Surgery and First Few Days after Surgery

[SarahCasey 0]

I'm having surgery very soon and am starting to get nervous about the actual procedure as well as the first few days after surgery. I would love to know how people felt right when they woke up after surgery and then a few hours later and then a few days later. Did you have pain right when you woke up and/or later? How bad was the pain? Did you feel nausous and/or did you throw up the day of the surgery and/or the next few days following the surgery? What did you do the first few days after the surgery? Could you walk around your apartment? Did you just rest and watch tv? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks SO much!

[shuckybucky 107]

I had my Surgery today. I went in at 730 and left facility and 10. The whole procedure took 30 minutes. I was sore when I came out of surgery but had a coughing attack and panicked in recovery so that made me hurt even more. I have been uncomfortable all day (partly because I'm in a hotel) and sore but not extreme pain. I have only had Popsicles and tea and no vomiting but I have taken my medicine for nausea/vomiting. I have gone outside and walked around the hotel and surprisingly you will feel better to walk. I'm exhausted but haven't been able to sleep much. Hope this helps.

[Kalipso2 25]

congratulations on your journey! don't be afraid to ask questions either... that's what we're here for!!

Did you have pain right when you woke up and/or later? i felt no pain in the recovery room. i don't even remember being transferred to my room. (i chose to stay overnight since i live 4 hours away from my surgeon). getting up from the bed and laying back down after being up were the most painful moments because you're using your stomach muscles. you learn to roll off the bed and fall back on to the bed.

How bad was the pain? all i can say is, take your medication as prescribed! i called the nurse every 4 hours for the pain meds. when i went to leave the hospital, i tried to hold off on my last dose until right before i was going to leave because i had a 4 hour drive back home (with my parents driving). i waited too long and i was in enough pain to make me cry... which made my mom cry and yell at me for waiting too long lol. my advice, don't let the medication wear off. take as directed... that's why they give it to you!

Did you feel nausous and/or did you throw up the day of the surgery and/or the next few days following the surgery? i did not feel nauseous at all and i had no gas pains either (knock on wood).

What did you do the first few days after the surgery? i stayed with my parents for 2 days after my surgery and slept most of the time. i couldn't stand my mom hovering so i didn't take my pain meds so i could drive myself home. once home, i just relaxed, watched movies and slept. i had surgery on a monday and i didn't go back to work until that following tuesday.

Could you walk around your apartment? yes, i could walk around just fine. maybe not as straight and tall as usual but by 2 days after surgery you're able to get around okay. it will still hurt when trying to stand or sit but it eases up after awhile.

Did you just rest and watch tv? yep... thats basically it since you won't be eating ; )

[shuckybucky 107]

This is day 2 post op. There is discomfort and pain when using abdominal muscles. I walked around wal mart so it's not horrible pain. My throat hurts from the intubation and I have that cough. My stomach is swollen and bloated so it's a little uncomfortable. I had a headache all day yesterday from anesthesia but it's gone today. Not really hungry but your mind does mess with you a little and think it's time to eat. I would recommend sugar free Popsicles... They have been a great way to get Fluid and feel like you are eating.

[Pammy S Lewis 2]

I'm having surgery very soon and am starting to get nervous about the actual procedure as well as the first few days after surgery. I would love to know how people felt right when they woke up after surgery and then a few hours later and then a few days later. Did you have pain right when you woke up and/or later? How bad was the pain? Did you feel nausous and/or did you throw up the day of the surgery and/or the next few days following the surgery? What did you do the first few days after the surgery? Could you walk around your apartment? Did you just rest and watch tv? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks SO much!

i am 4 days post op and feeling pretty good today. waking up, you feel groggy and uncomfortable from the anesthesia mainly, not a lot of pain because the pain meds work well! was home before noon and took my liquid pain meds every 4 hours, which knocked me out. i went through cycles of sleeping and then i'd get up and walk around my apt a bit. felt the worst actually on the 2nd day because the surgery pain meds wore off and had to take the codeine which made me feel crappy. had some gas pains that day, but nothing terrible. also had a rough, dry throat. sugar free popsicles really helped with that. felt dramatically better by day 3 and walked down the block with my dog. day 4 feeling pretty good, 5 lbs down :-)

my only real issues have been lower chest pain where the band is and i finally realized that i was drinking way too much liquid too fast. read on here 1 oz every minute or so and doing that really helped.

it's not a walk in the park but it's not horrible either. it's totally doable, especially with support. i had to be alone in my apt and it made me anxious and feel like i needed support. make sure you have family or friends who can be there for you, run to the store, just talk, etc. you'll do great.

good luck!