What was the biggest surprise for you at or after surgery? What do you wish you had known?

[RHmama 42]

My surgeon said no testing other than bloodwork unless there's a problem or he suspects there may be one. Also 98% chance there will be no drain either.

On a different thread, someone going the same day as me (OMG, that's tomorrow! Less than 24 hours from now! Sorry, just realized...) had to do bowel prep. I didn't.

Surgeon said no to all of the horrible things I had read and asked about. The only thing he was adamant about that surprised me was no driving for 7-10 days. He then said until he sees me, but that's 2.5 weeks! He then softened a bit and said that yes, it might be ok after I'm off pain meds, but "just don't make any plans" and told me to skip my therapy appointment scheduled for 5 days after. His nurse also said it might be uncomfortable to drive.

My surgery was 6/1 and I was driving 6/5. I stopped taking my pain meds by day 3 because they made me itch.

[ssflbelle 829]

How very painful trapped gas can be. I was not able to walk at the time and the gas got trapped in my back shoulder blades. It was so bad my Doctor and I thought when the nurses and Pt had to lift me off the toilet they broke my ribs. My doctor had X-rays taken but nothing was broken. Had to take twice the amount of extra strength Gas-X than the normal person does. That gas lasted 3 weeks and was very painful.

[Missy161 395]

I just watched a video on YouTube and the gal said the gas x strips worked for her right after surgery for the gas. Wish I had known!!!

[sunmeadow 82]

I just watched a video on YouTube and the gal said the gas x strips worked for her right after surgery for the gas. Wish I had known!!!

My doctor (and other posters) said the Gas-x strips won't do anything. Maybe it's the placebo effect.

[Missy161 395]

I wondered because the gas is trapped in the abdominal cavity rather than the stomach

[Luv2luv2luvya 15]

I was honestly surprised at how easy it is NOW. I'll be 6 weeks post-op on Tuesday. I have had no issues or aversions to any foods or beverages. The only thing that is difficult for me and can make me uncomfortable every so often is eating too fast! I try to remind myself every day. But honestly I've never once been nauseous, never once vomited. Make sure you take your Miralax though... That almost became an issue for me.

In the first week, I struggled for a couple of days with getting my Protein and fluids in. However it now feels like that was nothing! I hope your journey is as smooth as mine has been thus far! I also feel like I read everything I possibly could, and expected all of these things to happen. Everyone is different. I'm feeling great, and grateful!! Good luck!

HW: 233

SW: 214

CW: 198

slowly but surely... 😍

[SharonKaye 10]

I was honestly surprised at how easy it is NOW. I'll be 6 weeks post-op on Tuesday. I have had no issues or aversions to any foods or beverages. The only thing that is difficult for me and can make me uncomfortable every so often is eating too fast! I try to remind myself every day. But honestly I've never once been nauseous, never once vomited. Make sure you take your Miralax though... That almost became an issue for me.
In the first week, I struggled for a couple of days with getting my Protein and fluids in. However it now feels like that was nothing! I hope your journey is as smooth as mine has been thus far! I also feel like I read everything I possibly could, and expected all of these things to happen. Everyone is different. I'm feeling great, and grateful!! Good luck!
HW: 233
SW: 214
CW: 198
slowly but surely... [emoji7]

Congrats on your achievement. I'm getting ready to have my sleeve on Tuesday the 18th. I hope mine goes as smoothly. Can you give me any advice on post-op? I'm so excited. I'll be off work for 6 weeks and I'm looking forward to concentrating on myself and moving into this newest stage of my life.

[Shellabella30 5]

This is a great question! Thanks to all for these candid posts!!!

[tlkmry59 20]

Just sleeved 7 days ago, I thought I was mentally prepared but I had a hard time the first few days, especially while in the hospital since I barely could get any sleep. There was a lot more pain and nausea than I expected. I didn't feel any pain from the actual stomach sleeve, it was the 6 incisions which were like 6 stab wounds that makes any movements that use your ab muscles (almost everything) very painful. It was managed well with the pain and nausea meds (be sure to keep taking them every 4 hours or so) but simple things like shifting around the bed, coughing, sneezing (ouch), hiccups, even peeing the first couple times were painful for me. After coming home and getting a good nights sleep, I was off the pain meds and it was downhill from there. You may feel a lot of regret at first but after the weight starts flying off, it will all be worth it! I'm down 11 lbs in 7 days so I would do it all over again if I had to!
HW: 330
SW: 294 6/27/2017
CW: 282
GW: 180
VSG, Dr. Jawad, Orlando, FL

Hope all continues to go well for you. I'm a patient of Dr. Teixeira. Received insurance approval last week and now waiting for my surgery date.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using BariatricPal mobile app

[tlkmry59 20]

Eek! I'm 47 and thinking I was one of the young ones! I know what you mean though. Good to hear it went so well.

