First off, waking up from surgery was legitimately one of the most painful experiences of my life. There was a grown man next to me, also waking up from his surgery (same type) crying from the pain. This has been an awful experience and I’m trying to understand why it isn’t highlighted to a patient before they actually go through with the whole process. I’m now on day 5 (hallelujah) and the gas pain (and holding down food without vomiting) is still there and it sucks. If I had known what I was truly about to get myself into, I wouldn’t have done this. I literally woke up from surgery in such extreme pain that I screamed out “are u Fing kidding me?!?!”. I know better days are ahead but can someone also agree with me that this is NOT pleasant? Or is it just me? Everyone seems so “woohoo” about this and I’m More like “wth?!”

I'm sorry you are going through that. I woke up with the most horrific pain I had ever felt in my life. I was sobbing and they kept pumping fentanyl in me to no avail. Then after 2 hours it randomly disappeared. I also had zero gas pain, which is unusual I think. But then I developed an ulcer a week out and that pain was almost equally as bad and lasted like 8 weeks. People don't talk about those things usually. But it gets better, you live.

First off, waking up from surgery was legitimately one of the most painful experiences of my life. There was a grown man next to me, also waking up from his surgery (same type) crying from the pain. This has been an awful experience and I’m trying to understand why it isn’t highlighted to a patient before they actually go through with the whole process. I’m now on day 5 (hallelujah) and the gas pain (and holding down food without vomiting) is still there and it sucks. If I had known what I was truly about to get myself into, I wouldn’t have done this. I literally woke up from surgery in such extreme pain that I screamed out “are u Fing kidding me?!?!”. I know better days are ahead but can someone also agree with me that this is NOT pleasant? Or is it just me? Everyone seems so “woohoo” about this and I’m More like “wth?!”

Oh I can TOTALLY understand you. I woke up the same way. And still have been in pain this is day 3 for me. I also had a esophagus hernia operation. The doctor said to me only extra strength aspirin. Like Really I'm in LOTS of pain. I have had 2 c-sections but this pain was horrible. I can deal with that pain. I hope you heal fast and healthy.

No. I so sorry you are having such a hard time.

I don't think it's just a matter of whether you have a high pain threshold. With my sleeve surgery, I had hardly any pain. With my Bypass, I woke up feeling like someone had ripped my left ovary out! I was in severe pain and was vocal about it!

I've had other surgeries too... breast lump removed (total breeze), gall bladder removed (open surgery), countless stent placements and removals after my gastric leak and none of them were as painful as the bypass. However, my thought is always 'this will pass - this is momentary'. That's how I personally deal with pain. Unfortunately I wasn't quite prepared waking up from my surgery to deal with it mentally lol.

it's funny how people are so different. I had hardly any pain at all from my bypass. My plastic surgery, on the other hand....

WOW!!!

I woke up and felt exactly the way you did. My hospital had extremely strict conditions regarding pain medication given.

4 hours ago, froufrou said:

I don't think it's just a matter of whether you have a high pain threshold. With my sleeve surgery, I had hardly any pain. With my Bypass, I woke up feeling like someone had ripped my left ovary out! I was in severe pain and was vocal about it!

I've had other surgeries too... breast lump removed (total breeze), gall bladder removed (open surgery), countless stent placements and removals after my gastric leak and none of them were as painful as the bypass. However, my thought is always 'this will pass - this is momentary'. That's how I personally deal with pain. Unfortunately I wasn't quite prepared waking up from my surgery to deal with it mentally lol.

@froufrou - you made me think of something (um besides fact that my surgery has changed this month from being a sleeve to being a bypass)....

I had 1 c-section after my cervix swelled shut (they don't tell you about that in childbirth class) from my 1st 'big-headed baby' & then a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) with my 2nd big headed child who because her head was turned slightly, decided she wanted to hang out in the labor process for 36 hrs. The pushing for 4 hrs actually hurt me more the next day than the 36 hr ordeal I still tease her about. I literally blew every muscle that had once been in my abdomen.

I actually have a 'high tolerance' in general; however, wise nurses have pointed something out to me that is common with patients with a high tolerance and that is thinking that we are trying to 'stave' off having to take any pain meds, we FAIL to ask for them in time so if the pain actually becomes worse than we realize we can handle, by that time everyone is trying to play 'catch up'.

They told me I would be far better off NOT trying to tough it out as the last time I was in ICU with internal bleeding and I'd wait as I don't like to take pain meds...but on a few days, I'd get swept under the pain tsunami.

Just something to think about for those of you who may be like me and maybe feel you should tough it out some...or for me, I worry that perhaps they get so used to ppl complaining about every minor ache & pain...and I don't want to be thought of like that. I should probably get over it.

I actually have more of a problem dealing with nausea than with pain..which is ironic considering I'm having WLS

I have to admit I'm concerned not just about meds given in the hospital, but I was both disappointed and cynically amused when I saw my surgeon had called in pain meds for me to take 'after surgery' and it was Tramadol.

I have had NO success for the past 2 yrs with Tramadol alleviating any pain for my chronic/torn up knees that are awaiting replacement. I guess it is part of the whole 'pain med crisis. I finally discontinued seeing the dr who prescribed Tramadol as it was simply not worth it. If it isn't going to help in any way, why take it?

