Had my surgery - 4 days out -pain!!!

Hello everyone; I had my surgery 3/24/04 and I was very nervous and I almost walked away. Well - I did not walk away and had my surgery and when I woke up I didn't feel a lot of pain, but after being transferred from recovery to my regular room - I sure did feel it!!! I don't even know how to explain the pain. My back is killing me. I had open RNY and my incision itself does not hurt. The doctor did not use staples, he used some white tape to keep it all together. But, even though my incision does not hurt , my insides do hurt. I know this sounds silly but whenever I get up I feel like my intestines are loose and they are going to come out. They kept me on the morphine pump at the hospital and honestly the morphine did not really take away the pain it just kep very drowsy. The second night in the hospital I developed a fever of 103 and my pulse was very high and I was sweatting as if I had just finished a marathon. I had my surgery at The University of Il therefore I had my regular doctor come see me and another group of residents follow up with my care. The residents asked me to cough and I tried (it's very painful to cough) and all that they could hear was phlegm. They told me to do some more breathing exercises and gave me breathing treatments (horrible stuff) I still have the taste of the medicine in my mouth. Well all of that is over and I am home fater 3 day hospital stay. Being at home is great but I am just not feeling good still with my back. I have vicodine but I have ti cut it in half so that it goes down and it helps with the pain. I have not found a method of sleeping yet and sometimes I look at my big bed and just want to throw myself on it, but I can't so I just stay on the couch with a bunch of pillows around me!!!! I want it to be one month already!!!! Thanks.

hon the couch is not the best place to be my DR. told me no couch or soft chairs. I pray that you feel better soon !!! Joy Campbell

Ask your doc for liquid loratab. Goes down easier than a pill and works great. I have a bit of back discomfort but by the end of 10 days or so it gets much better. Good Luck. Jen T

Edna, I am sorry you are hurting still. It will get better. Do you have a recliner to sleep in? I had been sleeping in the recliner for 2 weeks until I went into the hospital for my pancreas. I was there for a week but when I came home I was able to sleep in my bed Bethany AKA Da Offishal Riddler and Bertha 26 Days into NewPouch and feeling great! -28 lbs!!!! Yayyyy A riddle a day will keep the Marchers pounds AWAY!

Hi Edna, I'm glad you came through everything all right. I'm sorry you're hurting though! Remember that especially where the open procedure is concerned, the surgeons have to cut through the muscle wall to get inside so there's always that feeling of things floating around in there afterwards. I feel it on my left side even 3 and a half weeks post-op. Once the muscle heals again and you develop more muscle through exercise, everything in there will feel a lot tighter. My back hurt as well - even more so with my open gallbladder surgery several years ago. Your back muscles are overcompensating for the stomach muscles you can't use right now. Try a heating pad or some of those self-adhesive icy/hot type pads. And don't be afraid to utilize the pain meds you were given. I am still on the couch because I find it most comfortable. It "gives" a lot so that I can sink down in it - more so than the bed. Just do what makes you comfortable, and keep in touch! -Eve

I am sorry that you are having so much pain. Our surgery was the same day and we seem to be sharing alot of the same problems. My back is hurting terrible, but as one of the Marchers suggested, try using a heating pad, I know it has helped a little with mine and hopefully it will give you some relief too. I have been sleeping in my bed with alot of pillows and propping. The liquid pain killers might make things a little easier for you. You are right, that stuff in the breathing treatment is just plain nasty I had not heard of surgery with out staples or stitches, that is very interesting. Take care and hopefully this rough patch will pass quickly. Debbie The Shy One

Edna, I hope you feel better soon. I had lap RNY and my back hurts too. I'm a tummy sleeper and it's killing me to lay on my back all night every night. I think I try to turn over in my sleep and/or stretch because I wake up with pain in my abdomen area where I imagine the cutting was done. Walking may also help your pain, if you can do it. If I walked or stood too long it would start to hurt so I used a support pillow for walking and for standing in the first week. Best of luck to you. You will get through it - try to hang in there. Jen