Curious about everyone's recovery story
I can honestly tell you that my recovery was pretty darn easy. I was very sore in the hospital (I was in for 2 nights) and I believe most of that pain was from the hernia my surgeon fixed.
I was still sore where the incisions were and it was a little painful to get in and out of bed for about a week. After that, most of the hard parts were basically mentally getting into a new mode of eating.
I know recovery is different for everyone but I was so surprised at how "easy" it seemed. I was so nervous and anxious and really scared about the surgery, too but compared to my sinus surgery I had earlier this year, I would pick the WLS surgery again and again.
Mine was pretty easy. I stuck very closely to the pre-op diet. My first night was a little rough, especially when the pain meds wore off. But the next day I was fine. I did vomit up some old blood on one of my walks and a little more the next day but felt great afterward. They key to a good recovery is walking. Start walking the minute you can, wal****il you start to feel tired. Rest repeat. My 2nd day post op my wife and I went out for lunch (well lunch for her). I started drinking as soon as the doctor allowed it and I always had water or gatorade in my hand. As soon as I could start drinking protein I was on it. My wounds were pretty solidly closed when I left the hospital 2 days post op. I drove home from the airport 3rd day post op and was back at work 4th day post op. It was not painless but it wasn't uncomfortable either.
I will happily share my story because it went pretty well. I was really scared and nervous. It was VERY encouraging for me to read other peoples successful journies beforehand.
I would say stuff went very smooth for me. I was sched to be at the hospital at 7:15am, surgery was at 8am and lasted about an hour. I had a bad reaction to anesthesia when I woke up I was yelling and screaming (have no idea why but apparently it happens to some people) other than that it was smooth sailing.
I have 6 incisions, the one the took the stomach from hurt the worse. I had a lot of gas (not shoulder gas thankfully!) The gas can hurt pretty bad. But all you have to do is get moving and it comes right up. I walked with a pillow held at my left incision and that made getting around a lot easier. I could walk faster and longer with the pillow which helped the gas come out!
I just drank water for the 24 hours after surgery, I could not stomach the apple juice (I think it was the sugar).
I only took the liquid loratab for 1.5 days after leaving the hospital then switched to childrens liquid motrin for a couple days then no meds to deal with it, By a week out I was almost at 100% and now I pretty much am :)
BTW I think the loratab was making my stomach upset and possibly causing constipation so thats why I got off of them right away.
I was really calm and serene almost to the point of being creepy lol I totally thought I would be more nervous/scared on the day of. My attitude was more like OK LETS DO THIS!
This was the easiest thing I have ever done!
My surgery was around 6am. I had my gallbladder removed and a hernia repair at the same time. I was in slight pain when I first woke up and they gave me some pain meds. Once I woke up in mid afternoon after sleeping off the meds I woke up ready to go walking! I was sore and swollen a little but none of it hurt. If anything the most annoying thing was the wounds itching as they healed and not being able to scratch them. I went home around 7pm that night I was feeling so good (didn't even stay over night like originally planned). I Never took any pain meds once I went home I was perfectly fine! I got up the next day drank my shakes very slowly and went for a walk. I couldn't walk far the first week because I was tired and didn't want to over do it but I never hurt. I'd do it again in a heartbeat...it has changed my life and I was worried about surgery for NOTHING!
