Discomfort After Surgery

[stephanie.napoli 10]

Hi everyone! This is my first post on here, so I just want to take the time to thank everyone for the wealth of information that I have received from all of you since I joined. I am officially one week away from my VSG surgery, and I am starting to get very nervous. I just wanted to ask all of you about your experiences on the day of your surgery, and for the days to follow. I know this sounds ridiculous, but literally my biggest fear has ALWAYS been getting nauseous/throwing up. I have no idea why it flips me out so much, but it does! I can handle any pain that I may feel following surgery, but I am SO concerned about the nausea and vomiting that I know a lot of people have experienced once they wake up after the procedure.

Can any of you offer insight into how you felt after your surgeries? I hear so many different experiences, so I really don't know what to expect- and I think that is what scares me the most. Also, do you have any recommendations for how to combat the discomfort following your VSG? I'm looking forward to hearing some responses!!

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[mylighthouse 782]

Hello

I'm 10 weeks post op, I had my surgery on Nov 14th.

My surgery went well, no complications. It was a fairly quick procedure, around an hour if I remember.

I remember waking up in the recovery room and being in a lot of pain. I must have waited in there for about an hour before they took me up to my hospital room. I remember hurting in the incision areas (one in particular), the one where they pull part of the stomach out. And I also had inner pain from the surgery itself. Of course they gave me morphine for the pain, and that helped out quite a bit.

My surgery was at 11 am. Later that day, by afternoon, my pain was under control and I was able to get up and walk some. I never did have the dreaded gas pains that so many people here talk about after surgery. So I was lucky.

I didn't sleep a whole lot that night. People kept coming into the room and taking blood or checking on me. I did have to get up and go to the bathroom once in the middle of the night.

Also, I only had slight nausea after surgery. I didn't throw up at all. They gave me an anti nausea med and I'm sure that helped. The first day of surgery, I couldn't have any water/ice/liquids. I hear that some people are given liquids or ice chips on the first day.

The next day around 10 am (almost 24 hours after surgery), they gave me Water, broth and Jello to see if I could hold it down. I did just fine, I drank the broth and Water, but couldn't stand the Jello. So, everything looked good and they sent me home within 4 hours.

We swang by the pharmacy and got the anti nausea prescription filled, since I was feeling a little nauseous, but not too bad. I took a pill that day.

I didn't need the med for nausea after the 3rd day.

The worst day of surgery pain for me was day 4, it was very severe and worried me a little. But everything was okay. Day 5 was better for pain, but the pain was still quite considerable. I continued to take my liquid pain med for 3 weeks after surgery, but I am also dealing with a large hernia that is right under the largest incision that they made. So some of my pain was the hernia itself.

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery and I wish you the best and a speedy recovery!

[JamieLogical 8,708]

My main problems post-op were gas pain, menstrual cramp-type pains from my drain (I assume? Went away completely as soon as my drain was removed), sharp pain in the center of my chest with every single teeny tiny sip that was caused by esophageal spasms that subsided a couple of weeks post-op, and fatigue.

I didn't throw up at all. had two bouts of dry-heaving my first day post-op, but that was it. No nausea. I was on anti-nausea medication for the first two weeks post-op and that seemed to do the trick.

[GrrlAnn 177]

I am one week post op and I haven't thrown up once. I have definitely felt nauseated and queasy but not to the point of vomiting. The antinausia medication helps a lot. But like you I HATE vomiting and will go to great lengths to avoid it. I think if you take it slow with your liquids you will be just fine.

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[Chicken Lady 102]

My surgical team gave me an anti nausea patch behind my ear pre op. It stayed on until I got home. I woke up groggy but only mildly sore - like too many crunches. I never had any gas pain. But the pain PCA dilaudid made me super groggy. For me it was the next morning when I tried a lick of yogurt that was difficult. I had esophageal and sleeve spasms if the Water was too cold or too big a sip. For the most part it was a much easier post op recovery than I expected.

I am six months today.

HW - 283

SW- 238

CW- ?

[stephanie.napoli 10]

Thank you everyone for all of your responses!! You all have made me feel much more at ease. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I have even considered pushing off my surgery because I am so concerned about how I may feel afterwards! lol I am sure that I will still be nervous on the day of, but I at least want to put my mind at ease so that I can be excited for the road ahead. Thank you all!

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[LIA-70 136]

Hi im 19 days post op. Only threw up once when tried tuna but was told its normal as you incorporate foods into your diet. As for the fears, dont worry, its normal. Many of us had it. I tried talking myself out of it many times the week prior then just told myself shut the hell up ur not going to bootcamp 7 days a week, im doing this. That was it. 19 days later n 22lbs down. Looking fwd to a real bathing suit this yr. No more wearing tents to the beach :-). Yay

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[Jobey 177]

When I woke up after surgery I felt okay, groggy but okay. The anti nausea meds they gave me made me throw up and I did about 3 times when they took me to a room. It was a bit scary but okay once I figured out what was making me vomit.

Since being sleeved on Jun 6 16, I've thrown up about 5 times (not including when in the hospital) throwing up is different when you have 1/4 of a stomach and in my opinion not as bad as when you have a whole stomach. As long as you read the signs your body is giving you when you eat (I get the hiccups and feel full) and stop eating, I've found that I never throw up from over eating and can pretty much eat everything I've re-introduced since surgery

[minervaxx6 21]

Hi! I'm 5 days post op. The day of surgery and that night wasn't pleasant. When I want sleeping I was incredibly nauseas and I did vomit blood - nasty. Next day was just sore. Every day it keeps getting better.

For me, a daily antacid helps. Also, I have a small firm pillow I use when I sleep or watch TV - I put the pillow on my left side and apply gentle pressure and that seems to help with the soreness. My only complaint is I'm dying to chew food!

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[courtney.rose.a. 49]

The only issue I had post Op was neaseau and vomiting. They send me home the day after surgery and was back in 6 hours later from vomiting. Ended up staying an extra 3 nights. Keep up with the anti neaseau meds!!

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[Schatzi 17]

Being nervous is normal. They put a nausea patch behind my ear before surgery and gave me a script for home. I had bad nausea for several days before due to nerves so the day of, I spent awhile in recovery cause it felt better to keep my eyes closed. It did go away but I do think it was all nerves for me. I used the pill at home for maybe 2 days just cause I was trying to prevent it.

My biggest pain was the bigger incision where the stomach comes out from. When getting up from bed or changing position, apply pressure with a blanket or pillow to your stomach, it helps lessen the pain. I also used ice packs on my stomach. Ask for a heating pad after surgery and apply it to your shoulders or upper back, this helps the gas pains after anesthesia.

I was sleeved 12/27/16

It's been an adventure but I don't regret doing it. It's worth it.

Good luck!

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[MrsPenguin 103]

You will be able to handle it...just take a day at a time, or moment at a time if you have to. My mantra during those first days was, "every day I will feel better." And you will! Anti-nausea and pain meds worked wonders. I am 7 weeks out and no throwing up!