True Confessions!

There is no doubt, I've been blessed!  However, I've told you I wasn't sent home with any pain meds.  That is correct, but I've broken down and used Tylenal for some discomfort.  I tell ya, my shoulders and back have felt like they are about to break!  I can only sleep in one position and after awhile, it's downright painful.  Tylenal seems to help, thank goodness!  The walking does too. And the gulping thing....!!!!  I just caught myself about to take a big swig of diet koolaid!  Oy!  I am oh so glad I realized what I was about to do!!  My, my! Ya know, we make a wonderful team!  I've learned more here than I ever would have on my own.  I just want to say thanks!...and Merry Christmas!! Mary Olson Baton Rouge, LA Surgery 12/18/06...I can't believe it's been a week already!

Hi Mary, Sorry to hear you've hit a bump on your recovery road, but I guess they're inevitable.  But please don't try to be a hero when it comes to using pain meds, whether you stick with the Tylenol or call your Dr. for a Rx.  Keeping post-op pain under control is an important part of the recovery process - it helps you to sleep better, do your walking, and all those other good things.   Wishing you a continued speedy recovery, and Happy Holidays!

I agree with Mary.  If you need some pain medication, let them know or try ibuprofen, it is better than tylenol.  You need your pain controlled so you can move around and also so you can get adequate sleep.  You don't need to be a hero.  You've had a big surgery and pain is part of it, I'm really surprised they didn't give you a prescription.  Sip, don't gulp and get plenty of rest in addition to walking.  Merry Christmas.

Mary,  It sounds like you are doing wonderfully - I remember the sleeping!!  It will get better every day as the surgery heals. Have a wonderful Christmas!!

Mary, Dr. Chu(or Stevens) did not give a script for pain meds & nexium at your pre-op class? That is usually in your paperwork & would have been given by Katie or Bridget. Call the # for Hamilton Medical Group & have one of the Drs. call you in some pain meds. Don't hurt , give them the what for & feel better. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year(& a NEW YOU)

They didn't do anything wrong.  I've been doing really well, still am.  OTC Tylenol is sufficient for my pains.  I've taken it 3 times now and feel pretty well.  Now that I think about it, Dr. Chu did tell me I can take OTC Tylenol for pain if I need it.  In fact, for the 1 1/2 hour car ride home I just got a potent Tylenol.   Dr. Chu gave me a script for the nexium, which I haven't filled.  Did you use it? Y'all are right though, I do feel better that I've gotten some good sleep!  More Tylenol is in my future if I need it. I don't consider this a bump in my recovery.  I was just trying to confess!  Merry Christmas!

Yes, you need to take an acid reducer for at least two months. I took Prilosec OTC and then supplemented with Pepto chewables as needed. I still use the chewables on occasion (like today), but the occasions are much more spread out. I don't think I've had any since August. --BT

Mary, if I were you, I'd switch to Advil or some other type of Ibuprofen, instead of Tylenol.  Tylenol is hard on the liver and our livers are already under strain from the fat loss. Of course, if I were you, I'd had me a script of Vicodin for at least a week.  lol.  I'm not into pain much at all. 

The first year after the DS is hard on the liver.  Tylenol is VERY hard on the liver.   Combining the two is not generally thought of as a good idea. Sue (whose cousin died from Tylenol and chardonnay...EACH was bad on the liver, together, they killed him.)

Yes Mary I did take the Nexium for a month then didn't need it anymore. Some people need to take it longer but everyone is different. Best of luck on your recovery.