What to expect right after surgery?

[JerseyJules 862]

As the title says, what do I expect immediately after waking up after surgery? What will I feel in my abdomen? What will it feel like to drink liquids when I wake up? What should I expect? I'm less than a week out now..

[chasingpolaris321 214]

From what I've read on here, it varies drastically from person to person. I have a pretty high tolerance for anesthesia and tend to come out of it quickly. I remember some pain while in the recovery room, but the nurses were diligent about adjusting things to try and make it more comfortable. I was then taken up to a room where things improved. I think your body is in shock and so I don't remember feeling super connected and even though I definitely had pain it was manageable. My recommendation is to be polite but persistent about pain medicine. That being said, many people don't even remember a lot of the things that I did and found the pain medication more than sufficient for that first day. I hope that helps!

[KristenVSG2014 1,872]

My first waking thought was immense pain. My lungs were heavy, my throat hurt, the oxygen mask made me feel claustrophobic and my entire body was in pain. Because no one around me spoke English I just kept saying "PAIN" over and over and ripping my oxygen mask off until they gave me something that knocked me out again. My husband said they brought me back to the room and told me I needed to stand up and move to my bed and I simply said, "No." Eventually I complied with some coaxing. I don't recall anything until the next morning when I felt no pain, just soreness, but I could tell my lungs had a lot of mucous in them so I walked every chance I got. When I had my leak test the day after surgery I had to drink some liquid and I was so nervous to drink anything but surprisingly there was no pain or issue at all. However, drinking became a little more difficult the next few days because of gas. Every sip felt like it was sitting behind my breastbone. So I sipped as well as I could. The gas pains were somewhat painful but were completely gone by day 7. After that the anesthesia completely wore off and I felt how sore my incisions truly were but it wasn't so bad it limited me from doing anything.

[Healthy_life2 8,324]

There is pain with any surgery. Just know it is temporary. What this surgery will do for you is amazing.

[Onward 40]

1st conscious thought was pain and nausea, but it was over for me in 45 minutes. Then, I rested and was up and walking a few hours later...slowly, but what a victory. And believe your doctors and nurses, walking is magic. You absolutely WILL feel better after every walk, even if you don't wanna. My very best to you!

[scstxrn 213]

When I first woke up, I don't remember any pain... No significant thirst or hunger (I was getting IV fluids at a pretty good rate, and my doc premedicated for pain and nausea). I got ice chips the day after surgery, I think - and those were delicious. I got tea and broth the third day. I didn't really hurt until about day 5 - when my sublingual toradol ran out. Day 5 and 6 sucked horribly. I laid on the couch and my husband thought I was dying. Day 7 was like magic. I felt like a new human being. I went back to work that night, and other than being tired, I was good.

[jmrondo 10]

In post op when I woke up there was pain in my stomach. They kept giving me medicine every few minutes and I would drift back off to lala land. I was moved to my room about 2 hours later. The worst for me was the dry mouth and not being able to drink anything at all. They did give me mouth swabs- and they helped a little. Started walking a couple hours later- amazing help!!! The morphine every 2 hours was my friend and it kept me walking! Discharged home early day 2 and other then not being able to sit straight up or lay flat- felt good. 6 days post op went to family Christmas. 11 days post op I was wearing jeans and heals for Ny eve!! Best of luck to you!

[JerseyJules 862]

11 days post op I was wearing jeans and heals for Ny eve!! Best of luck to you!

Cant keep a gal form her heels huh? LOL... Yall got me half scared shitless and half confident it wont be a big deal. I have had knee surgery,bicep surgery, a vasectomy and most recent shoulder surgery...The worst of them being the most recent which was the shoulder surgery. Not the pain level, that was totally tolerable, as I opted for the nerve block. However the nausea and vomiting til 3:30 in the morning bothered me the most.

My main concern is not the pain but the bad reaction to the anesthesia causing vomiting and hurting myself..

[par1959 470]

I frankly didnt need any medication after surgery. According to my nurse, that is the norm.Your stomach will not hurt. There are no nerves in the portion they remove. If they do more than your stomache it could hurt. You should be on anti nausia and pain meds coming out of surgery. Sure your 5 little incisions where the instruments went in will be sore a little for about 3 weeks. This surgery is very easy. I rate it less pain than getting a tooth pulled. Want pain get your shoulder rebuilt or get masive butt surgery. That hurts.

[JerseyJules 862]

I frankly didnt need any medication after surgery. According to my nurse, that is the norm.Your stomach will not hurt. There are no nerves in the portion they remove. If they do more than your stomache it could hurt. You should be on anti nausia and pain meds coming out of surgery. Sure your 5 little incisions where the instruments went in will be sore a little for about 3 weeks. This surgery is very easy. I rate it less pain than getting a tooth pulled. Want pain get your shoulder rebuilt or get masive butt surgery. That hurts.

Well i had the shoulder surgery, but what exactly is massive butt surgery?? hahahah...

[smoggie 11]

I've been out of surgery 3 1/2 hours and my whole abdomen is painful, just hope I can use the toilet as I can hardly move at the min

[JerseyJules 862]

I've been out of surgery 3 1/2 hours and my whole abdomen is painful, just hope I can use the toilet as I can hardly move at the min

keep us posted how it goes..Gas pains?? Or sore from someone poking tools into your guts and cutting out 80% of your stomach?

Edited January 7, 2015 by JerseyJules

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

I frankly didnt need any medication after surgery. According to my nurse, that is the norm.Your stomach will not hurt. There are no nerves in the portion they remove. If they do more than your stomache it could hurt. You should be on anti nausia and pain meds coming out of surgery. Sure your 5 little incisions where the instruments went in will be sore a little for about 3 weeks. This surgery is very easy. I rate it less pain than getting a tooth pulled. Want pain get your shoulder rebuilt or get masive butt surgery. That hurts.

I was like this. I woke up with no pain. My first conscious thought was I had to go pee. I was able to get out of the bed unassisted and into a wheelchair cause I was NOT going in a bed pan. When they wheeled me to the bathroom I practically ran to the toilet. I've hurt worse after my first attempt at pilates.

[mnmlst 249]

Like the first poster said, it varies person-to-person HUGELY.

I was in terrible pain for the first 36 hours, and each sip of Water brought me even more pain. I retched a lot, but didn't vomit. Walking was harder than I imagined it would be at first, but I did ok.

After the first day and a half, I was pretty golden. But there's no way to know how it will be for you. Everybody's different.

[JerseyJules 862]

I tend to recover from surgeries rather quickly. I had shoulder surgery and after vomiting till 3:30 am I was up and out and about the next day with almost no pain using my pain meds....I hope this surgery is the same cause I am really really scared..Im afraid Im gonna hate my life afterwards or Im going to regret doing it afterwards..But I know deep down inside I NEED it, cause Im not going to loose weight on my own and know I have an addiction to food..Im also going to a therapist for my food desires and why I turn to food for comfort..