Ditto on the Eek!! I'm a few months shy of 58...[emoji1]. Waiting for my surgery date and a little nervous. Wish I had done this a few years ago but so glad I made the decision to have the surgery now...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using BariatricPal mobile app

[MBird 298]

How easy it is to feel nauseous, a bit of unchewed food, or eating too fast and I foam. I was also surprised how hungry I was after starting solid food, I found out Protein solves it.

I was surprised how fast and pain free, how soon I could walk and how often, AND that Water soon became easy to drink normally without restriction.

[Bobbio99 5]

I am 6 days out and I had a very similar experience to Man vs food. But I was so nauseated for 12 hours I refused pain meds because they cause more nausea. After 12 hours I did not need any pain meds and the nausea was gone. Going back to work next Monday, I feel great

[biginjapan 647]

I had my surgery done in Mexico back in February (BMI 48). Based on these forums, I was expecting the worse. It didn't happen. No pain, very easy recovery, no gas, I was walking day 1 post-op and never stopped (even with a drain), the barium swallow post-op was a non-event, etc. In fact, at one point I burst into tears when talking to my doctor, because I felt they hadn't done the surgery (despite my scars). My experience didn't mesh with what I had "learned" here, nor with what the other people on my floor were going through. My doctor laughed (in a nice way) and told me not to worry - that I was one of the lucky ones that had no problems post-op (believe it or not, it does happen). And to prove I had the operation, she showed me a photo of my excised stomach with my chart beside it (apparently I have quite a long stomach, compared to others).

I did go to the hospital prepared - I had my gas-x strips, and mouth spray for dry mouth. The gas-x I ended up giving to another patient on the floor who was having real trouble with gas pain, but the mouth spray was a real life saver. Even when Water couldn't really "wet" my throat, the spray could. I also have found it useful even when flying, since there's only so much you can drink at a time.

Edited July 23, 2017 by biginjapan

[TheBearguy8 58]

I had my surgery done in Mexico back in February (BMI 48). Based on these forums, I was expecting the worse. It didn't happen. No pain, very easy recovery, no gas, I was walking day 1 post-op and never stopped (even with a drain), the barium swallow post-op was a non-event, etc. In fact, at one point I burst into tears when talking to my doctor, because I felt they hadn't done the surgery (despite my scars). My experience didn't mesh with what I had "learned" here, nor with what the other people on my floor were going through. My doctor laughed (in a nice way) and told me not to worry - that I was one of the lucky ones that had no problems post-op (believe it or not, it does happen). And to prove I had the operation, she showed me a photo of my excised stomach with my chart beside it (apparently I have quite a long stomach, compared to others).
I did go to the hospital prepared - I had my gas-x strips, and mouth spray for dry mouth. The gas-x I ended up giving to another patient on the floor who was having real trouble with gas pain, but the mouth spray was a real life saver. Even when Water couldn't really "wet" my throat, the spray could. I also have found it useful even when flying, since there's only so much you can drink at a time.

Thanks for sharing.....same experiences here, and it's good to read yours. So many fears not happened

[Sassyprassy 8]

On 04/07/2017 at 11:35 PM, VSG_Man_Vs_Food said:

Just sleeved 7 days ago, I thought I was mentally prepared but I had a hard time the first few days, especially while in the hospital since I barely could get any sleep. There was a lot more pain and nausea than I expected. I didn't feel any pain from the actual stomach sleeve, it was the 6 incisions which were like 6 stab wounds that makes any movements that use your ab muscles (almost everything) very painful. It was managed well with the pain and nausea meds (be sure to keep taking them every 4 hours or so) but simple things like shifting around the bed, coughing, sneezing (ouch), hiccups, even peeing the first couple times were painful for me. After coming home and getting a good nights sleep, I was off the pain meds and it was downhill from there. You may feel a lot of regret at first but after the weight starts flying off, it will all be worth it! I'm down 11 lbs in 7 days so I would do it all over again if I had to!

HW: 330

SW: 294 6/27/2017

CW: 282

GW: 180

VSG, Dr. Jawad, Orlando, FL

My issue was no pain at all. I was on oxy and I felt that is all I did in hospital was sleep. I was surprised they sent me home 24 hours after surgery