sorry for the long thread.

Hi all. I’m a newbie. Thought I share my story and hope to get some helpful ideas on pain management.
I had the gastric sleeve done on 1/11/2021. So excited and everything seems to go smoothly. I have rheumatoid arthritis. So I was dealing with the gas pains and arthritis pains. Near the end of the week I started to notice pain in the major incision. It was red, warm, and tender, but I had no fever. My wife researched and she found a site said it could be just the healing process. The pain became more constant. No matter if I was moving or just laying down. I had a fallow up appointment on Tuesday so I figured I would bring up the issue to my doctor. Same issues of pain, redness, hard, tender to touch. Tuesday morning I woke up and noticed a white ring around the incision. Still had no fever though. Went to the doctor he said I had a bad infection and put me on antibiotics. I have seen him everyday since Tuesday to have the wound cleaned, packed and bandaged. This is the worst thing I feel like. I hope the antibiotics help and I can get some relief soon. I just want to start my journey so bad.

I hope you feel better soon and that your infection clears up fast . Congratulations on the start of your journey. The first few weeks are ruff they will get better and a few months from now you will forget about the pain it started with. I am six months out and I have very bad hips n arthritis along with a lot of herniated disc’s. I feel your pain. Hopefully you will feel better soon. Give yourself some grace n you will see tomorrow is another day into this very long journey ??

Update.

Had to go to the ER per Dr orders on Thursday Morning. Dr cut the incision open more and cleaned the infection, drained the area, and put draining tubes in. Having to do wound care. Dr office got in touch with Home Health to help changing the would dressing everyday and my insurance declined to cover cost. I was told b/c i paid cash for my surgery the insurance will not cover cost on Home Health and now I’m afraid they will also not cover the ER and operation I had to have. :(

Thank god for my wife. She is going to tough it out and help my dress my bandages every day.

I will be strong and not let this bump stop me from making my goals.