Question:
has anyone had a tummy tuck w/ hernia repair and if so, how much post op pain is invo

   — theresa M. (posted on April 15, 2003)

April 14, 2003
I had mine done 15 days ago. In addition to the TT and hernia repair, the surgeon also tried to do a revision. The surgery was easier - NO GAS PAINS, since they didnt use gas like they do with an RNY. The most pain I had was where they tried to do the revision/hernia repair the TT part didnt hurt at all. It wasnt as bad as the RNY pain wise - but I still took pain pills to sleep at night. In my opinion - it was hmmm about 90% less pain than the RNY.
   — star .

April 15, 2003
Unlike the previous poster, my opinion of the tummy tuck/hernia repair was the exact opposite! I thought the pain was 90% worse than my open RNY. I had the full abdominoplasty and have heard that there is a major difference between that and the panniculectomy. I guess just like WLS, it all depends on the person. Good luck! :)
   — Rachelle P

April 15, 2003
I had a panniculectomy/belt lipectomy with hernia repair during which the muscles were repaired. The pain was way less then when I had my open RNY. Like the first reply, I took my pain medication only at night so I could sleep comfortably. I was a bit sore and it took a while before I could stand up straight. I was able to drive myself to my first post-op appointment 1 week after surgery.
   — Pamela B.

April 15, 2003
I think it totally depends on how much work they actually do to your muscles. I had a very extensive tummy tuck with lots of work to the muscles and an incision much like the beltectomy like the previous poster but my experience was the opposite. I stayed in the clinic for 6 days post op. Several of those days I was still on morphine shots. When I went home on Toradol (sp?) and then I was on Lortabs for a couple more weeks. Because I was on pain pills for that long I was having someone drive me for those weeks. To be honest, I had no idea I was going to be out of commission for so long. I didn't even feel like driving for very long until week 5! I have to say that I think my experience was unusual as I 've only spoke with one other person since then (surg. done June 02) who had a similiar experience and she, like me, had a LOT of work done to the tummy muscles and considered her surgery very extensive as well. So... it depends.
   — Shelly S.