Question:
Has anyone had pain at navel after surgery?

I am posting this question for my sister who does not have internet access. She is 8 weeks post op, R&Y, lap. Three weeks after surgery she began to have a searing, hot pain on the left incision site. She has been to the ER three times, where they have performed a CT scan and other tests, to no avail. The doctor does not seem to be worried about this at all. He says it could be scar tissue developing. Now the pain is primarily centering in the navel then radiating out from there. She is comfortable while sitting; however, any other activity causes her to have this pain. The doctor informed her it would go away in about a month, but she is still in alot of pain, and she is extremely discouraged. She can not return to work, and she is unable to perform things of a personal nature because of this pain and limitation. Any feedback or comments are very welcome. I hope someone can provide an answer or direction. Thanking you all in advance.    — sheron H. (posted on August 31, 2001)

May 23, 2002
Hi I am 3 weeks post op. I had a lap rny and my gall bladder taken out at the same time.I too have been experiencing the same pain as you decribed your sister as having.Mine does not radiate from the navel but by to the left of my tummy.My Dr. told me to take Advill.I started to wear my stomach binder all the time which seems to be helping little.I didn't see a posting date on your question and am curious to find out how your sister is doing now cause I know EXACTLY what she is going through.(I almost passed out at Walmart yesterday scaring the whole checkout line).I am also going to Florida in 2 weeks and don't know how I will be able to handle a 21 hour drive.Please e mail me and let me know if she's doing better.Thanx~Tracy Dietz [email protected]
   — Tracy D.

July 10, 2003
I am so surprised that no one has posted on the type of pain that I have experienced since day one after the surgery. I had lap done and as soon as I tried to get out of bed to start my walking in the hospital, I started feeling a horrible pain left of my belly button. At first I thought it was the incision getting infected. But after comming home on the third day the pain was horrible. Ineeded help getting up and when I did I would HOWL with pain. After being home 3 days, I went back to the ER at the hospital where I was operated because I just knew something was wrong from the magnitude of this pain, it even hurt in my back, both back and front. So they did all the testings, a CAT scan with die inserted in my veins, blood work - everything - and did not find a thing. So the doctor said it was probably trauma pain to the area since all the tools used for the operation, some huge, were inserted through the small incision in that side. So I went home and it's been a month and I still have a lot of pain. It's hard to explain, it's not the same hot, searing pain as before but it's very uncomfortable where I am very limited to what I can do. I cannot be standing up or walking for more than a few minutes. At the grocery store I manage by leaning on the shopping car but still I need to get in and out as soon as possible. When I am sitting, it feels better but I always feel it. It's both the front and the back. I have an appt next friday with my surgeon, and I plan on getting to the bottom of this. Has anyone else suffered with this kind of pain. I am so scared that it will never go away.
   — YOLANDA R.

July 10, 2003
I went to the surgeon for my first follow up and I mentioned this pain. He said every patient ends up with pain there because of the size of the instruments as well as he said something about scar tissue forming and muscle healing. He said it will eventually go away.
   — horserider0146

August 3, 2004
I am 8 weeks RNY Lapro and I have the same experience. Doc said that I had strained my abdominal muscle. They also say this is normal because most of the surgery is done on the left side. Mine comes and goes. I take Tylenol and it controls the pain. Doc told me it will heal itself and go away with a couple of weeks to a month. I can not sleep on my side or tummy which i usually did pre-op. I wake up in the middle of the night to turn on my back because the pain is so bad. I also heard it may be scar tissue. My pain feels like stretching/burning and sticking. I am hoping this will heal itself real soon.
   — Diana W.