marlabeth19

Hi all, I am going to be banded on Monday but I'm worried about the intensity of the post-operative pain. i understand that there will be a few types of pain associated with the surgery (shoulder pain, port site pain, gas pain) but I am wondering if there is anyone who has had other types of surgery to compare the pain of banding to. How well did the percocet (or whatever other type of pain killer) work in controlling pain at home? Do you sleep a lot at home? For how many days? Is it easy to get up and walk around? Thanks for easing a concerned patient's mind!

rosemary102701

Hi Marla,

Congratulations, exciting isn't it??? The pain isn't as bad as I expected. I was banded 9/5. I can't tolerate too much pain and it wasn't bad at all. It feels pretty soar as if you did a looot of crunches. But that pain subsides after about the 4 or 5 day. The port yes you will be feeling discomfort in that area I still feel a bit of discomfort. Also you will be unable to sleep on your stomach for a while, I have a little over two weeks and still have to kinda maneuver myself to sleep on my side. But again the pain isn't that bad I didn't even take the pain killers they prescribed so don't remember what they gave me. I never had shoulder pain so not sure about that one. Sleeping again was difficult for me because I never sleep on my back. It started to get better about a week and a half in. It's a bit hard to get up out of bed since you are squeezing your stomach muscles because you are facing up. Well hope I answered your questions, feel free to eml if you have any other questions. Again congrats!!!!

__________________
Rosemary from Union City, NJ
Lap Band Surgery Date 9/5
Highest/PreOP/Current/Goal
366/366/350/150

lapbander33

Pain wasn't bad...heartburn/tightness was the most of it. I was walking w/in 2 hours after surgery, now (5 days out) I feel like I could go back to work with no problem. I have taken about 2 naps a day each day this week and limited my walking to 10 min. a day. I didn't take any meds after my stay in the hospital. I had neck and back pain from the crappy hospital bed but the chiro was able to help me deal with that.

Congrats and don't worry too much about the pain! You'll do great!