did i make the wrong decision?

[Time2BHealthy 1]

I was banded 4 days ago. I had a major headache for two days after I went home. I'm still really sore. It hurts to get up and down. I often feel like I have pressure on my chest. Like someone is pushing on it or someyhing is trying to come back up. I am afraid to burp, sneeze, or hiccup. For the first three days I could hardly eat anything. I forced myself to eat/drink something every 3 hours today (apple juice, Carnation, smoothly).

Please let me know when this gets better. I'm starting to regret my decision to have this.

[Time2BHealthy 1]

I haven't been able to take my additional meds (gall bladder) either.

[Peter 0]

Yes it gets better, dayb by day

[hopeful11 0]

Sounds like gas pains from the anesthesia...it gets better I promise!

[Dreamy Isabella 1]

I felt the same way you did right after surgery. I was in TONS of pain, especially on my left side, and I could not take a full breath. I had my surgery on a Tuesday, and was seen by the surgeon a week later on a Tuesday. He saw that I was in a lot of pain, and prescribed me additional pain medication since the one from the surgery I had finished. There was no way that I was going to return to week! I had to request a leave of abcense and was off from work almost 3 weeks. I too thought like you, that I was not EVER going to feel pain free, and guess what, I do now! A month after surgery I felt much better and was working already, although I was still taking it easy. Two months later I felt normal. I was able to sleep in my stomach again. I slept sitting down in the sofa for the first 3 weeks since I could not lay down AT ALL.

I hope this helps you to realize that you will be feeling better, maybe not soon, but you will definitely get back to normal. I dont know what you mean about your gall stones, but I had my gallbladder removed 7 years ago, and boy was that painful too.

I wish you the best and take it easy. The pain is not forever, trust me

[jessyM 2]

i was banded on the 16th and it gets a lot better. the first few days were awful - if you havent yet, get some liquid vicodin from your surgeon. sleeping, walking around and Water make all the difference. seriously there is no point in being awake those first few days. it's just too painful. it's been almost two weeks for me and the pain is gone. it took about 8 days for the final gas pains in my left side to leave. everyone is different, but remember it's major surgery, takes time to heal. just keep walking, it helps get rid of the gas - which causes most of the pain. it'll get better soon!

[54Shirley 105]

Yes it will get better as it heels. But,,,, you have to Burp, Hiccup, what ever it takes to let the gas out that they pumped into you. If I kept all that in I would be miserable too.

[DRMwith2 0]

Thanks for these questions. I had surgery on 24 May and I am also wondering if I made the right decision. I didn't feel this badly when I had my gall bladder out. I feel so weak (I assume it's due to the lack of food). Trying to get 2 Protein Shakes a day is crazy. I get full so quickly, but am hungry at the same time. I have been to the dr. twice since Tuesday because of redness, swelling, and pain in my stomach. I am so ready to get back to normal. Thanks for letting me know I am not alone. I feel very alone in this fight.

[Dave_NW 92]

Everyone is a bit different, but generally speaking, the first days after surgery can be painful. Your insides have been seriously shuffled around, and your abdomen was inflated with air to make room to work, so naturally it's going to take some time to adjust to things. As your body recovers from the surgery, the pain will subside, and within a few weeks you won't even know there was something done. It will surprise you how quickly things settle down.

To help things right after surgery, you should walk often - like for five minutes or so every hour. Sip fluids till your eyeballs float. You can't get enough fluids right now, as long as it comes in small sips. Take pain meds as prescribed to help with the pain. And something nobody ever told me: Your lungs may accumulate Fluid as a side effect to the surgery anesthetic. You need to cough that out. Once you do that, you'll be able to breathe much better, and your pain will greatly reduce.

Good luck!

Dave

[54Shirley 105]

Just a tip on the coughing. Since your newly banded, you don't need a hernia,

So take a pillow and put it over the incision and hold it there with your hands over

the incision also. When you cough, and you feel that pushing out, use the pillow,to push back in.

Every time you cough, keep a pillow handy ans use it. This will help prevent a hernia.

[hopetolose 192]

Yup, it gets better. The first week is kinda awfu. Then each week gets better and better. Week 7 now and feel great. Just stick to the rules. Next phase will be platuea and you will be concerned about not losing. Normal also, which is frustrating.

Hang in there.