Oh....E-girl, I am SO sorry that you had that much discomfort when they pulled the drainage tube! It is usually a very minor ouch. It must have adhered to something internally. I am SO sorry. Hopefuly that pain is gone and you won't have anything like that in the future!

But at least it is over, and you are home! I have to say, I really never had any horrible pain when I had my procedure. I was sore, and used a pillow up against my tummy when I laid on my side, to support my little incisions (ports actually). Getting in and out of bed was touchy for a day or two, but never had any pain that was as bad as you described!

Have to say, you were lucky! A pain pump!?! Wow!!! My doctor didn't even give me any narcotic medication post op. His assistant met with each of us prior to surgery and told us what to expect. One of the things she mentioned was that Dr. Rod didn't use ANY narcotics post operatively, only a powerful anti-inflammatory. Being a nurse, and being a NOSEY nurse ast that, I asked WHAT it was that he used. She told me it was Toredol, which is an injectable anti-inflammatory medication similar to Mortrin (Ibuprofen) but in injectable form. We use it all the time on post-op C-sections, and it does make them more comfortable. She further told me if the pain got "really bad" to ask the nurse, and the nurse would call and get an order for "something extra".

So the one time I was pretty uncomfortable, I put my call light on (more about that in a minute) and the nurse called somebody and got an OK to give me my Toredol an hour early. (It is usually given IV push every 6 hours, It had only been five hours since my last dose, but they went ahead and gave it to me an hour early. BIG DEAL!) But again, I have to say, I was never in really excruiating pain. Just thought if I could be more comfortable, why not.

About the call light. It is funny, now that I am looking bad on the incident. I was uncomfortable and remembered that the assistant told us to tell the nurse, and she would get us "something extra" for the pain.

So since I felt a little more uncomfortable than I had, I put my call light on to ask. My nurse came "stomping" into my room, grabbed the call light out of my hand and put it on the bedside table as far away from me as possible and yelled "WHAT?" at me. She seemed to be REALLY mad at me for putting my call light on. I told her what I wanted and she didn;t say a word, whirled around, stomped out of my room, and I never saw her again that day! (Someone else came and gave me the early dose of Toredol.)

My husband who witnessed the whole incident said "If I were you, I don't think I would use the call light again!" and laughed. Looking back it really is funny now. At the time, I was appalled! And I have to say, I KNOW if I treated a patient like that, I should just pack up my stuff and head for the front door immediately, cause my little rear end would be SO fired! Anyway, it is funny now.

I said all this to say, I hope you are feeling better today, and to welcome you on the start of your journey in a "new life" after WLS. Hope you are feeling ever so much better, and the pain and discomfort will soon be a distant memory. (And hope you NEVER have a nurse like mine!) Best of luck, AND Welcome to the Loser's Bench!

Kathy D (aliad Helen the Cat)

Kathy Iam wondering why you did not report that nurse, and file a complaint with the hospital. Too many incidents are let go like that, then someone is really neglected or hurt (or abused) and people go "how did they get away with it for so long".