Post-Open Day 3

[MillieBug 2]

Hi everyone. I found this site two days pre-op and I wish I had found it sooner. I was in the throws of anxiety about what life would be life after. Monday, 12/28, was my surgery date. I was released about 2 hours ago. I am 5'4.75." The morning of surgery I weighed 214.8, naked. Today I weigh 212.6, in a sundress with shorts.

I've been struggling with gas pain since I woke up from the anesthesia. The one thing I wish I had been prepared for is the pain. I've never hurt so much in my life. In all the videos I watched, blogs I read, all except one woman described their after surgery pain experience as a form of discomfort, not actual pain. Perhaps it is because I had a hietal hernia that needed repairing as well. Truly, I'm not sure. My doctor said it'll take a few days to clear my system completely.. I'm excited at the thought. Oh, to be able to pass gas again! Burping isn't doing the job very well.

Is there anyone else who felt their pain level to be almost unbearable upon waking? Walking aside, is there anything else that can help this gas move along? I've been having warm liquids several times throughout day, and that seems to help a bit.

[luvkoko 21]

@ MillieBug I had my surgery on 12/28 also. I have the gas pain you mentioned. One of the ways I get relief is walking. Walking really helps the pressure.

[destiny_77 43]

Yes. I had my surgery on the 28th too and everything you have described sounds like what I have gone through and going through now. I'm still waiting to be discharged. But yeah, I have walked, walked, and walked and the gas pain isn't going anywhere!! I am burping though so that gives me relief in my shoulders but the other end is about to get the best if me. I just continue to walk through!! Good luck to you all and hopefully it will all get better Soon!!

[Dawntapki 3]

I had mine on the 26th. I too am in a lot of pain but mostly from incision related pain. Then there are others like scarring under the skin which I feel really stretched and achy when I move- near the navel. Rest I m fairly mobile and thus gas related pains haven't really hit me. Keep moving and keep sipping.

Also I figured it's best to keep my pain killers pumped in. A dose of Crocin every few hours has helped me cope up. And though I m not the one to rely on meds too much, this time I just need them i guess.

[MillieBug 2]

I am so glad this pain isn't unique to me. The doctor and nurses tell you that buy it doesn't really mean anything until you hear it from someone else who is going through your pain also. I wish you all the best with your recovery. Just a tip... if you can avoid long car rides, do it. I'm on the last 30 minutes of a 2 hr car ride and it's killer on the back.

[sarasleeve 17]

I'm sorry about your car ride. My hospital is only 15 minutes away from where I am recovering, so I lucked out on that.

My surgery was also on Monday, and I was discharged this afternoon. I too was not prepared for the level of pain from this surgery. I finally passed gas around 5:30 this morning, and it helped with the pain some. I walked around this hospital quite a bit, and it still took nearly two days to happen. My doctor said the pain medicine probably made me constipated.

Right now, I'm struggling with drinking Water and Protein every 15 minutes. It hurts to go down, and I feel like I have to hold my breath while it goes down my esophagus. I had to have a hiatal hernia repair too, so maybe that has something to do with it.

Anyway, I feel like this post has been mostly complaints from me, but this is just to say that you are definitely not alone! I do feel better today than I did yesterday, and I hope you do too.

Hang in there, and if you come up with any tips, let me know! ????

[MillieBug 2]

Sarasleeve.. hearing about it helps. Misery loves company, right? Lol. Really though, I did learn something today.. back rubs! I'm not sure if you can bend forward yet but using a thin pillow to hold your tummy together, have someone rub your back "up." By up, I mean from your lower back toward your shoulders. My brother did this for about 10 minutes with coconut oil on his hands. I've got a a warm towel on there now. All of that to say yay lots of burping!!

I'm struggling with the liquids as well. Even extra small sips are painful going down. I found that the warmer the liquid, the less painful it goes down though.