I just had my RNY on Monday morning 12/14 & I'm still in so much pain. I completely underestimated the amount of pain that I would be in, I think that half of it is gas. I can't take deep breaths and I have, of course, a very hard time standing. God forbid I have to cough or anything like that. Does anyone have any tips, tricks to get me through these first few days? Please let me know what any of you did to help get through the first few days, what helps with the pain the most? Is it walking, Water, medicine? Please let me know what got any of you through

Yeah, your picture looks tame in comparison to how my stomach looked lol.

I think walking (for the gas pain)is probably the best. I walked for about 5 minutes every hour or two the first week after surgery (when I wasn't sleeping). Of course, it was slow going at first but by the end of two weeks I could walk pretty fast and was walking in 15 minute stretches four times a day.

If you need pain meds take them. The pain should get better each day. My gas pains lasted for about 2 weeks - slowly getting better each day until one day all of sudden it was gone. Some people take gas-x - that might help a little...

Congrats on your surgery! The first few weeks of recovery are probably the roughest - between the pain and trying to start to get your liquids and Protein in. Believe me, it gets much easier. I am 8 weeks out and as long as I plan out my foods for the day and don't let hours pass without eating or drinking I do well.

Walking makes the recovery process go smoother. It will help to relieve the gas pain. Hopefully they have a hanging trapeze type bar above your bed. This will help you stand easier. If they don't, request one so that you can get out of bed to walk a little less painfully.

Please do not stop coughing or taking deep breaths...that can lead to pneumonia. When you cough hold a pillow tightly to your stomach. It's called splinting and it will help you to cough deeply and not be in as much pain.

And as for the gas, walking and moving is the best thing you can do.

Good luck! It will get easier!

The only other thing that worked for me besides walking was heat. When I was in bed or sitting in a chair, use a heating pad on your tummy and even shoulder.

That gas pain is the absolute worst and the pain meds really don't help it. Gas x will help as your intestines begin working again but only walking and heat see, to really relieve that gas pain.

For me walking helped the most. I also used a small travel sized pillow that I braced my stomach with when walking, coughing, sneezing, etc.. That pillow was a lifesaver. I used it for the first two weeks, then I even slept with it for awhile.

A heating pad may help too. I got a little relief from it.

Mostly for me it was just walking and time; each couple of days it got easier and easier.

@@Nurse_Lenora Coughing does hurt so so much, I've started pressing a pillow against my stomach when I cough and at least it helps to not feel like the incisions are going to pop open. And wow I do have a lot of thick stuff in my lungs trying to get out. I've noticed that every time I walk my body wants to cough it up which I think is great. And thank God the gas pain has left my chest, shoulder and neck that was so terrible.

@@Nurse_Lenora Coughing does hurt so so much, I've started pressing a pillow against my stomach when I cough and at least it helps to not feel like the incisions are going to pop open. And wow I do have a lot of thick stuff in my lungs trying to get out. I've noticed that every time I walk my body wants to cough it up which I think is great. And thank God the gas pain has left my chest, shoulder and neck that was so terrible.

I'm glad your coughing it up! The more you move and walk and cough the better you will feel ????

Wow, that's one big bruise! Perfectly normal!! I had some bruising around a few of my incisions too. I have to force myself to not think what they were doing to cause them.

Take your pain meds and walk. If the medication isn't doing the trick, have your doctor prescribe something stronger. And keep up with it-don't let it wear off. Your just a few days over surgery. It gets better, honest. Focus on pain management. It'll make recovery much easier.

Hugs

It took me a few weeks for my pain to subside and mine was worse then I expected it to be a week out. Just take it easy, but don't stop walking and take your pain meds if you need them.

Omg I had it the same day and had no idea the pain would be so bad. I ended up calling my Dr and telling him that 6 hrs between doses of pain mediation was not working bc then I was chasing the pain. He said he didn't want me to be in pain so take every 4 hrs as needed. That has really helped. Also even though it hurts try to move.

I also have a small hard pillow they gave me at the hospital and I hold it against my incision sight and it helps a ton. But gosh coughing is by far one of the pains I wish would go away.

Today was my first day to go 7.5 hrs with out pain medication and so I'm pretty happy. Hopefully you'll be feeling better soon.

Mine was pretty painful too. Had my surgery Dec 18, 2015. But it's better now. Hang in there. Here's what mine looked like.

That's exactly what mine ended up looking like & it turned our I had a small internal bleed behind the middle incision, the reason for the severe pain was the pressure of all of the trapped blood behind the skin. As soon as that got better everything else did too, now I'm 7 weeks or and feeling better than ever before!

Your incisions look good to me. I actually had 2 come open because I was stupid and went to the gym with my wife; they were the only once that didn't have some puss. I showed the Dr in the follow up and he said just keep them clean and dry and to drain them as needed. After I did that and the knots from the stitches worked their way out, everything cleared up and healed well.

That was well over a year ago. About 3 months ago, the lowest incision looked weird and it had some puss that I just squeezed out. I mentioned it to a coworker that has incisions for another surgery and he said his does the same thing. I think it was because the incision is right were some pants ride.

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I had the same problem after my surgery October 2015. I spoke with the NP and she told me to take gas-x. Thank goodness. It will help

She said they should tell everyone that before they leave the hospital.