Ok, I had my surgery in Mexico, everything went great. I had no problems and very little pain. I actually felt pretty good. I did not have any nausua or anything. I felt this way for almost 2 weeks. I was really surprised at how well things were going. Over the last 4 days or so, I have been getting more tender in the area of the incisions and the area of the stomach. Sometimes it just feels sore, other times it is just a very mild pain / sornes right below the rib cage and just a bit on the left side. I do not have any fever, food is ok, still restricted on what I can eat.

The first 10 days or so I got in and out of a car no problem, now when I do it, I feel the soreness. Confused why I did not feel anything the first 10 days, but now I feel the tenderness/soreness. How do I know if something is wrong. I dont want to make a trip to the hospital if this is normal as all 100% of the expense would be out of pocket. My concern is a leak or infection.

i had my surgery on 2/16, and I am right there with you.. I was out shopping over the weekend.. and my side really started hurting too...especially when getting in and out of the car!

Did you lift more than 10 pounds at any time? Did you have a hernia repair? (just spitballin' here...)

I've had the same rib pain. I asked my doctor and he explained that he had to expand that area to get the tools in the right spot, so rib pain is common. When I asked him, "is my ribs supposed to be hurting?", he said, "I bet its on the left had side." YEP! According to him, this was common and expected. But just to be on the safe side, watch it carefully.

Also I drive a Camaro and I have hell to pay getting in and out of my car.

Your nerves are firing back up again!

Using less pain medications, and moving the muscles around the area of the incision while healing will flare them up and make the pain/soreness more noticeable. I'm sure you're just fine, just keep a good eye on it. If you notice it getting really bad, or look out for any fevers - other than that it's pretty normal.

Congrats on your new sleeve!!!

When I had my hysterectomy, I ha the same things happen. I was told that it's the muscle under the incisions starting to knit and it's normal. I'm expecting I'll have it again with the sleeve.

Thanks for all of your replies, they have helped. I am feeling better today and everyday is a bit better. Got concerned becuase I felt really no pain or discomfort (other than when I ate) for the first 10-12 days. Then I started to have a dull ache / discomfort on the left side just under the rib cage area. I occassionally feel strage feeling throughout the left side, but on I scale of 1-10 pain wise, it is like a 2-3.

I feel pretty good today, down 25 pounds since surgery (319 DOS, 294 today). Contacted the DR. in Mexico, he told me all was normal, that I would have the tender/discomfor for around 8-10 weeks post op. food is starting to go down a bit easier. No having a problem getting the 80-100G of Protein in each day, sometimes I struggle with the liquid though.

I really have to almost force myself to eat, I have no appetite and some things I eat feels like it gets stuck, just adjusting to samller bites and eating/chewing my food more thoughouly. Cant wait to get over the hump where I fell normal again.

i can also imagine the first 10 days you were really taking it a lot easier and now you are starting to be a bit more active because you have recovered from the actual surgery, which might start moving things around inside (muscles etc) and it's gonna ache a bit till it heals completely. hope you are 100% soon! and grats!

I went for my 3 week checkup & told my dr that I had experienced the same pain on my left side for the first time yesterday. Speaking of vehicles.. I'm 5'2" and I drive an Avalanche that's a foot or more taller than me! My Doc said it's normal to feel tenderness in the area where the tummy was removed for 6-8 weeks after surgery, so I guess we're okay!

I'm trying to figure out what pain is normal and what is not. So I am 5 days post-op I didn't take any pain meds yesterday. This morning I took 2/3 of my pain prescription dose. If I take really big breaths my lower left side hurts, my left shoulder hurts a tad too. Yesterday the walking I did was at target, haha, but today I plan to go for a 20 min walk. My question is what pain is normal and what is not?

I'm a week post-op. The last 3 days I had very little pain (I have not taken my Lortab since the second day).

Today an area just to the left of my leftmost incision is tweaking quite noticeably, especially if I have to make a twisting or twisting/lifting movement. If I'm not using it, there's no pain.

I had a mini emergency with DD lastnight and had to lift her down from the bathroom counter (she's about 40 lbs). I kept her against my body to maximize center of gravity and just sort of let her slide down me, but I think I flamed something up. My post-op is tomorrow, if it's no better I will ask about it.

I was warned the left side would be the most sore.

I am 3 weeks out and I didn't have much rib pain but OMG I had the worst lower back pain weeks 2. this week so far I am feeling well. I think it is just how your body is healing and the process it is taking. Also think of your weight loss and how your body has carried itself. I have lost 30lbs and I think most of my back pain is becuase I am holding myself diffrent with the 30 lbs gone. My body hasn't caught up with itself.

I am a month post op and I still get pains in that area. I was told that the liver retractor was placed there. When it flares up I take a couple of Tylenol and it takes care of it.

Wow! It's been a month already for you? I remember when you went!

Time flies! I can't believe its been a month already either!