Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

I will be going home to an empty house after surgery. The surgeon said it was ok (though he won't let me drive the 1/4 mile myself so I'll have to call a cab for the 1 minute ride).

For those of you that had to take care of yourselves after surgery, did you have any problems? Do you have any suggestions?

I plan to have everything set up so I don't have to lift anything and easy access to my fully stocked liquids and Protein, but I'm wondering what I might not be considering.

My neighbor's kids are feeding my cats while I'm in the hospital and she's offered to help if I need anything. Between that and living 1/4 mile from the hospital, I'm not worried about an emergency. I can also walk to the pharmacy or downtown fairly easily once I'm up and about.

I'm more wondering what support I might wish I had day to day as I recover.

Will I be able to bend over/down? (If I drop something or to clean litter boxes)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You should be fine, I didn't need much help for anything. I did sleep a lot so be warned lol


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Do you have a grabber in case you drop something or there is something higher than you can reach without stretching? Someone else suggested that to me.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Do you have a grabber in case you drop something or there is something higher than you can reach without stretching? Someone else suggested that to me.




If I dropped something on the floor the first week it stayed there until someone else picked it up. Bending over hurt. Grabbers would've been handy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am single and lived alone at the time I was sleeved. The vast majority of my family lives out of state, so I performed my own aftercare. I managed my immediate post-op recovery just fine.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You should be fine taking care of yourself, I was able to do most things by myself when I got home. I was even driving a stick shift around the block on day 3. Just don't be afraid to reach out for help if you run into any issues/complications.

HW: 330

SW: 294 6/27/2017

CW: 287

GW: 180

VSG, Dr. Jawad, Orlando, FL

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I flew my sister in to help me. I was concerned about having to go up and down stairs and caring for my dog.

The stairs were no problem at all. Bending down for dog food or changing Water bowl was a problem. Also laundry...bending down and in to get the wash out and into dryer gave me problems. So I was glad to have the help for those things.
If I had to do it again I don't know that I would have asked my sister to take time off work etc...for the couple of days.
If you have a good friend or neighbor who can help out for a bit every day or two that would have been more than enough.

Good luck!


Sent from my SM-G920V using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I flew my sister in to help me. I was concerned about having to go up and down stairs and caring for my dog.

The stairs were no problem at all. Bending down for dog food or changing Water bowl was a problem. Also laundry...bending down and in to get the wash out and into dryer gave me problems. So I was glad to have the help for those things.
If I had to do it again I don't know that I would have asked my sister to take time off work etc...for the couple of days.
If you have a good friend or neighbor who can help out for a bit every day or two that would have been more than enough.

Good luck!


Sent from my SM-G920V using BariatricPal mobile app



Thanks! That's good to know.
I'll plan to ask the neighbor kids to help out with the kitties instead of trying to do it myself.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think it all depends on you. I was sleeved 4 months ago (revised from band 6 years prior). Both times I was alone post op. I have two dogs 25 and 30 lbs. I had absolutely no problem taking care of them. Did it hurt bending down, yes, but it only hurts for a minute then went away. I just put my knee up when my dog tried to jump on me just to try to avoid that pain. I was walking my dogs for their longer walk the day after I got home. I never took pain meds after the first night. Never had gas pain or anything

So it depends on how you heal


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think it all depends on you. I was sleeved 4 months ago (revised from band 6 years prior). Both times I was alone post op. I have two dogs 25 and 30 lbs. I had absolutely no problem taking care of them. Did it hurt bending down, yes, but it only hurts for a minute then went away. I just put my knee up when my dog tried to jump on me just to try to avoid that pain. I was walking my dogs for their longer walk the day after I got home. I never took pain meds after the first night. Never had gas pain or anything

So it depends on how you heal




Thanks! That's reassuring. I'm pretty self-sufficient and would rather take care of things myself whenever possible.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just have a friend or neighbor on stand by just in case. Every one heals differently. I could not do stairs easily or bend. I was also dizzy . Almost fell in shower. I would not go down stairs or shower without someone in the house with me.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Bashbee91

      Hey guys new to the process looking forward to this new life. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Bugg

      Hi everyone! I’m brand new here. I just went through all my pre-op requirements per my insurance company and now everything has been submitted and I’m just waiting for final approval and my surgery date. I’ve been doing research, watching YouTube videos, TikTok’s, ect.. trying to prepare my mind and what to expect so I’ll be ready for the surgery. I was so sure and so set and so ready and excited. However, now that I’ve done everything & it’s almost here, I am sooooooo scared! I know why I want it bc I’ve tried everything and I just don’t feel like I can lose weight by myself. I’m tired of being overweight my entire life. I’m miserable, but I keep psyching myself out afraid of GERD bc I know how that can be and I don’t want to have to get a bypass after already gaining the courage to even get VSG. I’m scared of complications like I’mgoing to regret doing it and be depressed that I didn’t just be more disciplined and try again to lose the weight on my own even sitting here typing this knowing in my mind i just can’t and don’t possess the discipline. I’m also afraid I won’t be able to handle the restrictions of the sleeve. What do I eat? I don’t know how to eat healthy really and don’t enjoy healthy food. I don’t know how to do this! I feel so defeated!Someone tell me they felt anything similar to this or am I not ready? I thought I was. I am so tired of being sick and tired and so tired of myself and so tired of being stuck and stuck in this body and somebody different on the outside from what I feel inside. I just want to ball up and cry.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • buildabetteranna

      over 20 lbs down since4 the pre surgery diet and surgery on the 14th
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        Yay!! Congrats. I know how good that feels. 🤩

    • Jenopolis

      Had a sleeve in 2017, lost over 100 pounds. Had a DS surgery this year (2025) for more sustainable weight loss. 🤞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • buildabetteranna

      The 14th was my day. I am home and recovery is going pretty smooth. They even let me walk out of the hospital. Picture of me in recovery curtesy of my boyfriend lol. 

      · 3 replies
      1. DaisyChainOz

        Glad it went well!! Wishing you a speedy recovery and wonderful success!! 🤗

      2. buildabetteranna

        Thank you ❤️

      3. Selina333

        Neat you have a pic of this day! I was sooo happy to get my surgery. It was well worth it! And I'm not even near my goal. I had surgery Dec. 2!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×