POST OP PAIN

I had bypass surgery 11 days ago. I came home from hospital 2 days after and pain was bearable and I was feeling better each day until 5 days after I was feeling a strong pulling pain on the left side of stomach. My Dr. Is telling me that it is my body reacting to my nerve endings growing back and thats why the pain wasnt there right after surgery. He since has given me shots of steriods and pain medication. Nothing is helping and the pain is always in a different place and unbearable. Did anyone else have this experience?

Danielle, The pain was intense and the more stories I read about how others were feeling wonderful, the more I got discouraged because all I could think about were second thoughts and how much I wondered if this was the right thing to do. I'm a nurse and thought that I was ok to go back to work on 5/31/08, which was only 12 days out.....big mistake. I guess I never thought of the fact that I just had major surgery. The left sided pain does get better. I actually don't hurt all the time now, only sometimes. I am experiencing the pulling pain on the left side of my stomach, but I am 21 days out as of 6/9/08. It "pulls" even when I breath. My doctor says that I can take Tylenol or Ibuprofen as the pills are small enough to swallow. I'm not sure if the pain goes away as I have only experienced the "pulling" x2days now. Have you tried a heating pad? If not, try that. See if it helps a little.

This happened to me too... for me it was on my left side under my boob...it was a sharp pain that felt like a needle was inside trying to push out... its very painful at times. It also kinda feels similar to a pinched nerve... my pain didn't start untill 3 weeks out and has gone away this past week... I hope it goes away for you soon... Lauren

i don't know what to tell you.... My surgery was 5/16. I left the hospital on 5/18...and went shopping on my way home. 5/19 the day after discharge was the last day I took paid meds, and one day 5 I drove myself to the support group meeting. Maybe i am the exception. the only minor pain I have is if I lie on my side.

Yes, you are not alone! I had RNY on 5/14 and almost a month out I still have a touch of that pain here and there. Mine is also on the left side of my abdomen. It was the worst the first 2 weeks, week three was a turning point and as I am in week 4 it's just a now and then thing. This too shall pass! Hang in there...you'll feel better soon!

Don't forget that most of the work done inside was done on the left side of your body! It has been a few days since you posted, how are you feeling now? I was lucky and had very little post op pain once I was a few days out, but I did get random achy-ness on my left side every now and then for a couple more weeks. Shells

I have good and bad days, today being kind of tough. But the pain is no longer a pulling feeling it is now just bad soreness. I am no longer taking the pain meds so I guess thats a good sign. But I am real eager to get back to work. Thanks and good luck!