Lap Band scheduled and new to this site. I'm just a little nervous and a whole lot excited. I have never had any kind of surgery. Closest I've come to it is an epidural and an episiotomy. I'm a physician assistant and true to my nature, I am focusing on all the bad stuff that I know can happen! So if I could, I would like to hear from you guys about what to expect immediately following post op.

As you read through the various threads in this site, you will find post surgery is different for everyone.

Some have surgery as an out-patient, others spend the night in the hospital. Some have alot of gas from the surgery, others don't.

Some have stitches, others have bandaids, and others drs use glue.

Some people go back to work in a couple of days, others stay home for a week.

I had surgery at 9 am on Thursday and was home by 6 pm. I was up and shopping early the next morning. It was Memorial weekend so I didn't go back to work until Tuesday. Back at work on Tuesday I was on summer hours (9 hour days/4 Friday) and I was wore out by the end of the day. I think part of the tiredness is due to healing and part is due to limited calorie intake.

By noon on Thursday I was up and walking around as much as possible all weekend. When I went back to work I walked before work, during breaks, at noon, and after work. Walking is supposed to reduce the gas pains.

You can go to threads to see surgery scars right afterwards, one week later, etc.

The first month you are basically healing. Your body is recovering from being subjected to a foreign body inside of you. You won't be able to eat alot after surgery (or drink alot) because of the swelling. Your body will heal and you can add additional foods - see food list thread. After you heal, you will get a fill and or many fills until you find the spot where you are properly restricted.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the suggested threads and I appreciate the info.

Some people fly through the process like a dentist visit. Others have a rougher time. Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. I went back to work 4 days later but got sent home after 2 hours. I ended up taking almost a week off due to horrible diareah and a disgusting general overall feeling of bluch blah blug pooh!

As an assistant, you probably know that surgeons schedule "surgery days" so you will most likely meet your new fellow band family. Find out in advance if your surgeon is doing several people that day. If so, tell him you are really freaked out and beg to go first. Once you get rigged up in your hospital gown, bed and IV, the hours move very, very slowly. If he does a batch of people that day, you'll bond with great folks going through the same thing. If you don't go first you get the benefit of seeing your new friends going before you. I did well immediately after surgery, while the toughest girl had bad dry heaves for hours. I got up and walked immediately, others stayed in bed longer. There were 6 in the hospital with me, and each had a different story.

I was lucky and went immediately, but my friend Francesca sat in her IV all day as other people went before her.

Make sure to travel very light. One tote-bag is enough. I brought chapstick and extra undies but wore the same baggy clothes to and from. I did bring a brand new pair of pink fuzzy bootie socks for comfort. I wore them walking the halls and everyone loved them, and something tiny like that helps to keep cheerful.

Plan in advance for what you'll wear the weeks following surgery. No pants that are tight or binding. Dresses, sweats, SCRUBS! You're lucky!

When they first wake you from the anesthesia, you might grab your doctor's butt like I did. I always remind the surgeon to put a muzzle on me since I'm a helpless flirt that wakes up hitting on the surgical staff.

Good luck to you. I keep thinking I see "tapioca" under your name. What are the initials for?

The ladies above me gave great advice, so I'll just say welcome! It was nice to meet you!

Oh great, something else I can worry about--grabbing someone's butt! The letters tc are my initials and pa is for physician assistant. Thank's for the encouragement