Has my bypass on 11/5, spent two nights in the hospital and went home on a Thursday. The first couple of days home were hard but manageable. I was able to get up and wall every couple hours and even ran a few errands with my husband. I work from home so spent Monday and Tuesday working at my desk and felt ok...in moderate pain but stayed on top of it. Wednesday was my first post-op with my doc and things went downhill fast. At the doc I got very dizzy and nauseated. Barium swallow test went well. PA said I was slightly dehydrated so I was told to stay on clear liquids and come back in a week. Thursday I woke up in agony. Pain level 10 and it just got worse and worse. No urine all day so called my insurance RN and doctor office and was told to go to ER. Pain is in left side only and feels like I'm being stabbed every time I move. They did a CT with contrast and it didn't show anything abnormal. Blood tests came back showing normal levels of everything but potassium. Gave me a bag of fluids to help with the dehydration and some IV pain meds that helped a lot. Sent me home and here I am in the same pain. Hydrocodone doesn't even touch the pain. I can't sit up so I'm not taking in enough liquids. Down 28 lbs since surgery a week and a half a go. Is it normal to start to feel ok and then the pain get worse? Anyone else? Any pain management tips?

Apologies for the typos...on a new phone :/

I would recommend going back to the hospital if you are in such extreme pain. Discomfort and mild pain is normal, but it seems you are having pains that are not just mild or discomfort.

Doesn't seem normal to have such extreme pain. Your surgeon has an obligation to support you during this post operative process so please don't hesitate to contact him/her and ask about your concerns. While I did have left side pain up to about 10 days out it wasn't nothing like you described. Please contact your surgeons office to ensure you get the help you need. Let us know how you are doing. Good luck and speedy recovery! Hope you feel better soon.

Hi, I also had excruciating pain throughout my abdomen but mostly on my left side, my pain turned out to be constipation which, with gentle medication, eventually passed. I wouldn't suggest doing anything without medical advice but just wanted to point out that it could be something like this. Hope you feel better soon.

Edited November 16, 201312 yr by UK-Molly

This in not normal and certainly not OK. Go to the ER tonight or call your surgeon at the on call number! Be persistent. You need medical attention NOW!!!!

Pain at 10 without any relief from hydrocodone is not to be ignored. Whatever is going on inside is not going to get better by itself. Do you have a fever or any drainage?

28 lbs down in a week and a half is way beyond normal loss for most of us. Most people come home from the hospital 3-15 lbs heavier than when they go in due to IV fluids, etc. and it takes a week or two to lose just that weight. You need to be getting in fluids because dehydration is making things worse--it can quickly become very serious.

Good luck. Please let us know how you are doing.

Hi, I also had excruciating pain throughout my abdomen but mostly on my left side, my pain turned out to be constipation which, with gentle medication, eventually passed. I wouldn't suggest doing anything without medical advice but just wanted to point out that it could be something like this. Hope you feel better soon.

What type of medication did you use for the constipation. I have only has 2 BMs since the surgery and very small. I can move around a lot better today thankfully. I resorted to Gatorade yesterday even though it's on my "no" list but at this point I want electrolytes and fluid and the calories don't concern me.

This in not normal and certainly not OK. Go to the ER tonight or call your surgeon at the on call number! Be persistent. You need medical attention NOW!!!!

Pain at 10 without any relief from hydrocodone is not to be ignored. Whatever is going on inside is not going to get better by itself. Do you have a fever or any drainage?

28 lbs down in a week and a half is way beyond normal loss for most of us. Most people come home from the hospital 3-15 lbs heavier than when they go in due to IV fluids, etc. and it takes a week or two to lose just that weight. You need to be getting in fluids because dehydration is making things worse--it can quickly become very serious.

Good luck. Please let us know how you are doing.

What type of medication did you use for the constipation. I have only has 2 BMs since the surgery and very small. I can move around a lot better today thankfully. I resorted to Gatorade yesterday even though it's on my "no" list but at this point I want electrolytes and fluid and the calories don't concern me.

I used Movicol, I got this from my local chemist, it's sachets of powder you put into water. It worked for me but I'm not sure if you can get this outside the uk.

Edited November 16, 201312 yr by UK-Molly

Colace is good for a daily stool softener or senna if u are in the US. Some swear by miralax which is similar to what she describes as a powder. For faster relief of it is constipation milk of magnesia might help and then perhaps a daily colace. If the pain is still unbearable Now I totally advise against waiting it out and would seek medical attention. Hope u feel better soon.

Thank you! I'm happy to say that the pain has dulled down quite a bit since Thursday!! I did increase my fluids by taking in more broth, Popsicles and Gatorade (g2 with less sugar). I've found that water makes me nauseated too quickly while the rest I can tolerate easily. So I'll stick with what I can handle to keep the fluids in. The fluids sure helped with the constipation which I'd like to believe helped with that horrible pain. For the first time, I coughed without feeling like I had been shot in the side. Thank you all!

Thank you! I'm happy to say that the pain has dulled down quite a bit since Thursday!! I did increase my fluids by taking in more broth, Popsicles and Gatorade (g2 with less sugar). I've found that water makes me nauseated too quickly while the rest I can tolerate easily. So I'll stick with what I can handle to keep the fluids in. The fluids sure helped with the constipation which I'd like to believe helped with that horrible pain. For the first time, I coughed without feeling like I had been shot in the side. Thank you all!

Yay! Glad u are feeling better. Now the healing truly progresses and u are on your way!!

If you continue to have pain I would encourage a visit to the ER. One week after I had surgery I was readmitted for an extreme infection and a leak. When I first called my nurse he said it was probably just residual pain from the surgery. I ignored it another couple days. My mistake. I ended up in the hospital for 16 days, on antibiotics for the entire time, a picc line for fluids and nutrition, plus it was touch and go for awhile if I was going to make it. Don't take the chance. Go to the er if you feel something isn't right. Hope you start feeling better soon.