I am having my surgery done on Thursday in Monterey, Mexico. Can I use Vicodan after surgery or do I need to use the pain killer that the Dr. perscribes?

You may not even need a pain killer..all I used was liquid tylenol

My pain was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be and haveheard the same from many others.

Everyones pain threshold is different , I know but you may be happily suprised that your pain is not what you expected.

You may have a hard time getting the vicodin down due to the swelling in the area. I would definately take what your Dr. prescribes and if it is not enough for you then speak to him about something stronger.

Heck, my dr prescribed Vicoden! Liquid Vicoden and it was faaaaabulous. So many people here said they hardly had any pain. That was not me. I had pain. LOTS OF PAIN. And I'm kind of a weenie about it so I took what the dr gave me. I would think your dr would give you something?

The best advice I got (from my sister) is to stay ahead of the pain. Take the meds BEFORE you get into too much pain. You will heal better and more quickly if you are not miserable so if you hurt, take the meds.

Good luck and report back to us how it goes!!!

All I needed was what the doctor prescribed...tylenol liquid with codiene! I had such little pain that I walked 2 blocks to a block party 2 days after surgery!

I could use all the help I can get on pain. I was banded today and unfortunaletly got stuck in the hallway in a wheelcahir for 1 hr then in the xray room on a flat service for 1 hr waiting for nmy baruim swallow. so I got behind the 8 ball on management. Does anyone know how to tell port pain from gas. I NEED HELP thanks.

My gas pain was all in my shoulders for the first 4 or 5 days, I chewed gas-x tablets and they really helped.I did take liquid regular adult tylenol for pain and to reduce swelling. My "real" pain was also minimal I took a grand total of 4 doses of Liquid Tylenol with codine and that was at bed time to help me sleep, that was when I had the most pain. (trying to lay down) I am a restless sleeper and that was a bad thing the firest few days after surgery. I discovered that a small throw pillow from the couch sort of wedged under my tummy helped with the night time discomfort. I am happy to sat that I am sleeping like normal again and I feel really good. I am 11 days out now. It does get better every day. ~Mandy

My pain was mostly in my shoulders too. I tend to have neck problems and it really threw my neck out. I went to the chiro--which did NOTHING. Finally I went and got a pedicure because for $20 one of the girls will rub your shoulders and neck while another is working on your tootsies. Boy--talk about decadance! I was in heaven.

If I had it to do over I've have a massage lined up for 3 days after the first 3 days.

I also had my husband "burp" me like a baby, it really did help. I had him patting me on the back again a few nights ago after refried beans. A heating pad would have been great if it were under 100 degrees here in the Chicagoland area. But it was waaaay to hot to even consider a heating pad. ~Mandy

I was given a supply of pain killers from Dr. Ortiz but didn't feel I needed them. I was then told that they were also an anti-inflamatory and I should still take them to minimize the swelling in my belly. If you don't take pain killers make sure you are taking something for swelling. I had a lot of swelling. While I have lost over 20 pounds already I have only lost 1 inch in my waist since I am still a little bloated. You also can't do any ab exercises for the first 6th months until your port is fully healed and attached to the muscle so I will stick with bike riding, walking and water aerobics.

thanks everyone for their help. I spoke with the docs last night apparenty when I got stuck in a wheel chair for an hour waitng for xray my muscles went into spasms around my port which is what was causing the severe pain. taking meds and feeling better today.. again thanks for the help