HELP MEEEEEEE

Anyone who has had surgery, please, what do you do to help the pain in the left side?!?!?!  I am 4 days out and feel terrific EXCEPT for the side pain.   I almost can not tolerate it!  Any tricks??    thank you   Jill

You need to walk it off, its mostly gas and soreness from them having to move things to get to your intestines.

Walking was the only thing that helped me with the gas pain.

Stretching and walking are the best things for it. 

For stretches, there are a few you can do, but basically, standing balanced and stretching up straight as far as you can, holding (and breathing), then bending at the waist only stretch to the right gently as far as you can (holding and breathing), then back to center - repeat to front and left sides.

Also, if you stand in front of a counter or sturdy object or wall, place your hands "counter height" and a little wider than shoulder width apart.  Back up your feet until you're leaning a bit onto the wall or counter with your hands.  Bring your knee up to your chest, then slowly kick it back to an extension... don't touch the ground as you bring it back up to your chest.  Repeat 10 - 12 times, then switch to the other leg.  You're NOT doing "quick" kicks here, the goal is to use your abs to draw your knee up, which will also help the gas pass and stretch the abs as you extend back.  This one's also great for back pain.

Don't be surprised if the belly pain you feel now works its way up to your shoulders, btw - that's normal (the gas travels upward by gravity).  I had residual shoulder pain for about 1-1/2 to 2 weeks after surgery.

Hang in there and just keep walking, stretching, and moving!

Karen

Walking works fort he gas pains.. But if you are like me, my pain /discomfort was related to the position of the staple on my left a side, right  under the ribs.   Immediate relief when the staples came out on day 7!

Good luck!

If sipping, walking and taking your pain meds does not help, call your doctor and discuss it.  That is the best thing I can suggest.
Trish

I was always comforted by the heating pad. 

Hi Jill,

I am almost 4 weeks out and for me the worst of it was coughing and sneezing.  A lot of told me to use a pillow but what worked for me was applying a bit of pressure on the spot with my hand.

The one consolation was that everyone said the pain lasted about 2-3 weeks.  For me by the beginning of the 2nd week it was much better and by the end of the 2nd week it was gone.

Hang in there, it will pass.

Congratulations on your surgery.
Geoff

I have horrible gas pains after the surgery..so bad they rushed me to a cardiologist, so I can totally feel your pain.  Try to slowly walk it off or gingerly move around, I know it feels like you are dying but your life is just begining :) XOXOX

Thanks evry1!  I'm learning to deal with it.  Apparently its the muscle on my left side that has been battered the most, so, I know now to sit down and TRY to relax my body until it passes.  It's been much better.  I feel more episodes of being comfortable now then not.  I still get my walks in about every 3 hours.  I just work around my pain moments, lol.  You all are WONDERFUL- thanks for the support!