My surgery is scheduled for 1-23-08 and I’m starting to worry about how much pain I will have after the surgery.

If you could rate the pain you experienced from 1 to 10 (10 being the most painful) what would it be? Also, what type of pain did you have and how long did it last?

Thanks for any info you can provide!

HOLY CRAP! It hurt so bad....but only in one spot and only when I stood up or sat down. (Or tried to wipe after the bathroom). It's been two weeks and it doesn't hurt AT ALL. Feels like I didn't even have anything done, except I'm NEVER hungry & I've lost 13 pounds. It was very painfull when they made me get off the surgery bed and sit in the recovery chair. The pain got better every day. Practice using your arms and legs to lift you without using your belly muscles. They kept telling me to do that...but I was like how the **** do I do that? It was really painful, but they gave me pretty good pain medicine. However, if I was standing up or sitting down the pain cut right through. I also had a hiatal hernia repaired & I think that might have left a little pain that felt kind of like heartburn but was nothing compared to the belly stitch pain. The belly stich almost went away and then I twisted the wrong way. It hurt really bad for two days & then went completely away. No worries....two weeks goes by like wildfire! YEY!

I guess I was lucky . . . I would say my pain at it's worst was a 3-4 . . . never even took the pain meds at home and haven't even opened the liquid tylonal . . . it seems to strike each person differently. I was up and walking 1-1/2 hours after being back in my room from recovery . . . and they said the more you can walk, the better it will be for you. I did get a bit of gas pain in the shoulder, but nothing I couldn't deal with - and I did take gas-x strips to help. Good luck . . . it all goes by quite quickly!

I guess I was really lucky!! I had surgery on a Tuesday morning and by Friday, I wasn't even taking Tylenol. Just some soreness and very minor gas. The 2nd day after the surgery was the worst. I went back to work the following Monday and began working out 3 days a week from that point on. It truly has been a really good experience for me. No problems at all. I think everyone is different though. I hope that helps!! Best of luck to you with your surgery!!

I was never in constant pain. In fact, "discomfort" better describes how I felt. I've felt worse with a bad case of menstrual cramps! I did take the prescription pain meds the first three or four days, mainly at night so that I would sleep well. The liquid Tylenol was enough during the day. It wasn't difficult to find a position where I didn't feel any pain.

I'd had my Gallbladder out a couple years before the band and all I remember now from when I had the band placed was that I was absolutely amazed at how much easier the band surgery went. I kept waiting for things to get worse and they never did. I'm not saying there wasn't pain or discomfort, just that it wasn't near as bad as the gallbladder surgery. My only real discomfort was in trying to wear a bra as it rubbed along my port incision. And for both surgeries I was back to work in less than a week. Honestly I think I could have gone back nearly 2 days post surgery. I wouldn't have felt 100% but then I only have a desk job and I have the mind set that if I am well enough to sit on the couch watching telly then I'm well enough to sit at my desk and get paid to look at the computer.

I agree with Longhorn, discomfort describes it better for me than out and out pain.

I have been in pain before---and this did not come close for me.

They gave me pain meds once in my IV immediately after surgery, then the next time I was awake enough to let them know I did not need them, and never took any more.

I flew home on day 3, it was a 5 hour flight, with a change in airlines---from one end of the airport in Phoenix to the other! Then a total of 5 hours by car---and hour and a half to get to the airport that morning, then another 3.5 when we landed, to get home. Through it all, I walked with no problem, managed to help with the luggage, and did it all with one dose of liquid Tylenol, for a headache!

When I got home, I had 2 free days then began taking care of my 19 month old granddaughter full time again.

With all the surgeries I have had---this was by far the easiest.

Kat

Dang Kat817 - You are a near Superwoman!!

I only hope that I tolerate the surgery as well. I have had 3 C-Sections, hysterectomy, and a mini tummy tuck....so I am thinking that I will take it pretty well considering that I went back to work (to an office) 3 weeks after my last C-Section, 2 weeks after the cosmetic surgery, and 3 weeks after my hysterectomy.

I am thinking that I will tolerate it pretty good and I am actually counting on that fact. I am only planning on taking 1 week off of work - as I am not telling anyone at work that that is what I am doing.

Any other suggestions to make the recover go any faster would help.

The only suggestion I have would be to be prepared.

Have the Gas X on hand in case you are one to experience the residual gas. Have a good supply of liquid (clear to start) Protein...readily available at GNC or similar places. They sell test tube shots of protein that are ok on clear liquid post op diets, and they sell the Zero Carb Isopure which is high protein.

Walk as much as you can, as soon as you can.

Sip constantly---stay hydrated! If you use the pain meds they can cause constipation, so keeping plenty of fluids in will help counteract that.

That won't be an issue for long-----it usually ends up going the other way....liquid in=liquid out. Be prepared for that too!! Doesn't last long, as your diet increases it goes away, and things go back to normal!

I used a dining room chair set next to my bed, for leverage in and out, as the muscle where they stitched the port remained sore for awhile, and not stressing it helped!!! I could use the chair to help pull up and to lower myself to my bed. Many sleep in a recliner at first, but I wanted to lay down!!!

Start talking now about the liquid diet you are going to try---that way no one will be surprised when your diet changes. And have a plan in place for just in case your secret gets out. If you do not want it out, do not tell anyone!!

I think you will do fine, you have been through the anesthetic before, and more invasive surgeries, so this should be ok!

Good Luck!

Kat

My surgery is scheduled for 1-23-08 and I’m starting to worry about how much pain I will have after the surgery.

If you could rate the pain you experienced from 1 to 10 (10 being the most painful) what would it be? Also, what type of pain did you have and how long did it last?

Thanks for any info you can provide!

I had the surgery 11/12/07 my pain level was a 4 it felt as though i did sit up's the day before

I had a lot more pain for this than I did for gall bladder four years ago. It really hurt where my stitches were.

I didn't expect the insane amount of bloating, puffiness and gas. I would give my pain a 7.

Not Much Pain For Me , I Was Up Walking Around The Same Night, My Worst "pain" If U Want To Call It That Was I Felt Like I Had Done Too Many Sit Ups And Thats It. I Had Mine Done On A Wednesday By Saturday I Was Out Driving

My port site was the sorest, probably a 5 or 6. No other complaints.

mine was done Friday--I would say maybe 1 or 2 right now--much easier than the gallbladder. between the ice pack o n my stomach and heating pad on my back--and the pills they gave me--i'm doing great!

Mary

12/28

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

my pain was only gas pain about a 4-5 after a few gas x I was fine completely normal by day 4

I agree with julie....port site very tender...ice pack on it helped! Deferred shoulder pain hurt but went again....all in all not bad!