Re: DS RECOVERY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/8/01 1:06:10 AM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< Most of the RNY people I know resumed

many of their daily household work and care of children in less than a

week. I do not have any children but I can tell you that for the first

two weeks I could barely take care of myself let alone care for

children or a family. If you have a saint for a spouse and angels for

children then maybe DS is more of an option. But I think that it is

important to realize that while we chose DS it is not the only answer.

Some people because of their lifestyle and activity level may need to

choose a surgical procedure which will allow them to recover quicker. >>

This definately may be more of a concern for some who really require quicker

recoveries. HOWEVER, I would caution very much against advising a surgery

solely based on recovery time. First of all, it may not be accurate in any

individual case(I had a lap DS and recovered really remarkably well and I've

heard of others who have had lap RNYs and had bumpier recoveries). Secondly,

this decision is for LIFE and I think that future lifestyle and commitment to

post-op care should be a greater consideration.

The same goes for a choice between an open DS (since a lap DS may not be

available in many places) and a lap RNY. While I can totally understand a

hesitancy to undergo an open procedure if laparoscopic is preferable to

someone, but in the end it's the actual surgery that will stay with you for

life, not the first weeks or months post-op where you are adjusting to it.

Oh, yeah - my dh is not saint nor are my two young kids angels... I did have

my mom here to help out for about a month post-op which was really great! :)

All the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

January 25, 2001

six months post-op and still feelin' fabu!

pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45 (5' 9 1/2 " )

now: 228

[Guest guest]

I think the recovery time after any major surgery is a very

individual thing. I recovered quite quickly from my Lap BPD/DS. My

mom stayed here to " oversee " as she says for 2 1/2 days after I came

home from the hospital (3 days post-op). Since my job is very

demanding, I have a full-time housekeeper and she cleans, cooks and

does the laundry. I was on the phone and the computer with my office

6 days post op and I went back to my office pretty much full-time (I

left a little early the first few days) 11 days post op. I was

dragging the first 2 weeks post-op but after that it was all uphill

for me. Even though I have a demanding job, I do not have to do

things around the house when I get home, which would have been

difficult in addition to a full day at the office. I think everyone

is different. I was also lucky because I didn't suffer from diarhea

or nausea and eating and drinking were a challenge and took some

thought, but was not difficult. That just makes recovery longer when

you're battling the nausea and diarhea and you have trouble staying

hydrated.

Jane J.

230/178 (-52#)

Lap BPD/DS

April 26, 2001

Dr. Ren

NYU Medical Center, NYC

> << Most of the RNY people I know resumed

> many of their daily household work and care of children in less

than a

> week.

> Some people because of their lifestyle and activity level may need

to

> choose a surgical procedure which will allow them to recover

quicker. >>

>