Surgery done

When you start this process it seems like it's going to take so long almost frustratingly slow. So it seems surreal to me that I had my surgery yesterday. All went well but I can't lie, I'm hurting. I anticipated the surgery pain as I've had a few before but the pain in my chest and shoulder, almost like the worst kind of heartburn, is something else. I had a hard time sleeping at the hospital so I'm glad they released me and I'm home already. Any tips on getting through the gas pain/surgery pain? I was sent home with Percocet-what did people mix it with once crushed because it tastes awful!

Congrats!!

I had mine on the 12th so i'm a weekish ahead of you.

Walking walking walking. It helps move the gas which helps with the pain.

Mine was prescribed as those plastic pills I can just take apart. I've been mixing it with a spoonful of yogurt and that covers up the taste and most of the texture.

Keep up with the Tylenol. It works best if you keep it at a baseline in your system rather than only taking it when you feel pain.

We've got this!

Thanks for that - good luck to you in your new life:) Can't wait to hear about your successes!

I'm glad your surgery went well. Now the healing begins.

I got a pill splitter and just chopped them up so I could get them in. You may want to try that.

As for the gas pain, keep walking. Walk around the house, up and down the stairs if you have any. Walking will help move the gas.

Keep ahead of the pain and stay comfortable by taking your pain meds on schedule. You heal better if you are able to keep the pain in check.

Welcome to the loser's bench. :)

I didn't need any pain meds after day two so can't help with that one but I do agree with everyone else that walking is key. Give it a few days and you will be amazed at how much better you are feeling.

Just reiterating what everyone else is saying stay ahead of the pain, they sent me home with a prescription for morphine so they were really tiny pills, they only give you 10 to take every 4-6 hours, thought oh no, that will never be enough, but after the first 36-48 hours at home, all I needed was Tylenol, but I too had the really brutal pain in my chest/shoulder from the air, once you get the air out that pain goes away.

I've also been lucky in that I can still swallow pills (especially as I take 15 a day).

Good luck in your recovery and welcome to the Loser's Bench.

So glad you are home - that's more comfortable when you are in your own surroundings. I think you already got great advice, just keep walking and that should help you alot. Welcome to the loser's bench!!

Walk, walk walk and when you think you're done, you walk some more. Drinking your fluids to stay hydrated is key. I found with the pain in the shoulder etc I would lay down and try to extend my arms as much as my stomach would allow. Laying down also allows the gas to move about and if it moves south even better.

I'm 4 days post op and still dealing with gas.

Thanks for the tips everyone, it's very helpful:)

Welcome to the loser's bench!!

Hopefully your pain has subsided enough now that you don't need the meds anymore. If you're still taking them, you may find you don't need to crush them. I never crushed a single pill. Even in the hospital, they gave me my pills whole, and it was fine. :)

The gas pain was the worst for me... in the shoulders. I found it stuck around for weeks, and nothing I did eased it. It was just time that eventually made it pass. Hang in there... it will pass. :)