will expect you to get up and move around every hour or two after surgery to stop blood clots and help reduce the gas pains. the surgeon will fill your stomach with gas to give him as much room to work as possible. Its not released like wind but absorbed internally. Some people have problems, I didn't

2. I would use a hot water bottle rather than ice packs.

3. Do you mean pre surgery ? - You just have to suck it up. The surgeon needs you to do his pre op diet to shrink a fatty liver. BTW. Nobody has the same pre op diet. He could abandon the surgery if you dont adhere to his instructions. The thought of waking without the surgery having happened really motivated me to tow the line for the 3 weeks slog through mine. The first 4 days are the worst and after that you seem resigned and just try your best. Some people cut out sugary foods before hand but I went cold turkey because I had food funerals.

Post sugery ? - Water will fill your stomach and your time. Its a bit tough for most of us for a couple of weeks. The more you can drink then the better you will feel. The tiny amount that you will manage to eat will shock you.

4. You surgeon will tell you this. Like everything else, he/ she has their own rules that nobody else has been given.

5. Advice, Do not buy loads of protein shakes or foods that you think will be suitable post surgery. Your taste buds may change drastically

You may get a massive hormone rush because the hormones are in the fat cells. I felt like I was pregnant again { yes, at my age } food smells made me heave and I was so very tearful.

A recliner helps

Some people swear by 2 ounce cups to keep up their hourly water regime.

Remember its a bigger surgery than you see on the outside. Your internal plumbing has been rerouted and will be swollen and like a petulant toddler . Be kind to your self and do not rush the process.

Let us know how you are doing, there is always somebody here.

I was up and shuffling the day after surgery. I spent three days in the hospital because I had a lot of vomiting the night after survey, so I couldn’t eat until day two., even so I walked and moved as much as I could. I was driving about a week and a half after surgery, doing my own house work by the time I got home and walking as much as I could. The one side effect I hadn’t anticipated was exhaustion and it turned out my BP was too low. That was fixed by stopping my blood pressure medication.

I had three days in hospital too but because my back went into spasm on day 2 when I would have been going home. I was walking in hospital (well until my back spasmed). I also had a little difficulty swallowing due to swelling from the intubation tube but it was fine by day 4. I live alone & I didn’t have any trouble getting about and looking after myself. Depending upon your existing mobility a recliner may be a help but I was fine getting in & out of bed and chairs - just went slowly. Energy levels can drop but an electrolyte drink can help by giving you an extra boost. If you feel lightheaded, your blood pressure may be low and if you on BP meds that may need to be adjusted. Keep hydrated.

Heat pads can help with shoulder pain which occurs as the surgical gas rises and work itself out if your body (it’s absorbed into your lungs & you breath it out).

Check with your team in regards to when you can resume more active exercising like going to the gym. Walking is usually recommended further the first 4 weeks. Remember to you will have lifting weight restrictions for a couple of weeks so you don’t pull or strain your internal stitches and your healing digestive system.

Don’t hate me but I didn’t have any cravings post surgery possibly because I wasn’t a big craving person anyway (except pms carb cravings). Distraction helps with cravings and other head hungers. Read, craft, do puzzles, walk, phone a friend, etc. Sometimes a warm drink can help too.

Best advice is listen to your body. Feel tired or lack energy, rest. Feel pain or discomfort, stop what you are doing. If something feels unusual or wrong, or becomes painful, if your wounds become red or swollen, if you have any dehydration symptoms, contact your team or go to your nearest emergency centre. Not to scare you, they rarely occur, but it’s always better to know what to watch for.

All the best.

Hi there. I just had the surgery on July 18 & wanted to share my experience.

1. I walked a few hours post-op and then every few (daytime) hours after that. I am now pretty mobile although mornings are a little rough (dizziness, wooziness) and I do tire easily. But I’m walking now maybe 5-6x a day for 15 min at a clip and feeling pretty solid.

2. Ice packs helped me tremendously. I heated my shoulder when the gas pain was a little rough post-op, but ice packs helped my incision pain sooooo much.

3. I really only felt hunger the day before surgery (clear liquid diet). My kids ate deep dish pizza a few days post-op and it smelled good but it wasn’t a brutal craving or anything. Find post-op things that fit the requirements but also suit your tastes. I tried veggie broth and it sucked. I strained a veggie soup I love (using a super fine strainer) and boom, crisis adverted. Still a clear broth, but a much tastier one.

4. Can’t speak to this because I’m only 12 days out. But walking feels really good, so I can attest to that.

My advice is to listen very closely to your body. Follow all your surgeon’s instructions but rest when you need rest. Set timers to eat if you don’t remember the mini meals (a problem I never thought I’d have but here we are). Ask for help from those around you in the recovery process. I was so nervous I almost cancelled my surgery the day before but less than two weeks out…I’m so thankful I went through with it. Good luck! And feel free to message me anytime if you ever want to chat. :)

Thank you to everyone that responded. It has helped my nerves tremendously.

Hi,

You have a lot of questions, I would strongly urge you to join BariNation, or watch some of their pod casts or YouTube videos and learn more about what you are about to embark on. It is not just a weight loss surgery it is metabolic and there are a lot of issues that can be easily easing of your mind if you have answers. I joined BariNation pre-op and still am with them. It does cost a little each month, but it is also one place where you get licensed social workers that are experienced with bariatric patients, nutritionists/dieticians that are also used to working with bariatric patients and physicians and surgeons come on and do question and answer sessions. For a small amount of money, you can attend any group you want and ask all the questions you may have and that will ease your mind of all stuff in your mind.

Good luck!

My mother had my ass up and walking right after surgery. I had no downtime and I have been walking and exercising ever since everybody's journey seems to be different and I hope that you have no complications. The device that helped me the most and I still have it is like having a blanket when your newborn is my binder the binder that you put around the stomach is so awesome. It holds you in tight and it makes the pain less. Stay in touch

Edited August 18, 20251 yr by Mspretty86