Not sure about gas

I keep getting this stabbing pain in my left side. It feels exactly like a stitch in my side from running, etc, but it's been there since yesterday. I think it's gas, but I wanted to see if anybody else experienced anything like this soon after surgery.

Hey Janet.  Yeah, I'm getting pain on my left side.  It feels like muscle spasms around my ribs, front and back.  I'm not sure if it's the gas moving around, or what.  It's really uncomfortable, but the pain meds help.  I feel better when I'm laying down, but I'm trying not to do that too much.

I hope you feel better soon!

It's VERY common, especially on the left side, because that's where the larger incisions are (and the larger instruments go in).  It will get better over time, with movement and stretching and walking.  Keep in mind that the gas is not only inside your stomach (that's the easiest to get rid of), but also inside your abdominal cavity where it needs to work its way through your tissues.  Gravity will drive it upward, as well, but it WILL get better over time (give it a week or two at most).

Karen

OH gurl I feel your pain!! I to have the same stabbing pain on my left side. Everytime I get up and walk around it hurts but what I did find that does help is to stretch from side to side and all around and walk and rub that area and well thanks to my hubby he helps rubbing my back and rubbing this gas out. I hope you feel better soon. I have that pain plus my back hurts too sometimes...I am not sure if its the way I am sitting or laying down..but my back always hurt before the surgery too. Just the gas pains and things and moving differently around makes it hurt more.

The left side is where the large camera/instrument is inserted during the surgery.  It is not uncommon for that particular site to be more tender after the others have healed.

If it is gas, just walk and take some GasX.

It will be gone soon.

Good luck!

"The little red man stabbing you with a small hot poker" was how it was described to me....and that's how it felt, too!

Everyone else is right...it's generally where the larger instrument is placed, therefore a deeper and larger cut into the deep muscle is made inside.  Muscles take awhile to heal from that kind of stuff.  I had mine for about 2 weeks - it went away - and then at 3 week**** me again out of no where (i'm wondering if I just over did it uring that week, though) for another week or so.

Keep walking and taking some pain meds when needed (Tylenol is fine....) and rest when needed - but stretching and walking will help it.

Pam

Walk, walk, walk! It will pass. Tylenol helped

I swear I love this board! I always get really good fast answers. I'm so glad I'm not alone with this (I'm a worrier), but at the same time I feel so bad that everybody else had to go through this too. Pam's right, it does feel like a little guy with a red hot poker!