a bit of post-op panic?

Shegill · February 6, 2004

Hi, friends,

I was banded on Tuesday and it's become very obvious that my threshhold for pain and discomfort is...well...low.

So, not to discourage any pre-ops---remember, my threshhold for pain is apparently LOW---but did anyone out there feel really horrible immediately post-op? I'm having a heard time moving from side to side (like, pulling myself out of bed) and getting up and down from my chairs. I'm terrified I'm going to dislodge my band, or rip my stitches. I'm sorry to be SUCH a baby--I did not know this about myself--I thought I was a real soldier!

Also, anyone experience major mood swings post-op? I'm assuming it has something to do with the anesthesia, but I've been kind of engulfed in feelings of doom and dread. I was only in the hospital one day. If I had it to do over, and could, I would have arranged to stay 2 nights. I miss my morphine pump.

Thanks in advance, and please forgive my whining.

Sheila

tellie · February 6, 2004

Hi Sheila

Don't worry!!! Something does happen to the brain chemistry ( at least in some of us) when we are going through the pain and deprivation post op.

I am good with pain, but the depression was overwhealming and I blamed it on the pain, I questioned my motives and thought I had screwed up and that this device inside my body was going to ruin my life!!! ( imagine that????!!!!) My husband was so worried he called the doctor to explain what was going on, and the doc called back and talked to me ( he is soo nice) even had one of his patients call me so we could talk about... well, whatever i was worried about.

Be strong, every day will be a bit better and you will forget the bad stuff.

Tellie

Shegill · February 6, 2004

Dear Tellie,

Thank you so so much for your response. I can't tell you how reassuring it was to read.

This: "I questioned my motives and thought I had screwed up and that this device inside my body was going to ruin my life!!!" Well, that exactly sums up how I've been feeling. I said yesterday to my mother: "I know I'm going to feel this way forever--I've completely ruined my life." I've been really feeling badly---guilty---about letting myself get to the point, fat-wise, where surgery felt like (was, really) the only option for me. I had experienced some of that guilt when I was first researching and deciding on the band, but it resurfaced with a vengeance immediately post-op.

From just these few days of discomfort and melancholy, I would NEVER discourage anyone from getting the band (whose benefits, remember, I have not even begun to experience yet). But I would just say be prepared for the fact that this is MAJOR surgery, with the attendant post-op challenges and bumps. Probably everyone considering the band completely understands this and I am the only moron who skipped into the whole thing with a light, light heart, thrilled that my insurance had approved me, fantasizing about being able to ride a bike again, paging lustfully through the J. Crew catalog.

But it's now day 4 (had the surgery Tuesday morning, 2/3) and I can definitely see significant improvements. So I'm relieved as hell and, again, appreciate your kind and helpful words.

Love,

Sheila

donali · February 6, 2004

Hi Sheila -

So glad you're feeling better. It sounds as though your blues are lifting.

I didn't feel my surgery was any skip in the park either, but I knew going in that my pain threshold (what's a pain threshold?!?!?) was low to non-existent... lol

I do have to admit, though, that my surgery was on a Thursday, and I was back to work on Monday, and did not miss any days afterwards, although I did leave early that first Friday. So even though I was uncomfortable and felt pretty crummy, by 3 weeks out (if I remember correctly) it was all a distant memory.

For those of us who have a harder time with the pain, the first two weeks are really the worst of it. After that it just gets better and better.

You will probably be hyper-aware of every little thing for the first 3 months or so, so don't think you're going nuts. Things NOT to ignore, though:

1. fever

2. vomiting

3. very intense pain that persists

4. the inability to take and keep down liquids

Contact your doc immediately for any of the above four things.

Welcome to bandland!!!

sassaay · February 6, 2004

Hi Sheila,

I guess we are what they call "band twins"... I was successfully banded on the 3rd as well and this is the first time I have even felt like checking in with my friends on this board. I have ALWAYS thought I had a high threshold for pain, but I am telling you... immediately after surgery when waking up in recovery I thought I had made a huge mistake. I have never felt such pain... but, it started to subside very quickly as they gave me pain medicine and I just kept asking for it until I was more comfortable.

Every day gets better, but I must admit that I think I let those around me feel like I wasn't doing "good" enough following surgery. My mom kept saying, I am REALLY surprised you are in such pain. Well, I finally decided that it hurts and there is no way around it. I am doing everything my doctor has advised and I am resting when I think I need to.

I had to return to work on Thursday, but since I work from home that consisted of sitting with my laptop on my lap in bed for about 5 hours on and off throughout the day. Today, I feel a lot better and I imagine tomorrow will be better still.

So far, I haven't had any real depression... but I do know that I have strong hunger pains. Something I wasn't expecting based on other reads from this forum. I read so many people say that they were not hungry and could barely stand to drink all their liquids. Well, I seem to be hungry most of the time and broth and Protein drinks are only doing so much. I tried some sugarfree Jello yesterday and that seemed to stay with me a little longer.

I hope you continue to feel better.

Donali - Thanks for your feedback to Sheila. I will take it in mind for myself.

I am glad to be back here checking in with my friends.

donali · February 6, 2004

Hi Anne -

Congrats on your band journey, as well! Sorry you're one of the ones starving afterwards. :confused:

But I guess that means your stomach isn't swollen shut, so that's a good thing, right? Keep sucking down those liquids so you're less likely to eat something too early. Heal, heal, heal....