Surgery tomorrow 8/20/15, what to expect afterwards?

[zackly 13]

Tomorrow is the big day! Gastric bypass at 7:30 AM. My surgeon says that if all goes well I'll be discharged Saturday morning. How did you feel when you went home? Were you uncomfortable? Did you need pain meds? Did you have an appetite? How was your energy level? Were your able to eliminate comfortably? Was it painful to walk around? How long was it before you could drive and go shopping etc.? I guess I'll be on Protein shakes for a couple of weeks then move to purees. Thank you very much!

[Niki15 198]

When you get home uourr tired O did not have alot of energy until a week and a half .You will mostly hurt most on the left hand side wher your biggest scar olis .You can drive when your off the pain meds around 2 weeks .Make sure to ask for a binder to kepp your stomach from moving around to much ..Hope that helps..

[Imagine 1 63]

First, good luck and best wishes for a successful surgery tomorrow. I had my rny June 24th. a Wednesday and came home Friday evening. Worst of pain was the first night. It was well managed with pain meds. I wasn't hungry at all. All focus was on sipping Water and didn't even finish the broth and Jello they gave me at meals. I had catheter through the first night. They took it out the next day. The nurse helped get me to the bathroom. It wasn't so bad. Just moved slow. I really did feel a lot better the next day and got up and walked. You got to move.. It helps with the gas discomfort. Every day gets a little better. It wasn't easy but it's bearable. First days home I really had to force the fluids. Really liked sugar free popcicles. I'm a wuss when it comes to pain so I was not ashamed to take my liquid pain medication. That helped a lot. I didn't have a regular bowel movement before I came home and was quite relieved when that finally kicked in. I still have to take something to keep me regular

You will be surprised how quickly those first days go by. Congratulations on your new beginning! Let us know how you are doing!

[Floey84 31]

@@zackly the pain is not bad at all you will be fine. They give u plenty of meds and also I won't have an appetite. I had my surgery yesterday and I feel so much better jus gassy but it's not painful

[Cervidae 2,389]

@@zackly, I just had my RNY on monday, three days ago. I got home today around 4 pm. They sent me home with oxycodone for pain, a nausea med, an antacid, a stool softener (which I truly do not need but I will follow orders and take it anyway), and a chewable Multivitamin to be taken twice a day. The first day was honestly terrible, but I spent most of it sleeping and on some heavy duty pain medication, so I barely remember it. The second day wasn't fun, but immensely better than the first. I had a bit of a problem with my drainage tube touching a nerve that was causing a fair amount of pain, but other than that, no complications. Today, the third day since surgery, I feel great. I'm sore, and walking is still a slow and mildly painful endeavor, but I can sit and stand by myself, take in fluids rather easily, take my medication with no issues, and I am generally feeling a LOT better. My advice to you would be don't push yourself too hard, it's not a race, but definitely try to walk, even if it's just a few feet from your bed to the bathroom, as often as your body allows. They say the gas pains dissipate the more you walk and I found that to be completely true. Every day has been and probably will continue to be much, much better than the last. You've got this. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me any time. Take care or yourself and allow the nurses and doctors to help you every step of the way. Soon, you'll be healed up and ready to start your new, awesome life. Congrats!

[Madtownsunshine17 42]

@@zackly I think I had a smooth recovery time! I was almost sent home the day after surgery, but asked to stay due to going home alone (I'm a nervous nelly). The gas pain was the worst for me, and made it challenging to drink much. The left incision hurt the most, but I tried to use my arms to boost me around in the hospital bed. I was on morphine via IV, and then liquid oxycodone. I weaned off that and only used a little liquid tylenol for the 3rd day after. Good luck with your surgery!!

[ldubois104@gmail.com 2]

My surgery was also on Monday. And I experienced about the same. Each day was much better than the one before. I am so excited to be on this side of things! I'm no longer taking anything for pain but I'm using an ice pack on my largest incision and drain site if they get to stinging too bad. It really works well. Is anyone else extremely bloated to where it is uncomfortable to have clothes on. I've been in comfy PJs since I got home. These gas pains are no fun, but very doable.

I love that we can share our journey together like this. So helpful. Stay strong guys. We are going to do this!

[Cervidae 2,389]

I'm rather gassy and bloated too. Walking helps but i also found that using gas-x strips that melt on your tongue do the trick for tummy and intestinal gas. It works almost instantly too so it's pretty great.

[vhude 41]

Tomorrow is the big day! Gastric bypass at 7:30 AM. My surgeon says that if all goes well I'll be discharged Saturday morning. How did you feel when you went home? Were you uncomfortable? Did you need pain meds? Did you have an appetite? How was your energy level? Were your able to eliminate comfortably? Was it painful to walk around? How long was it before you could drive and go shopping etc.? I guess I'll be on Protein shakes for a couple of weeks then move to purees. Thank you very much!

I hope all went well today with surgery!

[Floey84 31]

I had the gastric bypass august 18th I'm home now I'm gassy and bloated it hard to sleep and the bloat makes it hard to drink liquids. It hurts to lay on my bed even if I try to lay on my side :/

[Cervidae 2,389]

I had the gastric bypass august 18th I'm home now I'm gassy and bloated it hard to sleep and the bloat makes it hard to drink liquids. It hurts to lay on my bed even if I try to lay on my side :/

I would highly recommend sleeping on a recliner or propped up on a couch. The very idea of laying flat makes me hurt/uncomfortable right now, and I had surgery one day before you. I've been sleeping in a recliner, mostly reclined, but having my abdomen not laying flat really, really helps. also it's much better support for your back right now, and that helps too.

One more thing, about the gas - my boyfriend went out and got me Gas-X Thin Strips, they're less than $5 a box and one or two dissolved on the tongue reduces or eliminates my tummy gas almost instantly, and makes it a thousand times easier to drink liquids. It's been a huge comfort. Hope this helps!

[Cheri_j 117]

Hope your surgery went well. As you can tell, everyone has a different experience. Yours will probably be different as well. As for me....Mine was easy peasy. My only complaint was that I was tired. I was working from home (4 hours) after day three and went back to work full time on day 10. I had a little discomfort, but I wasn't miserable. I'm 23 days out and back to walking four miles a day and feeling great.

Five more days and you will find me out on the golf course. I'm ready!

Edited August 21, 2015 by Cheri_j