Pain???? DONT LIE!!!!!!!

its me again......i dont mean to be a message board hog......but......well.......maybe I do I would like to ask all of you post oppers a question. NOW BE HONEST!! No holding back on me. Dont sugarcoat it either. (there she is with her bossy old self) Was the pain of the surgery the worst pain in your life? For you moms out there.......was it as bad as childbirth? i know pain is an individual thing. But i want to be prepared. Am I going to be like "KILL ME NOW!!!!!!!!" or will it be "Oh this isnt so bad" ((((hugs)))) willby

I am NOT a post op... but I do know a few and they said it wasn't as bad as childbirth. My friends who went LAP said they didnt realize they'd had surgery! They all agree the tummy tuck is far worse and makes you so miserable. Of course I expect pain since I am going open and because they will be cutting thru many layers of fat and muscle ... but it can only last so long and I see it as a temporary thing to get to the better life.... my friends also had LOTS of happy meds to keep the pain away and said WALKING is what helped them the most. They said you're in pain until your 1st BM with all the gas and bloat from surgery and it gets better from there. no coughing or bending or stretching... yeah that's doable LOL I hope this helps....I know you're in a bad place right now...

dear chk, i think i'm doing better today. i am still a little aprehensive (as opposed to scared spitless) but now i'm getting excited.i hear you about walking. i intend to have one leg off of the operating table BEFORE they even start so i can walk asap thanks for answeriing! willby

I've never had a child, so I can't answer to childbirth, however, I had horrible sciatica back pain last year. The pain was bad enough that I had to be transported to the ER in an ambulance, I was off work for 2 weeks and had another 2 months of therapy after that. That was serious, body numbing, unable to move, unable to get up and go to the bathroom without severe pain, kinda pain. (For those who saw Nip/Tuck last week, I cried because that could have easily been me in 3 years time). I had the lap band placed laparoscopically. If my back pain was a 10, then surgery pain I would probably rate an uncomfortable 3. I had a BMI of 72 at surgery, stayed in the hospital overnight, and was back to work full-time in 6 days (only because the 5th day was a holiday). There were many reasons why I chose the band over the bypass, but one of the reasons for my decision was my size. I knew that if I were to have complications with the bypass, they would be serious complications given my high BMI, and that recovery would be, could be, alot longer if there were any complications. I knew that it was hard enough getting around by myself without any surgery, let alone trying to get around at my weight with complications. I knew that if there were going to be any complications with the lap band, then they would be minimal and easily fixed. Getting WLS, the band specifically, is the best thing I have ever done for myself. Mercy 428/408/315/180

mercy, i have back problems too (gee, wonder what its from??) Probably not as severe as yours, but i remember peeing my pants because i couldnt get off the couch to get to the bathroom.(sorry for the visual) congrats on your success with your band. and thanks for the encouragement! take care willby

Im only a month out as you know.. And well.. Telling someone what the pain will be like is pretty hard to do. It depends on a persons pain tolerance. I personally was up and walking within hours of surgery.. I had to fight with the nurse to get her to stop coming to my room and giving me more pain meds. I was in NO pain what so ever. But then my friend had hers the next day and she thought she was going to die. They maxed her out on morphine and then went to demerol. She was in horrible pain for a few days.. So it all depends on what you can handle as far as pain. I cant compare it to childbirth- I have no kids. But I do know Ive had more pain with menstral cramps then I did after surgery. But again, thats me. I have an extremely high tolerance for pain. No matter what the pain is after surgery- every bit of it is worth what you get in return. The first week is the hardest but after that things get so much better. In just a months time, I can tie my shoes without feeling like some strange yoga freak. I can walk again with minimal pain. I can shop for hours and hours without getting tired. And Im happier then I have been in years. The pain is just a temporary setback - a week of pain is better then a lifetime of being SMO. You will do great! You can always email me, post here, whatever- but there will always me someone to help you through the rough spots.. Amber

hi amber, "A week of pain is better then a lifetime of being SMO." Powerful words Amber.............and ones i will keep repeating to myself in the coming weeks. Thank you so much for the encouragement! willby

hi wilby: i'm so glad you asked instead of worrying yourself sick over it. of course, the experience is different for everyone, but for me the very worst part of the surgery was the gas pain from the laparoscopy. i was in the hospital for four days - mostly because of the problems i was having with my cpap, breathing, broken leg, and various other stuff. the drugs they give you help alot. when i went home, because i couldn't walk too much from the broken leg, i couldn't get rid of the gas from the lap rny, but other than that i literally did not feel pain from surgery. for me, it was kind of like labor. i've already forgotten about the pain in the sheer joy of the results, much like labor. i'd be willing to bet, right now, that you will not be saying KILL ME NOW. i think it will be 'oh this isn't so bad'. HONESTLY. HUGS DORTHE

(((((((((((((((((DORTHE))))))))))))))))), You are such a sweetheart. You dont feel so great yourself, but you take the time to comfort me! Thank you!!!! take care! willby

Hi Granny, Oh thats right Im older Ok, no sugar coating, no sugar allowed here anyway. My labor was much worse then this. I also was 24 back then and 48 when I had this done. I do remember that it was painful the first couple of days in the hospital getting in and out of bed, but not bad. They also give you pain meds to tolerate it. Now remember, I also had a c-section and was cut from my belly down. I swear to you this wasnt as bad. I was driving in 2 weeks. The best part about this surgery compared to child birth is when you come home, you take care of yourself only, not a baby! I would do it tomorrow again if I had to, and I would do it for you if I could so you wouldnt be so horrified. Sometimes I feel "KILL ME NOW" dealing with my 25year old and my husband. I never felt that way after surgery. Not once. No sugar coating. Dorthe is right, the rewards will be so worth it you wont think of the pain. Hugs, Soos