Hello! I am taking my mom in for surgery tomorrow-she has waited almost a year for this day to come! But what do I need to expect....how long will the surgery take...what should I have on hand for afterward...any special things I should know...any input will be helpful...also, she is 56 years old and is taking four weeks off from work...is this enough time? Thanks...

My DH's surgery laster about 3 hours. My friend had lap RNy last Thursday and went home on Friday and was at work on Saturday.

first things first: good luck to you and your mom!!!

ok. surgery generally lasts about 2 hours. she'll probably have a morphine pump when she comes out of surgery.

for on hand at home: her doc has probably given her a list of stuff. most folks are told clear liquids for a few days to a week: broth, jello, sf popsicles, water, crystal light, anything that's clear, has no sugar, and no bubbles.

she may or may not have a drainage tube when she gets home. follow the nurse's directions for wound care. many of us had one hole that drained worse than any of the others. you'll need something to absorb the bloody oozy stuff [it's not really blood]. i found a sanitary pad worked best. i'm allergic to tape, so taping a gauze pad to my skin was not possible. the sticky part on the back of the pad attached to my clothes, and the business side absorbed far more ick than the gauze

bending down is hard. it hurts. be prepared to tie her shoes and empty the litter box for a few days.

hmmm. this seems to be all i can thing of right nowl.. but if i come up with anything else, i'll post it...

let us know how your mom does, ok???

Hello! Just an update, my mom is doing great. She is down 24# from the pre-op consultation, she seems happier and she isn't in too much pain. She is following the DR. orders religiously and doing so much better than I thought she would. Thanks for all the support here!


WW start 209#
WW Lifetime #153 (Jan. 2004)

What a nice daughter you are! Just thought I would tell you in case mom doesn't say it enough. My daughter did the same with me, it was a great bonding time for us. She stayed with me and her dad for a few days just to make sure all was going well. (She's a nurse, and she wanted to make sure I was ok) Take care of mom, and take care of yourself as well

Thanks everyone for the support-you only get one mom, so we gotta treat them right! Today it's been one week from her surgery and we are planning on going to garage sales tomorrow...she says she feels up to it and is bored being at home...WOW! I am blending her some chicken breasts and vegetable soups...did anyone have trouble getting enough protein? Or any thing that tasted OK blended?