Hi logansaunt! Here is my story
I have had 3 children, natural childbirth, but had a tubal liagation after the 3rd. The discomfort is much like that. I had lower abdominal, laproscopic. Below the bikini line removal, with main port in belly button and 3 out ports. I also had a BR 2 years ago, which went much better after knowing how I am with sedation.
Be really well hydrated going in, drink all you can before the cut off time. Eat lightly, no dairy, cream sauces, no salads the day before. Some homemade chicken veg soup is the best. Have a normal breakfast the day before and then eat soup the rest of the day. Little to no sodium as that retains fluid.
Tell the antheseologist your previous experiences. They can do a lot to prevent you from getting sick. I hadn't had surgery that I could remember, so I was sick. They gave me zofran and that made me dizzy, great. I also had a very elevated sense of smell. Food made me ill, cooked smells, coffee. My daughter finally brought me a chicken salad sandwich, that tasted good. Hot hospital food, which I normally find fine, not so much. This went on for several weeks, maybe the trach tube bothered me.
I did have the pain pump the first day, that really knocked me out, maybe something not so strong would have been better, who knows now? Anyway, I tried walking but the CO2 gas made me sick as well, so back to bed. Tried again later, that was a little better. The pain is managable as long as you aren't so sick. That was worse really. The third day I was up and walking, took a shower, felt better after that. Keep walking as soon and as much as you can is good advise.
Is you belly sore, yes but it is manageable, as someone else said, use your arms to more around and help you up. Just tell them what you experienced before and they will take care of you. You will be fine.
The extra pillow from home is great as it is your fav to sleep with and you can put between you and the seatbelt for the ride home.. I also had some lung congestion that I coughed for about a week and that helped to hold on the abdomine as well.
I couldn't sleep in the hospital, not sure if it was the pain meds or that they came around all night, haha. Sound canceling headphones, ear plugs, sleep mask are big helps, practice at home for a week before surgery to get ready. Oh and sleeping on your back as well like with the BR surgery, pillow nest. If you get a binder, wear it until you can't stand it any longer, at least 3 weeks it helps put everything back where it should be after taken apart.
The BR surgery went much better, they used the scolopamine patch behind my ear, I had eaten properly the day before. When i woke up yes I had the discomfort of the surgery but they gave me something for that. Then it was great after that. No sickness! Felt great, went home and slept, then ate supper.
The CO2 gas and the sickness got to me, the pain would have been manageable if those two other things had been out of the picture. So don't obsess about the pain, you will get through it after a couple of days for the most part. After you look down at your poor swollen belly you might wonder what you have done, haha, but it is all so worth if for our recipients!