Week 1 Post-op Advice & Experiences

[Bree03 11]

Any VSG ppl who’ve had surgery and can offer any advice or share their experiences during their first week post operation? Pain, Fluid intake, things they wish they knew, and emotions. I am pre op, and would love to hear about your experience. Thank you.

[BQT 14]

Im exactly 1 week. Day one was not bad because I stayed over night and was super high on the pain which were even in my system for hours after I went home...days two and three were the hardest. Doc prescribed liquid hydrocodone/norco to be taken ever 4-6 hours ....for 4 days I took it every four hours and started to feel pain about two and a half hours I took it. Nevertheless, yes there was pain but the meds made it very manageable . It was not umbearable. I was not hungry at all and the most difficult thing was drinking the required 64 oz Water .... the first day I only managed about half but I was able to it every other day. Also, it was tough to do my consistent walks because the pain meds just made me want to sleep. The majority of the pain was from the gas in my shoulder . But overall the week was not that bad. And st one week, I feel about 75 percent normal which is amazing

[J@Alabama 44]

Surgery was April 2018
Outpatient...no pain meds
Sipped water... drank coffee day after surgery
I feel great! No regrets!!!

[J@Alabama 44]

Constipation was terrible though.... get you some Colace, Milk of Magnesia and Benefiber!

[Bree03 11]

2 hours ago, BQT said:

Im exactly 1 week. Day one was not bad because I stayed over night and was super high on the pain which were even in my system for hours after I went home...days two and three were the hardest. Doc prescribed liquid hydrocodone/norco to be taken ever 4-6 hours ....for 4 days I took it every four hours and started to feel pain about two and a half hours I took it. Nevertheless, yes there was pain but the meds made it very manageable . It was not umbearable. I was not hungry at all and the most difficult thing was drinking the required 64 oz Water .... the first day I only managed about half but I was able to it every other day. Also, it was tough to do my consistent walks because the pain meds just made me want to sleep. The majority of the pain was from the gas in my shoulder . But overall the week was not that bad. And st one week, I feel about 75 percent normal which is amazing

Thank you! I keep hearing similar things, I’m a little nervous about gas pains and not being able to get enough fluids down. But hoping that my body is good to me lol

[J@Alabama 44]

In between my shoulder blades hurt from the gas but it was not unbearable just an achy feeling

[J@Alabama 44]

I had surgery on a Thursday went to church on Sunday and work on Monday (desk job)

[AJ Tylo 1,399]

The gas is the Devil - You have to keep moving and flushing out your body with Water - I choose to not eat much and lived on purified Soup

You will test the boundaries like everyone here most likely did - DO NOT touch any food that expands like bread, Pasta or in general a carb. I had issues with heartburn if you do get the medicine from your doctor ASAP. Also i learned this the hard way, do not drink anything prior to bedtime, about a hour. Once you lay down if the water is flushing around with the surgery blood in your stomach you are in for a ugly scene and major Heartburn.

During that first few weeks keep it simple and go light on food and focus on the Soups or brothes. It took me about 8 days to get to pudding. I lived on pudding jellos and pureed soups for 15 days. Trust me on this you test it with to solid of a food and its game on.

The number one issue is the Head games! Getting you head on straight is a b***h, Feel free to ask here and read the hell out of this place every post has a hidden secret, from Sex, food, Pain, Emotions, etc.

Until your ready for a balanced daily routine you have to master the Protein Shakes and Vitamins and minerals. Sounds easy but it is not. Balancing out your Calories, Vitamins and minerals is hard to do. If you can afford it i would suggest you get a nutritionist like i did, best money i spent.

Good luck and reach out if you need anything = This place is loaded with great people and great help and suggestions

[Bree03 11]

56 minutes ago, AJ Tylo said:

The gas is the Devil - You have to keep moving and flushing out your body with Water - I choose to not eat much and lived on purified Soup

You will test the boundaries like everyone here most likely did - DO NOT touch any food that expands like bread, Pasta or in general a carb. I had issues with heartburn if you do get the medicine from your doctor ASAP. Also i learned this the hard way, do not drink anything prior to bedtime, about a hour. Once you lay down if the Water is flushing around with the surgery blood in your stomach you are in for a ugly scene and major Heartburn.

During that first few weeks keep it simple and go light on food and focus on the Soups or brothes. It took me about 8 days to get to pudding. I lived on pudding jellos and pureed Soups for 15 days. Trust me on this you test it with to solid of a food and its game on.

The number one issue is the Head games! Getting you head on straight is a b***h, Feel free to ask here and read the hell out of this place every post has a hidden secret, from Sex, food, Pain, Emotions, etc.

Until your ready for a balanced daily routine you have to master the Protein Shakes and Vitamins and minerals. Sounds easy but it is not. Balancing out your Calories, Vitamins and minerals is hard to do. If you can afford it i would suggest you get a nutritionist like i did, best money i spent.

Good luck and reach out if you need anything = This place is loaded with great people and great help and suggestions

Thank you so much!! This was truly helpful. And you pointed out the two things that I am mainly concerned with: gas and making sure I am getting in all of my vitamins/nutrients. I will definitely reach out in the future need be. Thanks again.

[Bree03 11]

3 hours ago, J@Alabama said:

I had surgery on a Thursday went to church on Sunday and work on Monday (desk job)

I can only hope for the same. Surgery on a Tuesday for me, would love to make it to church that Sunday. Thanks !

[New&Improved 1,780]

very good information. RNY for me on Monday

[KristinH 2]

I just had surgery on Monday so I am five days postop. I’ve started my menstrual cycle a week and a half early and the cramping is awful between the surgery and my cycle. Walking today has been minimal as all I wanna do is sleep and I’m getting emotional but I’m not even sure about what

[smmrsue 56]

I had surgery on Wednesday 10/23, have been doing good so far. Today was the worst and it wasn’t that bad. Took one pain pill today. I stayed one night in the hospital and have been doing good sipping liquids. Sometimes, especially at first swallowing hurt in my stomach, not my throat. Now it only slightly hurts if I sip too much too often. I have not been hungry at all. I know that might change when the swelling goes down, but I like not being hungry. So far so good! Also, probably TMI but I wish I would’ve waited on the stool softener. They offered me two in the hospital and I took them. Went a lot yesterday and being a big girl it was harder to get clean and very uncomfortable. Lol I obviously got clean but it wasn’t pleasant. Wish I would have waited a few days.

[Bree03 11]

Definitely not tmi, we all need to hear the good and the bad lol. Thanks!

[BQCadet 11]

Day of surgery I had some pretty bad gas pain. But that was because they had to blow my stomach up to make sure there were no leaks after they had cut out the rest. I was not given any opiates because they slow down the gut and that is obviously not ideal. I was given Tramadol and was told to take liquid Tylenol and that took care of the pain fine. I was back working out 4 days after surgery. I'm three weeks out and the thing no one really prepared me for is how easily you get tired. Because of your low caloric intake, and your body using that energy to burn the fat off of your body, you get tired QUICK (or at least I do). I find myself going to bed super early and sleeping as much as I can.

The other thing I struggle with is getting enough Protein and Water. I am never, and I do mean never, hungry. I am, however, CONSTANTLY thirsty. You can't have food within 30 minutes of drinking (unless it is a protein drink) and since I am constantly drinking, I forget to stop so I can eat. It's tough and I'm sure it's not helping my energy levels. I am probably getting between 60-75 grams of protein per day, but I know you wanna be closer to 90. I know things will normalize soon, and I am losing a lot of weight. The ends justify the means