pain

Hi Just wondering, I had open RNY on Tuesday. I know it's only been about 5 days, but I still have pretty significant pain. I sorta feel like my liver is inflammed and is in the way. I am taking my pain meds ( oxycodone elixir ) but it doesn't do too much. When did the pain start to significantly start to back off for those that had the open procedure? It's starting to get me down a bit. I did expect pain, but maybe not this much at this point. Thanks for the input! Heather

Hey Heather, Glad to hear you are home and doing well. When you get a chance, I would love to hear what you thought of your hospital experience. I just got my survey and can't wait to fill it out. I don't know where you are sleeping, but I right away slept in my bed, because I felt that it helped with the pain, because it forced me to get up and down and the more I did that, the more I got used to it and the pain subsided. Use the elixer every four hours, I used it until the bottle was almost done. I think it was seven or eight days home before I stopped and when I did stop, I didn't miss it. You have only been home a couple days, so give it this week to let the pain happen, because you are going to have it. Give it time. Get up and walk around the house a bunch of times a day too. You are going to be great!! Charlotte is so good, so if you need to call her. I think I called her a couple of times my first week. Everything you go through the next week is going to be par for the course. My incision leaked after the first couple of days I was home, I called Charlotte freaking out, however, if I had looked at my manual I would have known it was common and normal. So take a look at that again, I have used it pretty consistently since I have been home. This week coming up is the toughest, and once you can get through it, the rest of the recovery will be easy. Take care. Phyllis

Heather, I don't have any advice for you because I have not yet had the surgery, but I just wanted to write to show my support. I hope things get easier soon. Hang in there!

Hi Heather, I didn't experience the level of pain you are speaking of, the incision hurt of course and some aches and pains on the insides but nothing I needed pain meds for past one day home. The more you walk the better you will feel, I know it probably doesn't make sense but I came home walking a mile or more a day and I really believe it helped me recover quickly. I am almost 7 weeks out now and have a pain in my right side my doctor says is all the stitches in my abdominal wall, you get different pains as you go. It should get better soon, but get up and walking you will feel so much better. Good Luck, Heidi

That is good to know about the stitches inside. I forgot about those. I was getting these little pangs in my belly, and of course freaking out about it because I have turned into the biggest hypocondriac since my surgery Phyllis

Heather, pain is normal. Intense pain is NOT normal. Call the Dr office this morning and talk with them. Peter

Hi Heather, I'm almost a month post-op and it took a good week for me to feel better with the staples & the soreness. However if you're in great pain, your safest bet is to call your Dr. for advice/feedback. I walked as much as I could tolerate from the day after surgery & after I got home...about 1 mile. It REALLY helped I also did some deep breathing as well. Both worked well for me. It will get better! Hugs, Mickey