Does it hurt?

[LoseItKacy 347]

So my surgery is two weeks away from tomorrow. And my question is focused on pain. I would like to know when people felt the most discomfort after surgery (if any at all)?

Was it right when they first woke up from the surgery? Once they started trying to take sips? Did the hospital do good at pain management? Was the actual incisions painful or was it more gas? Does walking really help? How long did pain last?

I know obviously it's not gonna feel to great. I mean, I am getting stabbed 6 times in the stomach of course it's going to hurt. But what was your experiences postops???

[stelsewhere 27]

I only experienced pain when I fell asleep and, apparently, nurses do not wake you up to give you medication. I ended up waking up in the worst pain of my life. I actually started shaking and went into shock and was screaming. Luckily I had an awesome roommate who ran out and grabbed the nurse. From then on, I set my phone alarm for every 3 hours to make sure I was telling the nurse I needed the liquid lortab. I had a wide hiatal hernia repaired along with my sleeve, and I think the pain was more in that area.

Walking around was the best for me. It made me feel a lot better.

Honestly I was never really in "pain" throughout this whole thing. I'm a month out and the only thing I complain about is the nausea. I have my one month post op tmrw so I'm hoping they will prescribe something for it.

The hospital will take good care of you!

[James Marusek 5,244]

I didn't experience much pain and I never took pain medicine after surgery. But I have a high pain tolerance.

[Twinmomma422 54]

I was and am a little sore I'll be one week out tomorrow. I had a morphine button to push after surgery and then switched to pain pills. I would call every 4 hours for meds. I haven't taken my pain meds in 2 days now. My sorest spot is where my drain was. They left it open and my husband helps change my bandages. Healing pretty good though. I walk a lot almost all day at home and it helps pretty good. Just have a little soreness but nothing major. Good luck!!

[toasty 371]

I had my surgery last Friday, so this is fresh in my mind! The day of surgery (day 1), after I was in my room, the nurses were giving me demerol every 4 hours. They asked me once if I wanted pain medication every 4 hours when it was allowed, I said yes, and from then on they just came in and gave it every 4 hours. The pain was negligible after the demerol, maybe a 1-2 or so.

The second day, they switched me to oral Norco (Hydrocodone/Tylenol) liquid. Again, every 4 hours, but now I had to ask for it. It kept the pain level to a 3-4. At night, I would generally go 6 hours between needing the Norco without problems (I preferred the sleep). Generally, on this day the greatest pain came when trying to drink; my pouch hurt whenever I tried to drink anything, even the smallest sips. Pain was maybe a 5-6 for a few moments while drinking. Didn't do much drinking that day. Walking definitely helped.

When I got home (on day 3), I continued the oral Norco. Now, pain level was 2-3. Walking helped, as did passing gas. GasX strips helped a lot.

Day 4, I started taking Norco every 6 hours. Pain level 1-2 right after taking Norco, 3-4 six hours later. Walked a mile over the course of a day, it helped (probably got my mind off the pain too).

Today, I stopped the Norco altogether, and have been on Tylenol. No pain when sitting down, about a 1-2 when walking, 2-3 when bending over, 4-5 when coughing. It's raining, so not much walking today.

Throughout it has been my stomach area that has been in pain. Not my incisions, which don't hurt at all. It feels like maybe the muscles in my abdomen, as well as some gas too. I never had any pain in my shoulders at all.

That's my experience so far.

[stelsewhere 27]

Oh god! I forgot about my shoulders. They were very uncomfortable for about a week. The hospital sent me home with long ice packs. They were clutch. I kept one on each should and one on my belly.

I lied. The shoulders were the most annoying part.

I had surgery on a Tuesday and was on liquid Tylenol by Thursday morning. The liquid lortab made me feel awful side effects.

[Veronica_mm 87]

I had pain for 2 weeks and could only lay on my back. It was a Horrible pulling, burning pain where the bigger incision was from my belly button to the left side.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Veronica_mm

[catwoman7 10,870]

I really didn't feel any pain at all - I was very surprised. I used almost no morphine at the hospital and whatever they sent me home with for pain sat there unopened. The only thing that really bothered me was sore abs. They were fine if I was lying down, but getting in and out of bed was really uncomfortable.

