It seems like everyone is doing okay on Tylenol or just not having much pain at all after the surgery...so why do I feel like crap? Tylenol isn't helping and I can't seem to sit or lie down in any position to get comfortable, it's just constant. I don't normally sleep on my back so it hurts when I try to. I called my doctor earlier and he wouldn't prescribe any stronger pain meds because he said nothing will get rid of ALL the pain, and that I should expect to have pain after a surgery.

Please tell me I'm not the only one in misery

My surgery was yesterday and I am not a happy camper. I have liquid vicodin that is just about taking the edge off but it is still pretty painful to lie down and get up. I am lucky because I don't have the shoulder gas pain but I feel like I've been punched in the stomach repeatedly and stabbed five times! But it is better than last night so hopefully tomorrow will be better. No advice except to give your misery some company.

I had intense pain after surgery and they put me on Lidocaine patches. The patch has numbing medicine and it helped to take the edge off. I hurt for quite a awhile. Everyone reacts different to surgery. Don't feel like a wimp or put yourself down, you have been through lots and you need to focus on getting through it. Keep hanging in there.

You are absolutely NOT alone. The first 3-4 days were a real kick in the pants. I don't know what med your doctor prescribed for pain but I had liquid vicodin and it managed the pain very well for me. Forget about sleeping laying down in your bed. I tried every night, but it wasn't until night 6 that I could actually lay down. The next two nights I began to sleep on my side (preferred positon for me).

Honey, it just takes time. I was a little surprised at how sore I was, but it gets perceptively better with each day. If you do not have vicodin or something comparable from your surgeon, perhaps your PCP would prescribe something. We have the technology to manage pain and we should. That is actually the creed and part of the patients rights at most hospitals!

Good luck - Let us know how you are.

Not to worry, the pain is still here on the 3rd/4th day. The nurse said it's b/c of the cutting into the muscle. Well, my abdominal muscle feels like someone's punching bag. The liquid Loratab works for a couple of hours, but now that I am out of the hospital, I only take it at night. The liquid Tylenol during the day helps me forget that I have scars. As a singer, I really miss being able to take really deep breaths. While in the hospital with that left shoulder pain and not taking good breaths - omg, I thought I was going to scream bloody murder! But I couldn't - b/c that would hurt, too! The lady who waxes my eyebrows says "You big baby!" cuz I cry when she rips off theat tiny strip of fabric. Uh, yeh, pain is pain and it's relative.

Thanks for the replies, all--I'm still having problems getting comfortable, but it does seem to be easing up a little bit. I went for a walk this morning and I overdid it, because I hurt even worse after that, but it calmed back down.

Just have to bear it, I guess. If I'm still in a lot of pain tomorrow, I'll call my regular doctor and ask for a prescription.