Aanniiuuxx

I had my band put in on the 19th. Recovery in the hospital was MUCH worse than I expected - how does anyone do this as out-patient??? My main problem has been the very severe pain in my port area. It seems to have gotten worse and saw my Dr at my 1-week follow-up and my Dr said "it is what it is." I was relieved to hear that I didn't have a "problem" per se, but I am giving this pain an 8 on the pain scale over a week later. He gave me more pain meds and told me to come back in a week. I have had several other surgeries and birthed 2 kids so I am no stranger to pain, but when I move a certain way, I feel like I'm getting stabbed. I can't bend over at all, I can barely lift my left arm, I can't twist at all. Two nurses I spoke to said that most people say it hurts much more than they thought, so maybe it was an issue of expectations. But everything I read seems to say that I shouldn't be crying in pain if my elbow accidentally bumps a doorframe...

Thanks so much for all the responses! To answer a few questions... no fever at all and the skin openings look fine so I don't think it's an infection. It's more of an internal pain. My surgeon is a bariatric surgeon - a very highly rated one at a highly rated Chicago hospital. I am 39, so maybe the age issue is more of one than I had considered. If I cough or sneeze, my pain is at an 8 WITH Hydrocodone. If I am laying or sitting and doing nothing, my pain is more at 5 (again, on the hydrocodone). My Dr. will NOT let me take any anti-inflammatories at all. I was taking one in the hospital which seemed to work much better than the hydrocodone, but he said I can't take that because it is too rough on the stomach. After the surgery I was trying to be very careful and my Dr said I was too inactive and that's why I am not healing well. So for the last 3 days I have been trying to get up and do more - and the pain seems worse. Could be becuase I am developing a tolerance to the medication or because I am finally working the muscles, and as they say, no pain no gain. I am giving it until tomorrow and then I will call my regular Dr and see what she thinks. I am encouraged to hear that some of you also experienced bad pain. Everything I read made me feel as if I should have been out weeding my garden the day after I got home! At this point, I'll be out of work for 3 weeks and longer if the pain doesn't subside soon.