Banded in 5 days! Tell me about the pain...

[LAURIE290 6]

My surgery is set for 3/29/10. I'm excited and it just now occured to me that I am completely unaware of the pain or recovery time afterwards. I could really use some info on others' experiences.

Thanks!:smile:

[Humming Bird 275]

I had hiatal hernia repair and lapband. My surgery was at 1:00pm and I was outta there at 4:30pm. I did not have much post-op pain. I stopped taking the pain meds they gave me the morning after surgery. However, the general anesthesia gives me trouble. No matter how much anti nausea meds they give me, I still get post-op nausea. I also had a Migraine for 4 days post-op that I believe was from the general anes. It really helped me to keep an ice pack on my stomach even longer than they told me to so the swelling would not get too bad and go away faster. As far as recovery in general, I was probably slower than most. I am glad I took off a full week plus 2 weekends from work. It seems like I felt weak forever. A shower would wear me out. I did have the dreaded left shoulder refered phrenic nerve pain for months.

We are all so different. You won't really know how it will be for you until you do it.

[maggly 0]

Today is the morning after my surgery, yesterday afternoon.

I feel pretty good. My port site is pretty sore and I barely notice some pain in my left shoulder area. I woke up once around 2am to take a vicodin. I'm not having any trouble drinking, I felt so dehydrated on the way home we picked up some popcicles when we stopped for my presciption. I ate two before we got home. This morning I drank my Protein Shake, slowly, took a half hour, and took all my Vitamins with no problems. I'm planning on going back to work on Friday.:thumbup:

[chrisdirects 0]

I had my procedure on a Friday afternoon, and was discharged from the hospital the following day in the late afternoon. During that time, I had a morphine pump, but I only used about 11cc's total, which the nurses told me was very, very little...I only triggered a bolus to keep the edge off my discomfort. At home, I was given liquid codeine...I only took it at night for the first 3 days, then discontinued. I had some tenderness around my incisions, particularly where my port is, for about a week, and some discomfort from the CO2 they pumped me up with, which lasted for about 2 weeks while it worked itself out of my system. A heating pad was really helpful.

I was actually pleasantly surprised that I didn't have more discomfort.

Wishing you smooth seas and fair winds!

Christine

[amber020682 0]

Today is the morning after my surgery, yesterday afternoon.

I feel pretty good. My port site is pretty sore and I barely notice some pain in my left shoulder area. I woke up once around 2am to take a vicodin. I'm not having any trouble drinking, I felt so dehydrated on the way home we picked up some popcicles when we stopped for my presciption. I ate two before we got home. This morning I drank my Protein shake, slowly, took a half hour, and took all my Vitamins with no problems. I'm planning on going back to work on Friday.:thumbup:

WOW! I'm glad to hear you are doing so well!!

[BetsyB 9]

I don't know if you've had other surgical experience, but by comparison to the things I've had done in the past, banding was a breeze. I guess I'd describe it as nuisance-level pain rather than really significant pain.

I am not like the others who posted above. I did experience pain--enough that I took Rx pain relievers for several days. The first night, I took every med the nurses offered---and it made a HUGE difference in my mobility. I was medicated, but I was up and walking all night, feeling good as I did so.

Once at home, I did have port site (and other incisional) pain that was not insignificant. I chose to take meds so that I could stay moving. And getting moving was instrumental in feeling better.

I was doing things like walking outdoors, household tasks, and work-related things almost immediately. But it did hurt some--and because I work from home, I did take it easy for about a week.

[LAURIE290 6]

Thank you all so much for your responses! I am a stay at home mom so I do have the oppurtunity to sort of "take it easy." Although I do have a one year old and a three year old. I do suppose we will all experience some different outcomes.

I am also concerned about lifting my children after surgery and just how much walking around is safe. Can anyone shed a light on your experiences there? I truly want to get up and walk asap as Betsy explained...not sure how much house work, etc...would be safe.

Thanks again, guys!

Laurie

[RavenClaw779 2]

I had a realize band installed:wink2: on 3/9 along with a hiatal hernia repair. I was in surgery at 7:45am and home by 1pm.

I had almost no pain the day of surgery and since a know I get nauseous from anesthesia, I was "patched" before surgery. I slept the rest of the day, but was able to get up the next morning and tidy up the house, take a shower before what I'd call level 3-4 pain forced me to take a Loratab. I kept a heating pad on my shoulder and took Gas-X to help dispell the surgical gas; I put a cold pack on the center of my tummy and chilled out with a couple of movies. By that weekend I was back to my usual, but still needed a nap mid-afternoon. Each day got a bit longer. Now it's two weeks and I'm completely fine - other than banging my port site with the washer door:crying:

[Spartan 4]

there really is no "the pain", because it varies so widely from patient to patient. Some will have more than others, many will have none at all. It is diffcult to quantify, because people experience pain in so many different ways and levels.

