Question:
I am having open RNY this Friday and am scared to death about the pain.
I've heard that the pain when you first wake up is very bad and I know they provide medications for pain relief, but exactly how bad is it? Is it all abdominal, chest, or what? Any help would be great, I'm scared to death. — PolarBearGod (posted on May 26, 2003)
May 26, 2003
Hi Richard. First off, Calm down. I was like you, I had never had major
surgery before and prior to my surgery I was really concerned about the
pain. Now it is different for everyone, but for me, it was like I had done
a thousand sit ups and my stomach muscles were upset. All in all not too
bad considering that someone had been inside me. They will give you meds to
help. I promise if I can do it then anyone can. Prior to my surgery I just
told myself that the pain would only be temporary and that the end result
was worth it. I think you will be surprised at the pain level,and how well
you can take it. I was. Open RNY 11-11-02 down 140lbs
— dkinson
May 26, 2003
I had my open RNY on 12/18/02, when i woke i really did not have much
pain...basically i wanted the damb tubes out of my mouth and nose. you
will have a wonderful machine that you will control, it will take away any
pain you have. alex
— Alexandria D.
May 26, 2003
Your anxiety is worse than the actuality. I agree with Donny, calm down...
I wasn't in much pain at all...alot of discomfort is more like it.
Learning to re-eat and vomiting is worse than the pain. Remember, pain
goes away and gets better every single day, hour, minute, second.
Relax...take deep breaths...picture yourself in your happy place if you're
in pain. Most importantly...be happy you're brave enough to do this!!
Smile!!!
— msmaryk
May 26, 2003
Please relax. The pain you experience will be immediately controled. As
soon as you wake up, there are nurses there to make you very comfortable
immediately. I had my surgery 2 weeks ago and I feel wonderful, and I
barely remember the pain at all. Don't let anxiety get the best of you.
Enjoy your journey, God will take care of the rest. God bless you!
— Happy I.
May 26, 2003
Hi Richard- Lucky you! On your way to your new life:O) When I had gall
bladder removal the old-fashioned way, It was excruciatingly painful at
first. My advice would be to have someone with you, especially immediately
after surgery. Talk with this person before surgery about asking you
questions "are you in pain?", "Does this medication seem to
be helping the pain?" "Are you cold?" , etc., because you
may not be able to communicate very well. In other words, have someone
there to anticipate your needs and advocate for you. When I had the above
mentioned surgery, the nurses were so MEAN to me about pain control,
sometimes when the subject of that surgery comes up in conversation, it
still brings tears to my eyes. One nurse even called me a "pain in
the ass" because I was worried about my morphine drip making beeping
noises:o( I was very glad to have my brother with me. However, I think that
was a unique experience, and I have never been treated so poorly during
subsequent surgeries or hospital stays. Best of luck to you, and please
update your profile when you get to the other side :o) Mea
— Mea A.
May 26, 2003
Richard, I had my open 12 days ago and I was not in that much pain.
Besides you control your pain medication yourself (morphine pump). Like
that say no pain no gain or should I say no losing. I have lost 32 lbs. in
12 days. Good luck to you.
— Gene F.
May 26, 2003
Richard,
I won't lie to you - when I woke up I was in pain. The nurse came over
and gave my my pain button and helped me push it - and from then on the
pain was very manageable. It really wasn't as bad as some other surgeries
I've had and I've even had headaches that were worse. The pain is in the
abdominal area. Yes, there is pain but it is manageable and before long
you will even forget about it.
— Patty_Butler
May 26, 2003
Richard, I wouldn't stress too much about the pain. I had open RNY last May
and honestly, I really did not have that much pain. When I first woke up
(I barely remember) I was concerned about the tube still in my throat...and
they just pulled it out in a snap. Then I felt more bloated and SORE
rather than in pain. I agree with the previous poster...I've had much
worse headaches as far as pain level. The thing that hurt me the most was
my BACK, and that was uncomfortable for about the first few months (I have
a bad back as it is). As far as my RNY pain, I felt nothing inside at the
area of my stomach at all. I was all bound up in a sheet (that's how
Kaiser in So. San Fran "binds" you), so I could barely jostle my
incision. I would say I had SOME moderate abdominal muscle pain from the
muscles the doc cut (like you did 1000 sit-ups), my incision was kind of
sore like a bad cut on your skin would be, but searing pain that took my
breath away?....no, nothing like that. Plus after the nurse took my
breathing tube out, she placed my hand on my PCA pump and I started pumping
away. Even though the morphine eventually made me nauseous, it really
blocks out the pain well...well enough that you'll be up and walking (they
make you) within a few hours post-op. Please don't worry too much about
the pain, because you barely get a chance to experience any before they
start doping you up with morphine, which intravenously, is just about
instantaneous.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 26, 2003
Richard, Know that whatever comes your way you will survive and each day
will be better. When I awoke in recovery the tube in my throat was already
gone and my surgeon does not use a nasal-gastric tube so I was pretty much
tube free. I hurt so they gave me my first dose of pain meds which helped
some. I won't lie I hurt like hell but what made it tolerable for me is it
wasn't sharp pain. It was like I had done a thousand ab crunches. Just
very sore muscles. My surgeon makes us get out of bed two hours after
surgery and that is a pain I won't forget for a long time because no one
would help me. They want you to learn to get out of bed on your own. It
was awful but I did it. By the next day I was getting out of bed on my own
all the time. I had a PCA and could give myself morphine as I needed it,
however I did not use it as much as I could because it would knock me out.
