for those who had "open" surgery

Hi

I had open surgery on the 23rd  and I ahve a couple of questions

How long were you in pain   I am still  having a hard time  getting up and down  and rolling over in bed

Also  I still haven't gone to the bathroom  I am taking  mirialax  and started taking MOM  today   I am really dreading it  because I know it is going to hurt!      But really   I have been on liquids for 3 weeks now  how much can there be???

I had pain getting up and down for about 3 weeks, but had pain laying flat in bed for almost a month (I slept in my LaZBoy for 4 weeks), and had some discomfort -- not really pain, though -- rolling over in bed for an additional week or so.

If you are on complete liquids, there ISN'T solid waste building up, so I don't think it is going to hurt when you finally start eating (and then having bowel movements). Most people actually have some diarrhea at first, but with liquids for that long, I don't know whether that would change that or not.

Lora

It's only been 5 days.  I took pain meds for at least 2 weeks.  It wasn't unbearable but very uncomfortable.
Don't worry about the bathroom.  Like you said, there isn't much there.  Like Lora said, diarrhea isn't uncommon in the first few weeks.  After you start eating you may need to take stool softeners or Miralax to make it easier to go.  I still take Miralax daily to stay regular.
Be very careful that you don't give yourself an incisional hernia.  They are pretty common after an open surgery.  I got my first one from straining to go to the bathroom, hence the Miralax.  I had that repaired last April and then I gave myself another one picking up a 30 lb 7 month old.  As hard as it is I have to avoid picking up the grand babies.
I slept better in my bed but some people do better in a recliner.  I just used a lot of pillows and stayed on my back all night.  I was taking pain meds so I was sleeping pretty deep.  If I did move it would wake me up.
I would say that things should turn around at around 2 weeks.

 I had mine open too and had a very large incision. I would say around weeks 4-5 I was not in that much pain more discomfort. i couldn't lay flat for a good 6 weeks and the side laying came about week 4.  I took was on liquids so didnt have very much to come out. but i had REALLY bad pains and took a stool softner and it helped. It was hard to wipe they dont tell ya that but i used a squirt bottle to help get stuff off.  

Oh I like the squirt bottle idea   kind of a redneck bidet  LOL