But having said that, I think you will find that MOST people who have the Lap band say that they experienced little or no pain.....and was not even enough to mention. As surgeries go, it is one of the more painless operations.

[LAURIE290 6]

I had a realize band installed:wink2: on 3/9 along with a hiatal hernia repair. I was in surgery at 7:45am and home by 1pm.

I had almost no pain the day of surgery and since a know I get nauseous from anesthesia, I was "patched" before surgery. I slept the rest of the day, but was able to get up the next morning and tidy up the house, take a shower before what I'd call level 3-4 pain forced me to take a Loratab. I kept a heating pad on my shoulder and took Gas-X to help dispell the surgical gas; I put a cold pack on the center of my tummy and chilled out with a couple of movies. By that weekend I was back to my usual, but still needed a nap mid-afternoon. Each day got a bit longer. Now it's two weeks and I'm completely fine - other than banging my port site with the washer door:crying:

Hey Jax,

Good advice:thumbup:. I'm not familiar with "Loratab." Is that a prescribed med or over the counter? Also, were you referring to one of those Patches for nausea? Are those over the counter? I'm definitely taking your advice on the heating pad over the shoulder!

Ooooh, washer door?! OUCH! :thumbup:

[Humming Bird 275]

Thank you all so much for your responses! I am a stay at home mom so I do have the oppurtunity to sort of "take it easy." Although I do have a one year old and a three year old. I do suppose we will all experience some different outcomes.

I am also concerned about lifting my children after surgery and just how much walking around is safe. Can anyone shed a light on your experiences there? I truly want to get up and walk asap as Betsy explained...not sure how much house work, etc...would be safe.

Thanks again, guys!

Laurie

A one yr old and a 3 yr old ....... that is a full-time job plus overtime some days! Do you have a family member that can help you out a bit for a couple days?

The anti-nausea patch is pretty standard with any type of surgery where they use general anesthesia. They put it behind your ear while you are at the hosp. and tell you to just leave it there a couple days.

[LAURIE290 6]

A one yr old and a 3 yr old ....... that is a full-time job plus overtime some days! Do you have a family member that can help you out a bit for a couple days?

The anti-nausea patch is pretty standard with any type of surgery where they use general anesthesia. They put it behind your ear while you are at the hosp. and tell you to just leave it there a couple days.

Well, my husband works a lot of hours and is able to take only 3 days off...the surgery date and on. I will have some help from my mother in law for a couple of the following days. I suppose I will just have to hope my experience is better than some others! I'm hoping my hospital gives me the patch. How about the other medication you mentioned? Sorry, so many questions! :Banane20:

[Humming Bird 275]

I don't know how your Dr. does it, but mine gave me the Rx for meds I would need when I went to my Pre-op appointment. That way I could go ahead and get them filled and not worry about stopping by a pharmacy after surgery.

I'm glad you will have some help with the little ones. You will be fine. Don't get too worked up and worried about it. It sounds like you will be ready.

[BetsyB 9]

I'm not familiar with "Loratab." Is that a prescribed med or over the counter?

Lortab is hydrocodone + acetaminophen--the same combo as Vicodin. It's available by Rx only--and does come as a liquid. (I didn't need liquids immediately postop, but some people do.)

If he didn't give them to you at your last appointment, your doctor will give you needed prescriptions when you're about to be discharged from the hospital.

ETA: I agree you'll do fine, Laurie. I was off "mom-duty" the day I came home from the hospital, but right back in that saddle the next day. Things like emptying the dishwasher, tossing in a load of laundry, etc---you'll be able to do all of those things, no problem.

I was expecting to have discomfort along the lines of what I've experienced with other abdominal surgeries, and it really didn't even begin to approach that level. There is pain--but it's very, very manageable within the context of normal, everyday life.

Edited March 25, 2010 by BetsyB

[ThreeDaysLong 0]

Well I am 2 days post op now...I am a stay at home dad of one year old triplets so it has been REALLY hard to be good to myself. I have had quite a bit of pain...mostly my fault...doing more than I should. But all the pain is tolerable...I do take my pain meds as needed. Only two spots seem to hurt me...one is the port site (seems to be a popular one) and my shoulders are even worse (most painful part for me). sleeping the night after surgery was pretty rough (at the hospital) due to pain and discomfort but my first night at home I slept great. I am moving around pretty well...if you go in thinking its going to be really painful you will be pleasantly surprised...my hospital made sure I stayed VERY comfortable.