Question:
I am 3 weeks post open rny and having severe pain left of my incision.

First...I have found the most wonderful information here, and hope to return frequently. Your site address was given to me by my surgeon. Now, my question...The pain is from my incision, to under my left breast. It is a pulling, tugging pain, and is excruciating when I cough, sneeze, or get the hiccups. It also hurts to push myself up in a chair. It hurts to eat or drink, even though I am following my diet to the letter. I don't use a straw, and I have eliminated milk due to lactose intolerance (temporary, I hope!) I am not constipated, and have a watery bm about every other day. I am walking about 3/4 of a mile daily, although not too briskly! The painful area seems to be a little firmer than the rest of my stomach and is also painful on the skin surface. My incision has healed beautifully, with no drainage, and my JP drain hole has healed as well. Is this common? Thanks so much for your time... Laura Ely,...minus 28# in 3 weeks!!!    — Laura E. (posted on May 9, 2000)

May 9, 2000
Congrats on the 28 pounds! WTG! As for the pain, I am two weeks out and have something similar ... my doctor tells me it's the staple line in my stomach. Sometimes it hurts more than others, but I would check with your doctor to be sure ... I also pulled a stitch in my abdomen last week trying to do too much which caused severe pain for a few days.
   — Beth B.

May 9, 2000
Laura, I am having the exact same problem. I have been suffering with this pain for 4 weeks now. I was diagnosed with a bladder infection and I took the full course of Bactrim which aleviated the pain. One day after I finished the medication, the pain came back. I returned to the doctor who gave me Cipro this time. I will finish this medication in two days but, this time the pain did not go away. I don't belive I have been properly diagnosed because I don't have any of the normal symptoms that patients with bladder infections experience. No back pain, No urgency, frequency or painfull urination, No fever and No pain in my pelvic area. They have based their diagnosis soley on a high white count and bacteria in my urine. I am beginning to get scared so, I made another appointment to see my doctor as soon as he returns from vacation. Please let me know if you hear anything different. Thanks
   — Nan M.

May 9, 2000
I am 8 wks. post-op and had the same kind of pain about 3wks ago,although I don't think mine was as severe as yours.Then I read on here about someone else having the same pain and they said their dr.says it's something to do with your stomach muscles( nothing serious )just part of healing.Maybe someone else can explain better.
   — A L.