Rate your recovery

[MaryPoppins 5]

On a scale of 1-10, rate your overall experience 1 and 2 weeks post surgery. 1 being GREAT with no pain or difficulties. 10 being severe pain requiring pain meds and several issues. I’m just trying to get an idea of the average experience, if there is such a thing.

[Lyngolean 81]

I needed my 650mg Tylenol every 4 hours around the clock for the first 3-4 days. After that, I started sleeping longer - maybe 6 hours or so and wouldn't wake up from pain. I used my abdominal binder, an ice pack, an anti-cramping medication called hycosamine (prescription) and lots of walking to help with pain. I had zero gas pain for which I am eternally grateful. I thought recovery was very similar to recovery from giving birth where every day is appreciably improved. I had a fair amount of fatigue and took 2 naps a day for the first week, then reduced to one daily nap, then just a rest in the afternoon. My first 3 weeks back to work, I did NOthing after work other than my exercise, food prep and personal hygiene. NO extra energy. All best wishes to you!

[sillykitty 10,774]

9/10 ... very little pain. I work from home, and I didn't take any time off. About 2 weeks post op I got shaky and weak, but a B12 shot seemed to fix the problem. I was back to business travel 3 weeks post op. I should have had this surgery years ago!

[Pearldrop 164]

For the first day 8/10, I stayed on top of the pain though and took all the pain medicine for 3 days. I had a drip and liquid endone for 3 days. My hospital stay was 4 days, I stopped pain meds on the 4th day and my pain was gas only 5/10.

I walked a lot and pain was 0 by day 7

I slept upright for the first 10 days. I was used to this cause of heartburn. I had my hernia fixed at the same time and can now sleep on my side, first time in 2 years 😀

[Dawn Rae 32]

Pain was fairly tolerable, if I'm going to be honest. What I had the most trouble with was my drainage tube...that thing was a nightmare. I had to have my fiance help me wash and dress because I was super paranoid liquid might come out. Stupid now but it was real then lmao. Not to mention I couldn't dress it myself because it grossed me out and I couldn't even watch my fiance dress it for the same reasons.

[Pearldrop 164]

3 hours ago, Dawn Rae said:

Pain was fairly tolerable, if I'm going to be honest. What I had the most trouble with was my drainage tube...that thing was a nightmare. I had to have my fiance help me wash and dress because I was super paranoid liquid might come out. Stupid now but it was real then lmao. Not to mention I couldn't dress it myself because it grossed me out and I couldn't even watch my fiance dress it for the same reasons.

Um, sorry for the dumb question, but what is the drainage tube nd what does it do? How long post op before they take it out?

[Dawn Rae 32]

On 7/2/2018 at 7:35 AM, Pearldrop said:

Um, sorry for the dumb question, but what is the drainage tube nd what does it do? How long post op before they take it out?

It's a small tube that suctions out what's left over from the surgery. It's usually hanging out of your stomach and is stitched to your side. After about a week they pull it out. Mine stayed in for a week, anyway.

[BostonWLKC 807]

07/02/2018 07:35 AM, Pearldrop said:

Um, sorry for the dumb question, but what is the drainage tube nd what does it do? How long post op 

No such thing as dumb questions :)

[Seahawks Fan 771]

Easy as pie! The same pie I gave up to make this happen.

[GansettRam74 13]

