Post-Op Pain, 0-10

[Exude 0]

So I was handling my pain pretty well the first week. I took my Dilaudid pills a good amount each day, 2 pills per dose (4mg total) about 2-3 times a day. I started weaning off and using Tylenol which worked for days 7-8. But when I took off my steri-strips, the next two days (today is that second day) I've been suffering with a lot of port pain.

I would rate it as a 6 right now. I still have some Dilaudid and took 3 (I developed a tolerance) and I am still suffering from it. It's VERY uncomfortable and the port site is the ONLY place I'm really suffering. I only have like 8 pills left out of my original 30... ugh. What do you guys do for your pain??

-Jason

[Exude 0]

,,.I was off all pain meds the day after surgery....didn't have much pain at all, other than the anxiety and 'what if' business pre-op....then a few days of the 'what have I DONE'....

Pretty much uneventful recovery w/o physical issues... pain was in the 0-1/10 scale....

My years as a 'chronic pain' patient helped to develop a non-pharmaceutical way of managing ..........

Dang nice that you could deal with it. Not nice you had to deal with chronic pain though!

-Jason

[Exude 0]

....just lucky I guess....

I'm surprised to see you still have a great deal of discomfort....one trick I learned over my port, was to sit my cup of tea there while waiting to be able to get another sip down the first 4-5 days....and the warmth from it was just right to ease the port a little more....

you have NO sign of infection? are you well hydrated, etc?

Hope all is well.....

My son is finishing his last 2 terms of RN school.....what a GRIND!!!! He's suffering WITHOUT surgery!!!!

The warmth is a good idea. I do not have an infection, but hydration may be an issue. I am struggling with nutrients. I was told to have two EAS advantedge shakes a day, and whatever else I can eat for nutrients (which has only been two Soups a day). I'm getting so little Calories and no interest in eating more... except for my cravings for solids. Ugh.

Wish your son good luck for me! More men is good!

-Jason

[AZPete 20]

Jason, I agree with you man. I have been dealing with chronic pain as well. Definitely port pain. And I am all out of pain killers. What sucks the most is that I have worked three twelve hour days starting on Monday. I really could have benefited from time off, had the surgery on Thursday, got home friday afternoon, back at work on Monday morning. This surgery definitely hurts more than I think most expect. I have had seven prior orthopedic surgeries, very painfull, and I was very suprised at this one. I rate this one as the worst one yet for me.

[Exude 0]

Jason, I agree with you man. I have been dealing with chronic pain as well. Definitely port pain. And I am all out of pain killers. What sucks the most is that I have worked three twelve hour days starting on Monday. I really could have benefited from time off, had the surgery on Thursday, got home friday afternoon, back at work on Monday morning. This surgery definitely hurts more than I think most expect. I have had seven prior orthopedic surgeries, very painfull, and I was very suprised at this one. I rate this one as the worst one yet for me.

I agree that time off would be nice. I did this over my Spring Break so I had the time there to recover, but in 7 days I was not ready to walk half a mile to class and sit in the same chair for five hours... it was hell. I went home and laid down the rest of the day! This weekend I have 12 hour days too! Let's hope we can both get through this quick.

-Jason

[AZPete 20]

I hope so to. I'm a sales manager at a car dealership. It is always long hours, lots of walking, and some time behind a desk. Good mix and I guess its great exercise as well. But yeah its rough. Good luck.