Understanding after surgery

Hi All, This is my fitst time here, but i need help in understanding or actually having someone explain if possible what to expect. I am only 3 weeks after surgery and i am a little confused. I am still in pain, not as bad as the first week but my side is still very sore and i can barely sleep. Is this normal??? I have read some of the other stories and i see that they are already excersizing, and i can barely sit in one position. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

Yvette, It really depends on the person. I was in A LOT of pain and could hardly move around for about 7 weeks. I know people who went back to work in 7 to 8 days! And it does not depend on the surgeon's skills, lap X open, etc; like many think. My surgeon's other patients have had very different experiences; although, they were operated on on by the same person... So it depends on how our bodies deal with pain and recover from trauma... Keep good thoughts in your head, believe in the power of suggestion/mind, and make sure post op depression is not getting the best our of you mentally and physically. Keep us posted, email me if you need to... I know I had a very difficult time post op and I am here for the ones who are having the same experience. The one thing I promisse you is that IT WILL PASS, IT JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER! Good luck hon, Vivi Flávia

Yvette, Yes, you are normal ! It sounds like you are going thru exactly what many of us went thru. Sleeping was so hard for me in the beginning but my body pillow saved me and I couldnt wait until I could lay down and get up without that tugging on my incision. Each of us deal with pain on different levels, but I wasnt completely comfortable with sleeping or regular activity for several weeks. As Vivi said, it does get better each day and walking and getting back into your normal routine can actually help you in your recovery. Welcome to the board and I hope that you can find some comfort in knowing that we are here to help in anyway we can. This board has been a safety net, sounding board and comic relief for me since I started coming here last Spring. Hang in there, you will feel so much better in a short time. Amy -137lb.

I definitely still hurt after three weeks!

I am also 3 weeks post op (RNY open). I have had alot of pain too. I was unable to sleep in my bed until a week ago. Lying flat hurt to much even with extra pillows. Now it still hurts alittle when I first lay down and if I move from side to side. But you said your side was hurting?....... I had alot of pain in my side 6 days after I came home. I hurt so bad and it was hurting when I breathed in and out I went to the ER. They told me I had a small pocket in my left lung collapsed and there was a small amount of fluid in it. But they sent me home and told me to keep breathing and walk....and it would get better. But even today I still hurt when I take a deep breath. Hang in there I believe it will get better ......I'm hoping soon !!!

The amount of pain differs because we all have different bodys and they the way they have to manipulate our insides varies from person to person. I had pain for about 5 weeks. They hand problems getting through my muscle (abd wall) and had to manipulate it. To keep me from a future hernia they had to stich the wall. I had pain on my right side for a long time. A heated pad seemed to finally help the pain go away. Trust us all the pain eventually gets better and goes away.

Thank you all for answering my question. This really helps me understand a little more about the surgery and the after effects....