What is recovery like?

[ecbailey 0]

I don't know if this is the right place to post these questions, but here goes... I am having surgery on March 23, 2005.

What can I expect in regards to recovery? Also, how do you modify the weight ticker? Can it be modified or do you have to redo it each time?

Thanks, ecbailey

[DeLarla 22]

Recovery is different for all of us. Some people are super human and spring back to life as if they just had a tooth pulled, while others are a little slower. I personally got sick with bronchitis the second I woke up from recovery, so I had a really hard time. But even after my chest cleared up, it took a full 2 weeks before the gas & horrible belly disgustingness went away. I had such severe cramping, gurgling & nastiness that I rushed to Urgent Care, where they ran every known test for bacteria that I might have picked up in Mexico. But I came back clean as a whistle.

I've talked to a lot of people like myself, who started feeling better after a couple days, but then went backward and got much worse for another week. I've also talked to a lot of people who went back to work just after a few days. YUCK!

I never had actual "pain." My problem was discomfort from bloating, gas, diarreah, shoulder pain... mostly bloating. I looked like they left a watermelon in my belly. I walked as often as possible and drank warm tea with honey to sooth my belly, and I practically lived on my heavenly heating pad. That's my number one piece of advice, to buy a new kingsize heating pad for the shoulder & back pain.

Good luck to you. Keep us updated.

[sharon 0]

I did pretty good. I went to a friends house the day of the surgery, I still have 2/3 of the pain medication left. I was driving around doing shopping and everything in 4 days. It's the damn gas they give you in the hospital that seems to be the worst thing - it made my shoulders hurt. But it works out. I would suggest picking up some chewable GAS-X gas (mint was best) as it seems most of us also have stomache gas for a few weeks.

As for the ticker, I always seem to have to redo it!

[claraluz 2]

My recovery was very easy. I never had any pain or discomfort. The worst part for me was that I felt things I had never felt before and it was hard to know if those feelings were normal or the signal that something was wrong. So I felt a little anxious. And I was a little low on energy. I could easily have gone back to work on the fourth day, but I'm glad I didn't have to.

Nancy

[Guest kaznelson]

Hi,

Immediately post-op it hurt!! But Im a big softie!! The first 24 hours were the worse but once I was home and got settled things were fine. The port site was the worse bit but I didnt have any problems with gas. I didnt need any pain relief once I was home. Took things slowly and returned to work 1 week later.

3 weeks post op I am feeling fantastic.

Good luck with the banding :-)

[HarleyNana 10]

I didn't have a lot of pain, mostly discomfort. I had 1 night in the hospital, and once I was home I took 1/2 a pain pill the first night, just cause I wanted to be sure I'd sleep well, not because I was in pain. I didn't have tummy gas pains, but left shoulder pain, which was eased with massage. I was driving in a couple of days, (doctor said wait a week), but I felt great, BUT, everyone's different. Good luck to you.

[Jammin & Losin 1]

Well I just got my band Friday March 18th and I must say it has been no walk in the park.I have been extremely sore and in a good bit of pain I am just now getting around a bit better.I must say the hard part is over and I know I will get better with each day.You can do this . Don't be to worried it will pass and you will reach your goals and you will be so glad you did!!! Good Luck!!

[New Hope 37]

Hi, EC, have you had any type of surgery before? This is laproscopic, which certainly helps. But they are tunnelling around in there, situating the band. Please allow yourself a realistic amount of time to recoup. I'd rather take off more time than I need than go back too soon. Also, it will depend what type of work you will be returning to. Do you sit at a desk, stand on your feet a lot, walk a lot, do a lot of lifting/carrying? All of this will affect how soon you return to work. Best of luck to you!

[ecbailey 0]

Thank you for the replies. Now, I have a good idea of what to expect. I am in graduate school, but have two children ages: 7 and 2. I am more concerned about my activity level with them. Thanks again, ecbailey

[vinesqueen 2]

okay, I must be weird. Very little pain, other than getting a killer period. I'm uncomfortable, but not in pain. I'm a little bloated, a lot windy (yeah, so what else is new?) and making aome funny gurrgly noises.. (I was drinking Water and sounded like a bath tub draining! ooooh sexy...)

I went shoping a couple days after surgery, and drove 800 miles on Friday night with my DH...

tomorrow will be my one week bandiversary...