Pain related to Surgery

[Crabby Patty 1]

Hello All,

I am new to this forum so I apologize if there are similar threads.

I am getting sleeved next Tuesday (5/21).

I have a terrible LOW endurance to pain and scared to death about what to expect pain-wise.

I need this surgery for various health reasons, which I suppose is a good thing.

Wondering what to expect for pain post-op.

BTW...I am late 50's.

Thanks.

[Kelsan 117]

you'll likely get a patient controlled pain relief in the hospital through yor iv. after i left the hospital, i took a liquid tylenol a few times, and that was all for pain. it's not too bad. Besides, that stuff only last such a short period of time.

[makemyownluck 785]

Well, I won't sugar coat it... it's was pretty painful for me the first couple of days. I was feeling better by the end of day 2 when they sent me home, but the soreness is still here 2 wks later. The first few days, tho, it was tough to move around like they wanted me to. I WANTED to get up and walk like they suggested, but it was so very hard.

They will give you meds to help control the pain, or at least curb it. And ask them for an abdominal binder, because for me, standing up and my stomach falling due to gravity was very, very uncomfortable.

It gets better everyday. I can move around now with no problems (bending, etc), but it's still sore - more like 'an awareness' of the incisions is still there.

[Crabby Patty 1]

Thank you for the quick response, Kelsa. I appreciate your honesty, Makemyownluck. I can get all the sugar coating from the hospital weight center...BUT none of them have experienced the surgery. After all this IS major surgery.

Thanks again.

Patty

[Sdunn1980 33]

I am 10 days out and feel almost completely normal. The first 3 days were the worst for me and it wasn't really pain, it was the anesthesia. Just make me feel sick.

[Georgia 2,908]

I guess I was lucky. I had almost NO pain. Wry weak, very tired etc but never used pain meds at all. AND I have low pain threshold also. . Good luck!

[mistysj 1,940]

I have had almost no pain. I had a single dose of morphine in the recovery room that took the pain from about a 8 to about a 2. After that, just Tylenol. My surgery was the 14th May. There seems to be a broad spectrum of experiences on these boards. I'm also having no trouble getting my shakes and liquids down. I took a 45 minute walk today. I can already sleep on my side.

[makemyownluck 785]

I think it has to do with your body shape sometimes too. I have a high pain tolerance as well, but my gut is where a lot of my weight is hanging around, so it moves when I move. It's not "solid" if you know what I mean... so when I laid down I was okay, but I stood up and it felt like everything was pulling... anyway, the abdominal binder helps A LOT with that, and it does eventually go away.

Overall, the pain wasn't THAT bad. I used meds regularly the first day home, then only a couple of days after that. I was on my hydrocodone for about 3 days total when I was home. I took it at night so I wouldn't wake up in pain.

[May142013 74]

I've read a wide variety of responses regarding pain. I expected a easy recovery because 1) I have a very high tolerance for pain, 2) I've had multiple surgeries and always pop back really fast, and 3) I'm a rule follower and did everything the doctor said to do before and after. Well, SURPRISE...I had a lot of pain and had to take pain meds the first week home. I'm 11 days out now and finally feeling better, but still really week. I planned to go back to work after one week, and haven't been a ble to go back yet.

Every surgery, every surgeon and every person are different. The important thing......it's worth every pain and every moment of this recovery to get to my goal of becoming healthy again!

[kulita 243]

I can take dull pains pretty well but sharp pains.... forget it. I could not take the pain of the surgery. The dull part came from the incisions like I got beat up or did 5000 sit ups. The sharp part came from all of the gas and I had to get up and walk around to get rid of it. I was on a pain med IV pump that I could hit the button every 10 minutes. Around the 5 day mark I felt really good and had very minor discomfort.

[Crabby Patty 1]

Well, I am one week post-op and doing good. Pain was not too bad. Still have some at home but just using at bedtime. Thanks for the advice on the abdominal binder. it has been a godsend for walking around.

[Sheddie 22]

How did you handle nausea sdunn 1980? Today is post-op day 2 for me... Hoping tmrw day 3 is the charm with no queasy feelings. Other than that, I have been fine. Dr's office said post nasal drip or anesthesia is probably causing nausea. Just ready for that sensation to move on. Been walking and no pain meds since hospital.

[kulita 243]

can you get phenegran or zofran? It may help a bit.

[sassygirl055 39]

What's a abdominal binder? ? Do they give u one at the hospital or do u go buy it?

[Sheddie 22]

If nausea keeps up tmrw. I am calling Dr's office to ask.