Hi everyone, I have RNY surgery tomorrow and am super nervous about pain.

I've heard of people being discharged the next day and getting back to their routines shortly thereafter, and I've heard of people who are in agony for weeks after.

I'm 30 and healthy outside of degenerative disc disease affecting L4 - S1, arthritic knees, and a dislocated kneecap that's always giving me pain. I think I have an okay pain tolerance; kidney stones were rough at times but I got through it better than most, and I've thrown my back out about a half dozen times (worse than kidney stones, in my opinion!)

What was your experience after surgery? What are your tips to coping with pain? Does anyone else have DDD - if so, how was your back?

Thanks everyone!

I my experience the doctor has given orders for "up to" X am trying of pain med and when you reach that, you're done. Nurses don't usually withhold pain meds. The charge nurse in your case may have been able to talk the Doc into more. But that's not the norm. Charge nurses are not always the most experienced either. There are lots of more experienced nurses that just don't take charge anymore because we don't want the headaches.

Yes she called the doctor at my insistence.

The one thing my doc's office understated greatly was the level of immediate post op pain. I woke up in recovery and immediately was hoping they would knock me back out. I have broken several bones in my life and had a few other very painful medical procedures. When I woke up in recovery the level of pain was right up there with all of them. Some of it was panic on my part because the drain tube they put in went across the diaphragm. It was really hard for me to take deep breaths. So it was short quick shallow breathing along with an immense amount of pain. They got it under control in about 15-20 minutes, but it felt like an eternity.

Once it was under control I went to sleep pretty much immediately. The pain the next two days in the hospital improved each day and by the time I went home the only thing that was bothering me still was the belly button incision.

Had my surgery on Monday, got home on Tuesday. I am surprised how much pain I have but it seems better today, don't let this stop you though, it is only for a short time.

My pain was minimal. I did keep my finger on the medication button, however but was off all medication within 3 days. I felt much better once off the pain meds-not as tired or fuzzy headed.

Two more days.....

You gotta demand it.I am allergic to morphine...Toridol and onastregen for nausea.Demand it.

I'm allergic to morphine also. My doc put me on a Dilaudid pump as well as toradol. Very helpful. The Zofran does nothing for me as far as nausea control. But the gave me something else. I think it's always wise to talk about post op opinion control before the day if surgery and if you don't get the answer you need, might be a good idea to get another surgeon.

I highly highly recommend getting a "belly binder". I got one when i had my lapband in 2008 and had totally forgotten about it when I got my revision on the 12/22. It helps hold me all together and I don't get that my insides are going to pop out of my incisions feeling.

Will pick one up tomorrow.

Belly binder

I agree, I have a back brace that really helps with the walking and coughing.

Edited January 1, 201610 yr by samcl1