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six days out with terrible pain in left middle back when I lay down

How long does air stay in your back after surgery? It only happens when I lay down but it is extremely painful. Tylenol doesn't cut the pain but dilated does. I hate taking pain killers to sleep. Did anyone else have this lightning like pain there this long after surgery?

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No..I am sorry for your discomfort. I am four days out and really only had the gas bubble issure on the first day. Maybe you sould just check with your surgeons office to make sure it is just the gas. It is always better to make sure of the cause than just assume. We are talking your body and what is as important that that. Good luck!

  • Author

thanks my incision area under right breast hurts but has since surgery.I also had a liver biopsy while the Dr was in there (looked great he said) so I have seven incision places but the shoulder pain has become lower and more painful and I'm a little nausea but I took four dilated in the last twelve hrs ( it was prescribed that way two every four hrs if needed ) anyway I feel awful and didn't the last couple of days. I called the Nurse at my DRs office but no return call yet.

Hi. I really do empathize with you. I am I week exactly post op today. The gurgling and air hurt the most for me. When I got home I started to experience what you may be calling pain in my right shoulder. It started when I keyed down. Almost like the sensation was goin down my whole arm. I couldn't sleep without my Percocet. It made that pain go away. The incisions weren't painful ever. Sat night was the last night I experienced this. I was trying to stop my Percocet sat but had to break down and take on at midnight sat. After that one dose I have had any medicine since and last night (Sun) I didn't experience it at all. Maybe it was being off medicine? I heard that you start feeling like your self again and your taste buds come come back sooner when you wean yourself off meds. I don't know if what I experienced in my shoulder was the same but it did go away.

The "air" (actually CO2) is gone in the matter of hours, your body adsorbs it. However there can be irritation from the nerves being stretched and pulled when your abdomen is blown up with the gas - this pain can persist for days and weeks.

I would also check with the doc and see if you perhaps have kidney stones. Given the location you mentioned - left middle back - is close to where you might experience pain from kidney stones. Any reddish tint to your urine? I had about 4 bouts of them, they can be very painful - again see your doc.

Gallstone attacks also radiate to the back. If it gets worse, head to urgent care or your surgeons office to have an ultrasound done. This is very common with weight loss surgery.

I am 3 days out, and I, too experienced (still experiencing, yet lessened) the "gas" pains between my shoulder blades, and excruciating pain in my left shoulder. I was told to "walk it out" to get the system moving and to drink plenty of fluids. It should subside eventually. It takes longer for some and less time for others.

I also purchased a heating pad from amazon.com that is specific for your shoulders and upper back. It works great.

  • Author

I talked to my Dr she also said WALK WALK WALK in fact a city block every couple hours. I walked but not that much. She said it is trapped air and can take days before it is gone. She said I had more air due to the biopsy but I'll be fine to keep taking the 4mg dilated and a extra strength Tylenol when I go to bed and WALK WALK WALK!! so I have been walking a lot today and I feel better knowing it is normal for some people. She said I can use a heat pack to feel better but it doesn't help the gas get out just feels good. Thanks for all your advise!!

I talked to my Dr she also said WALK WALK WALK in fact a city block every couple hours. I walked but not that much. She said it is trapped air and can take days before it is gone. She said I had more air due to the biopsy but I'll be fine to keep taking the 4mg dilated and a extra strength Tylenol when I go to bed and WALK WALK WALK!! so I have been walking a lot today and I feel better knowing it is normal for some people. She said I can use a heat pack to feel better but it doesn't help the gas get out just feels good. Thanks for all your advise!!

Fonally, I am sorry you are dealing with this, but so glad you talked to your Dr. And that everything you are going through is normal.

  • Author

WELL.......I did what the DR said walked a city block around my house three times yesterday and more in the house and felt fine when I went to bed I did what DR told me, take two pain killers and one Tylenol, PAIN WAS SO MUCH MILDER!! I slept with only waking up at 6 am instead of over and over again. Walking IS the ticket!!

I am so glad you are feeling better!! That's awesome.

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