Had surgery yesterday (Friday)--in a great deal of pain--is this normal?

[remoteportal 0]

My name is Robyn and I just had the surgery yesterday afternoon.

If having a baby was 10/10 on a pain scale, I'm fluctuating between 7 (just sitting still) and 9 (getting up to pee). I thought I'd be fine right after surgery because I was on "hospital-level" pain killer... now that's gone and I'm almost crying from pain.. is this normal?

I'm on 3 tsp (15 mls) every 6 hours of Hydrocodone/APAP 7.5MG/500MG/15ML (Generic for Lortab elixir).

This takes the edge off but doesn't by any stretch take away the pain... lowers from a 9 to a 7 (out of 10). I'm in a little dismay that the nurses and the take away paperwork doesn't address the pain issue in greater detail.

My husband called the Dr. (on call) last night (at 4AM) and she said to go to the ER but I just didn't feel like driving an hour to only wait four more hours to be seen--(I'm never having surgery on a Friday again!)

I just need to know if this is normal if we should go to the ER this morning. :tt1:

Robyn

Edited April 18, 2009 by remoteportal
more detail

[jaysmommy1106 0]

Well, I won't tell you to not go to the ER, but that sounds normal. I am allergic to codeine so I couldn't take the hydrocodone, so I'm on baby tylenol. I'm 8 days post op and the pain is finally going away.

I hope you feel better!

[spud.mama 7]

Aaaa...U did just have major surgery!! It is very normal. And having a baby is not as bad. Everyone handles pain differently, since you haven't had kids maybe learning to breathe thru the pain is out at this point. LOL Get a hot pad, big supporting pillow for your tummy and the remote control and BREATHE! I do the in-2-3-4 out-2-3-4 method to try to relax. Ur body just went thru trama and your muscles are a wreck from surgery and tightening up from ur stress.

Relax! You'll be fine!! :tt1:

[Stephanie1972 0]

I was banded on Thursday morning, so just a day before you. Surgery day was wiped out and very sore. The day after (yesterday) was very hard too..getting up was a chore, lying in bed was a chore...tons of pain in the port area. Today, I feel a ton better. I'm still sore but it isn't unbearable. In fact, I offered my husband to have some friends over to cook ribs (obviously I would not partake in the eating of those ribs)...I walked an hour (broken into 15 minute slow intervals) the day after surgery and that helped a lot with the gas pains...I've already walked 30 minutes today...try that.

[LJB 0]

Hi - Hope you feel better today - and oh the PAIN the first few days for some can be really bad. I also was in a lot of pain but by day five was feeling much better.

the first three day after surgery all I did was sleep and have ice chips and sugar free popsiciles. That really helped my dry mouth and throat. I also made sure to take my pain meds every four hours. If you have gas pain in your tummy or shoulders/back you need to walk around the house to release some of it. You will start to feel better each day.

Congratulations on your surgery!! I'm so happy for you.

[swishbc 0]

That sounds about how I felt. My worst days were 2,3 and 4 and on day 5 I finally started to feel better. Just try to rest alot and take lots of LITTLE walks (5-10 minutes at a slow pace). It WILL get better, I promise! On day 7 I felt almost normal with my pain being maybe a 1 or 2 and was only taking Tylenol.

You just had major surgery! You'll feel better soon though, I promise.

[ParrotheadCathy 0]

I bet you don't want to hear this, but MOVE AROUND. You don't have to take a 5 mile hike. Walk to the mail box and back several times today. It's probably a really short walk but moving around will help with gas,post-op pain, etc.....and nobody can discount the value of fresh air and sunshine.

[swrktp 1]

I had surgery on Monday and was in alot of pain the first few days as well...... Slept day 1-3 and most of day 4......yesterday day 5 I woke up thinking I was getting better and stayed awake most of the day even did some laundry and dishes.......still read and watched alot of TV....... But it felt so good to be up for a couple of hours!!! My first few days were like yours .......but it gets better fast!!!! A couple more days and I will be driving and getting out of the house!! Hang in there!!! I promise it gets better even though it doesn't seem like it when your hurting!!!

[swrktp 1]

Oh and the port site is the worst but today I am getting up and down of easier........... Still hurts but I can work around it now. Only taking the meds at night now. You will be ok and walking does help.......I still having g the gas pain and plan to walk alot today. I think sleeping so much the first few days actually caused more pain in the end but I was exhausted!!! Hang in there!!

[laurenlee 1]

BANDED APRIL 1st 2009

try reclining. don't sit upright and try not to lay flat. all that pressure on your incisions can hurt.

i agree with Parrot -- WALK -- slow little walks.

i was one of the lucky ones walking within an hour after surgery and walking the halls of the hospital every chance i got while in there overnight. at home, i walked a lot. each time i walked a little further. it actually felt good to walk. it felt better to walk than it did to sit or lay down in some ways. admittedly, i was tired but each time i felt better.

if you continue to have pain at level 7, call your Dr, and, yes, never have surgery on a friday. weekend staff at hospitals aren't the best and dr's are harder to reach. you'll get through this. the suggestions here are good ones. good luck.

[itschoice 0]

If you feel you need to go to the ER then you should. But it does sound normal. I kind of felt worse then when I had my 3 c-sections. And the only thing the Lortab did for me was make me sleep. It took about an hour after I took it to just take the edge off the pain and it only lasted about 2 hours so the last hour I felt very bad. Basically I felt very bad for about 2 hours and felt bad for the next 2 hours. After a few days though, maybe about 4 or 5 I started to feel better.

I promise, it will get better soon.