Question:
concerned about the pain, I did not experience any pain for the WLS

I had an epidural and experienced O pain, My dr sent me home with hydrocodone which i never took. However I had a absessed tooth a while back and took one , and ended up in the emergency room within the hour, with severe abdoninal pain. Of coarse i had to experience this one more time before I realized what was causing the pain. Now I am concerned about the pain from the TT. i am afraid to take anything but Tylenol because of the severe pain.I would like to have some comparisons of the TT and hernia repair to the Open WLS. Pain and recovery, I am planning to take off for 4 weeks from work. Thanks this is of great concern to me.    — STAR W. (posted on August 9, 2002)

August 9, 2002
I had an epidural with my tummy tuck and hernia repair. The pain was not nearly as bad as it was with my open Rny. If you experienced little or no pain with your rny then you are extremely lucky. I think my pain with my open was a 10 and with my tummy tuck it was a 6 or 7. So stick with the epidural and I'm sure you will be fine. As far as time off I took 6 weeks but probaly could have gone back in 4. Good luck to you.
   — susan V.

August 9, 2002
I had the lap rny but I think it was MUCH more painful then the tt. I just had my tt done on Wednesday and didn't have half the pain of moving around as I did with the rny. I didn't take any pain medication for the tt until yesterday. He put me on vicodin and told me to take them every 4 hours WITH food and I shouldn't have any problems. So far, no problems with pain. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate the tt (I also had liposuction on my ams) at about a 4.
   — Patty H.

August 9, 2002
Star, I have not had any experience with the tt yet, but I am with you on the hydrocodone. I was in the ER the next evening after going home, and then back in UK for 4 more days. I was told to use Tylenol Arthritis Strength. Most narcotics have the upset stomach/constipation side effect. I would ask that the doctor give you a good pain killer shot before leaving the hospital/surgery center and start on the Tylenol "religiously" about 2 hours later. Get it under control and keep it that way. I have heard mixed response on the pain level issue. Good luck!
   — Tina B.