The first few weeks....

HopeWorks · 08-27-2006, 01:53 PM

I’m scheduled to be banded on 9/12 and have lots of nervous energy (along with a headache that I can’t get rid of – stress). I have kids, dogs, husband and need to know how I’ll be feeling the first few weeks….in pain, medicated, tired, weak, hungry – if all you ingest the first few weeks is liquids, you have to be feeling weak – right??? I need to know how to prepare my family/myself. Do I bring in help, do I freeze 2 weeks worth of meals? I’m just not sure what to expect?

**Iluvharleys** · 08-27-2006, 02:00 PM

I can tell you that I was up doing things the next day, and went back to work on the 4th day. Other people have not faired as well, so it depends on you. I did fine with the liquids, I added jello which helped me alot and popcycles too. Do some serches and you'll find tons of ideas! Good luck, and welcome to LBT:D :D :D

***Susan*** · 08-27-2006, 04:29 PM

That is a difficult question to answer, because everyone's recovery is different. I think most of us have very busy lives between work, family and home. I took well over a week to get to feeling better. I was fortunate and my mother came to stay for a week to help us. After she left, my hubby and kids took care of all the cooking and cleaning. Of course, I am very lucky in that we all always share in all the household chores and cooking anyways.

DonnaB · 08-27-2006, 04:33 PM

I would prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Chances are you'll have a quick, simply recovery without a lot of down time. If you prepare and freeze a week or even two worth of food, just think how much time you'll have to do something else. Where's the downside to that, right?

Welcome to LBT, best wishes for your surgery and a quick, easy recovery.

gonnabethin · 08-27-2006, 04:37 PM

Im approaching this with a positive attitude. My self talk is I can do this- its an outpatient procedure. I had a tubal several yrs ago and the gas pain the first 24 hours was the worst part but I was back to work in 2 day. I had an abdominal hysterectomy earlier this year and with a 10 inch incision on by belly- I breezed thru it. Home is less than 48hrs, back to work in 3 weeks. The abdominal hyst. was easier than the tubal.
So Im approaching this with I WILL do it mentality. Its all about attitude!

libra · 08-27-2006, 05:13 PM

I had a mild complication after surgery. I had a reaction to the anesthesia and was vomiting and nauseous. I ended up deyhydrated and back in the hospital. Luckily, my mother was watching my 2 year old because I could not have done it.

All people are different though. I think it's smart to plan for the worst that way you're prepared.

mousecrazy · 08-27-2006, 05:16 PM

Everyone is different...but if you plan for a week of rest, you should be good to go after that. Whether or not you'll need outside help just depends on the energy level of your family and how much help your DH is!
I was driving, carefully, after a week. Your incision at the port site will be sore/tender for quite a while longer than that, so you'll need to be careful of that area. It is major surgery, even though it is laproscopic and day surgery...and you should be sure to take good care of yourself!

Cynthia J. · 08-27-2006, 05:26 PM

Hi! Good luck on your surgery. I think how everyone feels is individual. I was originally banded 4/05. We found my band had slipped and I had surgery this week 8/23/06. My surgery took a little over 2 1/2hr this time. I had a lot of scar tissue and work for him. He ended up taking out my first band and putting in a new band. I stayed in the hospital that night because I'm a single Mom and I was pretty wiped out. I came home Thursday morning and have done fine. They gave me some pain med while I was in the hospital but I didn't even fill my script when I came home. I have rested some but I have cleaned house, done laundry, grocery shopped and walked on my treadmill since I have been home. I go back to work tomorrow. I'm not doing any heavy lifting and won't for a few weeks but I'm not really having much pain. In fact since I didn't have to have a new port put in my pain is much less than before. I just try to keep my attiude positive rest if I need to and keep on going. Best of luck to you! Don't overdue anything but don't stay to idle either.

**Jack** · 08-27-2006, 05:37 PM

...the odds are much in favor of only minor down time for you...and just to make it easier on your family, perhaps freezing ahead a few weeks might be beneficial, so you will be able to focus on your OWN meals rather than theirs.... Some have more trouble being around Normos eating, but most of us don't....You will likely find more energy and positive frame of mind than you expect postOp....

good luck....