Let's speak the truth

[Cindy2013 99]

Okay fellow bandsters, I have a question. Most of you have posted that you didn't have much pain post op and that it was not really a big deal. Are you just portraying the tough side of yourself, or was it really that easy. Because for me, it is not easy. I have 6 incisions in my belly and a couple of them hurt when I walk, sit, laugh, jiggle in any way. And the shoulder pain is a bit more than just uncomfortable. Of course I'm adding this pain to my already chronic pain stuff and my neck pain is not under control, but I'm having a harder time than I thought from reading on these boards. And I'm normally a really tough one. I had a full open me up hysterectomy with over 6 hours of surgery from scar tissue. Doc said I'd be in hospital for 4-5 days. I went home in 2.5 days. Went back to work in one week rather than the 6 recommended. This shows that I'm tough. But not so this time. Is it because I had a bleeder that they had to clamp during the surgery? Or because of my post op experience in the hospital? I had my treadmill and I'm walking for 5-10 minutes every hour during the day and I'll get up a couple of times during the night and walk too. So I'm doing that I need to do to help with the abdominal gas. I'm just surprised at how uncomfortable the lapband recovery is. I have definitely had much worse, but this isn't easy either. Someone else please let me know that you had pain and had to take your lortab elixir.

[cksweetpea 26]

The shoulder pain was bad the first 2-3 days. After 2 days I stopped taking anything for pain. I am also one who has high pain tolerance. I still have some shoulder pain. My surgery was on the 6th. I also had a hernia repair. I do have some port pain from time to time but overall I can't complain. Hope you start feeling better!

[akwright68 114]

Oh my gosh Cindy. I am so sorry that you are having such pain. I used my paid meds for the weekend, but when I started back to work I only took it the first 2 nights. I have not used Tylenol or anything else, but I have been using ice packs on my stomach and shoulders and then the heating pads (3 of them) on my shoulders, chest and middle back. I sleep with them as well. When is your next doctor's appointment? I know each of us heals differently, but perhaps there is something that needs to be checked out.

I hope you find some relief soon.

Alita

[Cindy2013 99]

Today has been a bit better. I think the problem was when they reversed all pain meds and I got behind the 8 ball and just couldn't get caught up with good pain relief. I don't know, but this has not been easy. But like I said, today has been better. I only took the Lortab Elixir once during the day, and I just took it as I am about to try to get some sleep. Maybe I just feel the increase in pain because I feel so crappy everywhere else and it is all compounded.

My goal with having the LB surgery is to feel good again. This initial post op stuff will be over soon and I will be on to losing the excess weight so that my body doesn't hurt so much. Sorry for the complaining. I just needed to vent, and honestly I wanted to hear that others have had a difficult time as well. Chksweetpea and Alita, thanks for responding.

I have a dear friend who brought me some things today. 3 bottles of propel flavored water, some artificial sweetener stuff to go in my teas (I'm not enjoying the different flavors of tea), some fun colored socks to make me feel pretty, and than a nice meal for the family so that I don't have to cook. Tristan (the friend) stayed and visited for about an hour and it was nice to just have some girl time. I love my friends. I've got this--I can do it!

[MandaMom23 684]

I'm a very tough cookie, and I felt pretty rough the first 4 days. I was wondering what was wrong with me! I was seeing that people were going back to work in less than a weeks time...there was NO way I could have done that, and I have a desk job!! I didn't have any of the gas pains that people talked about, but my incisions were so sore. I only took my pain med for the first couple days when I'd go to bed for the night, but that was it (I HATE taking liquid medicine!!!!) I started feeling better around day 5, and went shopping on day 8. Today I'm 3 weeks out, and I'm still dealing with some soreness where my port is, but that's about it.

You'll keep feeling better and better everyday! Hang in there!

[Cindy2013 99]

Sweetpea, Alita, and Manda, you've made me feel normal again. I just couldn't understand why I was hurting when it sounded like others were not really having a hard time at all. It is good to read that this is all normal and we all have pain. I'm not a baby, not normally a whiner. I just had read on here so many people who sailed through the recovery, and I anticipated doing the same thing. I have had 15 or 16 surgeries through the years and have always been able to deal with the pain well. I expected this one to be a walk in the park. It isn't. But I am doing much better. I almost went to a funeral today of a dear sweet lady who passed in our community. I sent my husband and daughter without me because I knew it would be a 2 hour funeral. It ended up being 2.5 hours that they had to sit through, so I'm glad I didn't go. Just not quite ready for that yet. I will try church tomorrow and see how that goes.

Every day is getting easier. I am not taking the pain meds for this surgery anymore. Just my regulars now. I am surprised with the discomfort in my stomach area every time I drink something. It causes me to burp a lot. I'm being careful to drink slowly and only about 1/2 cup at a time, but it still creates a strange feeling and causes lots of burping. Is everyone else doing that???????/