So I would typically use it before I wanted to get out of bed to help with
the pain.
<p>The pain be tolerable - trust me. They will do what they have to
for reasonable pain control. Everyone also has a different degree of pain
tolerance so you might only have minor discomfort. Each day will get
better!!! I pushed my cart of stuff out of the hospital 3 days later while
they pushed my mom in the wheel chair, so it does get better. Hang in
There!!!!!
— zoedogcbr
May 26, 2003
Relax, tell yourself that you will be fine and and that you wont let the
pain bother you. I had open RNY 4/24 and I had no pain, and I didnt use
but 1 dose of morphine, and they took the pump away the nest day I didnt
use any other pain killers and I didnt fill the Rx for vicoden to use at
home. My incesion is from my breast bone to my navel/with 49 staples. I
went home on the 3rd day, and we stoppped at crackerbarrel and my family
ate I drank water. I got home I went out in my yard and loved my dogs and
Thanked GOD for seeing me through this. I would do it again every year for
me it was no big deal. I had, had a root canal a few years back that was
ungodly painful never again for that. Keep a positave outlook and get up
out of that bed and walk asap, and know you have just started a wonderful
new life its worth every minute, Good luck and God bless
— wizz46
May 26, 2003
Ok it's gonna hurt. Really hurt. But it doesn't hurt forever. I also
think it depends on where your weight is distributed on your body. Most of
my weight is in my hips so it was absolute hell trying to lift all of my
weight. But I have a friend who is top heavy she wasn't in that much pain,
her pain lasted for about a week and she had no trouble getting up. It
hurts but I've had worse pain. Don't worry about the pain, you will do
fine. You're in my prayers. Best wishes:)!
— Kimmie C.
May 26, 2003
The first thing I remember when I woke up was seeing my family's faces and
telling the nurse it hurt, a few seconds later I was out again and don't
remember it hurting so bad after that. I had an open RNY. There was some
discomfort for a few days but it wasn't bad. I even quit taken the pain
meds on the 4th day and I never filled my prescription for them when I got
home. You'll be fine and look back on it and say "It wasn't so
bad" Good Luck!
— Lora T.
May 26, 2003
Remember, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT! With that said, I was blessed with no
pain what so ever. I was sore like when you havent exercised in a long
time and you get that crampy feeling in your muscles the next day. As soon
as I woke up my nurse was right there with pain meds but I turned them down
and went right back to sleep. When I woke up the second time, she was
right there with the needle in her hand so I took it even though I didnt
need them and out I went again. They know that most likely you will need
meds and are ready to give them to you so dont stress out over it. Like
others have said, you will not hurt for very long and soon it will be a
distant memory. Take care and good luck. ~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down
90+
— Siddy I.
May 27, 2003
They will have pain meds available for you immediately. You are worrying
about something that you probably won't even remember eventually (that's
how minor it is). The vast majority of patients need pain meds immediately
which made me wonder why they just don't give them to you but.. I trust
enough that they know what they're doing and have good reasons for not
giving them to you once you're awake. The meds work FAST and you'll be
fine!
Best wishes!
— Diane S.
May 27, 2003
I was lucky in that I had an epidural so I woke up with NO pain at all.
Now, when they took it out on day 3, OMG! It hurt but the pain meds helped
immensely. I just had my TT on March 31st with breastlift and batwing
removal at the same time. Since I now knew what pain is, I was more scared
this time since I wasn't going to have an epidural this time. Again, good
drugs at home were a Godsend! Don't worry, you'll be just fine and it will
be a distant memory soon. Good luck on Friday!!
— Kris T.
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