booked a date...worried about difficult recovery

[briana]

My surgery date is booked through A Lighter Me for July 8.

Up until today I was so excited wishing time would pass faster. Even wanted to re-book the date sooner!

Today, I am worried about a difficult recovery. There's no reason to think I'll have a difficult recovery. I had my appendix removed about 8 or 9 years ago (full incision) and had no difficulty recovering.

I suppose it's the unknown and some of the stories I've read online that makes me worried and no one can predict how it will go.

Just looking for some reassurance.

Thx

[kleb42]

I was off pain meds by day 3 and back in the gym by day 5. You will be fine, I'm very active in the Instagram vsg world and for the most part people have a very easy recovery. Don't stress yourself out! You'll do great.

[Muted_Tummy]

It's normal to ger nerves the closer u get and right up until you go under. The unknowns are real. But, if ur aware ur ok. I was prepared for everything that can go "wrong" or just make u feel lousy post op. I didn't have one. Since u have had a surgery, u are already ahead of the game understanding that a body needs to heal post op and that's normal to compare to. I was only using pain meds for sleep and completely off by day 5. I have had no issues just normal post op soreness. Social media and forums tend to have those with problems the most vocal as they need the support.

Just know that I have Internet met all sorts of folks from those like me with no issues to those with very serious complications and they all say they same thing...no regrets. You can handle whatever comes ur way.

[Sarcastic_Bard]

Sleeve surgery is statistically safer than gall bladder surgery or hip replacement surgery. It being laparoscopic also reduces infection risks and operating time I believe. Honestly the stats say your highest risk is incision site infection (10-15 %).

For what it's worth, my surgery was at 9:45am. They found a huge hiatal hernia which they also repaired, as well as did a liver biopsy. I was still done by noon. I was in the recovery room till 2pm I think, and then taken to my own room. By 3:30 I was walking myself to the bathroom, and by 6pm I was walking laps around the ward and asking to be taken off morphine and put on liquid pain meds. I was up by myself walking laps around 7:30am the next day, took a shower with no help at 9am, and walked out of the hospital at 12:30pm when I was discharged. That same evening I was walking around the neighborhood.

It's totally normal to have worries and fears, but you'll do great!

[Shirl]

I was a gastric sleeve outpatient. I checked in at noon in surgery by 1:30pm, I also had a haital hernia repair, fully awake and sipping water by 3pm, walking soon after and home by 6pm.

BTW, I have not shared this with anyone... but on my one-week follow up my surgeon basically said I was an exceptional patient and to return in three months for a follow up, when he reached across to shake my hand ... I kissed his hand and said "God bless these hands!" Like he was the freaking Pope! He turned red as well as I. OMG! I can't believe myself! But I was just grateful for my current health and for my future! I am deeply grateful still.

[Pam G]

My recovery would have been perfect if I hadn't gotten a horrible coughing illness right after. I am also certain that I was over anesthesized because I was in a fog for a whole week....couldn't stay awake or concentrate.

Other than those 2 things, everything else was fine, practically no pain afterwards at all....never even took a Tylenol.

[Theresa2]

I had surgery Wed, went home Friday. No pain killers from Thurs evening on. No problems. Just walk and sip, walk and sip

[briana]

Thanks! I feel better. Today was definitely a day of questioning. I am going to proceed. I'm almost 51 and I want my last few decades to be good ones!

What pain medication did you take?

[BAMR]

Sleeve surgery is statistically safer than gall bladder surgery or hip replacement surgery. It being laparoscopic also reduces infection risks and operating time I believe. Honestly the stats say your highest risk is incision site infection (10-15 %).

For what it's worth, my surgery was at 9:45am. They found a huge hiatal hernia which they also repaired, as well as did a liver biopsy. I was still done by noon. I was in the recovery room till 2pm I think, and then taken to my own room. By 3:30 I was walking myself to the bathroom, and by 6pm I was walking laps around the ward and asking to be taken off morphine and put on liquid pain meds. I was up by myself walking laps around 7:30am the next day, took a shower with no help at 9am, and walked out of the hospital at 12:30pm when I was discharged. That same evening I was walking around the neighborhood.

It's totally normal to have worries and fears, but you'll do great!

Having my surgery on 6-16. I am on day 9 of preop clear liquid. I am down to 309 today at nutrition visit. I hope to be up and around in no time like you.. I want to walk as much as possible You are doing so well with you weight loss. Congrats!!!

[BAMR]

Stay focused on you, and stay positive, you will have success. So much good info on here and nice people.

[Sarcastic_Bard]

I was on morphine in the hospital, and I had hydrocodone for my first week home. I didn't actually really use more than one or two of the hydros. The gas pain in my shoulder hurt worse than the incisions and abdomen. My stomach just felt like I had done ab day at the gym the day before.

Edit: Thanks for the congrats BAMR. Most appreciated! You'll do well too, good luck on the 16th!

[Romandona]

I will tell you that you are worrying needlessly. The surgery will be fine and only the first couple days are a bit uncomfortable, but you should have an easy recovery. Get yourself up and walking and you will do awesome. No worries.

[Ann2]

It's normal to be anxious pre-op.

But the normal / average / typical experience of WLS patients is to have a complication-free surgery, an easy recovery, and a rapid and drama-free progression through the first few post-op weeks of eating phases to real food.

The mental changes you will go through post-op will probably be FAR more challenging than the physical ones.

Having said that, this is major surgery with surgical anesthesia after-effects. So the first week or two post-op is best spent recovering at home. In my case, I've never napped as much in my life as I did during those two weeks, which is just what my body needed.

Good luck to you.

[Mama2jake]

I am 9 days post op and spent the day housecleaning and pulling weeds! I felt really crappy the day of surgery and the next. Had some nausea and throwing up a little. I basically got the morphine each time I was due and used an ice pack on my stomach. I walked a little the first night and several times the next day. When I wasn't walking I would SLEEP!! I told my family to stay home, no need for visitors while I was only in hospital 2 days. The rest did me wonders!! I was most comfortable laying on my left side too, no idea why? Anyway, I took it easy the first couple days and have no pain whatsoever at 9 days out and I'm down 15 lbs =) Good luck to you!!

[Mom2sdd]

I worried myself a bit as well before surgery. Everything went well and I was off pain meds in two days. I'm down 47 lbs in 71 days and feel great! Best decision I made for myself by far. Good luck to you!