Hi, I'm 3 days post op (I also had a hiatal hernia repair) and I'm in excruciating pain on my left side. i also have a lot of gas. I get up and walk around my building every few hours even in the middle of the night. I can't sleep through the night. I have been taking my pain pills, however they only succeeding knocking me out or numbing my senses for a few hours.

I called my surgeon's office and they said it's gas which should lessen once I have a bm. Per their instructions, I have been sipping watered down prune juice to try to force a bm and I have been using Gas-X chewables and strips, drinking hot chamomile tea regularly and my heat pad is on my stomach around the clock except when I'm up walking. I also have a Snoggle full body pillow for sleeping.

What am I doing wrong? Has anyone else experienced this much pain a few days out? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

You aren't doing anything wrong. Different people react to the surgery different ways, just hand in there and stay hydrated. BTW, I had a hiatal hernia repaired as well, and I don't believe that is adding to your pain.

the third day for me was the worst... but it gets better every day. as far as the bm is concerned,, milk of magnesia was the thing that did the trick and trust me it will make you feel better. I had to sleep in my recliner for a few days until my pain got better.. I think about day 4 I got off the pain meds and took liquid tylenol. hang in there you should feel better in a few days...

I had my surgery on Wednesday. . I am in the same boat you are. Can't wait to poop. So tired but can't lay comfortably. I thought the doc messed me up. Glad to know this us normal.

Thank you both for the reassurance. I keep hearing all these stories about people having little to no pain and returning to work a few days after surgery. I just want to make sure that I'm not doing anything to hinder my recovery. I'm miserable right now and crying because this pain has convinced me that I made the wrong decision.

Ha I was praying thinking what have a done. Just think no pain no gain. Even if we were working our butts off at the gym we would have pain.

Please don't think you did the wrong thing. It is just the gas. It is the most painful part of the recovery. Another thing to know is that the pain meds will cause constipation making the gas worse. If you can switch to liquid tylenol for the next 12 hours and drink as much water as you can. Maybe just grab a good book or magazine and hang out in the bathroom for a while? That should help move things along. However- once it starts moving along, don't be surprised if it won't stop for a while . If that doesn't work, just keep walking, using the gas-x, heating pad and drinking water. It will eventually go away, but it just seems awful now. Hang in there. It really does get better

You can also add powder fiber to your drinks. You will need to continue to add fiber to your diet as protein doesn't have the fiber you used to eat so you have to find the right combination to get regular again. You DO NOT want to get the awful constipation problem! Make sure you are having a bowel movement every few days!

I was in the same boat as you a few days ago! My surgery was on 1/21. I was miserable!!! So painful, throwing up, spasms in my tummy, I can go on but you get the point! Hang in there it does get better. Now I am 5 days post op and am feeling almost back to normal. A few more days!

Omg I feel so much better. I took a dose of Milk of Magnesia and went down for a nap. When I woke up I immediately felt better and I had a bm finally! I still have gas pains, but I can tolerate this level of pain.

Thank you for all the suggestions and kind words. I only know one person who is banded and she's not really a good source of info so it's great to have this community to lean on for advice, and just to vent as needed.

SueBee- I bought fiber powder pre-op, but I was scared to take it because I read that we shouldn't take it so soon post op. Did you have any problems with it?

Thanks again!

Once I got off the pain meds and walked things seemed to get better!

I used the gas ex strips and a heating pad that helped a lot with the pain on my left side

I'm glad your feeling better! I'm 3 days post op too. The things that have helped me were 1 tablespoon milk of magnesia, heat pad on my back or shoulder ( wherever the pain was the worst from gas) , a pillow fitted around and kind of under my belly when sleeping on my side, and a hot shower. Just standing there letting the hot hot water hit my back helped with the soreness and pain. Oh and I hot the gas x strips and chewables but found the chewables to work better. But the MOM made me release a lot if gas I think. And all that was per dr. reccomendations

I am in the same boat as most of you, having surgery the same day as Mimi. I used the MOM and had diarhea afterwards, but still a lot of gas pains 5 days out. I am walking quite a bit and taking the gas x, but still feel pressure around my chest and left shoulder. I didn't take any pain meds yesterday until I went to bed. the pressure on my chest is the most annoying and wish it would go away. When I walk it sometimes makes me feel a little out of breath. Should I take some more MOM?

for me the gas pain was bad too it lasted quite a while, and i hadnt had a bm for i think 5 days after. i didnt notice a difference after that, i also didnt take any gas x or anything. all i did was walk walk walk! it didnt make it go away but it made it so i could be comfortable. so thats my advice

good luck!

I am in the same boat as most of you' date=' having surgery the same day as Mimi. I used the MOM and had diarhea afterwards, but still a lot of gas pains 5 days out. I am walking quite a bit and taking the gas x, but still feel pressure around my chest and left shoulder. I didn't take any pain meds yesterday until I went to bed. the pressure on my chest is the most annoying and wish it would go away. When I walk it sometimes makes me feel a little out of breath. Should I take some more MOM?[/quote']

Chrissy, try doing breathing exercises. I haven't taken any more MOM and I'm still feeling okay. I still have the pressure, but deep breathing helps with that. Sip on hot liquids and breath in deeply, hold it for a few secs then release slowly. That's what's helping me with the pressure and "spasms" and walking, lots of walking.

Feel better!