Laying Flat after surgery

[toofatnopants 33]

Hey everyone! 6 years ago when I had my gallbladder removed the surgeon told me to lay flat when I got home so the gas didn't get trapped in the shoulder area. I had no pain from the gas and wondering if that would be a good idea after I have the VSG. I will of course ask the surgeon but I'm curious now

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[Hiraeth 515]

Lay flat? I was advised to not lay flat, because that's what keeps the gas trapped. I couldn't even lay at an incline. For two nights, I had to sit up at a 90 degree angle and doze in and out of sleep. If you didn't have gas pain from your gallbladder removal, then you probably won't have any gas pain from your WLS (this is not certain, since each procedure is different). I had my gallbladder removed earlier this year, and the gas pain was awful. It felt as if someone was slowly breaking my arm from my body. I also had bad gas pain from my WLS, and it felt as if someone had hit my shoulder as hard as they could with a hammer.

If you do start to feel gas pains, remember to walk. I swear, it helps. I could go from having gas pains on a pain scale of 9, to having them go away almost completely 15 seconds after I started walking. If you are hurting while you're in the hospital, and it's late at night, tell the nurse you want Dilaudid. It won't take the pain away completely, but it will definitely take the edge off enough to help you sleep. The liquid Hydrocodone they gave me couldn't touch the pain I was feeling from the gas pain. The Hydrocodone did help with everything else, though.

[suzzzzz 1,005]

I was told laying flat can cause nausea. I slept at an incline for several days. Didn't not have any gas pain or nausea.

[Brandeis 401]

Mostly, my suggestion was to walk around -- I was still in the hospital for an extra night [my doctor does 2 nights] so I got up and walked the length of the hallway at least once every hour. The more you walk around, the more things move around inside you, the more the gas works its way out!

[Vinasu 621]

I was told to sleep in a chair. I had no gas or nausea, though I'm not sure there's a corollation.

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[Sai 785]

I was told to sleep in any position that is comfortable. I slept on my side with a little pillow tucked under me. I also used a wedge pillow. It helped me get up easier the first day or so.

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