HELP! 4 weeks out and in extreme pain...

 good morning everyone. i guess i should start by saying i have already placed an urgent call to my surgeon - i'm just hoping you can help calm my nerves.  about two weeks ago i started to feel some pain around the largest incision while i was walking. i discussed it with my surgeon at the time and he said this was normal because this was the site where the most trsuma occurred and where my stomach was removed. it's slightly dented in and has been the only incision to give me any pain at all. normally it only occurrs when i'm walking and subsides when i chill out for a bit - but towards the end of last week i noticed it has become much more painful and hits me whenever i move, reach or bend. it's not painful to the touch - it's a ripping feeling on the inside. i only get relief laying flat on my back. i wouldn't be so concerned if this were the case early on - but at 4 weeks out i'm thinking pain and discomfort should be getting better and not worse. i've been checking my temp regularly and no fever - i feel no pain while eating or drinking - just this one incision.

if you've experienced anything like this or have any idea what it could be please let me know. thanks in advance.

p.s. i can't feel any buldge or hardness around the incision either.

thanks

 I don't know if it's normal or not, but that describes exactly how my stomach has felt since the first Time in hospital when they told me to get up.  I still have that burning ripping feeling 5 days later whenever I use my stomach muscles to get up/down or reach and at times when walking.  Sitting still does not hurt, I have no fever.  :)

 thanks roadlinerlaura - at least i know i'm not alone ;-).

At app. 4-6 weeks after surgery i had a little pain in my incision as well.  it doesn't sound as bad as yours, but there was some discomfort.  I'm hoping that your issue was the same as mine and not something more serious--the pain went away in about a months' time.

 thanks bigmama3 - i'm feeling a little better about it just knowing someone else has been thru this and it does get better. :-)

 I had that about two weeks ago. I think I stood up too quick and pulled something on the inside. It took about three days to finally feel better. To this day, I am still pretty sore on my left side, like a bad side stitch or doing major abdominal workouts.......I would think it's possible to still pull something at this stage. Many docs. and people on here tell us we are fine after a few weeks, but the truth is, any major surgery in my opinion takes a good 6 weeks to completely heal. 

 you may be right - it just hurts so bad. i took some pain meds after i posted and that took the edge off - but of course it also put me straight to sleep. if it's just another two weeks i can hang - but i'm gonna need some more meds - lol.

During surgery they have to cut through several layers of the abdominal wall including the fascia.  The larger incision is there because they can not remove your stomach through the tiny holes that the instruments were in.  When they close you up after surgery they have to stitch everything back together with sutures.  I felt exactly what you are feeling however after about 1 months time it had gone away completely.  Scar tissue forms and the stitches are eventually absorbed by your body.

If you are still feeling that much pain a month post op you may want to have your surgeon take a look.  It is possible that the stitches broke and didn't heal back together properly.

Good luck.

thanks so much khessmd - so i shouldn't be feeling this a month out then? i just got off the phone with his PA - she suggested i go in to have an xray done. i'm calling my PSP now.if they didn't heal properly does that mean it's just going to be  few more weeks or will they have to go in again?

i had the same ache/pain and indention. maybe you're pushing youself too fast or hard when walking. take your time and heal.