Recovery Time?

[laurenica23 1]

My surgery is scheduled for Dec 19. This is fine with me, as I'm a student and this gives me plenty of time to recover before next semester starts.

However, I am a singer and as this is right before Christmas, I'm a little worried. I'm usually involved in some kind of group/solo/etc., the Sunday before Christmas and/or Christmas Eve.

I've just turned 24, so I think the fact that I'm young is on my side. I've never had surgery before, though, so I don't know how I'll react to it. Do you think I'll have the strength for singing the Sunday after (my surgery is a Friday) or Christmas Eve (the next Wednesday)?

I'm optimistic, but I'm a little worried I'll schedule too much in my life only a couple days after the surgery.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Honestly, the deep breathing and control MAY be a little problematic. Sometimes the diaphragm gets, um, upset? LOL when things are shoved and moved around as the band is placed. When that happens, it can cause referred shoulder pain that can be disabling. For me, for example, I was fine unless/until I exercised and the deep breathing made my neck and shoulder hurt like the dickens.

I am 53, though, and I recovered VERY fast, no nausea, no problems, no restriction, only 2 doses of strong pain meds, home the same day as surgery, slept on side night 1 and stomach night 2.

Your best bet is to as your surgeon what he thinks. I'm a nursing student and was back at school 3 days after surgery, but fortunately didn't have to do patient care until about 10 days out.

[jmegirl 2]

I had my surgery on a Wednesday. I went back to work (from home) on Monday - so that's 5 days? That Monday while I was working from home, I had the music blasting and was singing at the top of my lungs, off and on, for several hours. I love to sing :tongue2: and I figured it was a good way to get my deep breathing in (as instructed by the doctor - they gave me an aspirator to breathe in for 7 days).

I didn't have any problems carrying a tune, and we're close in age, so as long as you practice deep breathing as soon as you're out of surgery, I'd say by Day 5 you should be good to go! :rolleyes2:

[laurigee 545]

I think this is going to be different for everyone you ask. I never needed pain meds, I had my surgery on Thur. and was push mowing my lawn on Sat. But I have heard in my support group where it has taken some people over a week to recover. I know going into surgeries that I have never had pain issues and heal quite quickly. So, if you have had other surgeries, I think you can kind of base how fast you recovered. Good Luck and Congratulations on your upcoming Banding!

[HeatherO 7]

I agree that everyone is different. You never know if you will have a simple recovery and will feel like a million bucks in a few days or not. I felt good a few days out but was just generally exhausted. I slept a lot the first week but pain was not really an issue and I didn't take my pain meds.

I think if you do plan on singing, it is good to have a back up plan just in case. Having a back up plan can help ease your stress . . . and if you feel great you can still proceed.

If you don't want to share about the banding surgery, you can always chalk it up to a hernia repair or claim illness if necessary.

[sistasassy 6]

I sing as well and I would definately have a back up plan just in case you are not up to it. Breathing deeply is not the easiest for a few days after surgery. I am not sure if it is due to the intubation or for some other reason. Your upper abdominal region is going to be tender and being able to do the deep "belly" breathing required for quality singing may be rough.

You may do just fine. I am eight days post-op and am just now feeling up to singing again.

[laurenica23 1]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the input. I think I'll probably be feeling much more up to singing on Christmas Eve ... maybe not the Sunday before, so we'll see what happens with that.

I've never had surgery, so I'm not sure how my body will react, but for some reason I feel pretty confident. I guess I'll find out December 19 All my pre-op tests came back with really good numbers, so I'm hoping my good health (besides obesity, of course) will help me out with my recovery.