Feedback Please!

[dar36 5]

I am scheduled for surgery on Aug. 17. I know everyone's experience is different, however, I am really curious about the pain level the day of surgery and the following week. I am not scared of the pain..I have been through much worse, but I just want to know what to realistically expect from people that have gone through it...not from the doctor that hasn't gone through it. During the first week post op, will I be able to play with my kids, go to the park with them, swim with them? What was your pain level on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst.

[HoneyBrown 0]

well i am the type that HATES pain, don't want to be in pain at all. so i was terrified, but my friends and fam calmed down. but when i woke up in recovery it just felt like someone kinda punched me in my chest, didn't hurt just uncomfortable, i read that some people up here get gas pains in their shoulder, but i didn't feel that at all, i actually felt pretty good, day 2 it was uncomfortable because of the incisions so i took my pain meds (crushed up in my applesauce of course) so i wouldn't feel anything, but the incisions healed pretty fast. scale 1 to 10 i would say my pain level was a 4. And thats because i just felt a little uncomfortable because i knew something is my belly. Honestly you will do fine, i got banded July 12

[AmberK 5]

Im 1 day post op and the pain hasnt been too bad. Nothing like my 2 c-sections that I have had. I think the most pain im having is from gas. I do feel pressure and Im swollen but Im also staying on top of things with my pain medication too. My pain level has been around a 4 or 5.

I dont know that I would be outside playing with my kids less than a week postop though. Things need time to heal and scar tissue to form to keep the band and port in place.

[dar36 5]

Thanks. I had two c-sections as well and although painful, I did just fine. If the pain is less than a c-section, I can handle it! I also had a Tummy Tuck, which made my c-sections seem like a day at the park so with that said, I hope I can conquer this as well as I did my other surgeries. Thank you for your input.

[honk 780]

My doctor said no swimming for two weeks and when I started to do freestyle no breaststroke. I would be concerned about trying to supervise small children (ensuring they don't drown) if I was not 100%.

[gigi0504 0]

I was told no swimming for 4 weeks (or a bath) and that is to let the incisions heal. No lifting anything over 5lbs (I think) at least for 2 weeks,and to walk, but not do any exorcise until he cleared it.

[TracyNYC 4]

Pain was only "there" when I changed positions like from sitting to standing. I only took 1 pill the first night and woke myself everytime I moved, so then I took 2 pills (mashed up) for 3 or 4 nights. The extended sleep went a long way in helping the healing. I could not do lifting for 6 weeks. It was such a hardship having my sister do my laundry. Tee-Hee.

At worst pain was a 3 or 4.

[tylee72198 10]

Had surgery on Monday. Monday I would say the pain was around 5. The incisions hurt and the gas pain wasn't pleasant. Tuesday was around a 4. Wednesday and Thursday I managed to not take any pain meds at all until bed time. Moving makes the incisions hurt. Got up this morning, and I only have a twinge ever once in a while at the incision site. Now, I did notice that I was over doing it (4 kids and was trying to do laundry), I started hurting. Decided that maybe I should just try and relax. Over all though it wasn't any worse than the tubal I had done in December.

[Shay7997 0]

My shoulder surgery was way worse than my lap band surgery. Lap band was cake compared to that.

[SacChick1980 0]

Im not sure why, but unlike people posting here i had serious pain the first 12 hours after surgery- enough that they kept me pumped full of morphine. When I woke up from surgery my pain was easily an 8 and thats being generous. However, by the next day i was much, MUCH better and took my last pain pill on day 3 and have very very minimal discomfort since then. I had virtually zero gas pain though, which was nice.

I honestly was shocked at the pain levels considering most everyone around here said they had very little pain. Just throwing in my two cents, though I am clearly in the minority- but i would have liked to know ahead of time that it was a possibility.

[spoiltmom 44]

I had mine done this morning. I haven't taken anything but liquid Motrin. All I have is gas pain. It's uncomfortable but not terrible. I've watched some tv, walked around a lot and played on my computer.

I was actually relieved that it wasn't too bad.

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

I would say more pressure and discomfort than anything EXCEPT when trying to sit up or stand up...that was painful, but only for a second while I was in the process. I had forgotten since my c-section and gallbladder surgeries, how much you use those stomach muscles when you're trying to get up. I was at home, alone with my then 5 year old taking care of him completely on my own by day 3. I was a little tired and achy but really that was all. I took pain meds once or twice during the day the first 4 days then only at bedtime the next 3 or 4 days (had a little trouble getting comfortable, I'm a tummy sleeper). On average, I'd say the pain was a 3-4, occasionally a 5, when trying to sit/stand maybe an 8 but just for a sec and once I was up it was all good again.

[pixistix 1]

I had absolutely ZERO pain. Of course they give you narcotics in the hospital. And I took the prescription pain med for one day. I slept in a recliner for a couple of nights just to be on the safe side. But I never felt one bit of pain.

The post-op gas pressure was uncomfortable in my neck and one shoulder. A heating pad helped a lot with that.

I did have a fair amount of nausea for a week after surgery. Definitely give yourself at least a week to heal and take it easy.