How long did you need narcotic pain medication post -op

I'm 2 weeks post op from having RNY surgery and I am having some pain still in my abdomen from the incisions.  Just one incision in particular is bothering me really, in general it's just uncomfortable in my abdomen.  I am wondering if anyone else experienced pain 2 weeks post op and if so, how did you treat it besides taking hydrocodone, lortab or other narcotic-based pain medications?  I'm thinking of asking the doctor for a refill but I can barely find a pharmacy to fill this stuff without scrutinizing me as if I am some kind of unscrupulous liar.  For example my original Rx, which had all the promethazine and standard post-op surgery drugs, was rejected by no less than 4 local pharmacies; they just refused to fill the pain medication.  I think I need it but was wondering what else people take since we can't have NSAIDS and so my former go-to drug Ibuprofen is now off-limits.  

I never even bothered filling my pain meds prescription.  The only pain I had (and it was BAD) was from gas, and the pain meds didn't help with that anyway.  Gas-X strips helped some, and lots of walking.

I'm sorry you are having pain still.  Have you tried Tylenol?  There is a "Tylenol Arthritis" available that is fairly high dosage and extended release.  When my muscles and joints are bothering me too much to sleep, it has been helpful.  It  can be hard to find but has been worth it for me.

I was given liq tylenol with codeine for post-op.  It worked.

Now I just tough it out with Tylenol, which does next to nothing. Sorry - I wish I knew of a better replacement for Motrin, which was great for me. 

I used mine for just under a week. 

The pain you are feeling is normal if that makes you feel any better. I just live with it. I cringe when I try to bend over, and sometimes I can't stand for a long time. But everyday I feel just a tiny bit better, so I know it'll be gone soon.

That gas pain wasn't as bad with this surgery as it was with my gall bladder a few years ago. So I understand what the gas pain can do. But I bet you are feeling your insides healing more than anything else. I describe it as when you drink water and then run and get that stitch in your side... 

Hang in there! Sorry you are still hurting :(

Finished taking mine the day of surgery.  I only ever take narcotics for unbridled pain, never for discomfort.  This is exactly how people become addicts.  Not worth the risk to me.

I've seen many people on here, panicked because they are struggling to get their pain medication prescribed or filled.   No different to meth or heroine addiction at that point.  

Had a little pinchy pain from my staples (my final and fourth surgery was open and I had to be cut from sternum to pelvis) for six weeks when the staples were finally removed. For three days following that last surgery, I was on morphine in the hospital. But then it was just Tramadol. Came home with about 10 Tramadol caps that I had to crush and dissolve in water. Used them only at night and Liquid Tylenol during the day for about 10 days. Then, nothing.

I had my RNY open (back in the stone ages, lol) but I didn't find the pain to be unbearable at all. If I remember right I think I basically took 1 pill about an hour before bed for the first 3-4 nights to get some sleep then put them up and never took them after that. 

Hope you find some relief from the discomfort. Hopefully most of it is gas and that will pass (so to speak) pretty quickly.

Very best of luck with your continued success!!!!  Rich  

I only took it for a couple days, then I switched to Tylenol.  I didn't want to risk getting addicted.  I didn't feel the pain was bad enough for narcotics...HOWEVER, everyone is different so you have to judge that for yourself. ;)  Good luck and I hope you feel better!

I never took any pain meds once I left hospital.  Later on, if I had any pain I would take Tylenol.  Hope your pain subsides soon!

Thanks for your responses everybody.  I was given another whopping dose of 60 count Norco.  Not sure if I need all that or if I want it lying around the house, but my surgeon had no reservations about prescribing it.  I find that I do not absorb these properly after having the gastric bypass surgery.  One 10mg used to knock me out so hard that I wouldn't want to touch the stuff before surgery... now it's like, 80 percent just goes right through me.  The pain is getting better, although it feels a little "strange" in there.  

I did learn about dumping syndrome the hard way a few nights ago.  I ate one piece of salami once the soft food stage of my diet kicked in.  Jesus lord, never again.  I thought I was experiencing the second coming of Christ with all the heart palpitations, cold sweats, hot flashes, racing thoughts... the bad thing, is it hit me 4 hours after eating it.  There is no choice anymore , but that's what made me seriously fat and ill to begin with.