I am home. My surgery was wednesday and it went fine. I am in a little pain but the meds are handeling it well. I feel good. This process for me had been much easier than the only other surgery I've had to compare it to. My 3 c-sections.The bonus is I can focus on getting myself in tip top shape without having to care for a newborn simultsneously. I am excited and satisfied. Thank you to all who sent prayers and a big hug to Shan, my hospital nieghbor.

 OMG mine was wose than both my c-sections put together lol. Glad you are doing good.

Congratulations. Glad you are doing well.

 Agreed!

Welcome home :)

I had RNY in December 2011.  I found the surgery to be a breeze and only took painkillers when I was in the hospital.  My internal plumbing was working again (peeing within the first day of surgery and bowel movement day 3 post-op).  Now since it was major surgery I was tired and would nap every day. 

But as you point out....you only need to look after yourself and not a newborn!!

Good luck in the rest of your recovery process.

Judy

so glad you are doing so well

No, sorry, C section any day! I'm Day 10 & I am still in bed & needing opiates to get me to the bathroom or to sit downstairs for a short while...but admittedly my problem is a post-op wound infection as I discovered yesterday.

I got out of hospital exactly a week ago today thinking the pain I was in directly after the surgery was awful - but I was pretty good Saturday & Sunday (thinking I'd the worst behind me) then was in a world of pain from Monday.

That said, I do think I've just been unfortunate. If it hadn't been for my post-op complications I'd be like you by now - flying!

I wish you a continued good recovery & every success...we're both starting from the same place you & me : ) xxxx

Were they able to tell how you got infected? How are you being treated for it? Are you finally recovering?

Hope you feel better soon.

No, could've been anything I guess but bacteria got in there somehow. The first time I saw all the wounds was the night I was home after discharge because the dressings hadn't been changed since my surgery on the Wed (7/11). At first look that one (top left - the one they do most of the work through) looked a bit messy. The clips were uneven & one side of the wound was a couple of millimeters higher than the other at one end (basically I could see yellow sub-cut tissue). Anyway it had old crusty blood from surgery around it too & that stuff is just a magnet for bacteria so that won't have helped either.
What was really disheartening was that I was doing SO well too! I'd followed all my surgeons instructions, I'd been doing laps of the hospital grounds on the Friday - I was on track for a no nonsense speedy recovery. But then I woke up on Monday morning just unable to move because of the incredible pain just under my left ribs. I couldn't sit up, I couldn't walk further than the bathroom (& that was heavily drugged with analgesics & even then I was squealing). I put it down to my own fault of doing too much & not respecting that my body had to heal you know? So I put up with it all week; lying in bed, reading peoples posts about getting out of hodpital & not needing anymore painkillers & how much they'd lost by Day 6 etc & I was lying in my bed thing 'are you freakin kidding me?!!' lol!

So yesterday I saw my family doctor & he said 'you've got a big access under that & I expect it will blow soon which will be messy but you'll feel a damn sight better!' so I'm now on liquid antibiotics (which are GAWPING they taste SO bad!) an extension of my post-op anti-inflammatories & a big box of absorbant swabs to dress it. I'm seeing my surgeon Monday.
But I have to say its definitely easier. I'm on the same high doses of drugs but they now cover the pain to a point where I can get up for a little while & just look 'easier' - but once about 3 hours is up I'm back to being bent over in pain - but hey, I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now...I know its nothing worse than an infection, nothing went wrong with the surgery itself - in fact if it wasn't for this issue I'd be flying like you too so the worst is over, I've now had my bypass (woohoo!!! can you believe its actually over for us?! lol!) & now I just have to get better & get on with my life.

But oh, I'm not joking...that was THE worst pain I've EVER experienced...I just couldn't understand why you guys weren't all experiencing it too lol!!

So that's my tragic story - be sure to keep in touch & let me know how you are doing now.

love, Carrie xxx

I also had an easy time compared to my hysterectomy (which was done open)...but the surgery that was MY hardest was my back surgery...THAT is painful.

My DS was done lap.

Liz

yea , my wls was 100 % easier than my Open Heart Surgery. Still no complications after 5 yrs P O ...

I'm  a newbie, completing prerequisites prior to surgery.  I too had 3 C-sections.  The secret to that was to move about as much as you could.  I noticed on my 3rd C-section, though (I was in my 30s then) took me much longer to recover.  I don't know the age of some of the folks *****plied to your post, but age does play a factor.  I sure hope that my surgery and post surgery go as well as yours.  Thanks for sharing and hope things continue to go well.

I really do think its just luck - either way. You could have a great anestheitist for your C-section or a great one for your WLS...you could've had complications with either or not at all. It really just comes down to luck & the practices of the individuals performing your surgery. I know we all like to think that surgeons & anestheitists are just trained to do a job 'the right way' & then they get on & do it but that's not how it is - people are just people & they can have their way of working which isn't 'wrong' its just different - but it all depends on the patient as to whether it worked for you.
I've watched C-sections & some surgeons are artists when it comes to them - also, they aren't working laproscopically which is much easier. Some bariatric surgeons may just have a better knack co-ordinating the tools or have more experience - afterall we all gotta start somewhere...so this just comes down to subjective experience...I'm just glad they can do it at all - I had a ***** of a time & I'd do it again in a heartbeat lol! Xxxx

Congratulations, glad that you are doing well

that's amazing bc I even wrote in my blog that this is wayyyyyy worse than a c section. I'll take those anyday compared to an open ds.

That's encouraging to me - I've had 5 c-sections.  My last one was the worst to recover from, but being 37 didn't help that!  I hope my lap rny will be easier than my c-sections!

How about the breastfeeding?  Have you had any issues with milk supply?  I was the one you had posted to regarding that... :)

The breastfeeding has been fine. I pumped in the hospital and hubby took it home for our son. He is two so he did fine for the two days. Since Ive been home he has been making up for lost time. Especially at night. My supply seems fine but i imagine as i loose more "fluff"and my caloric intake diminishes the milk will dwindle. I think as long as i don't refuse him, keep my fluids up and take my vitamins he will wean slowly over the next few weeks as the supply slows down. How are you doing with your baby? Have you started storing milk yet? If he's little that might be your best bet. Let me know if you have additional questions.

Mine was easier than my c-section also.  Welcome home, enjoy the journey it'll be an amazing year for you.

 
That is SO good to hear! I've had 2 c-sections and like you-I thought the really tough aspect of healing was that I was caring for a newborn and learning to breastfeed all while trying to heal!

Best wishes for a continued smooth recovery!

Hugs,
Pam