What is it like right after surgery?

I'm the type of person who likes to know as many details as possible before something happens.  I'm still quite far from having surgery because we need to save the money for it, but I am trying to learn as much as I can.

How long were you in the hospital after surgery?  Did you have any drains?  Did you have it done laproscopically or open?

I've had a few surgeries before (gallbladder out, donated a kidney, C-section), but I really don't know what this one would be like.

I have a friend who had RNY about 10 years ago.  She had it open and had drains and everything in for several days.  I know that medicine has improved in that time, but I guess it scares me a bit.  My son was born with kidney failure and has had more than 20 surgeries.  I wish I could be as brave as he has been, but he really didn't have a choice.  I sort of feel that I don't either.  I'm only 5'2" and weigh about 298.

Anyway, thanks so much for reading!

Shelly

My surgery was lap, and it only took an hour or so.  I was in the hospital for 2 days and the pain was minimal.  Most pain, if any, comes from gas caught in you from the surgery.  It takes about 4 to 5 days for that to go away.

Emotions run high in the first week, you may cry alot, you may get byers remorse where you wish you had not done this.  

Weight loss varies.  Some people lose lots the first week and some gain due to bloating.  I think most people lose.  

I only took a week off of work, but looking back should I have it to do over again I would take 2 weeks off.  

Your energy is low for about 6 weeks, but it comes back.  

Over all I think it is a pretty easy surgery.   

I was in the hospital for two nights.  My surgeon said that I could go home after the first night, it was my choice to stay.  I had a JP drain, that was the only discomfort I had at all.  My surgery was laproscopically.  When I woke up from my surgery I felt like I had to burp.  It was the most horrible feeling but it went away after a few hours and after I was fully awake.  I don't regret having the surgery, it was the best thing I have ever done with my life! 

Good luck, and don't let any of the stories on here scare you away.  Remember that alot of people on here post with problems more so due to trying to find the answers....

I had my RNY laproscopically.  I was in the hospital one night.  I had no drains.

I had some pain, of course, but I had a morphine pump and could just push a button any time I needed more painkiller so I was pretty comfortable in the hospital.  When I woke up from surgery, I had a foley catheter in but they took that out pretty soon after I woke up.  They had me up and walking the halls maybe a couple hours after I woke up.

I was on a clear liquid diet in the hospital.  I got clear protein drinks, diluted fruit juice, sugar free jello and sugar free popsicles.  I wasn't hungry at all but had no trouble drinking what they gave me.

I had a little more pain when I first went home because I didn't have morphine anymore.  I had Vicodin and it worked well enough but not quite as good as the morphine.

For me, I was in surgery about 3 hours total. It was done via laporoscopy. I went in on Monday and was out by noon on Wednesday.

 When I came to in the recovery room I had no pain. The nurses were excellent about staying on top of it. I was also on a pain pump and could hit the button every eight minutes as needed.
I had one drain tube that was in for five days. The incisions were small....all closed with surgical glue and covered with small bandages. I was up and walking the halls that night. I was given mouth swabs to help with the dry mouth. The worse pain for me was the gas pain from the air that the surgeon has to put in to distend the abdomen. Even at that, it was maybe a 4-5 on the pain scale for me. Nothing extreme, but definitely aware that surgery had been done. If you have had a laporscopic gallbladder surgery, I would imagine it to be about the same. Same type of incisions and gas pain.

My pouch didn't really hurt. The next morning when I was given something to drink, the first few sips felt "weird". Not really painful, but I was very aware of the fact that something was going into my stomach. Whereas prior to surgery, you don't really "feel" anything when you drink. I took 3 weeks off of work, but in all reality I probably could have went back after about a week and a half. I think the sooner you are able to get up and move, the better. That being said, you also need to rest too. And sip, sip, sip. Keep hydrated. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Reading lots of experiences on this forum, different docs do different things--some people (like me) leave the hospital with no drains. Some leave and keep JP drains and gastric tubes for days and weeks. Some get to eat mushies right from day 1 and some must stay on full liquids for weeks. No two story is the same.

My advice, read others stories on here and make up a list of questions for the surgeon who does your surgery. Ask him things like what kind of pre-op diet he requires (those vary GREATLY), if he requires a bowel prep (none for me, but some must drink nasty stuff and poo all night), what is his pain management after surgery looks like, ask about tubes & drains, etc. Also make sure he and the hospital has done MANY surgeries. I know someone has to be the newbie, but I am not taking my chances with someone who isn't very practiced and skilled.

Good luck!

As said, every Dr and hospital is different.  Our group did a support meeting with one of the nurses from the hospital who walked you through every step of what would happen to you from the time you stepped in till you stepped out.  My surgery was 2.5 hrs because I had 2 hernias to repair and adhesions but it was still able to be done Lap.  I was in the hospital 2 nights.  I had trouble getting my 02 level up so was on oxygen but felt fine.  I also was retaining fluid and had to have lasix.  But once home, I felt better quickly.  I didn't have as much problems with gas as I had been through with other surgeries, thank goodness.  I did have a drain but it was no big deal.  I have had 4 other abdominal surgerys and this was definately the easiest, eventhough I was 61.

I had my surgery 7/5 and am doing fine!  I took some Demerol the first night and just toradol after that (I had to stay three nights but that was because I have a normally high white blood cell count and my doc was afraid to let me go home until it came down--making sure I really did not have an infection)  I got up the next morning to walk and  walked several times a day while in the hospital.

I was fortunate, very little gas-mylacon took care of it.  I was not hungry but drank sipped rather water and crystal lite along with broth, sf jello and sf Popsicles.

since home, I have walked every day (first few days at Walmart pushing the basket!). I did not fill the pain med, just use liquid Tylenol when needed. I have had no nausea, no vomiting, no bad gas pains, no any pain! I am still a little tired, sleeping 9-10 hours a night and if not napping at least resting in bed about an hour each day.

I was swollen after surgery! I looked pregnant! and DO NOT get on a scale until your first post op! Even then, you may have lost very little if any due to the swelling.

Stay hydrated! Drink little sips all day long.

My doc wanted to know what I had consumed (types of food and total daily fluid intake) so keep a record if yours is the same way..  I also took a calendar and from the diet I was given, and I listed the new foods I could have on the days I could have them.

I do not miss food. I do not get upset when I see food commercials. Instead, i think of what I may be able to eat there in 6 months. If it is a place I don't care about then I just blow it off. I don't care when my BF eats. BUT a lot of people do. so if you do, get some movies to watch while recuperating!

Good luck and keep us posted!!

Shannon

Hi Shelly,
My surgery was lapo and I was in the hospital for 4 days.  I didn't have any drains.  I do have to say that I have had alot of surgeries in the past but this was the most emotionally draining surgery ever.  The first 4 weeks were mentally tough for me.  Your energy level will be low so don't expect to be running any marathons for a while. 

I am 5'8" and weighed 274 2 weeks before my surgery.  I'm happy to say that I am at 219 as of this morning and almost 3 months out.  My pants have gone from 24 to a comfortable 16/18.  It was worth every minute of discomfort and every tear I shed!

You will do great!
Tonya

Hello my surgery was on 4-18-11 and it was an open procedure due to extensive scar tissue from previous surgeries,the first 3 days were pure hell for me and i spent them in ICU due to severe nausea from the anestesia,they basically kept me as knocked out as they could til the meds were out of my system,after i went to a regular room i started to feel much better,i was in there for 6 days,when i came home i have done great no issues at all and i can eat most foods but of course i stay away from sugar and foods high in fat.Good luck to you:)