Post op care.

[Mandy]

Hello, I'm New to the forum and super excited. I'm having ds surgery may 6th with Dr simper in slc. He said I should be able to have surgery Friday and go home Saturday night. My brother will be taking time off of work to help... Does anyone have a good estimate of how long I'll need to have someone staying with me 24/7?

 

[JuliaDS]

Hello and welcome! You'll find a wealth of quality information and real support here.

Congrats on your surgery date. Everyone is different. I ended up in the hospital for 3 nights (W, Th, F). Hubby and grown kids were home with me on the weekend then everyone went back to work on Monday. I was not on pain meds and fine at home by myself. Stayed off of work for a total of 6 weeks and I needed it all for full recovery. As with everything DS, your mileage may vary...

 

[Clematis]

If you're having lap vs open procedure you should be OK on your own by day 4 as long as you aren't caring for children or a dog. (The surgeon I went to keeps people 4 nights.) Is your brother still nearby in order to help if you need it?

 

[Will2014]

Gratz to you on your pending life change! Will your surgery be open or laparoscopic? You look to be young so should recover relatively quickly, but I'd feel MUCH better if you had somebody with you for at least 4-5 days. This is VERY major surgery and I'm surprised your doctor is having you only stay 1 1/2 days in the hospital. At the very least I'd advise you to have someone willing to be on call for you in case of an emergency need. That means you call and they rush to you immediately. Best of luck to you! Remember, it's all about fluids the 1st couple of weeks. Find out what you like to drink after surgery (your tastes are likely to change from what you like now), and sip, sip, sip with great discipline. Read everything you can here about what to expect post op. Best of luck to you!!

 

[Mandy]

Thank you all so much for your advice. My surgery will be laparoscopic. I've never had surgery or General anastestia so a little nervous. My brother lives close so he can check in but feel bad asking him to use up his pto for the surgery so just trying to get an idea how much 24/7 care I'd need. Thanks so much. I don't have any kids or pets so just relaxing post op

 

[Clematis]

You should be ok. Really really tired and sore, but otherwise ok. You might get a little emotional in the first week as a result of anesthesia and hormones, so it will be good to have a friend to talk to at least by phone.

Since there is always a chance that you might have a tougher time, have someone ready to come to your side if you call them for help.

Even though there will just be little "scratches" on the outside, the inside will be scrambled so no lifting anything over 15# for a month.

There is a thread here on what to expect if you've never had surgery. http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/never-had-surgery-heres-what-to-expect.40/

 

[DSRIGGS]

I just find it amazing that any Surgeon worth their salt would send somebody home after 1 night after having a procedure that is this major. If nothing else you need to be there for a few days of fluids to get a good store built up because drinking is very hard for many after the DS and dehydration is a big risk.

 

[Mandy]

Maybe if I nag they will let me stay longer

 

[DSRIGGS]

If you aren't feeling well, are having significant pain, trouble drinking, or haven't passed gas and urinated at a minimum they will typically not let you go home. That being said it all depends on how you feel. I just know that no way could I have gone home the next night. I had surgery on Monday and was supposed to go home on Thursday but my oldest son was having surgery that Thursday so I knew if I went home I wouldn't be able to come back and see him.......so I told my nurses and they made sure my Dr kept me an extra night so I could be there to see him. I really needed the extra day anyway because I wasn't drinking much of anything but more importantly I was able to be there for my son.

Best of luck to you for a smooth surgery and bieung/eventless recovery

 

[harrietvane]

I had one night in the surgical centre and one night at the hotel with a private nurse. I was feeling fine by that point after a rocky day after surgery - lots of nausea - treated with sweet, sweet drugs.

 

[DSRIGGS]

I had one night in the surgical centre and one night at the hotel with a private nurse. I was feeling fine by that point after a rocky day after surgery - lots of nausea - treated with sweet, sweet drugs.

My surgical pain was okay, but it was my stomach and my inability to eat or drink is why I needed more time in hospital. Nausea and inflammation if stomach had me in a rough way. I also got numerous bags of potassium, magnesium and a few other things so I was running deficient in some lab areas.

You are far tougher than me.

 

[southernlady]

Welcome @Mandy

 

[newanatomy]

Dr. Simper will be glad to let you stay longer if you want to. He offered to let me stay a third night. I wanted to go home. Where there is lack, getting pain medicine to take at home. He gives very little! I have found out that this is more and more common. Honestly, I did fine though.

Good luck!

 

[hilary1617]

Hello and welcome @Mandy ! Looking forward to reading about your healthy future!

 

[aaa]

Hello.