Guest guest Posted October 21, 2001 Report Share Posted October 21, 2001 I don't know about the gastrointestinal stuff immediately post-op, but I do know about that " where's-that-truck? " feeling of waking up immediately post op! General anesthesia is a major shock to the system, over and above the trauma of being cut, poked and stapled. In both of my previous surgeries, I have this dream-like memory of waking up a few times, but not necessarily in pain. I mean...I was aware of the pain, but I was kind of too out-of-it for it to be the big issue. I do remember waking up for the first time after my gallbladder surgery and being all alone, but rather than summon a nurse, I just went back to sleep. I was woken up several times by nurses after that anyway. I did wake up in the middle of the night when the latest round of drugs wore off (didn't have a PCA pump) and probably looked like a fool mumbling, " ugz...im me ugz now, pweeze!! " LOL!!! Each person reacts differently to general anesthesia. It took me a week to shake off that loopy-like feeling of general ickiness, and that wasn't accounting any other pain or discomfort. For me, I think it had something to do with the unplanned " sleep " and subsequent fog...it throws my clock and bearings for a loop and my body keeps trying to figure out what happened to the lost hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2001 Report Share Posted October 21, 2001 At 5:05 PM -0400 10/21/01, MsMystic1@... wrote: >I was just wondering about the post-ops experiences immediately after >surgery. What did you do the several days you spent in the hospital right >after surgery, besides sleep? For me, and I speak only for me: Day 1--intense incisional pain; the pain pump put me to sleep, and while asleep I could not press the button for more pain meds, so I awoke in pain. Day 2 -- the worst gastric reflux I have ever experienced in my life; I had taken my meds to the hospital in my bags, so I took some Prilosed and asked my DW to go out and get me some TUMS, and they combined to give me some relief. But, everything that I drank came back up again and again with foul acid taste. Good thing that I was being hydrated with the I.V. Day 3 -- No more intense pain, and lessened acid reflux. Hardly hit the pain pump if at all. Felt most comfortable sleeping in a recliner chair. Day 4 -- Discharged. Did not take any pain meds at home. Great to be home. Shaky and tired a lot, but glad to have been sprung from " prison " and back home. Week 6 -- Felt like a real human being who had perhaps a bit of remaining convalescing to do, but no more like a patient on the mend. Sort of like the switch had been flipped, and I was OK. >How soon after surgery were you allowed to >shower and wash your hair again? I cannot recall, but within a week, I think. >Was it hard to shower and wash hair again? No. >What did you do during those long days? Slept a lot in my reclining chair at home. Listened to music . Walked around the house and out in the garden. BTW, I had a lap DS. YMMV, Steve -- Steve Goldstein, age 61 Lap BPD/DS on May 2, 2001 Dr. Elariny, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Virginia Starting (05/02/01) BMI = 51 BMI on 10/18 = 40 (-73 lb.) Losing more slowly than most, but enjoying renewed health and life in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2001 Report Share Posted October 21, 2001 Steve. Er...hope I don't offend here...but do you think your age had anything to do with a relatively long recovery from lap surgery? I ask because I'm almost 54 and this worries me a bit. I've never had any surgery. Chris > > Week 6 -- Felt like a real human being who had perhaps a bit of > remaining convalescing to do, but no more like a patient on the mend. > Sort of like the switch had been flipped, and I was OK. > > Slept a lot in my reclining chair at home. Listened to music . > Walked around the house and out in the garden. > > BTW, I had a lap DS. > > YMMV, > > Steve > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2001 Report Share Posted October 21, 2001 Oh you know how much older men are than women at the same chronological age. Poor old Steve was a basket case.. all that misery. I had an open and came through well. And I'm 3 years older than him. Course I had 3 kids to teach me about pain. I'm sure Steve will agree with me. He always does. LOL I was back at work full time in about 3-1/2 weeks. Course all his misery never once stoped Steve from posting. Age 54 is pretty young. Unless you are a smoker or addict/alcoholic and have therefore messed up your lungs, circulation, and other organs. I'm 65 and going strong. DS 9+ monts ago. , Seattle > > > > > Week 6 -- Felt like a real human being who had perhaps a bit of > > remaining convalescing to do, but no more like a patient on the > mend. > > Sort of like the switch had been flipped, and I was OK. > > > > Slept a lot in my reclining chair at home. Listened to music . > > Walked around the house and out in the garden. > > > > BTW, I had a lap DS. > > > > YMMV, > > > > Steve > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2001 Report Share Posted October 21, 2001 I don't want to discourage you, but I am 45, just underwent about 3 hours of surgery for a total knee replacement, didn't have it under general anesthesia, which I think really improves recovery time, and it definitely took me 4 weeks to feel human. That was the point that the pain was more intermittant, pain meds were reduced, and mentally I felt more alert. I don't think that eight weeks recovery from any major surgery is excessive. Although I usually start feeling really chipper around the fourth week, I find that there is zero warning between perkiness and total exhaustion, and that doesn't fade until the eight week. Thank goodness though, that we all respond differently to surgery and pain and hopefully you will spring back a lot faster! Oh, as far as my BMI being a factor in my recovery, my BMI is 40, so although I'm sure my weight is slowing me down, it isn't having the same impact it could if my BMI were dramatically higher! Hugs, Theresa P.S. I have my appointment with Jossart tomorrow at 1. If you want any feedback, please drop me an email! > > > > > Week 6 -- Felt like a real human being who had perhaps a bit of > > remaining convalescing to do, but no more like a patient on the > mend. > > Sort of like the switch had been flipped, and I was OK. > > > > Slept a lot in my reclining chair at home. Listened to music . > > Walked around the house and out in the garden. > > > > BTW, I had a lap DS. > > > > YMMV, > > > > Steve > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2001 Report Share Posted October 22, 2001 At 3:56 AM +0000 10/22/01, msnoaccess@... wrote: >Steve. > >Er...hope I don't offend here...but do you think your age had >anything to do with a relatively long recovery from lap surgery? I It's possible, but not terribly likely. We're all different in our reactions. I prefaced mine by saying that it was mine and only mine. But, I have seen younger folk with much the same panel of maladies as mine post-op. And, then some OLD workhorses like " Ms. Drizzle " ( M.) seem to breeze through life with nary a trace of complication. Than again, females seem to be able to bounce back better (witness those who deliver their young and then go back to work in the fields in a matter of hours), as M. sez. >ask because I'm almost 54 and this worries me a bit. I've never had >any surgery. Count on it's not being at all fun. And, if it is not as bad as you expected, then consider it " gravy. " --Steve -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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