If you have a job that requires lifiting, you will need the full 6 weeks.  If not, just keep in mind you will have fatigue and swelling to deal with.  But starting back earlier than 6 is very doable for many donors.  As I write this, I am two weeks out so I can describe in detail how the body is healing thus far, at least for me.   

WEEK ONE:

Donors I spoke with before surgery have such varied stories on the pain level.  I am one of those people who like to know the worst going into it, so while my recovery story is fairly normal and not very painful, the reality is, for some donors pain can be severe for the first week or so.   It is not so much the actual surgery wounds, but the affects of anesthesia on the body.

I had already had an appendectomy so was familiar with how my body would react to anesthesia.  However, one donor I talked with had a severe reaction to the anesthesia and was nauseaus to the point of frequent vomiting for the entire week after surgery (which is not easy after abdominal surgery).  The anesthesiologist can give you pre-emptive anti-nausea meds to avoid this.

The most painful day for me was by far the first 24 hours after surgery. When I had to move that first day (from the OR bed to the hospital room bed) I couldn't hold it down either.  However, the hospital managed my pain and nausea with proper medication like Tylenol and Tramadol (a weak opioid) and Zofran (nausea).  Stronger opiods are available if needed.  I did not require any at the hospital or after returning home, but did continue only with extra strength Tylenol at home for 5-6 days.  I have heard some donors leave the hospital the day after surgery.  I don't know how that is possible.  Donors have a right to request additional night stays, and I definitely needed two nights total.  I highly suggest showering before you leave the hospital with the support of the nursing staff or your support person.  A warm shower does wonders for healing.

During week one you should be aware that things like sneezing, coughing and laughing are downright painful.  I learned to surpress a sneeze by holding my tongue against the roof of my mouth (this actually works to ease headaches, too), swallow a cough by drinking water, and avoided funny people (ha!). 

The most uncomfortable part of my recovery was the distention of the abodmen caused by both inflamaiton and especially gas buildup. Anesthesia makes the bowels "sleepy" and leads to a good deal of gas buildup, not to mention, for laproscopic surgery the abdomen is pumped with gas to create room and better visualization.  Though much of that is removed after surgery, the gas that remains and the gas created by your sleepy bowels creates pressure, and that pressure can transfer throughout the entire abdomen and chest area.  The most painful gas in my opinon is when it transfers to the shoulder area and presses on nerves.  I found it extremely helpful to have a very good shoulder massager that heats up, in addition to a microwavable bean heating bag for shoulders.     

I was very nervous about the drive home since I had my surgery nearly three hours awayfrom home. But I was rescued by the generosity of another donor who gave me her therapeutic pillows which I used not only for the car ride home but also every night for sleeping in the hospital and at home.  Thank you Andrea! Proper pillows are a must.  Therapueatic pillows come in a set of several wedges and different shapes which help prop you in the position you need for comfort in whatever way you can find it.  This is essential because for the first several weeks you will have to sleep on your back and elevated.  I found a heating pad extremely helpful, proping up several pillows, and using the heating pad to releave the back from feeling the constant pressure of being unable to move much.  I also would get up every night and walk just to give the back a break and relieve gas buildup.

Walking is key.  It isn't easy.  You feel like you are 7 weeks pregnant (man or woman) and there can be considerable pressure on not just the lower abdomin but also the diaphram which makes for some difficulty breathing. But the more you walk, the more your digestive system will start to function as normal and that will relieve pressure and swelling.

WEEK TWO

I developed an extreme allergic reaction to the surgical glue.  This is not extremely common but I do have one donor friend that this happened to, and you should contact your doctor immediately if you see redness start to appear and get worse around your incisions and also any rash developing.  This can become unbearably itchy.   I had to return early for my post-op appointment to have the surgical glue removed and get a 21 day dose of Prednisone.  

Sleep becomes a little more consistent in week two but I have still needed to wake up every few hours or so to walk a bit, use the bathroom and sometimes use the shoulder massager to give the back a break. By the end of the second week I could somewhat sleep on my right side, but not entirely comfortably.   

Napping, week two, continued to be essential.  My energy level was about 60% on week two, and I would make it a few hours, sometimes a good stretch even, but then suddenly feel very very sleepy.  I averaged a few naps a day, and as evening drew near my body would give me signs it was time to call it a night (which I usually did by 8pm).

Every day my swollen stomach went down just a bit, so I noticed it was easier to get up and move around.  Still that swelling reduction was far from enough to allow me to wear anything but very stretchy pants, and certainly not enough to return to my work clothes.  

As I write this I'm in the beginning of my third week of recovery and have just returned to driving since I haven't been on pain killers for quit some time and can turn to the right and left with ease.  I can also sneeze and cough without too much pain (just discomfort). I remain grateful for naps which I think are crucial in helping to let the body heal as it should.