One more thing I forgot to ask . . .I'm having surgery on a Friday, it's outpatient and I will not be spending the night in the hospital. Do you think I can be back at work on Tuesday? I don't have a strenous job but I just can't miss much work, I'm in sales and if I don't work, I don't make money. I'm interested to know what everyone thinks.

I had my surgery on Thurs...back to work on Monday no porblems. I'm at a desk all day so nothing strenuous going on there....take your heating pad with you keep gas-x on hand and I would think you should be ok

Good luck!!

~Monica

whats the Gas-x for?

As you read peoples after surgery stroires you will find MOST everyone has gas pain following surgery. It is because your abdominal cavity is filled with gas during surgery to allow the surgeon room to move around. After you are closed up all of that gas has to work it's way outta your system.

Your doctor will tell you to walk walk walk to help move it...and the gas-x will help with the pain as well.....many people complain of shoulder pain as the gas tends to move up into the shoulders....it takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get it all worked....I think most people will tell you that the gas pain was the most unpleasent part of recovery.

Bring on the questions....it is sooo much better to have a good idea of what you can expect then to be blindsided after you wake up...LOL

~Monica

Why don't they just drain out the gas before they sew you up!

-adding Gas-x to my list.

Why don't they just drain out the gas before they sew you up!

-adding Gas-x to my list.

awwww now wouldn't that be nice....maybe you should suggest that to your surgeon and report back to us on how it goes....lol

Thanks for the gas-x info. I am very worried about the time off work. I have heard at least two weeks and I might be able to swing a week but less would be better. I have a desk job too so I am hoping that will help.

No way I could have worked in that short of time, but a lot of people do. I don't think you know until after surgery and can see how your body reacts.

Good luck!

I just wanted to say, the Gas-X didn't help me. The Gas-X would work great if the gas was actually in your intestines... it's not. It's floating around and it's super duper uncomfortable. That was the worse part I think. I had surgery on Monday, was back to work by Friday. But I took an extra day, b/c I ended up in the ER Tuesday night. Best of luck to ya :rolleyes2:

I have to say I think that how quickly you are back to work/normal life will depend a great deal on how YOUR body recovers from surgery.

My band was the 3rd lap surg I had had in 2 1/2yrs, each time I was up and around within a couple of days. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not telling you I was 100% in a couple of days, but I could get around and was off pain meds, took a shower and looked human again. But I also know people who had the same surgeries I did and they took much longer to recover, so really it's going to be a matter of how well your body responds.

Good luck I hope you have a text book procedure and a FAST recovery!!

~Monica

I was outpatient as well but it took me a week because I had a reaction to the anaeshesia but 4 to 5 days is very realistic IF you are not doing a lot of physical labor.

Thanks for all the info!! I'm going to grab some Gas-x just in case! I saw they have strips that melt on your tongue! I hope it helps! I sell surgical equipment so I have to be back in the OR for work on Tuesday, it's nothing tough, I just have to be there to coach the surgeon.

Twilight - why were you back in the ER the night after surgery?

I'm getting very excited! 10 days and counting!!

Nina,

I had surgery last Friday (June 26th) and went back to school on Monday (three days post-op). Now I know that work and school are not the same, but I am in a laboratory, so some amount of walking and sitting are required. I can't say how you'll do, I can only speak from my experience, but I'll tell you that I was fine. While I did have quite a bit of discomfort when driving, I made it through my two classes just fine. However, if you've had other surgeries that took you a while to heal, you might not heal as quickly. If you are able to take some time off from work, I would say to take off Monday and Tuesday--I'm functioning, but not 100%. A lot of this will just depend on how you feel after your surgery--ask your surgeon what he thinks and listen to your body.

Best of Luck!

I had my surgery as outpatient on a Friday. I worked from home on Monday and Tuesday and was back in the office on Wednesday. I could have gone to the office on Tuesday but decided to play it safe, just in case I wanted or needed to lie down.

Lauren and Linda - thanks so much for the info. That's really encouraging!! I think I'll be fine. I've had surgery once before and I was feeling fine the next day, hopefully this will be the same! I'm really looking forward to it! This weekend is going to be the last big party for me, then it's time to buckle down! Any tips you can share for immediately post op?