pain management...

Hi there... I would like to know if anyone who had surgery around my date...Oct 26th...is still experiencing pain in the abdominal area? I am still on liquid morphine and beginning to feel afraid that this isn't going to get better...I wake up in the middle of the night with the feeling that someone i*****hing me in the middle of my belly...it is awful...I have learned to deal with it, but just want to know if anyone else is in the same boat? I meet with my surgeon tuesday for my post-op...I sure hope she can give me some answers by then if it hasn't gone away. Jenn

Jenn, Hang in there, everyone is different. Did you call your doctors and let them know? My surgery was the 28th (Lap RNY) and seem to be doing fine. I would call before Tuesday if for no other reason than peace of mind. Take care, Dolores

Jenn, I had surgery the 24th and am having no pain you totally need to have that checked out. Marcey

Hey Jenn My surgery was the 17th. I was fine until day 6 post op and the pain I have is terrible. Mine is like spasms in my left side and feels like a hot poker. My surgeon said it is most likely due to where they stitched me inside and it can take up to 3 weeks for it to go away. Pain meds didn't help at all. I don't have the pain if I lay quiet. The pain is getting better but still there. Good Luck

I had my revision/hernia repair 3 weeks ago and am still taking a pain pill at night. My incision is still sore. Hugs, Dawn

DID YOU HAVE LAP OR OPEN? WITH LAP, THIS REALLY SOUNDS LIKE EXCESSIVE PAIN, ESPECIALLY BEING ON MORPHINE THE WHOLE TIME. WHEN YOU COME UP AGAINST THINGS LIKE THIS, CALL YOUR DR IMMEDIATELY ... NO REASON TO BE IN THIS KIND OF PAIN IF THEY CAN CHANGE YOUR MEDS TO HELP YOU ... &, YOU DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO CONTINUE SO LONG THAT IT CAUSES YOU MORE PROBLEMS. I HAD LAP & HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN ... DISCOMFORT ONLY. I'M 9 DAYS OUT & I FEEL SOME "TWITCHES" UNDER MY RIBCAGE. I NEVER WENT ON THE MORPHINE, BUT WHEN I GOT HOME, I AM TAKING 3/4 - 1 TEASPOON OF HYDROCODONE/APAP RIGHT BEFORE BEDTIME. IT IS JUST ENOUGH THAT I SLEEP LIKE A BABY & WHEN I WAKE UP I HAVE NO JOINT/MUSCLE PAIN (WHICH HAS BEEN SEVERE FOR YEARS) SO I CAN MOVE AROUND FREELY. THE DIRECTIONS SAY THAT I COULD TAKE 10-15 MIL 4-6 TIMES A DAY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS KIND OF PAIN MED COULD HELP YOU BUT IT'S WORTH A PHONE CALL TO YOUR DR TO FIND OUT. DON'T EVER SUFFER LIKE THIS, SWEETIE ... CALL! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Hi Jenn! (Fellow Buckeye...I grew up in Dayton) I had an open RNY on the 27th. I had been taking Hydrocodone at night, about 1 1/2-2 tablespoons at night at bedtime. It REALLY helped me sleep! I just stopped taking it last night. I also have twinging pain every once in a while. I have a binder. Do you have one? I pretty much wear it 24/7. I have to wear it when I am sitting up and moving around. My guess is that if you had a LAP surgery, you did not get one. I can't tell you how much this helps with the pain! The only problem I have had with it is I still have my staples until this Fri. and it is starting to irritate them. I hope your pain goes away soon! I am with everyone else, call your dr. HUGS! Kristine

Kristine... Hi...I did have open and have a binder...the docs gave me 2 so I can wash and wear at the same time. I don't have staples though..they glued me back together..kind of weird huh? I am glad though I don't have to get staples taken out and I hear it is much easier to shower without them. The hydrocodone has done nothing for me..I thought I would try it again last nite and was up all nite in pain. I called docs office again today and they were like you really need to be seen today...but since I live in columbus and don't have anyone to drive me I will have to wait till tomorrow. I just don't want to be admitted again. She did say that this level of pain isn't normal..so I am hoping that with tomorrow's visit something will be resolved...since I am still on liquid morphine I don't think there is anything much stronger to put me on. The doc mentioned a tens unit that is sometimes given to severe arthritis patients as a means to control pain. How are you feeling? Can you tell you have lost weight yet? My clothes are already huge on me and my undies well let's say I am going to have to buy some new ones...and it hasn't even been 2 weeks....a good feeling in the midst of the struggle... Jenn

Hi Jenn! That is weird that they glued you back together. It's good that you don't have to go through the staple thing. I had them when I had a c-section with my son. It's just annoying right now because they seem to be pulling. I haven't had any problems with showering, but I can't take a bath. I don't know if I would if I could, though. I couldn't even imagine trying to get out of the tub at this time. My dr. gave me two binders too. That's so nice!!! As for the pain, I am really glad that you called your doc.! She will know better than any of us. Your pain doesn't sound typical. I hardly have any pain right now, but I did up to yesterday. I had my surgery on the 27th. The pain I sometimes get now, though, is external because of my staples. I am sure everything is ok. They will be able to tell with a quick couple of tests I bet. I will be thinking of you! BTW...My MIL used to sell Tens units to dr.'s and chiropractors. They are awesome! I use one when I go down to her house in Charlotte. You will love it if they give you one! I am feeling somewhat normal today. It has been a tough road so far. I have not had any complications, but it's just a tough thing to get my head wrapped around. Know what I mean? It's a whole new way of life, that's for sure! So far I have lost 15.5 lbs. I am not noticing a huge difference yet. I am considered a "light weight" (5'8" and started at 271 now at 255.5) though, so I don't expect to see huge differences right away. That is SOOOOOO....great for you to have that great of a feeling of weightloss!!! Keep it up! Good luck tomorrow! I will be thinking of you! PS: Your dr. is not in Columbus? Hugs! Kristine

I TAKE 3/4 - 1 TEASPOON OF THE HYDROCODONE AT NIGHT AS WELL, MS KRISTINE ... I SLEEP LIKE A BABY &, THE GREATEST THING IS THAT MY JOINTS MOVE FREELY WITHOUT PAIN THE NEXT DAY, WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S BEEN DECADES SINCE I COULD SAY THAT. I HAD LAP BUT I DO HAVE TINY TWITCHES UNDER MY RIB CAGE ... NOT PAINFUL THOUGH. GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK