Surgery Wednesday....questions
Do you have a catheter?
I did not - it took about 10 minutes of trying to urinate before I could, but I was finally able to. And I filled the urine collector - over 800ccs as I recall!
Was the pain unbearable?
Nope - I was on morphine for the first night and then switched to hydrocodone the next day.
How long was your surgery?
Just over two hours.
How long after surgery did you walk?
I was in my room by 5pm and was up walking just after midnight.
Have a hard time waking up?
I am not sure how long I was in post-op before I woke up, but I was in there for over an hour while awake because I was VERY nauseaous. That is the one thing that I would say was the worst aspect for me.
I did not - it took about 10 minutes of trying to urinate before I could, but I was finally able to. And I filled the urine collector - over 800ccs as I recall!
Was the pain unbearable?
Nope - I was on morphine for the first night and then switched to hydrocodone the next day.
How long was your surgery?
Just over two hours.
How long after surgery did you walk?
I was in my room by 5pm and was up walking just after midnight.
Have a hard time waking up?
I am not sure how long I was in post-op before I woke up, but I was in there for over an hour while awake because I was VERY nauseaous. That is the one thing that I would say was the worst aspect for me.
"Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come" 
I had open RNY surgery on a Monday @ 3:00 pm, the doctor said mine was the easiest of the 3 he did that day and my liver looked fantastic! I went home on Wednesday @ 2:00 pm.
My surgery lasted almost an hour I was told. I remember being wheeled into the operating room, my surgeon talked to me and the next thing I knew I was in recovery! I didn't have a catheter or a drain.
When I was in recovery the nurse asked me how I felt, I inquired if they had a donkey running loose, she asked why? I replied because I'm pretty sure one kicked me in the stomach! I was taken to my room about 5:30 and had already started to feel much better. The hospital staff assisted me off the gurney and I walked directly to the bathroom as they wanted me to "pee", which I did thanks to the wonderful IV pumping me full of fluids! I did have a pain pump that delivered pain medication directly to the newly formed pouch site as well as the traditional pain pump that I could push the button on for meds. I also had the "inflating booties" for when I was in bed. I really didn't sleep much at the hospital except at night when they weren't waking me up to check my blood pressure, heartrate, etc. I was up walking the halls during the day. I had broth, sf jello and sf popsicles the day after surgery. The IV was removed on the day after surgery as well. The internal pain pump was removed right before I went home.
The only thing I would change would be that I didn't need to take much with me. Keep it simple, hair brush, tooth brush, stuffed animal or pillow to hold against your stomach on the ride home. The hospital provides every thing else you could need!
My surgery lasted almost an hour I was told. I remember being wheeled into the operating room, my surgeon talked to me and the next thing I knew I was in recovery! I didn't have a catheter or a drain.
When I was in recovery the nurse asked me how I felt, I inquired if they had a donkey running loose, she asked why? I replied because I'm pretty sure one kicked me in the stomach! I was taken to my room about 5:30 and had already started to feel much better. The hospital staff assisted me off the gurney and I walked directly to the bathroom as they wanted me to "pee", which I did thanks to the wonderful IV pumping me full of fluids! I did have a pain pump that delivered pain medication directly to the newly formed pouch site as well as the traditional pain pump that I could push the button on for meds. I also had the "inflating booties" for when I was in bed. I really didn't sleep much at the hospital except at night when they weren't waking me up to check my blood pressure, heartrate, etc. I was up walking the halls during the day. I had broth, sf jello and sf popsicles the day after surgery. The IV was removed on the day after surgery as well. The internal pain pump was removed right before I went home.
The only thing I would change would be that I didn't need to take much with me. Keep it simple, hair brush, tooth brush, stuffed animal or pillow to hold against your stomach on the ride home. The hospital provides every thing else you could need!
A couple of other things to be aware of. Not sure if it's the doctor or the hospital who 'requires' it but I had these things on my legs that inflate and deflate to keep the circulation in my legs flowing. When you're motionless for a couple of hours they use that device as a precaution for your circulation.
Also, they inflate your abdomen with some kind of gas, CO2 I think, and they try to expel it all when surgery is done, however, some might remain and for alot of people it settles in your shoulder. So, if you experience any kind of shoulder pain it could be the gas and it will just have to work it's way out after a few days.
I was given the happy drug just before they wheeled me out of the waiting area so I don't even remember the ride to the OR or anything in it. I did get a catheter but tell them you want that inserted after they put you out. It's no big deal when they take it out later, but I would not want to be awake when they put it in.
My surgery lasted 4.5 hours but only because I've had previous surgeries and there was alot of scar tissue. I barely remember the recovery room but I didn't get up to 'walk' until they took the catheter out which was later that day. I only stayed one night. I did force myself to get up and walk as much as I could. I had absolutely no pain but my doctor uses something called the On-Q pain pump. It's a wonderful thing. I didn't even need pain medicine when I got home. I didn't have any kind of drains but the pain pump stays in for about 3 days. When it's empty you just pull out the very tiny tubing...no pain at all.
Good luck....you'll be fine!!!!
Also, they inflate your abdomen with some kind of gas, CO2 I think, and they try to expel it all when surgery is done, however, some might remain and for alot of people it settles in your shoulder. So, if you experience any kind of shoulder pain it could be the gas and it will just have to work it's way out after a few days.
I was given the happy drug just before they wheeled me out of the waiting area so I don't even remember the ride to the OR or anything in it. I did get a catheter but tell them you want that inserted after they put you out. It's no big deal when they take it out later, but I would not want to be awake when they put it in.
My surgery lasted 4.5 hours but only because I've had previous surgeries and there was alot of scar tissue. I barely remember the recovery room but I didn't get up to 'walk' until they took the catheter out which was later that day. I only stayed one night. I did force myself to get up and walk as much as I could. I had absolutely no pain but my doctor uses something called the On-Q pain pump. It's a wonderful thing. I didn't even need pain medicine when I got home. I didn't have any kind of drains but the pain pump stays in for about 3 days. When it's empty you just pull out the very tiny tubing...no pain at all.
Good luck....you'll be fine!!!!
HW...265....SW...260....CW....229....RNY on 9/06/12
My RNY was also my first surgery so I understand why you have the questions. My answers are below:
Do you have a catheter?
Yes and it was great not to have to get up and use the bathroom. The nurse warned that it may hurt to take it out, which freaked me out, but the removal didnt hurt at all.
Was the pain unbearable?
I was on a morphine drip after surgery so I really didnt feel much pain. I was told I could press it every 6 min and thats exactly what I did! I was always at a 2 on the 1-10 pain scale. I went home the morning of the 2nd day. I was felt ok when I left the hospital but was in a lot of pain by the time I made it home. The morphine had worn off and I really missed it! My hubby went and picked up my pain meds but they really didn't help that much at first. I took the first pill as soon as I got home. A few hours later I was still in major pain. I think the instructions said wait 6 hours until the next dose, but at the 3 hour mark the pain was almost unbearable. I was definitely at a TEN on the pain scale and I actually wanted to go back to the hospital! My mom gave me another dose early and that curbed the pain enough for me to go to sleep. If I had it to do again I would definitely stay 2 nights so I could have the "good stuff" so its great that your Dr is requiring a 2 night stay. I took the pain meds to make it through the 2nd day but never took them again after that. My tummy was sore for about a week but not enough to need any meds.
How long was your surgery?
I think it was about 2.5 hours. I went into surgery at 7am, went to a recovery area for a couple hours, and was taken to a room around 11am. I didnt wake up until I got to my room.
How long after surgery did you walk?
I remember walking twice during my stay. I believe the first time was sometime the evening of the surgery and the other was the morning of the 2nd day. Before I went into surgery, they put these huge blood pressure cuff type things on my legs. They constantly inflated and deflated to keep my blood flowing and prevent clots.
Have a hard time waking up?
Yes. I remember the nurses waking me up once I got to my room, but I didnt stay awake long. I slept off and on the whole day and slept through the night.
Do you have a catheter?