Guess we'll just have to see? Seems like much pain is around gas. I'm going to have to pack some gas-ex and a heating pad I guess. Any other recommendations for handling gas pain?

It's so interesting how people are different. @KarenLR75, I have Tramadol for a bad back and without it, I might have had to quit my (desk) job. I take 100 mg with 10 mg of Cyclobenzaprine.

Ah, cyclobenzapribe is my Good Buddy- Flexeril- there have been times it has helped me from crawling on the floor likes a guerilla fighter when having excruciating leg cramps, but another" Isn't that odd?" my cats vet told me it did no more for him than eating Pez Candies. Life is more interesting when you realize GOD didn't create us "One Size Fits All" or " One Temperment is Necessary" if he also likes Variety who am I to compain if you don't see things the way I do. I'm ME , you are YOU, and I think it's so cool when we respect each other's point of view. No mirror reflects back the same for every person, does it?

10 hours ago, KarenLR75 said:

@froufrou - you made me think of something (um besides fact that my surgery has changed this month from being a sleeve to being a bypass)....

I had 1 c-section after my cervix swelled shut (they don't tell you about that in childbirth class) from my 1st 'big-headed baby' & then a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) with my 2nd big headed child who because her head was turned slightly, decided she wanted to hang out in the labor process for 36 hrs. The pushing for 4 hrs actually hurt me more the next day than the 36 hr ordeal I still tease her about. I literally blew every muscle that had once been in my abdomen.

I actually have a 'high tolerance' in general; however, wise nurses have pointed something out to me that is common with patients with a high tolerance and that is thinking that we are trying to 'stave' off having to take any pain meds, we FAIL to ask for them in time so if the pain actually becomes worse than we realize we can handle, by that time everyone is trying to play 'catch up'.

They told me I would be far better off NOT trying to tough it out as the last time I was in ICU with internal bleeding and I'd wait as I don't like to take pain meds...but on a few days, I'd get swept under the pain tsunami.

Just something to think about for those of you who may be like me and maybe feel you should tough it out some...or for me, I worry that perhaps they get so used to ppl complaining about every minor ache & pain...and I don't want to be thought of like that. I should probably get over it.

I actually have more of a problem dealing with nausea than with pain..which is ironic considering I'm having WLS

Good point. I typically consider myself high tolerance. I’ll write off all of my pain as over exaggeration. When I was pregnant with twins I was feeling what I thought were false alarms. My friend forced me to go to the ER as a precautionary measure and I was 8 cm dilated, had to be life flighted to another state for delivery with emergency C-section. My babies were hospitalized for two months in the NICU.

The next time it happened I had pain below my ribs. Again, I told myself I was over exaggerating. When I eventually got to the emergency room I had a blockage and gallbladder removal. I had emergency surgery and was hospitalized for eight days.

I now live with chronic back pain. I often wonder if I am under-exaggerating the pain I have. But I have learned to find my voice and speak up now. It was almost like I was scared to complain or bother anyone. It took two life lessons and almost endangering my children’s lives to learn to advocate for myself.

If you are in pain — speak up! No one knows your body but you can. Don’t let anybody tell you you don’t feel the way you feel.

On 7/11/2019 at 12:02 AM, KarenLR75 said:

I have to admit I'm concerned not just about meds given in the hospital, but I was both disappointed and cynically amused when I saw my surgeon had called in pain meds for me to take 'after surgery' and it was Tramadol.

I have had NO success for the past 2 yrs with Tramadol alleviating any pain for my chronic/torn up knees that are awaiting replacement. I guess it is part of the whole 'pain med crisis. I finally discontinued seeing the dr who prescribed Tramadol as it was simply not worth it. If it isn't going to help in any way, why take it?

Guess we'll just have to see? Seems like much pain is around gas. I'm going to have to pack some gas-ex and a heating pad, I guess. Any other recommendations for handling gas pain?

The only thing my doctor would prescribe is gabapentin for pain. The gas pain is the problem - 100%.

Gabapentin for not work for me at all.

I get there has been a climate change in the medical field due to the opioid epidemic. I had a bilateral mastectomy with expanders 8hour surgery and left with a bag filled with pain meds.

After this surgery, I was told it's either gabapentin or Tylenol. Luckily my discomfort didn't last long but - I was shocked.

Good lord! For those of you who had it rough ((hugs)). That bites!!! Seriously.

That wasn't my experience at all. I had very little issue with pain or nausea and was gone by 11am the next morning and onto living my best life. No real hairy complications throughout.

Just last week, I had a small issue with developing an internal hernia. Very trying until I was able to get back to my surgeon and her team. Then poof, 45 minutes later at midnight last Thursday it was fixed and again, no issue, no real big deal pain at all. Living the dream.

We are all so different. We have different pain thresholds and are all in different head spaces and that all influences how we handle extreme stress.

Hang in there. It gets better. And next year you won't recognize how far you've come.

Mine was the same way, the worst pain I’ve ever felt for the first couple days. Part of it for me was that I wasn’t on any narcotics, just extra strength Tylenol. It definitely felt like I’d been misled. I get how it can be isolating when it seems not many people have had the same experience.

On the bright side, I’m two weeks out now and can hardly even remember how bad it was. I think the lack of narcotics definitely sped up recovery. You’ll be back to feeling yourself faster than you think!