I'm 2 wks post op and my side where stomach and main incision is hurts when I cough or sneeze. It feels like a stretching or pulling feeling. Has anyone encountered this after surgery? Should I be concerned?

This is fairly common, because you have stitches in there and they are healing...so a sneeze or cough is going to pull at that...if you can have a pillow on your lap so when that happens, you can grab the pillow and hug it, it may help... tho if you're really concerned, always call your doctor...just to be on the safe side

Yes, it's that super deep stitch where they stitched the muscle back together. I would say I didn't really notice it anymore after 3-4 weeks.

Totally normal!

Thanks everyone! I called my Dr today and he said also that this was normal and it should go away in a week or so.

Thanks everyone! I called my Dr today and he said also that this was normal and it should go away in a week or so.

I still have pain when sneezing and coughing at 4 weeks out. The pillow helps dramatically!

Eyoung thanks I will try the pillow at home. Not sure how I will manage at work

did they make you a hug me pillow. it's denser than a real pillow and works so much better. My nurse made me one a hospital blanket folded into a rectangle and taped. It was my best friend.

I am 5 months out and still have the pain when I cough or sneeze, guess I should ask doctor about it. Anyone have it for this long?

I am 5 days out and this happens to me... ouch! I got a cold right after surgery so have been coughing a lot. The abdominal binder helps a TON! If you don't have one, you could probably find out at a pharmacy or durable medical equipment store. And also hug a pillow. If you cannot, then scrunch your tummy a little and you get almost the same effect (for when you're at work.) Good luck!

I unfortunately caught bacterial bronchitis 7 days post op and was coughing up a storm. So much that two of my incisions started to bleed. I went to the dr and he said it was all a-ok.

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I went to the Dr. Because where they took out my stomach left side of my belly button . I had a large fatty pocket removed. And gall bladder w/ gastric sleeve. Total 7 incisions. The main one was sunken in really bad. It was only one that did close completely. when Staples removed at 14 days. I have lost more weight and it's evening out so it opened up a bit as skin has been shifting. I though I was having pain coughing, sneezing bearing down, when I bend down was all because I had injured it somehow, had an infection or had a hernia.

Went to surgeon and he examined me and said that the main incision where stomach was pulled out from had internal sutures that's why it hurt. And when I did those things when it hurt was just slight stretching of muscles that were stitched together. Unless lift something heavy or do heavy pulling I can develop a hernia. That it was totally normal. To keep excersiceg and it is healing well.

So I was relieved.