Question:
I am going into my 3rd week post-op today and feeling A LOT of pain in the left side
When can I expect this to subside? I feel this is my punishment for doing so well otherwise! LOL Really, I've been quite fortunate not to have alot of nausea, no vomiting and feeling pretty darn good overall. I am able to stick to my diet progression very well. I'm down 17 lbs. The first week to 10 days I was doing well with my walking. But lately it seems like the muscle spasms and sharp pain in my side and in the left side of abdomen under the breast, are really slowing me down. I thought I would be off the prescription pain medication by now? I'm taking more NOW than I did the first week post-op! Mentally I am raring to go, get out there and walk, shop, visit, whatever. But physically the pulling of these muscles just says "yeah, right." Any advice from posties? Thanks much - Anna — Anna L. (posted on July 18, 2002)
July 17, 2002
I also had this pain and I think it is normal. I called the surgeon being
concerned. It will go away. It due to your healing is what I was told.
— Judy K.
July 17, 2002
Hi Anna,
This pain is very normal...during the procedure they use retractors to pull
on your ribs and move the other organs out of the way...this pain is the
organs just settling backinto postion and healing...I experienced it the 2
and 3rd weeks and all of a sudden it was gone...really hust to try and turn
or twist. If it does get severe I would check in with your surgeon but I
think it is just normal healing. Good luck!
Diane
— Diane Z.
July 17, 2002
Anna, I am 7 mos. post op and still have pain in my left side. I have gone
thru 2 Cat Scans, and nothing shows up. My surgeon seems to think it is
adhesions. I have been on pain meds for it. You are still early post op but
I would voice your concerns to your surgeon. If nothing else, you should be
able to get some liquid pain medicine to help you out.
— Kim B.
July 18, 2002
I just turned 4 weeks post-op and even today my right side hurts, which is
normal healing pain. However you might be doing to much (overdoing things
a bit) and agrivating those already sore muscles. I am still using the
vicodin prn to get through the times when it is unbearable.
— Rebecca B.
July 18, 2002
I had this too and it was apparently either pain from the retractors or a
gas bubble that got itself lodged there. I could barely walk--which was
frustrating cuz I felt just fine before that! The day I was going to give
up and go to the dr it disappeared instantly. I found that the pain meds
did not help me with that pain for whatever reason. It'll disappear on its
own (but if it doesn't, go to the dr! =).
— ctyst
July 18, 2002
Please call your surgeon and let him advise you on this. I had similar
pains and was lolled into thinking I had "retractor" pain or gas
bubbles too...I had a leak. I'm fine, but if I had called my surgeon sooner
I would have delt with a lot less pain. Good luck and God bless. -Kim open
RNY 7/17/01 -118
— KimBo36
July 18, 2002
Hi! I'm not sure if you are referring to a pain from an incision or just
pain in general. I am 4 weeks post op, and the one incision to the left of
my belly button is the one that gives me the most trouble. I still have
soreness, and I can only describe it as though I have done 500 sit ups. It
feels like that kind of soreness. The incision to the left of my belly
button (which is where most of the work is done) seems to be getting better
each day. My physician told me that everyone heals differently and to just
keep walking. He said that walking helps the pain go away. (Funny....cuz
it hurts to walk). But....I'm taking it one day at a time. Good luck,
and hang in there.<br>
4 weeks post op = down 27 lbs
— rhonda2u
Click Here to Return