Struggling with incision pain

**Cardshark98** · 04-09-2018 10:07 PM

I had a gastric sleeve 12 days ago. I have my energy back, getting my 60 grams of protein, drinking fluids without any issues. I am so excited to move to puréed foods on Wednesday. My issue is that i am still having some significant pain at the largest incision site (where they took the stomach out). I talked with my surgeons nurse late last week and she said this is normal. And I expect some pain, but i am still having to use pain medication a couple of times a day. That is not nomal for me. I have lived with chronic pain for years and usually don’t take narcotics. I can get up and clean the house, go grocery shopping and run short errand, but all that is hard. No way I could exercise or think of going back to work. I am a nurse and on my feet most of the shift. I have my post op appointment tomorrow and i am afraid they are just going to say this is normal and refill my medication. Typically with surgical pain it slowly gets better....

Side note: since being on the preop/postop diet for almost a month, most of my chronic shoulder/hip pain is gone. I used to take a large amount of ibuprofen. I have been off that for a month also. I have a connective tissue disorder and take Plaquenil, which really was not helping. My Rhumatologist has talked about adding Methotrexate which i was really reluctant about. I am curious what my inflammatory markers will be at my next appointment.

**Stacey03** · 04-10-2018 02:21 AM

That does sound unusual Jennifer and especially coming from a nurse, I would expect surgical pain to get better too. I know that it was my most painful wound but I didn't have to take any painkillers and certainly not narcotics. I hope you get some sort of answer when see the doc.

**Marsh17** · 04-10-2018 09:28 AM

Hi there,
My surgery was on March 27th. My belly button has a little discomfort and there is no discomfort at all at the other sites. My doc told me the belly button area would be the most sore since this is where there tools went in and the stomach went out. I did notice when I am sitting a lot or have a snugger pant on my belly button seemed irritated. I did not have to take all of my pain med, I think I had a few days worth of pills left over. I hope you feel better soon!

**Bekkiss** · 04-10-2018 08:02 PM

I have had nagging incision pain also. I just suck it up. On a side note: I have been taking Plaquinil and Methotrexate for several years. They have changed my life .

**Christie13** · 04-10-2018 08:35 PM

So I had some pain with my largest incision. I would not say it was unbearable, though. I did apply Neosporin plus pain...which they say not to do but I did it anyways. No issues. I also had to use a heating pad pretty regularly for a bit. I would alternate between using it on my belly and my back. I had a lot of back pain for a while post op. Just some thoughts from my experience.

**Cardshark98** · 04-11-2018 01:17 AM

So i had my follow up appointment today and she thinks its the internal suture they placed to pull the muscle together. Eventually the stitch will break, and the pain should get better. Since the surgery i have had a indent in my stomach where the incision is and that should resolve at the same time.

sraebaer · 04-11-2018 06:31 AM

My incisions really didn't hurt. I used my pain meds for maybe 2 or 3 days. I couldn't even tell you which one my stomach came out of.

It's been a while, I would talk to your surgeon. I know we're all different, but it doesn't sound normal to me. Good luck!

**Sealover** · 04-11-2018 05:34 PM

I have four incisions and the only one that really bothers me is the big one, its not pain really, just a sharp sting. Its really at its worst when I am trying to get out of bed and hoist myself up using my core muscles. I am a side sleeper and my large incision hurts on the right side. I refused narcotics and have been taking Extra Strength Tylenol which helps so much. I vomited up the liquid Tylenol so I stopped taking it and just break the pills in half for easier swallowing, this was all per my surgeons office. My surgeon used glue for incisions, so there isn't anything covering them up.

**Christie13** · 04-11-2018 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Cardshark98

So i had my follow up appointment today and she thinks its the internal suture they placed to pull the muscle together. Eventually the stitch will break, and the pain should get better. Since the surgery i have had a indent in my stomach where the incision is and that should resolve at the same time.

Well hopefully that will happen soon so you are not in pain.

**Cardshark98** · 04-12-2018 02:13 AM

Update:
So yesterday after finding out my incision pain is from the discomfort of the internal stitch and not something horribly wrong.
So today, even though i am still in alot of pain. I needed to go take care of my 5 pet chickens. My husband has been filling in while i have been recuperating but it had been a few days since he collected eggs. So i am out cleaning there coup and had to bend over and pick up some feed. And I felt a “pop” right at my incision site. And have felt better since. Still sore but nothing like before. I am so relieved.

Side note: since i have been cleared for puréed and soft, thought I would have a scrambled egg from my chickens. It did not aggree with me. Three bites in and my stomach was doing flips. I had yogurt later without any issues. I really hope that not going to be the norm. I have 9 dozen eggs in my fridge. I guess time to start selling eggs.

sraebaer · 04-17-2018 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by Cardshark98

Update:
So yesterday after finding out my incision pain is from the discomfort of the internal stitch and not something horribly wrong.
So today, even though i am still in alot of pain. I needed to go take care of my 5 pet chickens. My husband has been filling in while i have been recuperating but it had been a few days since he collected eggs. So i am out cleaning there coup and had to bend over and pick up some feed. And I felt a “pop” right at my incision site. And have felt better since. Still sore but nothing like before. I am so relieved.

Side note: since i have been cleared for puréed and soft, thought I would have a scrambled egg from my chickens. It did not aggree with me. Three bites in and my stomach was doing flips. I had yogurt later without any issues. I really hope that not going to be the norm. I have 9 dozen eggs in my fridge. I guess time to start selling eggs.

Don't worry, nothing early on is the norm. For now just eat what agrees with you. Soon (if you are like me) you will be able to eat anything and everything.