I am 8 days out. I have had pain in my right lower back since being home. Is this normal?

Yesterday was my best day in getting all my water in and half my protein. Today. I have so far only been able to get in 16 oz of water and 8 oz of protein. I feel like I am so full when I take another sip I just about gag. Pain is mostly gone except my back. I have been taking my vitamins but I usually don't remember until the afternoon. The iron pill always sits heavy in my stomach but I haven't taken that yet. I've taken my prilosec and my multivitamin. Is this normal as well?

My first thought is kidneys. I'm not a doctor or even in the medical field though so I can only draw on pre-surgical experience. I had a kidney infection a few years ago and the only symptom was pain in my back on the right side. With you not getting in all your Water, you may not be flushing out all the "stuff" in your kidneys. Sip, Sip, Sip as often as you can. For the first few days I had to carry water everywhere refusing to put it down. Every time I thought about it I would take a sip. I would definately get in touch with your doctor on this though.

Movement will help too. I get "stove up" when I don't move enough. Even if you have low energy, make yourself get up and walk around the house a few times. It adds up, gets your blood pumping and makes you feel better quicker. This is the crazy part... exercising gives you more energy (seems to me it would use it up) and I have felt this.

I hope this helps.

Shae

I am moving a lot. I walk at least a half hour a day (at one time) plus get up and move around the house. Last night I got ready for bed at the same time as my husband and he said I am very bruised on the right side of my back so I have called the nurse and she has to talk to the doctor. Waiting to hear back. The nurse said she's not heard of this happening before. I am going to the bathroom every 2 hours. My doctor had said that it would take me a while to get my water and protein in for the day but to keep the ration 2 to 1 (double the water) which I have done. I think it was the vitamins in the morning yesterday that made my stomach strange because this morning I am back to being able to drink my first 8 oz of water and am able to drink my shake (still doing so but it's already better than yesterday). Thanks for your information. I was wondering about the kidneys but now that I know I am bruised I'm more confused.

I read a post somewhere on here where someone else has a big bruise on their hip. Maybe it's from the way they moved you after surgery or something. Glad it's not your kidneys and also glad to hear that you are moving.

Shae

I was told by my doc that the beginning was just about getting in the fluids and some calories (preferably protein) until you heal enough to take in what you need. So, at first I sipped the thinner fruity protein drinks (took me almost all day to drink one) and got 40 g of protein. If I had any time of the day left, I drank gatorade. I set a timer for every 5 min and would wet my mouth and let it slowly trickle down. If I didn't set the timer, I would forget to take another sip for 15-20 minutes and would not be able to get in my fluids/protein. This was only for the first 5-6 days. Afterward, I was able to drink a half an ounce (half a shot glass) at a time. You may have some heavy duty swelling that makes it so difficult. BUT you do NOT want to get dehydrated. I have heard of several people on here going to the emergency room because of dehydration. Dehydration makes you nauseous and becomes a vicious cycle where you don't want to take anything in. Take it slow and easy, one small sip at a time and focus on healing. This will be behind you before you know it.

I heard back from my surgeon's office. They said it could be that the fluids decided to move around to my back and that caused the bruising but that doesn't explain the pain. It could be a hematoma. They could have fit me in today except they are an hour and a half away and it was the most busy day this week for my husband. They said call my personal doctor. Well she's on maternity leave. But I have never had a problem seeing another doctor in the practice. So I called and asked if they thought I should be seen. 6 hours later one of the doctors' nurses call me back and says "Yes, Dr. G says you should be seen. His next appointment is December 7." I'm like I'm seeing my surgeon next Monday. So we didn't make an appointment. But I am confused. If I need to be seen, why couldn't they fit me in sometime this week? Oh well. If the pain gets worse I will just go to the ER. But if not I will wait until Monday.