[wvugal 8]

When I came to in recovery, the nurses explained that I had a morphine drip and could push the button each time that it turned green and that I should push it, so I didn't end up in pain. I do not like the way that pain meds make me feel, so I opted not to push the button. I really didn't have any pain at all, surprising enough. I was in the hospital from Monday afternoon, in my room by 7pm and released Weds at 10am without pain meds and when released, the doc prescribed me a liquid pain med, which I did fill, but is sitting unopened at home. I will say, that I rode home with a pillow between my incisions and the seat belt and it also helped for holding your tummy if you have a bumpy ride home. The most pain I experience and it was only maybe a 2, was getting up from the recliner or out of bed.

I didn't really experience the gas pain until toward the end of week 1, and then it wasn't horrible.

Walking does help, especially to help prevent blood clots.

I will add that I did not have a drain. My physician opts to not use them and of that, I am very glad. Maybe that is why I didn't have much pain, I'm not sure...

All in all, it was a great experience. Dr. Tabone is top-notch, as well as his PACs.... It's scary to think about up to the surgery date, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat and I am only 3 months out!!

[beachgal2935 596]

I had surgery on a Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. and went home the following day at 6 p.m. The ONLY pain I had was when they "stripped" (where the tube exits the body, they pinch and slide the Fluid away from the body and into the bulb. It prevents the tube from clogging and keeps it working correctly) my drain. They'd emptied if throughout the day and it was no big deal. However, when the nurse came in at 4 a.m. to strip it, I thought I was going to scream. It felt like someone took an ice pick and stabbed straight down into my left collarbone. I have a high tolerance for pain and I cried like a baby. He kept saying how sorry he was but that he had to do it. When the day nurse came in to do it I had to endure the pain all over again. My left shoulder was sore for days. When the surgeon and his resident, that assisted, came in later that afternoon I told them. The resident doctor was the one who removed my drain prior to my leaving the hospital. It was quick and painless. They sent me home with a prescription for 55 percocet. I took one twice on Thursday and once on Friday, just as a precaution. By Saturday I was good to go. I have been full of energy and at 53 years old, with a painful nerve condition on my entire right side, I think I've done great! Everyone is different but I'm sure you'll be just fine. Just a couple of suggestions for your hospital stay ... take ear plugs and an eye mask. I did! It will help you sleep so much better

[QuilterGal 216]

The most pain I experienced was when they put in the IV and my back immediately after surgery from being on the medical surgical table. I really didn't feel a lot of pain from the actual surgery. After I came home, I stopped my pain meds three days later. It's really been smooth sailing. I thought it would be much worse.

[chamley 6]

The morphine drip was my friend the first day after surgery. Was terrified to try oral meds, was having a hard time eating/drinking. After the hospital my worst pain was gas. Once I pushed myself to walk more things finally moved and the pain decreased.

[dbfn 67]

I found it was more discomfort than pain ... I just felt a bit achy and bloated. The pain meds worked pretty well, I guess! I had a pain pump and would hit the button on it before I wanted to get up to walk, go to the loo etc ... it kept things well under control. The most important thing is to keep ahead of the pain, so once you're out of hospital make sure you take your meds regularly for at least the first few days to make sure you stop the pain before it starts: it's easier to get up and move around if you're not in pain, and if you're moving around well, you'll heal faster. It's all connected!

I slept in a recliner chair for a week or two after surgery because my bed is very high and I struggled to climb on to it. Plus I tend to sleep on my side and couldn't do that in bed, so the chair worked better for me. After two or three days, I stopped taking pain meds every four hours, but instead took them before settling down to sleep at night, first thing in the morning about 10 minutes before getting up for my shower and first walk of the day, and about a week into things, I started doing a slow wander up the stairs at home each day and would take a dose of pain medication before that, too.

Everyone responds differently to the med, we all have different pain thresholds and things can vary greatly from one day to the next. The most important thing is to keep ahead of the pain, don't be a martyr, and as you're healing aim for short but frequent walks (keep moving but don't overdo it).

[dbfn 67]

Oh, and for pre-ops worried about how bad the pain might be ... I'm an absolute wimp when it comes to pain but wouldn't hesitate to have this surgery again. It's not major pain, it's a little bit sore and uncomfortable, but not anything major. I had a skin tag frozen off the back of my neck last year and that was worse!