Fears...

Kegra · August 23, 2008

Hello all.

I'm 6 days from surgery. I have my EKG and blood draw on Monday and my surgery on Friday.

So here are my fears and I would love it if some of you would respond to them:

1-As a PCOS patient I'm really struggling with the pre-op weight loss. Fatty livers run in my family (I have a sister 145# with a fatty liver, go figure) and I'm quietly terrified that I'll be bumped out of the surgery for it. The past week I've been on a very lo-carb hi-Protein diet, trying all the different kinds of shakes and Nectars to find ones that I will be able to keep down. Since the liver tends to convert fat in the absence of carbs, I'm hoping this has an impact for me. Are you aware of anyone who has been bumped out of surgery for too big a liver?

2-I've told most of my colleagues about the surgery and they've been very supportive, but it also happens that my surgery occurs just before one of the busiest weeks we have. I've family that's had the lap gall bladder surgery and bounced right back to work a few days later, so I've set the expectation that I'll be back at work on Tuesday. Yet I'm reading about people who are still in pain and not working after 2 weeks, and I'm a bit afraid I've been over-confident.

3-I have a very high pain tolerance. So high, in fact, that this Spring I ended up in the hospital for two weeks because I ignored pain until it was so bad it was all I could do to stay conscious and not vomit (and it took 4 doses of morphine to get me to lay still enough to get me in for a CT scan). After that, I'm a bit squeamish hearing about all the pain and bloating. Is it really that bad?

Nena · August 23, 2008

I get my surgery on Aug 25. I too was really worried about the pain and being able to return to work. This lady posted that the lap band was nothing compared to a c-section that she had. Well, I had a c-section when I gave birth to my son and it was no big deal- if this is less painful then we'll be fine. I think some people just have a low tolerance for pain and probably eat things they shouldn't. If the stomach is trying to recover from surgery and you eat stuff that makes you vomit- it's going to delay your recovery and make it painful. You and I, we'll continue on these Protein Shakes and we'll be fine.

maleliz777 · August 23, 2008

I am 4 days post op and im not going to lie there is some pain. The gas is probably the most painful but being able to walk works it out. The only other pain i have is where the port is because it is still tight. Other than that im doing great.

After surgery my doctor said my liver was big but i still got it done... might depend on surgeon.

ShrinkyDink · August 23, 2008

Nena, your post was rather judgemental. I have a high tolerance for pain and I didn't eat anything I shouldn't have, but I still had a lot of post-op pain. It all depends on the person's individual circumstances. I had 4 kids and a hysterectomy without batting an eye, but this surgery knocked me flat.

Kegra, most likely you will come through it well with managable soreness, but I would plan on some extra days off just in case you need them, then if you are one who comes through it without much pain you'll be going back to work sooner than expected.