Still, I can say with complete confidence that I've had worse. Granted, I am six days out of the whole situation, but I remember every single gory detail just as if I'd gotten out of that operation room today! However, for the sake of readability I'll lay it all out all timeline like for you guys. I know how much you all just loooove convenience!
Day 1 (Operation Day)
Pain by location (0-10): Sharp pain in sides when taking deeper breaths (5). Shooting pain in left shoulder and part of neck (2-5). No pain at incision sites (0). No pain in abdominal area while resting (0). Mild pain in abdomen when changing positions or walking (3-5).
Discomfort by location (0-10): Mild discomfort in upper abdomen, can be described as stiffness and tightness (2-3). Mild - High discomfort in left shoulder, can be described as stiffness, random shooting pains, and sharp pains when moving (changing positions, using arm, supporting oneself with left arm etc) (5-8). Discomfort caused by gas (2-3).
Movement: Difficulty changing positions in bed due to stiffness of abdomen and slight pain. Difficult getting up from bed for the same reasons. Difficulty walking for the same reasons. Don't want to try to lift heavy objects (15-20lbs +).
Need for Pain Medication (0-10): Only for shoulder myalgia pain from the drain when awake, and sharp pains when breathing (9). If no shoulder pain present, I'd say (0-3).
Overall Experience in Comparison to:
Other vs VST is?
Severe Fever/Flu: Breeze
Ear Infection: Worse
Tooth/Gum Pain: Worse
Migrane/Headache: Breeze
Sprained Ankle: Worse
Labor/Giving Birth: Worse
Day 2
Pain by location (0-10): Sharp pain in sides when taking deeper breaths (6). Shooting pain in left shoulder and part of neck (6). No pain at incision sites (0). No pain in abdominal area while resting (0). Mild pain in abdomen when changing positions or walking (5-6).
Discomfort by location (0-10): Mild discomfort in upper abdomen, can be described as stiffness and tightness (1-2). Mild - High discomfort in left shoulder, can be described as stiffness, random shooting pains, and sharp pains when moving (changing positions, using arm, supporting oneself with left arm etc) (5-8). Discomfort caused by gas (4).
Movement: Difficulty changing positions in bed due to stiffness of abdomen and slight pain. Difficult getting up from bed for the same reasons. Difficulty walking for the same reasons. Don't want to try to lift heavy objects. (30lbs +).
Need for Pain Medication (0-10): Only for shoulder myalgia pain from the drain when awake, and sharp pains when breathing (8-9). If no shoulder pain present, I'd say (0-3).
Overall Experience in Comparison to:
Other vs VST is?
Severe Fever/Flu: Breeze
Ear Infection: Worse
Tooth/Gum Pain: Worse
Migrane/Headache: Breeze
Sprained Ankle: Worse
Labor/Giving Birth: Worse
Day 3
Pain by location (0-10): Sharp pain in sides when taking deeper breaths (3). Shooting pain in left shoulder and part of neck (1). Drain out last night. No pain at incision sites (0). No pain in abdominal area while resting (0). Mild pain in abdomen when changing positions or walking (1-2).
Discomfort by location (0-10): Mild discomfort in upper abdomen, can be described as stiffness and tightness (1-2). No discomfort in left shoulder (changing positions, using arm, supporting oneself with left arm etc) (1). Discomfort caused by gas (3).
Movement: Very mild difficulty changing positions in bed due to stiffness of abdomen and slight pain. Difficult getting up from bed for the same reasons. No difficulty walking. No problem lifting heavy objects. Felt almost no abdominal pain carrying my 20lbs+ bag and lifting and rolling around a 30-45lbs+ roll-on suitcase. However my laptop/camera bag was causing my left shoulder some discomfort off and on.
Need for Pain Medication (0-10): Only for random leftover shoulder myalgia pain when awake (0).
Overall Experience in Comparison with:
Other vs VST is?
Severe Fever/Flu: Worse
Ear Infection: Worse
Tooth/Gum Pain: Worse
Migrane/Headache: Worse
Sprained Ankle: Worse
Labor/Giving Birth: Worse
Day 4
Pain by location (0-10): Sharp pain in sides when taking deeper breaths (0). Shooting pain in left shoulder and part of neck (0). No pain at incision sites (0). No pain in abdominal area while resting (0). No pain in abdomen when changing positions or walking (0).
Discomfort by location (0-10): No discomfort in upper abdomen (0-1). No discomfort in left shoulder (changing positions, using arm, supporting oneself with left arm etc) (0). Discomfort caused by gas (3). Incisions beginning to itch slightly (healing) (1).
