Ouch! 6 days post op

[Nurse96 28]

I'm 6 days post op and still in a lot of pain. More pain than I anticipated. I'm not a baby about pain at all. In fact, I had 2 c-sections and a spinal fusion, and bounced back with no issues and hardly required pain meds. This sleeve surgery however, has been different. Two of my six abdominal incisions are so painful. The large one in my upper right abdomen is where the surgeon explained that he used some long loop of a suture that he anchored to something inside (details are sketchy, because I was on strong IV pain meds when he saw me the day after surgery and explained this) and he said this was "so I didn't get a hernia". That is my largest incision, and the pain there seems to be subsiding slowly. The site is about an inch wide and seems to cause an indentation on my abdomen that the other incisions aren't doing. I guess whatever he anchored it to is pulling it inward causing the "dent" in my skin. The most painful incision is the one on the far left of my abdomen, the lowest incision. It burns so bad every time I twist my body, bend over, lift my leg, touch that area, etc. I know that burning can be nerves regenerating but this pain is very severe and seems to be getting worse instead of better. I'm doing a little better with eating and drinking, although I do get sharp, stabbing pains in my sternum with most every swallow. I assume this is just post op swelling and will subside...? Any thoughts from any of you further out in your journey than me? I'm just checking if these things seem normal to those that have had surgery. I'm definitely in the "what was I thinking" stage right now.

[BigGirlPanties 957]

This sounds a bit different than most...did you call your doctor? He may want you to come in for a check up on that. I doesn't sound like gas pain...and even if it was for healing, you shouldn't be THAT uncomfortable. Are you putting something on your incisions? Maybe that's causing a reaction...

Hope you feel better soon...don't worry, whatever it is will pass and you will be grateful for this!

Good luck!

[Nurse96 28]

Thanks for your response. I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow if this situation stays the same. I has planned on going back to work today but decided to wait until next week with all of this discomfort I'm having. I'm not putting anything on my incisions at all. The burning is a deep, internal type of pain. Also, when I had the swallow study done the day after surgery, the X-ray tech mentioned how slow the fluids were in traveling down my esophagus. At that time, I assumed it was due to swelling, but I assumes things would be moving along quicker by now. I just need to feel better. Thanks a lot for your support! I really appreciate your feedback. This too shall pass, right?!?!

[CaliLoser118 8]

Bingo! Going through the same thing. I also got the "anchoring stitch to prevent hernia" explanation and also the "pulled your stomach through that hole" explanation. Dent is there as well. Pretty. Suffered like a dog for days until they finally discovered they had cut through a nerve. I went in twice for them to try steroid shots to numb the nerve, but that was useless. Finally I went on Neuronyin for nerve pain and got immediate relief. Went from walking 50-75 steps daily to 4000 steps in 4 days. Call and ask. I was told the burning sensation is the tell tale sign and it can take 6 weeks or longer to heal.

I, like you, had 2 C-sections, a gallbladder removal and a hysterectomy and NOTHING like this kind of pain.

Incidentally, learned that walking helps heal the nerve, but yawza!!!!

[Seela 1,187]

The dent will go away:) it was 4-6 weeks before my incision pain was totally gone. Sometimes it was severe. Sounds normal but if you have ANY doubt it's always best to call you doctor. Feel better:)