I'm a little over 4 weeks post op. Things have been good, great actually. Today I started getting a pain in my lower abdomen on the left side. It's about 2 inches below my belly button and to the left a little. It's not a constant pain , but if I stretch I feel like I'm pulling something apart on the inside. It's a sharp pain. Nothing that brings me to my knees but enough to have me here, asking if this seems normal. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I've also noticed that if I bend it hurts in that spot too. I hope someone can give me some insight based on their experiences.

I believe it comes from the stitch that is placed in the muscle to secure the stomach. My Dr. and all information that I received from his office describes this as the only discomfort that you should have but will subside after a few weeks. I am 1 week out today and am experiencing it now. If you are worried or it is unbearable call your Dr's office better safe than sorry.

Edited September 18, 201510 yr by smb1966

I've been actually sitting here for about 15 minutes searching the forums for anyone with the same issues. I'm two weeks out and I get the same pain. some days are better and then some days are worse. I kept thinking maybe it was an infection but I never realized there's a stitch in my muscle.. so that def explains it. I had the sleeve/ gallbladder/ hiatal hernia repair allllll at once so at this point I don't know what's causing what. my poor body is in shock! lol

If that's what it is, then don't be surprised if you feel it 4 weeks out. Lol. I may call today, just in case. I appreciate the feedback. I'm glad I'm not alone. It's just odd to me that it didn't start until now...4 weeks after surgery. Good luck to you both, happy healing. I'll post here when I talk to the doc.

Said it's nothing to be too concerned about unless it gets worse. Could be gas, a stitch that dissolved or even a nerve that is trying to repair itself. Just passing along what I learned. Y'all have a great weekend!

Said it's nothing to be too concerned about unless it gets worse. Could be gas, a stitch that dissolved or even a nerve that is trying to repair itself. Just passing along what I learned. Y'all have a great weekend!

Thanks, it IS all about sharing the information so we dont feel alone in it.

There was just a forum on this topic, I had the exact same thing and it ended up being a pulled muscle in my stomach, about 3 inches to the left of my belly button. It hurts especially if I lean over!

My surgeon called me in some pain patches (lidocaine) and they help a bunch! Much more than the pain pills for the internal pulling feeling.

The forum was called "Internal Pulling" if you want to read everyones responses!

I am almost 4 weeks post op and have been noticing similar pain for a week now. My pain is on the left side of my abdomen. I was in such excruciating pain I ended up going back to my surgeon who reassured me it was a "popped dissolvable stitch". They said it should subside but if it doesn't I should go back for a CT scan to make sure it's not a hernia. The pain had started the get better and has now returned and worsened. It is a sharp pain...the worst. I hope yours ends up going away on its own! Keeping my fingers crossed I don't have a hernia!

Edited September 20, 201510 yr by cgarrido1

I'm 3 weeks post op and going through the same. For me, the pain is pretty brutal. At my post op visit on Friday, they said that it's the internal stitch and as it dissolves, it can be really painful. As a matter of fact, they warned me of this PRE op because so many people wind up going to the ER for the pain. I was assured that it's normal because they suture 3 layers of muscle together very tightly, with a large stitch to prevent a hernia or a build up of scar tissue. Bending is pretty much impossible for me right now and honestly, I have to take it easy to prevent a lot of pain. I was also told to use an abdominal binder and have it pretty snug which does help. They said that I'll wake up one morning and the pain will be gone....I'm looking forward to it!

My wife is having a similar pain after 3 weeks of post-op. Her pain is on the right side of the abdomen. So I took her to where she had her op and took a CT scan and the results shows it’s a hernia and we had no clue what's the cause of that. She is going to have her hernia surgery at Shouldice hospital in Ontario next week. Hope she will be cured with the surgery.

My wife is having a similar pain after 3 weeks of post-op. Her pain is on the right side of the abdomen. So I took her to where she had her op and took a CT scan and the results shows it’s a hernia and we had no clue what's the cause of that. She is going to have her hernia surgery at Shouldice hospital in Ontario next week. Hope she will be cured with the surgery.

I hope that your wife's surgery goes well and without any further issues. Please give us an update once she's home and recovering.

The stitch popped today! It was the worst and the best feeling all wrapped up into one! For over 3 weeks I haven't been able to bend, sleep on my side, laugh.....it was actually the only bad part of my recovery. I was walking when it popped. ...like a rubber band kind of snapping, popping feeling. It hurt....took my breath away for just a bit, but then, almost magically all the pain was completely GONE! I can bend again! I can laugh without holding my side. I can shave those scraggly hairs right above my ankle! It's glorious! Just had to share!

Yup, had all of this, on my left side. I thought I was having a hernia, or had something caught in the wall and was getting necrotic small bowel or all sorts of things. It hurt so bad it kept me awake one night -- and then a day later, it was completely gone. It's normal. It's okay. It gets better. :-)