What is a reasonable amount of time I need to deal with all the tenderness? I overdid things on Post-op day 4 and am paying dearly for it. I was feeling good, but now my largest incision is giving me sharp pains and hates me. I am back to taking the pain meds every 4 hours to keep comfortable. This is the largest incision and otherwise doing ok (no redness, swelling, drainage).

I just can't stand the sharp pains like I keep pulling something inside.

So how long did the tenderness last all together for your incision(s)?

Thanks!

Call your doctor, I wouldn't toy around with those.

Once I got the tape off, there were little crusts, and my husband was joking that he probably couldn't stop himself from poking around at those.

I am usually worst with scabs and crusts BUT I kept reminding myself that these incisions are not a scabby crust from a scratch.

THEY USED TO BE AN UNRESTRICTED PATH TO YOUR LIVER, YOUR STOMACH AND ALL OTHER ORGANS

Call the doc, no one here can really tell you what to do, we are not docs and every pain, every problem is different with most individuals.

I agree, just a quick phone call to see if you should be seen.

Upon discharge from the hospital, my dr said It's not uncommon to have a sharp pain coming from that largest incision for another 4-6 wks when i moved wrong or did something to 'upset' it. It would be a feeling that could bring me to my knees, and I would think that i ripped something, my intestines is about to fall out or something drastic.. but it's ok and normal.

So with that, I 'assume' what i'm feeling is normal, esp b/c my dr called yesterday for a follow-up and i explained how i overdid things on Sunday and now what i was feeling.. She reminded me i just had major surgery, and in fact one of my organs is half missing and trying to heal as well. That i need to take it easy and rest.

So i'm assuming what i'm feeling is on par for what i did. I have no other issues with anything (stoma, other incisions, internal organ pain...).

There has GOT to be someone out there with tenderness as well?? I mean, not everyone can be feeling like they're on top of the world at 6 days post-op, right??

Yeah, tenderness but not sharp pain that requires pain medication!

I had a burning stabbing pain in my biggest incision for almost 8 weeks after surgery. I had to ask for a refill on my pain meds.

all is good now though, I am 6 months post op and no more pain

Hope you feel better soon

Sherri

I had the sharp, burning pain also from my largest incision (actually just below) and it eventually spread to my side sometimes. I had to ask for a refill of pain meds. I am finally feeling better most of the time unless I overdo it...which started the problem in the first place. =)

It took about 2 1/2 weeks for mine to feel better (from when it started...1 1/2 weeks out). Good luck.

btw, when it feels pretty good and you THINK you are ok....DON"T scrub the kitchen floor on your hands and knees..it WILL come back with a vengence!

yes, this pain! Ok, it started when i overdid it, and not surprised it's still around. Thanks for the info...

I had a burning stabbing pain in my biggest incision for almost 8 weeks after surgery. I had to ask for a refill on my pain meds.

all is good now though, I am 6 months post op and no more pain

Hope you feel better soon

Sherri

I had the sharp, burning pain also from my largest incision (actually just below) and it eventually spread to my side sometimes. I had to ask for a refill of pain meds. I am finally feeling better most of the time unless I overdo it...which started the problem in the first place. =)

It took about 2 1/2 weeks for mine to feel better (from when it started...1 1/2 weeks out). Good luck.

btw, when it feels pretty good and you THINK you are ok....DON"T scrub the kitchen floor on your hands and knees..it WILL come back with a vengence!

Holy craps, for realz? This is considered normal?

The only thing that was bugging me was the itchy glue from the tape - I guess I was VERY lucky

I had the sharp, burning pain also from my largest incision (actually just below) and it eventually spread to my side sometimes. I had to ask for a refill of pain meds. I am finally feeling better most of the time unless I overdo it...which started the problem in the first place. =)

It took about 2 1/2 weeks for mine to feel better (from when it started...1 1/2 weeks out). Good luck.

btw, when it feels pretty good and you THINK you are ok....DON"T scrub the kitchen floor on your hands and knees..it WILL come back with a vengence!

How long after surgery do you have to wait before you CAN do that sort of work? (not that I do it often, I am just wondering about the recovery)

JDR - I am 5 weeks out now. I scrubbed the floor last week at 4 weeks (of course I had that pain before and THOUGHT I was doing better). Personally, I don't want it to come back so I would not do it yet. I am sure not everyone had this...but I do feel the familiar twinges still when I am doing a TON of errands (especially at Christmas). So...I will not do it for at least a few weeks.

I also feel a little tender after pushing the vacuum (it is pretty hard to push anyway). If I can't get one of my kids to vacuum...I do it. BUT I am not doing it everyday like normal...maybe every two days. (I have 6 kiddos and our family room gets A LOT of use) I also have to sweep daily (sometimes twice!) to keep up with the traffic, etc. Who said being a stay-at-home mom is bon bons and ice cream? LOL. I WISH I could just sit and read a book. haha.

ods's alarm just went off....5 am...time to start the day.

I just wanted to say, I felt great on day 4 & 5, really didn't overdo it. Then on day 6 a new pain started especially in that lower left incision. I had to start taking the pain meds. I figured it was the scar tissue forming. I started gentle stretching, gentle massages, and the heating pad. After a day and a half,I dropped to having the pain med only at night. After about four more days, no more pain med and just used the heating pad for about 30 min before I fell asleep. Hope this helps.

I'm in my 3rd week and I've been trying to take things very slowly, my family's been very, very supportive. But I have a rambunctious 15 month old and last night I stretched too far while I was trying to stop her from pulling down a large plant. Needless to say, I immediately felt it on my left side, not to the point where I saw stars but definitely a reminder that I'm still healing and need to take things S-L-O-W.

I've read on other posts that it'll probably take about 6 weeks for our bodies to get back to 85% healed so if at all possible, take it easy until then.

Good luck!