Yes and it was great not to have to get up and use the bathroom. The nurse warned that it may hurt to take it out, which freaked me out, but the removal didnt hurt at all.
Was the pain unbearable?
I was on a morphine drip after surgery so I really didnt feel much pain. I was told I could press it every 6 min and thats exactly what I did! I was always at a 2 on the 1-10 pain scale. I went home the morning of the 2nd day. I was felt ok when I left the hospital but was in a lot of pain by the time I made it home. The morphine had worn off and I really missed it! My hubby went and picked up my pain meds but they really didn't help that much at first. I took the first pill as soon as I got home. A few hours later I was still in major pain. I think the instructions said wait 6 hours until the next dose, but at the 3 hour mark the pain was almost unbearable. I was definitely at a TEN on the pain scale and I actually wanted to go back to the hospital! My mom gave me another dose early and that curbed the pain enough for me to go to sleep. If I had it to do again I would definitely stay 2 nights so I could have the "good stuff" so its great that your Dr is requiring a 2 night stay. I took the pain meds to make it through the 2nd day but never took them again after that. My tummy was sore for about a week but not enough to need any meds.
How long was your surgery?
I think it was about 2.5 hours. I went into surgery at 7am, went to a recovery area for a couple hours, and was taken to a room around 11am. I didnt wake up until I got to my room.
How long after surgery did you walk?
I remember walking twice during my stay. I believe the first time was sometime the evening of the surgery and the other was the morning of the 2nd day. Before I went into surgery, they put these huge blood pressure cuff type things on my legs. They constantly inflated and deflated to keep my blood flowing and prevent clots.
Have a hard time waking up?
Yes. I remember the nurses waking me up once I got to my room, but I didnt stay awake long. I slept off and on the whole day and slept through the night.
BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED
Congrats on your upcoming surgery! Overall, I had a really great experience. Dr. Pennington is a great Dr. I especially like how he came in the OR holding area and prayed with me before the surgery. It really put me at ease. I chose to do the Davinci robot. My only regret was not staying 2 nights, but that was my decision though. He said health wise clear to go if I felt ok so I went ahead and left. Yes, I was prescribed a pill. They recommended Loratab but it has made me really sick in the past so I asked for something else. Dont remember exactly what it was. Good luck and feel free to contact me with any other questions you may have. :-)
We didn't even talk about that. I just assumed it hands on.
i had my surgery less than 3 weeks ago. My answers ...
Do you have a catheter? Yes, i did. You will most likely have one to get rid of liquids that is in the body while you are having surgery. It was removed within the first 2 hours I was in my room.
Was the pain unbearable? For me, it wasn't. The only difficult pain I had was some gas pressure that was in my upper abdomen that made me fill nauseus and want to lie down. I got pain medication and I felt better in an hour. After that, I had no problem other than the referred pain. However, this is different for everyone. Some people have horrible pain, others have none.
How long was your surgery? Mine was just under 3 hours.
How long after surgery did you walk? They had me up walking 2 hours after I got to my room. And i was up walking about every hour to hour and a half.
Have a hard time waking up? you are sleepy, and its easy to fall back asleep and hard to sometime follow directions, but other than that no.
And i was supposed to stay for 2 days, but my recovery was going so well I was sent home a day early.
Do you have a catheter? Yes, i did. You will most likely have one to get rid of liquids that is in the body while you are having surgery. It was removed within the first 2 hours I was in my room.
Was the pain unbearable? For me, it wasn't. The only difficult pain I had was some gas pressure that was in my upper abdomen that made me fill nauseus and want to lie down. I got pain medication and I felt better in an hour. After that, I had no problem other than the referred pain. However, this is different for everyone. Some people have horrible pain, others have none.
How long was your surgery? Mine was just under 3 hours.
How long after surgery did you walk? They had me up walking 2 hours after I got to my room. And i was up walking about every hour to hour and a half.
Have a hard time waking up? you are sleepy, and its easy to fall back asleep and hard to sometime follow directions, but other than that no.
And i was supposed to stay for 2 days, but my recovery was going so well I was sent home a day early.
Most Active
Recent Topics