I was sleeved one week ago today and recovery has been smoother than expected. I spent the holidays with family at home and didn't even leave the house (or my sweatpants) for the first five days. I was diligent about staying ahead of the pain and took two oxycodone every 4-6 hours as prescribed.

Now that I'm entering my second week and getting out and about more I am trying to wean off the narcotics and rely on Tylenol for pain relief. However I'm finding the more active I am, the more fatigued I get and the more irritated and painful my incision sites feel. I feel like I should be able to cope without the Oxy's but Tylenol just isn't as effective and I have a low tolerance for discomfort.

How long is too long to stay on pain meds? Are most done with them after a few days, or is it "normal" to use them a bit into the second week? Am I a big baby who needs to just suck it up and accept that a little pain is part of this journey?

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Use them as long as you need them. Not a thing wrong with that.

For the first week I took them as prescribed except at night because for some odd reason they give me insomnia. Second week it was as needed. If I was in pain I took them but it wasn't constant. After that I had to go back to work and maintain a clear head.... Or I would have took them longer.! Lol.

I think it was the 8th or 9th postop day before I felt like I could stop mine. My drain was removed on day 7 and I was able to cut back from every 4 to 5 hours to just once or twice a day after that. I've been completely off pain meds now for 3 days and I still have a little pain here or there but it's nothing I can't handle. I think the drain was causing most of my pain.

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Only took the drip for a couple of hours after surgery and then, took nothing. Honestly felt fine, except for some nausea.

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I think it was the 8th or 9th postop day before I felt like I could stop mine. My drain was removed on day 7 and I was able to cut back from every 4 to 5 hours to just once or twice a day after that. I've been completely off pain meds now for 3 days and I still have a little pain here or there but it's nothing I can't handle. I think the drain was causing most of my pain.

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This is my hope. My drain comes out in the AM

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Try getting a binder for your incision. I wore a compression top for about 4 weeks. It reduced the park n immediately.

I never took anything once the drip was out on day 2 and even before that I had stopped my pain meds...

Didn't have to take anything when I got home at all. 3.5weeks post op now

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I stopped mine in the hospital around 24 hours after surgery. Never did fill the prescription. Tylenol liquid worked fine the one or two times I felt pain at home. That said others may need it as we are all different as is our recovery.

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When I asked for a refill of my oxycodone, my doctor's office said NO. But I'm getting by now ok with just Tylenol.

Try getting a binder for your incision. I wore a compression top for about 4 weeks. It reduced the park n immediately.

THIS!!! it seems to really help. I wear one everyday!

Well I was on a high dose of Percocet for back pain prior to surgery so they had to send me home on dilaudid for pain. I had quite a bit of pain around my main incision for two weeks and took the dilaudid up until then. After about two weeks I switched to Tylenol. Now 3.5 weeks out and no longer taking anything for pain.

Thanks all! I did get a refill from my doc but am going to hold on to them for as-needed occurrences. Have been on Tylenol only for two days and doing okay, however I feel exhausted! I'm cat napping throughout the day. Not sure if this is just a coincidence or if the narcotics were giving me an energy boost that I'm missing now??

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Coincidence. Your body is adjusting to the lack of calories now AND you're still recovering from surgery. Narcotics don't give you energy.

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@ I get what you mean by giving you energy. I feel the sAme way. Not sure energy is the right word but your body feels good, alittle high I suppose. I had to get regular Tylenol vs extra strength as it made me sleepy too.

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I was given liquid hydrocodone when I left the hospital a day after surgery. After my first sip, I dumped it down the drain it was so disgusting and there was no way I could down it. That was it for me. Honestly I was only uncomfortable a couple of days and my pain was mostly when I was getting up and down out of the chair. I was pretty much pain free by day 4.