Day 3 - Did anybody...

get the number of that truck that hit me - and then backed over me and hit me again?  Damn... All the nurses and Dr. Walton told me that today would be the worst day for the pain, but somehow I still underestimated what to expect...  All my incisions feel swollen and bruised and I seem to have gas moving EVERYWHERE inside my body - in all different directions. I know I can make it through the day - have already gotten in about 60 ounces of cold water, plus about 12 ounces of home made chicken stock (really much better than the dry, packaged kind from the hospital), plus it's almost time I can have another dose of Lortab.. (expect to have NO leftovers from this direction, Miss Ruth!) Just wondered - have the rest of you found Day 3 to be much more painful than the first two days?  I'm trying to keep moving around to get all the gas out...hopefully tomorrow will be better. John

John,  Definately day 3 was the doosey and then every day it gets a little tiny bit easier and better and all of a sudden you feel pretty good.  Just get through today and things should be looking up soon.  I always say one day at a time!   On day 3 I asked myself, "WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MYSELF!!!!"  It was the only time I doubted.  Hang on!!!!  Good luck, Diana

John - I was told the same thing - day three is expected to be the worse and then each day gets better and better after that. Day three for me was not worse than any prior day, then again, I had no pain after this at all, only some soreness (still have 1/2 bottle of Lortab left!!) - movement will definitely help with gas  - Great job on the liquids though, and you are right, home made broth is way better than the little packs from the hospital - my ever loving husband made me some the moment I got home and that was a lifesaver, because I liked warm liquids better than cold on my two weeks liquid stage...keep up the great work though, seems that you are doing really well - Anna

John, I never had any pain and never had to take any Lortab at all.  I think everyone's body just reacts differently.  I will say that the gas eased up a lot after the first few days.  Have you tried the Gas-X strips?

John, my  worst days were on days1 and 2........ and only cause they couldn't manage my pain ( which by the way was my fault cause of my high tolerance ) I was a different person by day 3, which was the day I left the hospital.... In fact I had to drive 5 hours back home ( to my moms ) and was doing great....and I have heard so many different things, so like Liz said, it's just different for everyone. I can say that I stayed on top of my pain medicine ( what the dr's call staying ahead of the pain ) even if your not hurting yet go ahead and take it for the first few days because it's harder once you START hurting to get rid of the pain..... So when the meds due, take it! That's what I did for the first 6 days then I was fine without it........ Good luck and it will get better! 

I had about 4 days of pain requiring Percocet after getting home, with each day a little less than the others. Didnt want to get hooked on them.  Just this last week I was finally able to lay on my stomach at night in bed.  It still feels bothersome if I turn just the wrong way so I have to be careful.  Are you able to sleep in bed yet or are you sleeping in your recliner?

Hang in there man.....the tough part is almost over.  Days 3 and 4 were the worst for me.  You seem to have gotten some good advice from the other posts, though.  I see where someone asked if you were sleeping in the bed yet.  Good observation.  I slept in the recliner for the first week.  It seemed to help with the pain AND because of the off and on sleeping patterns I developed in the first few days I didn't want to keep my husband awake.  All in all you're almost there....keep that Lortab flowing!  Every time you can have a dose, take one, at least for these first few days.

Keep your chin up....you're doing great!

It will get better dude, I promise. Thank goodness I never had any of those gas pains. You will be sore and bruised for a few weeks. You will also have alot of swelling around your abdomen. Tis to be expected. Hang in there and great job on the fluids. (((((HUGS))))), Rita

John, I'm sorry you're having a rough day. Each day for me was just easier than the previous .... but I attribute much of that to the wonderful elastic abdominal binder that I got. It held everything with a gentle hug and made everything so much more comfortable and it made it much easier to get up and down and be mobile. I never needed pain med once I got home except Tylenol one time at my husband's insistence. I hope you feel much better quickly. Oh, a hot shower will probably help you feel better, too.

I guess I'm lucky, because I haven't had any dibilitating (sp?) pain yet. I actually got to sleep on my belly last night, but when I moved it hurt a little bit, but nothing I couldn't handle. The only time I have to catch my breath because of the pain is when I have to get out of my car, a little corolla, it's a pretty low car, or when I have to bend over or kneel down. Other than that, I think I'm doing ok, I hope it will all get better for you, Have you been burping like a madman today? I have and it's driving me nuts lol!!