December 2013 Post-Op

[Getting-used-to-new-me 119]

I wanted to start this thread by asking what everyone does to deal with the pain and the boredom of the downtime of early post-op. I've heard that you don't have an appetite for a while after surgery. I've also heard you have to take it easy for the first few weeks. I can only imagine taking just so much tv and movies. So what do you do with your time?

[terry1118 1,274]

I took two weeks off from work. I bought a couple new books and envisioned myself relaxing on my deck, reading in the sunshine with my dogs napping nearby. My surgery was May 30, my first full day home was June 2 so you would think my vision wasn't really out of line. But June was unseasonably cold and it rained a lot. The first few days I napped, read my book, watched movies, and napped some more. I moved around the house quite a bit to ease the gas pains. I was huddling under blankets in my Hubby's lazy boy with my dogs a lot of the time. I was pretty bored. It was too cold and wet to walk and the only thing that I was comfortable wearing was a sundress topped by a big old sweatshirt. After the first week the weather improved a bit so I could start walking. I began to feel human. I was cleared to drive so I went grocery shopping. Nine days after my surgery I was cutting grass in my yard. And I finally got to spend a couple days reading in the sun on my deck. By the time I went back to work I was feeling pretty good. :-)

[terry1118 1,274]

And I had the start of a faint tan. :-)

[Getting-used-to-new-me 119]

I took two weeks off from work. I bought a couple new books and envisioned myself relaxing on my deck, reading in the sunshine with my dogs napping nearby. My surgery was May 30, my first full day home was June 2 so you would think my vision wasn't really out of line. But June was unseasonably cold and it rained a lot. The first few days I napped, read my book, watched movies, and napped some more. I moved around the house quite a bit to ease the gas pains. I was huddling under blankets in my Hubby's lazy boy with my dogs a lot of the time. I was pretty bored. It was too cold and wet to walk and the only thing that I was comfortable wearing was a sundress topped by a big old sweatshirt. After the first week the weather improved a bit so I could start walking. I began to feel human. I was cleared to drive so I went grocery shopping. Nine days after my surgery I was cutting grass in my yard. And I finally got to spend a couple days reading in the sun on my deck. By the time I went back to work I was feeling pretty good. :-)

Thanks terry1118! That's the kind of thing I need to know. My coworker who had an RNY about a year ago said the worst part he remembered was the gas pains from the surgery when they inflated him to do the surgery. He recommended I get up and walk often afterwards.

[kraney 219]

I had surgery in march. I spent most of my time napping, sipping, watching recorded tv shows, and napping more! Then due to complications from surgery I ended up back in the hospital one week after my surgery for 16 more days. I spent that time napping, walking when I could, and getting on this app! good luck to you! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

[Getting-used-to-new-me 119]

I had surgery in march. I spent most of my time napping, sipping, watching recorded tv shows, and napping more! Then due to complications from surgery I ended up back in the hospital one week after my surgery for 16 more days. I spent that time napping, walking when I could, and getting on this app! good luck to you! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Thanks kraney! I'm sorry about your complications. But how filled your days is what I expect to do too.

[Getting-used-to-new-me 119]

What about Constipation during the first weeks after surgery. I'd been using psillium husk Fiber (metamucil) before surgery. What works after?