Hello! I just had surgery on Wednesday Nov. 17th and let me tell you... I was not quite ready for the amount of care that I need! I would suggest that you find a place to stay with family that can be available when you need help sitting up and getting out of bed to use the restroom or keeping you on schedule with meds and fluids. I haven't been able to bend over so if my undies fall down, I need my hubby to help me out. When I first got home, I couldn't even sit down without assistance because it hurt so bad! Now, I can sit up on my own, sit on the toilet by myself and even wipe pretty well (still can't bend enough in the middle to wipe well if I have had a BM). I know.. TMI.. but I kinda of wish I would have known that it would be this hard! I am lucky that my husband has been here. I called my sister Saturday night and she came to "babysit" me and I made my husband go out with friends. I have a hard time accepting help from others and even after 3 kids- this is the first time my husband has had to wipe up anything because of me! Walking is painful and as much as I hate it, I try to do more and more each day so that hopefully I can get back to being me quicker! I hope I am not scaring you.. I am so happy about the surgery. Moving at first is most painful. I have not had anything but fluids for a week now and I am actually in good spirits and feel good. No hunger although my stomache rumbles all the time (pretty sure it is gas!). I really believe that this is the very best option for me and will allow me to have a much better life! I just have to give up a little dignity for a bit!

I am going to give you my list of things I never thought I would have to ask my family for help with... but do.

To wipe me after I peed.

To wipe me after I had a BM.

To clean up the dribbles off the toilet when the only way I could wipe was to stand up.

To help me dry off each and every roll and between my legs when I got out of the shower.

To put down a towel when I didn't sit far enough back on the toilet and ended up peeing on the floor.

To change my undies because of the left over pee that I didn't get off.

To empty my drain and strip the tubing so no blood clots would be there.

To ask my hubby to put a pad in my underwear because my cycle is off.

To have to pee at 3a and need to wake up my hubby to help me sit up and then stand.

To change the gauze on my drain hole.

To help me ensure my meds are on time and that I have plenty of protein options and fulids near me at all time.

Again, I am very lucky and my husband is very supportive. It sounds like your family is behind you on this so you will want to figure out now where you can be for that first week that you are out of the hospital so that you can rest and stretch and walk and drink without having to over do it.

Sorry if this is to much info.. just want to make sure that you aren't surprised later on! Best wishes!

Wow! I have to say that I am a litle suprised. I did not hear from anyone else on this site needing help wiping. I love my boyfriend and my family but I REALLY don't want anyone to have to do that. I know that it is going to be painful and I am just hoping that I will have a nice and easy recovery like some of the other people on this site! Thank you though for all of the information. It did really help.

I know! I was a little shocked as well! I am not sure if I am the only one that experienced that or not but I was so not ready to need that kind of assistance!

1 week pre-op and I am doing OK with it now, still sore. I have size DDD boobs, maybe they hampered my ability to bend without pressing into sore muscles- I don't know. But if you can, make sure that you have people around at least every hour or so for the first week ust to make sure that you can rest.

My husband and sister have been awesome and I actually feel so much better today then I did yesterday! Everyday is ust a little better and it has me so excited! I can tell that this is a much bigger adjustment then I was thinking. I mean we all know that having a smaller tummy means eating less. But if you have a free moment, puree some soup and measure off 6 oz of it. I bet right now you could drink that in 2-3 swallows. I had that last night (with a 1/2 scoop of unflavored protein from unjury for a boost) and it took me 20 minutes and honestly- it was to much. Today, I will be trying 5 oz. My husband had 3 or 4 (I lost count) pieces of pizza. In the time it took him to eat his, I had finished my soup. I was SO FULL! Uncomfortably full. He went back for seconds (hence why I am unsure how many pieces he ate!).

Luckily for him, he is not overweight and can do that. Luckily for me, my tunny is going to help me be small and make much better choices! : ) Best wishes to you!