I had my first salad this week.. and used Shreds..

It was so yummy.  Shredded lettuce, shredded carrots.. topped with some warm chopped up turkey breast and ranch dressing.  Made more than I could eat.. o'well.  still yummy!  :)

I know each person can be different so it's hard to answer.  Here is my experience... initially the pain was not too bad.  It took quite a bit of meds to get me from recovery back to my room but then I was fine and up walking. Late of day 2 in the hospital the pain hit hard and bad on my left area of stomach.  I don't want to say 'side' cuz it wasn't in my side.. it surrounded the largest insicion on the left area of my stomach.  In fact the pain was so bad they kept me through day 3 and I went home on 4.... surg. Monday morning and discharged Thursday noon.
At home, it was much like you stated, hard to move, get up.. o' to cough or sneeze was murder.  I slept in the recliner mostly.  The liquid Lortab would make me nauseous so stopped taking it.  After two weeks, I was feeling better except this horrible pain still in the left area of tummy.  I took two weeks off and began full time at work.. desk job.  At 3 weeks post op I couldn't take the pain any longer, mostly had wore me mentally down.  Surgeon did a ct and found nothing, said there was extensive bruising and tissue/muscle damage near that incision as that is where the largest instrument goes in and sometimes two cross and pinch stuff.  He gave me pill form of Lortab which I took 3 days and poof... all better.  :)

As far as compaired to c-section... this was much worse than mine.  My c-sect was back in '87 though, emergency for twins and sliced me from one hip to other.. but still, RNY was worse.  Guess it is an aging thing.

As far as your items.. #1 I think is extreme.  I am only 2 months out and can sleep however I want now.  I would say after 4-5 weeks, side sleeping felt good!.
#2 lasted for about 3-4 weeks... after pain pills.
#3 resolved once I took the pain pills in week 4
#4 again.. once thepain was resolved during week 4.. after the ct.. I have not had any pain.  I have began working out and all if fine.

As I mentioned above, I took 2 weeks off.. would have loved to have 3-4 and actually had to go home early many days.  But once the pain pills took the edge, I was good.  And I only took them 3 days.
Other people have said 1 week off was plenty, great for them but would never have worked for me.

Best of luck.  Expect the unexpected.  And no matter what.. when you start doubting yourself and thinking your a wimp... don't listen.  You just had your insides cut in half and rerouted... all through some itty bitty holes with instruments stretching, pushing, and pulling. 

Pamela

You need to talk to your surgeon like you talk to us.  Tell him you really don't want the d/s and would prefer the rny.  Ask him why he prefers the d/s over the rny other than his opinion of "faster weight loss"?  Are there medical risks or concerns that are making him lean one way over the other?  He may actually know something you don't. 

Not that he is going to change your mind.. but approach it that way.  Tell him how you feel and ask him to convince you his way.  If he can't, then there isn't a medical need, it's just his opinion.  And if you are not comfortable that he would be doing what you want.. then you really need a 2nd opinion. You don't need to find a new surgeon, just talk to someone else, professional, and ask for their input.  Then take that knowledge back to your surgeon.  An informed patient is a successful patient.

Pamela

I admire your strength!

I love my magic bullet.. it's perfect for making my shake with ice, screwing the lid on and off to work I go.  And if in a pinch for time, no need to wash cup as there are several.  :)

very cool  :)

I was sent home with liquid loritab but because it made me nausious, the doc gave me pills and said it was fine to break in half or crush.  Worked soooooooooooo much better for me.

WOW.. you are beautiful.  Congrats girl!

4 weeks of dealing with the pain.. and still not letting up  :(   I hope others are having better luck with this.

woohoo.. you inspired me to weigh in and as of this morning.. I have lost 33lbs.  I think I am actually feeling excited.  Now if only the pain would ease up.  :)

Congrats on your success.

I am dealing with the same pain.  When I met with my Dr. he said it was the muscle and it would just take time.  Ugh... it really hurts sometimes.  I have started back to work this week.  Monday only made it 4 hrs due to sitting upright and the pain.  Tuesday I made it 6 hrs and felt so good last night, stood and did the dishes when I got home.  BAD BAD IDEA.  My back hurt so bad from standing.. then my left side/muscle hurt more.. and I am paying for it today.  I am currently cutting up a tylenol at my desk trying to make it another hour or two.

Hang in there.. u r not a lone ranger.  We can all suffer together.

Aside from the muscle pain/injury on the left area of my tummy, between two incision.. I actually feel pretty good.  Hope you are too.
Pamela

I still can't sleep on my sides .. which is very sad.  I am a left side/stomach sleeper.. but since surgery I can only spend a few hrs in bed .. on my back, and then move to the recliner.  I have tried pillows and all.. but with the muscle pain, and still swollen stomach, when i try to lay on my side, the pain is horrible.

Congrats and keep us all posted.  You will probably have a lot of questions and fears as your day gets closer.  No matter how much you read in a book or website, it doesn't beat asking someone going through it today.