Pain after surgery?

[DHB]

I just had my pre-op meeting with my surgeon and she gave me my prescriptions to fill, including one for liquid Oxycodone. Given all the news about opioid addiction I told her I wasn't sure I wanted it, but she said to fill it just in case. I've managed pain from knee surgery, c-section and oral surgeries with tylenol so I'm hoping I won't need it. What is the typical level of pain after surgery and what did any of you need to manage it?

[Gvn71]

The only real pain I had was from gas in my abdomen and chest area. Not gas you can pass, but gas from the CO2 they use to inflate the abdomen while doing the surgery. The pain meds did nothing for that (I only tried the pain pump in the hospital once). Other than that one time, I did not use any pain meds. I also got the prescription for the liquid oxy and never used it.

Hope you have a similar experience.

[astallons]

I'm not a wimp by any means. I have had 2 C-sections and a open total hysterectomy- not laparoscopically. All were super easy surgeries and recoveries. I never took a pain pill after the hysterectomy. This was the roughest recovery I have ever been through. I started walking within a couple hours after getting out of the recovery room like they say is best, and it does help a lot, but this pain is something I have never felt before and hope to never endure again. I don't regret having the surgery but all I could think about was "how in the world do these people have this surgery as a same day surgery???" Totally give those people my utmost respect!! I was in the hospital for 4 days and was pretty much reliant on other people for the next couple of weeks. Pain meds were my friend. (And I generally hate pain pills. I hate the way the pain meds make you feel.). I still keep liquid Tylenol around now. I am just over 4 weeks out. Take the prescription. That way if you need it you have it. If not then then that's great too. I hope your recovery is better than mine. I don't want to scare you, but be prepared. I wasn't.

[Christie13]

I had that as well. I took it like 3 or 4 times post op during that first week and that was it. The pain is minimal. I had 2 C-sections and they were much more painful than the sleeve. I would fill it just in case but only take it if you need it.

[Tamera2]

I didn’t use any narcotics for this surgery. They may have given some during surgery. After surgery I used anti inflammatory med given frequently after abdominal surgeries. Can’t think of the name right this minute. Walking was the best for reducing pain. I also used a heating pad. This was one of the easiest durgies I ever had. Pain didn’t last very long. Good luck and happy to answer any questions. Sleeve life is the best

[sraebaer]

I think the sleeve will be less pain than the other surgeries you had. My incisions did not hurt at all. There was a little gas pain, but that only lasted a day or two. Then your "insides" feel a little different when you try to get in and out of bed at first, but not really painful.

I'm surprised they even gave you Oxycodone. I left the hospital with a broken neck and 2 broken ribs last winter and they told me to take Tylenol. Now that was pain!

[pswoods72]

I had my surgery 3 days ago. The pain was more than anticipated getting up and coughing. I have been taking the hydocordone but will begin Adviliquid gels tomorrow in place of the heavier drugs. Walking does help but it’s the getting up that hurts at first.

[Ann2]

I left the hospital with a prescription for liquid oxycodone. I took two doses -- hated 'em. They were worse than what I thought was pretty minor discomfort post-op.

As you can tell from the posts above, people react quite differently. It's possible there's so much variation due to surgeons' differing surgical procedures, skill, and experience levels and/or the patients' differing physiologies or pain thresholds.

I've been on this board almost 4 years, and I can report that the majority (guessing around 80%) say that post-op their pain and discomfort levels were quite manageable, with no or little pain medication used.

BTW, the "gas pain" you hear / read about here (the one for which patients are instructed to "Walk, walk, walk!" immediately post-op) is due to gas that's inserted into patients' body cavities to "blow up" their tummies, making it easier for the surgeon to manipulate all those laparascopic (spelling?) tools that go into the body cavity (camera, stapler, scalpel(s), irrigation tools, and even the tube through which the gas is inserted. The gas doesn't all come out when the surgical cuts are stitched, and it takes 3-5-7 days for all the gas to break down and be absorbed by and excreted by the body. It's not in your digestive system, but in the body cavity. And that really is a pain ... although not the kind of pain you may be expecting. The only thing that makes it go away faster is, truly, if you become more active post-op by walking.

Best wishes to you! And welcome.

[DHB]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful to hear the varieties of experiences and the different types of discomfort. Really grateful for all of you willing to share your personal experiences.

[astallons]

I had my surgery 3 days ago. The pain was more than anticipated getting up and coughing. I have been taking the hydocordone but will begin Adviliquid gels tomorrow in place of the heavier drugs. Walking does help but it’s the getting up that hurts at first.

Your doctor is allowing you to take Advil? My doctor said no NSAIDS for at least 6 months. Advil was always my "go to" for pain, so I was pretty bummed about the no NSAIDS.

[tomgearhart]

I'm with you astallons. My surgery, Oct 2nd, was a 1 hour breeze. However, I came out with A=FIB and languished in the recovery room for 8-hours while they waited for a cardiologist consultation. They never got me up to walk until two hours before they released me at 7pm Oct 3rd. On day three, the backs of my arms and legs felt like five toddlers beat the crap out of them with little wooden bats. I quit taking the oxi on day four only taking Tylenol for pain. I started using a metal cane to the point where I now only need it 20% of the time. I still can't eat anything except water and force one or two protein shakes each day. I did two and a half shakes today. I see my surgeon Friday and start back to work Monday. I hope I'm up for it. Good luck to you.

[astallons]

Tomgearhart, I'm so sorry your recovery was so difficult!!! Sounds way worse than mine!! Prayers for a fast recovery and easy transition back to work!!!

[ghost_ryder]

Depends on the person and the surgery. I needed extra pain meds. I had a nerve that was clipped during surgery that was painful and inflamed for almost a month. Every time I moved or changed position I was in agony. Best to have it if something like that happens. If you don't open it, you can donate to a shelter or clinic when you are safe.