Question:
I am 5 weeks post-op and was feeling great but the last few days i'm going down...

I have been doing really well but the last few days I'm really sore again. I needed help moving around for a week at home but then things got alot better. Now for the past few days I can't even sit up without help, just like before. I haven't done anything different but my stomach is soooo sore. It's not in just one area so I don't think it's a hernia. It's like I've done a million sit-ups. Does anyone know why I would be regressing? Open VBG 6/10/02    — LaKeAffy (posted on July 15, 2002)

July 15, 2002
Hi... I doubt you are regressing but healing. You probably are off pain meds now, you're starting to do more, be more active and your body is responding. I went through something similar and I had a point where I went back to basics of pushing water, broth, jello, getting in as much protein though as I possibly could. It worked. Make sure you're getting your vitamins in. Our Doc said that doing all of that we'd be fine as the body needs time to heal from a major trauma. If your pain becomes isolated, area is heated, your running any kind of fever or you develop severe symptoms though don't fool with it -- call your Doc and call too if you are very worried about this. I am now 12 wks post op and down 56# and feeling great so it does pass. My best to you.
   — AJC750

July 15, 2002
Hi I am 4 1/2 wks out and the pain I was and still having was the worse pain from the surgery, I went to the doctor to see if my incesion was infected (not) and he said the pain was from healing from the interior brusing and moving of things around. I have been walking since my 4 th day home and have been able to do about 1/2 mile now,when i started walking I would put my hands on either side of my incision and push slightly inward this did help. This past weekend was the first time I could go to Krogers and not have to use the motorized cart to do my shopping. good luck
   — paulsgirl

July 15, 2002
I had a similar problem. 4 weeks out, I was needing pain killer, when at 3 weeks out I was fine. Doctor told me as we start feeling better, we do more without even noticing it and this "regression" is very common. Make sure you get some sleep, maybe a nap, and get a refill on your pain killer if you need it for another week. It gets better. Oh, take your temp just in case. When I started feeling crappy one week post-op, it was because I was getting infected, but it was not obvious until 5 days after I started feeling crappy. Good luck and God Bless.
   — Karen F.