Home from the hospital, and need your advice...PAIN!

Hello, I had my surgery on 2/14, and I was relased from St. Francis yesterday 2/18, and I's so thankful for all of your support,and Deborah - thank you so much for the gift basket. it was so heart warming, and I really appreciate it. As of yesterday, my pain was there, but I only noticed it at a minimum as I had that powerful pump at the tip of my fingers, plus the bed bar and side braces helped alot when getting out of bed. They took me off of the morphine pump yesterday about 10am. I didn't leave the hospital until about 3:30pm, waiting in signatures, etc. During that time my stomach was hurting, my back started to ache...blah, blah. Now it seems when I get up, move over, even just turn a little, I can feel the pain where my incision/staples are and it's EXCRUCIATING, also kind feels like it's an intense burning/ripping. If I lay day, I'm okay. Is this normal?? When will this go away? The aftercare paperwork says that I should continue everday normal activities, and there is no way, I would be crying like a baby due to the pain. OMG, it makes me feel like something is wrong, but the doctor said it's the soreness from the surgery..... Also, I have not have a bm yet... Thanks, Melissa

Hi Melissa, Everyone is different with their pain, While in the hospital they always asked whet my pain level was on a scale of 1-10, mine was usually 3-5. I was taken off the pump Sat afternoon and released Sun a.m. for the pain I was given Tylenol with codeinne(sp) and it worked fine for me. Thats what they sent home with me. You havent had a bm yet? I was given stool softners, the barium sets up like concrete. They told me to expect loose stools. And yep I did....fun As of this minute I haven't taken any pain meds since 10 this morning and I'm just now starting to feel notice it... Huggssss Tammy

Melissa, I had mine on 2/3. They switched my pain med from the morphine pump to liquid loratab on the 4th and it worked very well. I went home on the 5th and used my pain medication quite regularly. I could not lay on my sides for the pain so I added lots of pillows and slept propped/laying on my back in bed for the first 3 nights and then gradually tried my side. I wore my binder for the first week home and it helped alot. I had mine done by lap so my left waist was my real pain area. It is still tender at 2 weeks post op but it does get better every day. I called my Dr. about the bloating and they had me take 2 ducolax to flush my insides and it really helped. I now take one cod liver oil capsule at night and I have a regular bm daily and feel good. I would check with your Dr. and see what they say would be best for you. As far as doing regular activities....sheesh...I am not!! I do what I can and know when to rest and take naps. I get my walking in and my main focus has been on making sure I eat properly and get my protein and liquids in. I am taking this time to relax and regenerize my body to make me the best possible. Do not expect too much of your self too soon! Go about things at your own pace and you will know when to do more. And when you had a bad day....just remember.....tomorrow wiill be another day and a better one! Hang in there Sweetie! Marianne

we are each so diff, i used the pump one time was all i needed and only used it then to keep from having any pain..i am sure each day will get better.....

Never had the pump just shots in my IV then liquid loratab... I was sore but wasnt bad but then I had had 2 c-sections and a hysterectmy to compare it too and it was a breeze compared to them. Are you really sore or are you IN PAIN??? that is a difference.. Throwing up?? Keep an eye on things and if you do get worried call your nurse.. that is what she is there for too.. to reassure you. You gotta keep moving... dont just lay in one posititon.. moving gets rid of the soreness and moves the gas... keep sipping water, protien.. Linda

Melissa, Call the Dr. for liquid loretab it will make you feel much better and you'll be able to get around more. The secret I found was the more I moved around the better I felt afterwards. Julie R.

I agree with the rest....call the doctor and get some pain meds (loquid lortab os what most of us got)....I took that stuff for the first week...especially at night to get a good night's sleep. And I avoided anyone who tried to make me laugh...mean evil people