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

Oh Grandmother Dear, ..............oh how i'm hearing you about the "kill me now son/husband thing" soos, i know youre a big kidder, but your offer to go through this for me was so nice and so touching. Thank you!!! (((((BIG HUGS)))))) willby

Hey Willby, I woke up from the anesthesia and was wondering where the pain was. I figured I was still numb from surgery. As time went by I still did not have any real pain. Some gas but no actual pain. I had a slight uncomfortableness at a few of my lap sites. I took some tylenol in the hospital only because I had a constant headache due to my sinuses acting up because of that NG tube that I had in my nose. YUCK!!! Remember that everyone's experience is different. Honey Bee

hi honey, I can only hope that my WLS experience is as easy as yours was! i hope if i go into this with an open mind about the pain.......maybe it will be. thanks for answering!! take care willby

Wishing you a pain free recovery! Honey Bee

Easy, easy, easy! Much easier than a c-section, easier than a tooth extraction, easier than an amnioscentesis. I woke up and for a few seconds I though "this is awful" but it quickly went away, and I had only minor soreness. I was outside smoking cigarettes 2 hours post-op, had the catheter out, and never used any pain pump, and my surgeon described my surgery as "difficult" due to my height (very long abdomen) and it took 6 1/2 hours instead of the 2 he had anticipated and I also had a large hernia repaired. The worst part was the exhaustion post-op. I never had the pain med filled, never had a problem drinking, and could drink as much as I wanted at any time, never vomited, and have tolerated everything. My hernia has reopened, but I am going to wait and have it repaired with a tummy tuck. And, tomorrow, I am going back to work. Don't worry, it is not so bad, and definitely worth it. Carrie

Hi Carrie and everybody, You had a hernia repair at the same time as your wls??? I totally have not been able to get an answer about that one yet. I had a hernia repair in 2001 as an outpaitent(lap) and then, a year and a half later my incision(belly-button) burst a whole lot of pinkish blood all over my uniform at work. I didn't even have any pain with it. Evadently, hernias usually come back, but the dr. said that I was just allergic to the type of suchers that they used and my body rejected them...why did it take almost 2 years though? Anyways, I feel a bulge and feel movement (no, I'm not prego...but It does feel like the fluttering kicks of a baby) I was worried that I would have to have a separate surgery or if It could be done at the same time as the wls. My question is this Carrie...Did you know ahead of time that they were going to do the hernia repair, or did they find the problem while you were on the table of sorts? Lap or open? Thanks so much! Virginia

Virginia, I had no idea I had a hernia going into surgery. I had lap RNY, and the doctor anticipated surgery time at about an hour and a half. Because I am very tall and long waisted, they had to put 2 cameras in, one below my rib cage and one below my belly button. While he was in there, he found a hernia about the size of a baseball (I am not sure if this is considered small or average) from a previous c-section, and he repaired it. The actual surgery took over 6 1/2 hours. I looked at the clock in the OR right before they put me out and it was 10:05 am (I was scheduled for 9:30), and when they were pulling out the breathing tube as I woke up, the clock said 5:30. The surgeon did say that because of the gastric fluids in the abdominal cavity, he could not use mesh for the repair as he normally would, and he could only stitch it shut. As a result, I had 11 incisions instead or the normal 6 or 7, most are small (less than an inch), but the one below my belly button where the hernia repair was done is about 6" long, from my belly button almost to my c-section scar. The hernia repair has healed nicely, but now I have a hernia at the incision they made to do the hernia repair, a much larger one (looks like half a canteloupe on my belly). It does not hurt, so I am going to wait and have it fixed when I can have a tummy tuck at the same time. Any other questions, feel free to ask! I do know that hernia repair is pretty commonly done at the same time as WLS. Good luck! Carrie

Hi Carrie, Thanks for answering my post. Both of my kids were C-section...and I 'm still paying for it with hernias (ha-ha..that's one to hang over there heads) How interesting that your surgery was soooooo long. The first thing I worry about is my family in the waiting room and what they must be feeling when an 1 1/2 hr surgery turns into a 6 1/2 hr ordeal. The second thing I wonder about is the almighty insurance company...wouldn't they have to know ahead of time so they can approve it officially?? Did you have a problem with that? I know that the insurance Co. that I am dealing with right now would find any loop-hole to try to get out of paying. In that case..I'd rather just wait a year or two down the line for the TT....but as you know....our bodies don't exactly cooperate with us right? Thanks again for the good info. In the end I know I'll have to talk to the doc. Virginia

hey carrie, thanks for the reply! wow! i dont think ive heard of anyone having such an easy time. thats great! So far, no one has said "oh the pain is definitley KILL ME NOW!!!" take care willby

Great question Willby. I have been wondering the same thing. I think everyone is right though, pain is very different for everyone. I have three children, two induced one natural. I had NO PAIN meds with my first two and I was on Pytocin (spelling?) with the first and last one. With my last one I was induced ( I was having NO contractions but we induced so my husband could see her before he went back to the Middle East) anyway I had an epidural with her because everyone said you feel nothing...well let me tell you that flipping epidural hurt worse than either of my births and it didn't even take... If the surgery pain is anything like childbirth I will be able to take it and I think I'll convince myself it's exactly the same and that way I won't be scared...