Pain post op/unsure if normal....please help.

Hello out there. I am Pam from Missouri, and I just had my rny on 05-05-08. Went back yesterday 05-14-08 for followup and got all the staples and drain tube removed. Thought I was doing okay, doctor said I was. However, this morning, got up and had a sharp pain in left side, below drain tube and below the incision spot, along the lower belly. When I sneeze, heaven help me. When I get up from the toilet, it really pulls that muscle. Just as sitting here, hurts a bit. I have tried walking more thinking I could walk out. Can't tell if it is a muscle pull or what. I am actually not doing too bad, but this has gotten me worried. Didn't have this problem until this morning. The incision below the drain tube was the longest and the sorest as was in the normal fold of my stomach. When the staples were removed I came unglued slightly, and the doctor stated it would take a while for that incision to heal due to its area. But, should I wait a few days to see if this is a muscle pull, or do I need to be concerned? Please help, anyone, and any ideas?

Pam first off if you feel something is seriously wrong or you notice bad drainage, puffyness or a smell call your Doctor, you won't be the first. Now take a breath, not deep it'll hurt! LOL you will have pain on your left side because this is the side they went in and the area where your surgery was at. It will be extremely tender, touchy, crampy and plain uncomfortable for a while. Remember things in there have been shoved around cut stapled and sewn. You have alot of raw nerve endings now and you just had a foreign object pulled out. It will heal. If any scars a year out that will be noticiable this will be the one. Don't get any sun on them for this is new healing tissure and it will permently discolor them. Maybe some warm heat, not hot and a support pillow will help. Chances are you will be fine. I am a year out in a few weeks and this is always the first question and concern. The next will be how good you lost for the first 3 weeks and than it stops for a week or so. No worries, once again your body is adjusting. You just lose inches. In all don't ever be afraid to call your Doctor!