Movement: Almost no difficulty changing positions in bed due to stiffness of abdomen and slight pain. Almost no longer difficult getting up from bed for the same reasons. No difficulty walking. Was a breeze climbing up on an airplane seat to shove/position overweight/oversized roll-on suitcases in overhead compartments, twice that is, one after the other nonetheless! Shoulder bag causing slight discomfort however (1).
Need for Pain Medication (0-10): None (0).
Overall Experience in Comparison to:
Other vs VST is?
Severe Fever/Flu: Worse
Ear Infection: Worse
Tooth/Gum Pain: Worse
Migrane/Headache: Worse
Sprained Ankle: Worse
Labor/Giving Birth: Worse
Day 5
Pain by location (0-10): No sharp pain in sides when taking deeper breaths (0). Shooting pain in left shoulder and part of neck gone (0). Slight pain at incision sites (2). No pain in abdominal area while resting (0). No pain in abdomen when changing positions or walking (0).
Discomfort by location (0-10): No discomfort in upper abdomen unless applying normal amounts of pressure, even than only a (0-1). No discomfort in left shoulder (changing positions, using arm, supporting oneself with left arm etc) (0). Discomfort caused by gas (0). Incisions beginning to itch slightly (healing) (2).
Movement: Almost no difficulty changing positions in bed due to mild pain in abdomen. No longer difficult getting up from bed for the same reasons. No difficulty walking.
Need for Pain Medication (0-10): None (0).
Overall Experience in Comparison to:
Other vs VST is?
Severe Fever/Flu: A flipping nightmare!
Ear Infection: Death!
Tooth/Gum Pain: Kill me now!
Migrane/Headache: Shoot me!
Sprained Ankle: I want my mommy!
Labor/Giving Birth: Let's not even go there!
Day 6
Pain by location (0-10): No sharp pain in sides when taking deeper breaths (0). Shooting pain in left shoulder and part of neck gone (0). Slight pain at incision sites (3). No pain in abdominal area while resting (0). No pain in abdomen when changing positions or walking (0).
Discomfort by location (0-10): No discomfort in upper abdomen unless applying more than normal amounts of pressure, even than only a (0-1). No discomfort in left shoulder (changing positions, using arm, supporting oneself with left arm etc) (0). Discomfort caused by gas (0). Incisions beginning to itch slightly (healing) (3).
Movement: No difficulty changing positions in bed due to mild pain in abdomen. No longer difficult getting up from bed for the same reasons. No difficulty walking.
Need for Pain Medication (0-10): None (0).
Overall Experience in Comparison to:
Other vs VST is?
Severe Fever/Flu: Goodness, I sure hope not!
Ear Infection: Oh God No!
Tooth/Gum Pain: Kill me now!
Migrane/Headache: Shoot me!
Sprained Ankle: I want my mommy!
Labor/Giving Birth: No way in hell is that even an option!
So as you can see, the pain and discomfort associated with the aftermath of surgery disappeared completely by days 5-6. I was off meds by day 3. Just take that into account! The only things now are just the incisions itching as they heal. And that my friends, is a breeze!
As far as hunger goes, for the first 2 days post-operation I wanted nothing at all to do with food whatsoever. Sure, I enjoyed the smells wafting over to my room from the cafeteria only a few doors over, but I honestly didn't want to eat anything. However, that situation changed drastically come day 4 and beyond. I've noticed that I have 40-50% mental hunger telling me what would taste real good right about now, but there is that constant 40-50% that is actual hunger that drives me to eat more than I want or should be able to so soon with the sleeve. I'm willing to believe that my stomach may just be getting used to it's new size and might still be somewhat numb following surgery so it's totally plausible that it might not be able to recognize that fullness that is the purpose of the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, but if it passes the initial 2-3 weeks and I'm still like this, I'm getting a refund I tell ya!
So as you can see, the pain and discomfort associated with the aftermath of surgery disappeared completely by days 5-6. I was off meds by day 3. Just take that into account! The only things now are just the incisions itching as they heal. And that my friends, is a breeze!
As far as hunger goes, for the first 2 days post-operation I wanted nothing at all to do with food whatsoever. Sure, I enjoyed the smells wafting over to my room from the cafeteria only a few doors over, but I honestly didn't want to eat anything. However, that situation changed drastically come day 4 and beyond. I've noticed that I have 40-50% mental hunger telling me what would taste real good right about now, but there is that constant 40-50% that is actual hunger that drives me to eat more than I want or should be able to so soon with the sleeve. I'm willing to believe that my stomach may just be getting used to it's new size and might still be somewhat numb following surgery so it's totally plausible that it might not be able to recognize that fullness that is the purpose of the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, but if it passes the initial 2-3 weeks and I'm still like this, I'm getting a refund I tell ya!
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