Pain Lower Left Side...please Advise

[Knee2010 54]

I had my surgery 11/15 and yesterday I did tons of walking at the malls. I didn't carry any packages, my husband did that for me. But this morning my lower left side is very achy and kinda hurts. Is it just sore muscles or does anyone think I did some kind of damage due to all the walking? Could too much walking at one time so soon cause a leak? Thanks for your inputs!

[former_vbg 198]

I don't think its possible for you to have done any damage just from walking. And, leaks won't be caused by leaking either. Keep in mind that they put an awful lot of carbon dioxide into your stomache when doing the surgery and it can take a week or two for it to all get released out of your body. In my case I had A LOT of gas pain the first few days after surgery, then it got less over time. Then for some odd reason about the last week I experienced intermittent stabbing pain in my left front shoulder area which from reading and posting on that issue back then, it is very common. It's just the bodies way of trying to work the carbon dioxide out of the system.

A couple of things to watch for is a temperature and any signs of infection at your incisions. I'm sure others can chim in on other things to look for, but those are two things I have seen people mention in the past.

Just get some rest, get your fluids in and REST! :-) Congratulations and welcome to the loosers bench!!!

[mnbsleeve 87]

Knee! Don't panic. It could be that you overdid it since it hasn't been even two weeks from your surgery. But I doubt you did damage to your stomach. It is most likely muscle pain in the incision area. I was about a month out and pain free and sneezed and I got terrible pain on my side for about a week. My surgeon told me it was the muscle that was still healing and I somehow strained it. I freaked thinking it may be the stomach. I AM NOT A DOCTOR but just sharing my experiences. Lets see what others have to say. Someone may have additional imput. Just rest up and take it easy. I saw your post on all the calories you burned on Fitness.com LOL You did some serious walking girl!!! :-) Hope you feel better soon!!!!

[gracemarie 6]

I am an OR nurse and as I tell everyone that has had major surgery, and that is what you had to take it easy. You may be feeling fine but you have to take gradual steps not leaps. You just over did. Back off a little and take the walking in steps not all at one time...good luck

[Rebel 9]

I experienced the same thing and it was from 2 causes. 1) the deepest stitch is in your left side and it will pull/feel like a burning pain until that stitch dissolves. 2) you overdid it by walking or being up and around too much. I was scared when it happened to me that perhaps I had pulled something etc but my dr said it was completely normal. Use a heating pad and take your liquid tylenol and this will help.

[lml32937 65]

I have a similar discomfort between the drain hole and the insicision next to it. It hurts when I bend wrong, stretch wrong, move wrong etc. just a twinge of OMG I am still not 100% yet when it happens. Normally I just sit back for a few minutes and catch my breath- I am 1 week post op today and also do a lot of walking but mine seems to be just from weird movements...

[Veda 12]

I was sleeved on 11/18 and have had an extraordinarily easy recovery, until last Wednesday when I had a pain too on the left, lower center area of my ribs. This pain sent me to the ER where another patient was beside me with the same exact symptoms. Pain upon deep breathing, coughing, laughing, or sneezing makes it much worse. Here's what my doctor said:

* There are no major body parts behind the area that was painful to me so I shouldn't worry too much

* I may have pulled a muscle

* The pain could not be due to the gas the body is filled with in order to do the surgery

* The majority of the surgical procedure - pulling the excess prtion of the stomach out of the body - happens on the left side

I'm still in pain, but it is now much better. I am taking it easy as it is super easy to over extend myself. Now I get to wait for the ER bill - ouch!

I hope you feel better soon!

[Knee2010 54]

Thanks everyone, I was hoping it was just a muscle or too much walking and it sounds like it was. The pain is much better/less today than it was Friday night and even yesterday. Thank goodness. It's funny how we can get so scared over something that before the surgery we wouldn't have even thought twice about. Anyway, thanks for listening and for your helpful comments!

[MinaT 669]

Thanks for this post, I'm dealing with it myself right now, and I'm a week out. I also have the drain in still. I think I pulled a muscle when I sneezed last night. I have been dealing with a lot of coughing. Prior to surgery I had a case of pleurisy and the year before I had pneumonia twice. The coughing hurts areas that aren't even sore from the surgery.

[audnmac8 44]

I'm post op 6 days and I too did so much walking and just last night I feel this stabbing pain in my lower back area......OUCH!!