What surprised you?
- Thread starter GardenB
- Start date
The gas pain! I have such a high tolerance to pain. I had my leg literally cut in half and reconstructed and took pain meds for 2 days at home then managed the rest without any pain management. But good golly.. that gas pain! I took as much meds as they would give me in the hospital just so it would knock me out! But, they the time I was home I didn't take any more pain meds. It was just the first 2 days in the hospital that were horrible.
KAT in PA
Member
Good question! You'll get many different and opposing answers, I imagine, which speaks to the individual experience each of us has. Let's see... I had multiple procedures at the same time (gastric band removal with revision to bypass, hiatal hernia repair, fundus portion of stomach resected due to damage from the band, and gallbladder removed) and required no pain medication in the hospital after surgery other than Tylenol and never took any prescribed pain meds. My incisions were sore and movement was sore, but I wasn't really in any terrible pain. I feel very fortunate! I was surprised that I managed the liquid diet phase pre- and post-op successfully! The first couple days were HARD, but then it got much easier. Post-op, I didn't really feel much like eating so getting my liquids and protein in were my goals. My surgeon moved on to soft foods after one week and that was really amazing to taste other foods again. The farther I am out from the surgery, I am surprised that my portion sizes are very similar to what I ate with the restriction from my band. That tells me that I'm going to have to really watch WHAT I'm eating to make lifelong changes since the quantity won't be all that different than the past 13 years. I was not a protein lover before the pre-op prep, but I am surprised how many protein items I am finding and enjoying well enough since protein is so important in my lifestyle change. I am surprised how smelly my BMs and gas was as I reintroduced foods. Hoping that was short lived!!
Surgery gas, if you go back into my posts. My surgery ended up being way more than he expected. Not the bypass itself (that was no issues) but I had a hernia that was almost twice as bad as the scans shows plus damage to my esophagus from years of GERD that had to be repaired. So I ended up with 3 surgeries in 1. I ended up getting a double dose of gas, so my gas pain was probably a little worse.. at least I hope so for others peoples sake.
Chris54
Member
Great question. I'm pre op so I can't really answer but I do look forward to seeing all the responses.
Lesa Marie
Member
For me it was burning in my stomach. They even kept me an extra 3 days in the hospital trying to figure this out. Even a year out I still get it but it’s always on an empty stomach. My scans have always come back normal so there’s no medical explanation other than it was brought on by the surgery. At first I thought it was indigestion but I only get it when the stomach is completely empty.
For me the biggest surprise was eating a packet of oatmeal one day after getting to eat soft foods, and not being able to eat the same size packet of oatmeal the next day before becoming too full. Many times one day I could eat 2 oz of meat and next day not being able to eat 2 oz of same meat. Was so weird.
Yea, good point. I have that issue too.
I was thinking it maybe had something to do with what I ate earlier in the day that filled me up longer or something like that... who knows.
Chris54
Member
That could be a difference in time between meals or maybe more activity one day and higher metabolism. Who knows. I've not had surgery yet so I still have a normal size stomach. Sometimes when I eat dinner I'm full before I finish my meal. Sometimes I finish a meal of same portion size and feel like I can eat more. So that's probably a normal thing but you are just paying more attention to how much you are getting in now.
Nymiria
Member
The pre and post liquid diets were so difficult. It was so hard! I thought it would be a piece of cake because it was only 2 weeks before the surgery but wow! I had so many excuses keep popping up to not want to stick to diet but I did in the long wrong stay strong. Also the pain when I woke up was just awful after surgery. So many people said it didn't hurt so when I woke up I was so surprised! My stomach was like a burning ball of fire.
suzannethemom
Member
Okay, I did not know that I would be strapped to the operating table so that the table could be tilted to a 45 degree angle. The straps over my thighs must have been very tight because I developed NEURAPRAXIA on my right outer thigh. It was extremely numb and tingly the first month after surgery. My surgeon said it is temporary and the nerves will slowly heal over time.
www.healthline.com
Neurapraxia: After Surgery, After Injury, and More
www.healthline.com
suzannethemom
Member
I did not know that two surgeons are required in the operating room during the procedure. One is the head surgeon and one is the assistant (who I never met). When I got my bill, I was surprised to discover that I was charged for two surgeons (full price). I appealed the charges with my insurance company and the charge for the assistant surgeon was changed to half the rate. Lesson learned: make sure you know ahead of time what you will be charged for and who will be in the OR.
GardenB
Member
Wow. I never thought about that but it makes sense as they have to access areas under your liver. I hope you have a full recovery soon!Okay, I did not know that I would be strapped to the operating table so that the table could be tilted to a 45 degree angle. The straps over my thighs must have been very tight because I developed NEURAPRAXIA on my right outer thigh. It was extremely numb and tingly the first month after surgery. My surgeon said it is temporary and the nerves will slowly heal over time.
Neurapraxia: After Surgery, After Injury, and More
Chris54
Member
I didn't even know that was a category in the Olympics. Maybe there is a chance for me to be an Olympic athlete after all.
Hello GardenB, the gas pain that night! Ask for meds, I stayed knocked out. Every 2-3 hrs I asked for my meds, then the next day I walked the hospital halls. After that, it was a smooth ride. Just ask for pain meds lol...GOD LUCK, YOU WILL BE FINE!!