Question:
pain in left rib area and waist area

Hi I'm only 10 days post op so I'm sure all this discomfort is normal. I'm having pain in my left side, lower ribs not under the breast bone like I've read most people have. of course the tightness in my incision but also along my waistline (if I had one) both to the right and left side ache a lot. A few more places are uncomfortable but don't hurt like the others I mentioned. I'm just wondering if it's all due to the retractors??? or just plain old surgery pains.    — Mandy M. (posted on June 22, 2001)

June 22, 2001
Hi Mandy, I had a similar left side pain initially post op. I called my surgeon and was told that it was probably the muscles/nerves just waking up. It was really concerning me, so they ordered some labs to see if I had an infection. By the time I got the results back, the pain was gone. BTW-the labs were just fine!! You may want to check with your surgeon for reassurance. Does the pain medicine help?
   — Shelley.

June 22, 2001
My surgeon told me that the pain in the left side is because that is where most of the work is done, and that is where the scope go's in....
   — Marie B.