Question:
Open Rny - how much pain? for how long?

I'm having an Open RNY distal on 4/20/01. I can't have an epidural. What are your experiences with pain levels, physical recovery period, time spent mostly in bed, how soon you could walk for 15-20 minutes, etc. Would appreciate any and all feedback! Thanks!    — Mary H. (posted on March 19, 2001)

March 19, 2001
Hi, congratulations on your date! I'm 2 weeks post from an open RNY. I didn't have an epidural, just a morphine pain pump. I don't remember much of the day of surgery , to be honest! (LOL) The next day, on a scale of 1 to 10, the pain was at about 6. They bathe you and encourage you to get up and move around. It sounds awful, but it's true. The more you move around, the less sorenes there is. The first few times getting out of bed are the worst, but it really gets better. The end of the second post op day I was strolling the halls with my buddy, the Pump! Just remember, get up and get moving. It's hard, but it's the best thing you can do for yourself. Since I got home,I've been moving around pretty easily. And I've already lost 11 pounds...Just keep in mind, it's worth it! Big Hug! Donna in AL
   — Donna S. C.

March 19, 2001
i had open rny 2/27.i am 3 weeks post op. the first 2 days after surgery were the worst. on a scale of 1 to 10??? i dont know but up there...but manageable with demerol shots. i was up and walking the next day. i agree, the first few times out of bed are hard but it gets easier each time. i had it done on tues, by fri i felt much better. it does hurt, but it was worth it. i have lost 25lbs already. i came home sat and went to the supermarket on sun...it was very hard and i was very tired but i did it. i am 3 weeks post op and i would say 90% back to normal.
   — Kathy831

March 19, 2001
I am 10 weeks (today) post op RNY open. I really never felt any pain, but of course the morphine pump REALLY helped. Just like the previous post -- the only problem I had was trying to get out of bed while in the ICU. You have to do it yourself, the don't help you. Where the incision is feels like it is stiff and your stomach won't bend. But the more you walk and move around the less sore and the better you will feel. After they took the morphine pump away I didn't even need pain meds. I guess it all depends on your own pain threshold. Good luck and keep us posted! IT IS ALL WORTH IT!
   — Betty Todd

March 19, 2001
IM 13 DAYS POST OP AND FOR ME THE PAIN WAS WORST THEN ANYTHING I CAN THINK OF, IT KILLS JUST TO TRY TO COUGH BUT YOU GET BETTER SO FAST IT'S JUST THE FIRST TWO DAYS LIKE I SAID IT'S ONLY BEEN 13 DAYS AND I HAVE HARDLY ANY PAIN JUST A LITTLE STINGING I JUST CANT BELIVE HOW FAST YOU GET BETTER AND ALL I HAD WAS THE MORPHINE PUMP UNTILL I RELIZED IT WAS MAKING ME SICK AND THEY PUT ME ON A DEMORAL PUMP.I DONT MEAN TO SCARE YOU OR ANYONE THIS IS JUST MY STORY AND I REMEMBER LOOKING AT MY ROOMMATE AND SAYING I CANT BELIVE NO ONE TOLD US HOW BAD IT HURT BUT LIKE I SAID YOU WILL GET BETTER SO FAST. GOOD LUCK
   — KERRI W.

March 19, 2001
I am 1 week post-op today, the first 2 days were the worst, I wasn't in pain, because of the morphine pump, but I was very uncomfortable, once I got up and walked around in the hospital it was better. I haven't been able to do any exercise except for walking around my house. But everyday seems to get a little better. I am not taking as much pain medicine, as when I first came home, and I can wait about 8 hours before taking my next dose. And when you get tired I was told to go to bed to rest. That is the best medicine.
   — JazzBear111

March 19, 2001
I feel like a big weenie posting my response after I read all the others. It was not easy. I was in pain for the first week. A really great gal on this website gave me ssome great info that was totally helpful. She also told me I would be sore for the first 7-8 days and she was right . But by the eighth day , I felt better! I don't know if it was the power of suggestion or what. One of the best recommendations I got from this gal was the use of a vibrating heating pad , made by Sunbeam, 24.99 at Walmart. It was invaluable for the gas pains and for the body aches and stiffness. I have passed this helpful hint around several times. Preop and immediately ost op when I read other peoples posting of their experiences, and some of them were horrific, they would end their story with "I would do it again in a heartbeat. I thought they must be psycho! Well I am here to tell you I must also be psycho because I now feel the same way. I am 10 weeeks post-op, the pain is a very distant and vague memory, Iam down almost 60 lbs and I feel GREAT!!!. I hope you too will say the samething. Best of luck to you. By the way , if you find yourself saying " I can't believe I did this to myself" on the second post-op day-join the crowd.
   — Margaret S.

March 19, 2001
My doctor didn't give us the option of an epidural. They try and get you up walking same day of surgery. I found I would get nauseous while the NG tube was still in and couldn't do much walking at all, but after it was removed, I was fine. Slow as molasses and a little shaky, but fine. As far as pain, yes, it hurt. It hurt quite a bit and the first few days were just yucky and miserable and I was convinced I'd made a horrible mistake. I would suggest that you keep your pain pills near the side of your bed -- my worst experience was waking in the middle of the night and not being able to get up (and I went thru this on my own, with almost no help and taking care of my toddler at the same time). After that, I kept my pain pills nearby, so if I woke in the middle of the night, I didn't have to try and sit up to go get them. But next month is my one year anniversary and like almost everybody else, I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had to. It was the very best thing I ever did for myself. But then, you get what you pay for, right? I mean, if it hadn't been so hard, maybe I wouldn't appreciate it like I do now ... and when I am tempted to backslide, I just have to remember what I went thru. Good luck!
   — Beth B.

April 29, 2001
Hi, good luck, you should be about 9 days post op now, but I just found this site. I am 13 days post op with an open rny and it is still very tender and annoying. It is tolerable, but I guess I think I should be pain free by now, but we must remember this was a very serious surgery, and they cut, pulled, and yanked our insides and I have bruises around my incision, it is not going to heal overnight. It actually takes an incision a good 6 months to heal thoroughly. Hope you are doing well.
   — Delores A.

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