I was just wondering how long it took you all to recover? I am trying to decide how long I need to expect to take off. I am in college, would a 5 day break be long enough for me to take off and then go back to school? Thoughts anyone?

:confused2:

Aside from the, "everyone heals at their own pace", which, is true; I'd say 5 days would be good if you can afford that much time. I'm unemployed (at the moment), so it's hard to say exactly when I would've been ready. However, I was only given 2 days of Supradol (or something like that-pain med), then instructed to take Liquid Tylenol if need be. I did take it but sometimes skipped doses, and don't really feel it would've been absolutely necessary to take. I'm 15 days out now. After the 1st day I was walking around and site seeing. I did have mild discomfort, but nothing too serious. Although, do listen to the advice to walk, walk, walk because it really does help with the CO2 pains. I thought that I just wasn't experiencing them, but then I skipped 2 days of walking and had gas pains in my shoulder. The walking keeps them at bay. The other thing I noticed was that my stomach stayed bloated and swollen for at least 7 days (and still is some). I 1st drove 3 days afterwards and that was what made it weird because my stomach was bigger after surgery. I had to move my seat around.

I work a desk job, so I only took 1 week off work. I was okay, but I really could have an extra 2 days off.

I go to school also. I had my surgery on a Friday and my next class was on Monday evening. My doc. told me if I felt OK to go. It has been two weeks today since surgery and I have not missed a class. I usually dress nice for school but have found myself dressing for comfort not nice. Sitting in those chairs for any length of time is uncomfortable. Take some gas x strips with you. It never fails that I get gas pains (sometimes unbearable) during class. Also, remember you are only allowed to carry 10 pounds those first 4-6 weeks. My books and stuff for literature class weigh more than that. I just don't use my book bag for that class. I noticed it was pulling on the port incision. I carry those books and it seems to be fine doing that. The weight of them is more evenly distributed rather than hanging all to one side. Good luck and as someone else said everyone heals differently. I felt great my first week and at the beginning of the second I hurt pretty bad for about three days. Now beginning my third week I feel really good and have lost 15 pounds in those 2 weeks.