I have never had any kind of surgery, hospital visit/stay, major injury of any kind, and a high threshold for pain so for being two weeks post op, I'd have to say I'm overall a 3. I was up and walking within couple of hours of my surgery, drinking Water, and but stomach felt like I did three hours of abs in the gym. Next day in hospital, i drank two shakes with ease and more than enough water and was sent home. Week 1 I was more exhausted than anything. Pain was medium and just used the Tylenol I was prescribed, 4 times a day(I am down to just once at bedtime now), not the Oxy I was also prescribed, and of course the nausea pills and pill to prevent stones. First week as far as shakes, no problem getting three in a day. Then came the start of week 2! I was so weak bc of how little cals I was taking in plus I added walking 2 miles a day in and was basically useless after walking. Then this past weekend(day 10) I felt a revival! I started eating couple fork fulls a scrambled egg whites, a couple of spoonfuls of well blended chicken salad or seafood salad, and slice of thin deli american cheese throughout the day as I knew myself and needed something of substance but didn't want to put myself at risk with chewing meats, and along with a shake & half to make sure I was getting 65g of Protein, and I feel surprisingly great for two weeks post op. Energy level is way up, more pep in my step, pain is virtually gone, and I feel like a person again. Into my third day of a morning 2mi walk and nighttime 2mi walk despite the heat wave here in RI. I've lost 22lbs in 13 days and hope to lose 3 more before post op appt Thursday! I am hoping my surgeon officially okays soft foods/soup regimen as my paperwork states and start going back to gym. I'm losing about a 1lb a day on average, pain free, and so looking forward to what's ahead.

Edited July 3, 2018 by GansettRam74

[magpie26 244]

Honestly, I'm always great with pain, I'm a champ. I was in agony with my sleeve though. I took my Tylenol and walked and took my gas meds AND my oxys and I was pretty miserable for about five days. I couldn't get in or out of bed, couldn't sleep well, couldn't sit comfortably anywhere, I tried walking around the house all the time. I took my pain meds at night until probably day 9 because of the lower right incision, then I just felt better. My drain was in for 8 days!! That was extra fun. I also had staples, not stiches or glue, which makes for extra cool scars.

[GansettRam74 13]

24 minutes ago, magpie26 said:

Honestly, I'm always great with pain, I'm a champ. I was in agony with my sleeve though. I took my Tylenol and walked and took my gas meds AND my oxys and I was pretty miserable for about five days. I couldn't get in or out of bed, couldn't sleep well, couldn't sit comfortably anywhere, I tried walking around the house all the time. I took my pain meds at night until probably day 9 because of the lower right incision, then I just felt better. My drain was in for 8 days!! That was extra fun. I also had staples, not stiches or glue, which makes for extra cool scars.

I keep seeing many others, like you, mention a drain. Is there anyone who didn't know anything about or had a drain other than me? I been reading a lot of posts post op, and my experience thus far, though there have been many similarities to what others have posted, there has been many other things that couldn't have been more different from me what I've experienced thus far. When I woke up from surgery, all I had was five incisions that were glued and with two thin strips of tape on each one. If I wasn't losing weight or not ever really feeling hungry, I'd swear I'd question if I was really sleeved at all, LOL.

Edited July 3, 2018 by GansettRam74

[magpie26 244]

Haha! I had SEVEN incisions, staples, a drain and a bonus I'm part of the lucky 10% that gets to still be hungry after being sleeved. At least it's not like the pre-op hunger. I'm sometimes surprised that people didn't have drains, there was a lot of Fluid that came out of that mo-fo.

[BajanSleeve 244]

3 hours ago, Dawn Rae said:

It's a small tube that suctions out what's left over from the surgery. It's usually hanging out of your stomach and is stitched to your side. After about a week they pull it out. Mine stayed in for a week, anyway.

They took my drainage tube out 3 days post op. Every doctor has a different way of doing things. I have read that a lot of US doctors do not even use a drainage tube. So just ask your doctor first. In my opinion a drainage tube is a good idea to help prevent infection and all of that pus and gunk from collecting inside of you. I would insist on one. It hurts when they take it out but not THAT bad. Its about 1 minute of pain as its coming out

[BajanSleeve 244]

I would rate my recovering at an 8. I have been really surprised at how much easier it was than I thought it would be. The first 3 days were the worst in terms of pain and discomfort. The only major pain I had was the night following my surgery when I did accept the morphine. I refused pain medication thereafter because the pain level went down so much from the following day and I wanted to be alert.

The soreness from the incisions and the soreness from being stretched by the gas they pump into your body was the most discomfort for me and it lasted for about a week. Every little move when walking or driving hurt and that is why I am glad I bought an abdominal binder

Overall I am quite pleased at how much easier the VSG was than I thought it would be