Question:
JUST HAD SURGERY - IS THIS PAIN NORMAL?

Hi everyone. I had serious doubts about having surgery but went ahead with it and had it done on this past Wednesday. This is my first full-day home. I seem to have pain right in the middle of my chest. Like a dull ache. It hurts a little every time I swallow anything. Is this normal? Would it be my stomach that is hurting since they stapled it? If this is normal....how long does the pain last? Does it take the full two weeks until it does not hurt. Everything else is working fine. I really think it's my little stomach. Any feedback would be very much appreciated!!! Thanks, Heather    — Heather36 (posted on March 21, 2008)

March 21, 2008
Hey Heather I am just a week and a half post op myself so I understand how u feel. I had the same pain and I felt like i couldnt breathe. But it did get better and now i feel great i dont have any pain anymore. I am just still a little sore so it does get better.
   — Mrs.Cameron33

March 21, 2008
Hi Heather! Don't know which WLS you had, but for 3 days out that soulnds pretty normal. I had VSG on 10-25-07 and still had a drainage tube for a week which really gave me fits. It will get better and better. Keep us posted. Pat
   — pjennjr

March 21, 2008
RNY WLS creates a pouch that has a lot of stitches and that is what you are feeling. Sometimes it is a pain on the left side from where the old stomach was attached to you chest wall, but it sounds like you have more pain from your pouch. It will go away shortly. In the mean time, just take the pain medication the Doc gave you for home and sleep it off. In a few days you will feel better. When you do get up, drink lots of liquids and walk around the house some. All that helps the healing. Best of sucess to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

March 22, 2008
Hi Heather, thanks for writing. Honey, you just had major surgery, things hurt after major surgery. If you are doing the routine your surgeon perscribed, then I think you are doing fine. When I first had surgery 4 years ago, everything I ate was difficult to eat, it felt uncomfortable and I had that feeling in my chest as well. I think it was from the surgery, but I think yours is greater from anxiety. Anxiety can make you feel and over feel everything differently. Be careful about that. You choose to have surgery, so now is the time to embrace that fact and celebrate it. It sounds like you had no leaks or major complications right after surgery, so celebrate. Go for a walk, drink that water, and take one day at a time. It will be uncomfortable and quite the adjustment. Wls is easy on no one, but you will be alright if you don't give into anxiety. If you are afraid this is not a good physical sign for you, call your surgeon on call, check in with them. My surgeon told me that if I did not get better every day that she needed to know. Some days were hard for me, and I waited another day or so before calling, but I could have called any day that I wasn't doing better. You do the same. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

March 22, 2008
Hi, Heather. I had VSG on 12/18/07. I experienced very similar pain like you describe. Every time I swallowed I felt a tightness mid-chest. The surgeon told me that was common with this surgery and that it would go away. He was right. Take Bill Mills' advice and use the pain meds your doc gave you to help you. You will soon be in the "I've never felt better" days like I am now!!! Take care.
   — JStangel

March 22, 2008
Hey Heather, I am just about 2 weeks post lap-bad and I had the same pain as well... It is totally normal. Your shoulder might be hurting a lot too which is normal. No worries it all goes away. Good luck on your journey!!
   — Rachelena

March 22, 2008
Heather, i am two weeks out of RYN surgery, I too had some discomfort in my chest, but it does get better. Just drink plenty of fluids and walk, walk, walk , walk Best of luck Charnita
   — cbraxton

March 23, 2008
Heather, I just wanted to tell you I am in the boat with you. I had surgery on Wednesday March 19, same day as you. I have that pain as well and I am guessing it will just get better day by day. I must say that it was much more painful and difficult then I expected it to be (not that I thought it would be a cakewalk by any means). I was in A LOT of pain and still am in quite a bit. Maybe we can support each other through this.
   — Fluffee

March 25, 2008
Hi Heather, Congrats on taking the journey toward a healthy you! I had left shoulder pain for 13 days after my lapband surgery in January. Around week 3, I started having left side abdominal pain up underneath my ribcage. My surgeon said to continue taking my pain medication as directed. It has been two months now and the pain only happens ocassionally now. Most of the time when my stomach is empty. Personally I think it's my body's way of telling me that there is a foreign object in there. It has gotten easier and I just give my body what it needs and I don't worry about the numbers on the scale. Best wishes, Regina
   — Bigwyfan1964

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