before my op nxt wk can you tell me...............

[tinkywinky]

just read some previous threads and wondered about pain after op...........
was surprised to read its quite a few weeks b4 u feel ok again. for some reason i thought it would be a couple of weeks.
Also about the port. Can u feel it. does it affect anything else eg lying on your front.
This time next week it wiil be done and no turning back.
thanks

 

[cazbandy]

Hi there Tink,

Pain after surgery is different with each person, we all have different rates of recovery.

All I can tell you is from my own personal experience...

For the first couple of days it was quite painful, sleep was difficult but as long as you keep taking the pain medication as prescribed and don't attempt to be brave, then it is bearable. After that It was uncomfortable more than painful, although sleeping was hard some nights. I could not lay on side for 2 weeks which was horrible because I normally sleep on side or tummy. (That took about 4-5 weeks to be able to do)

The port scar is the most uncomfortable bit, that can be niggly for a little while longer but gets better with each passing day.

My port is on my abdomen, if you look in my profile pics it is the one with the odd blue dressing.

You can feel it, especially as the weight starts to come off, it's like half a walnut under the skin...I call it my button.

But depending on your job, you should be able to go back a week to 10 days after surgery. If you lift stuff or have a more manual job you might need longer...but only time will tell, as you could heal superfast.

Good luck with your upcoming journey

 

[quetiapina]

Good luck Tinky - the worst pain is the notorious trapped wind in the shoulder - it really is unpleasant. So get in some deflatine. I felt horrible for first 3 or 4 days then gradually started to feel better. x

 

[Red 42]

Hi Tinky

the trapped wind is definately the worst of it, I tried gripe water, windeze, even infacol (for babies) but none of these worked for me...that's not to say they won't for you though.
the nurse at my GP surgery recommended peppermint cordial or ginger, plenty moving around and gentle massage of the tummy...luckily it didn't go into my shoulders.

I more or less slept upright (using lots of pillows and a single duvet rolled up behind me) or on a couple of occasions on the sofa for the first week, but can now easily manage my right side for a few hours but not yet very long on my left side as it feels like my port is dragging when I try that side (not sure why )

I'm 11 days post op now and am feeling really well...going back to work on Monday (got the ok from nurse today as had some infection in one wound)

you will be absolutely fine...very good luck:hug99:

 

[baby jayne]

I had my Op 2 weeks ago today. I had my Op at 8.30am, never had any pain killers until 2.30pm and only took them so I could go to sleep and not wake up in pain, I never went to sleep though as no matter how much I tried I was wide awake. Then at Midnight the nurse came in and asked me did I want anymore pain relief I said I would have two soluable solphadine as I wanted to go asleep (still no pain at this stage just discomfort) and didn't want to wake in pain....stayed awake until 1.40am from having surgery early the previous day and I still was expecting pain...even wind pain. Went home the next day and from that day to this the pain never came.
The only thing I had was once I came home after a couple of days I had a lot of tiredness. Also bending down low was uncomfortable so I didn't do that if I could help it.
I was booked of work for 2 weeks but in the end I went back early....could not believe how this Op went.

Goodluck with your Op hun xxxx hope it goes as well as mine.

 

[tinkywinky]

I had my Op 2 weeks ago today. I had my Op at 8.30am, never had any pain killers until 2.30pm and only took them so I could go to sleep and not wake up in pain, I never went to sleep though as no matter how much I tried I was wide awake. Then at Midnight the nurse came in and asked me did I want anymore pain relief I said I would have two soluable solphadine as I wanted to go asleep (still no pain at this stage just discomfort) and didn't want to wake in pain....stayed awake until 1.40am from having surgery early the previous day and I still was expecting pain...even wind pain. Went home the next day and from that day to this the pain never came.
The only thing I had was once I came home after a couple of days I had a lot of tiredness. Also bending down low was uncomfortable so I didn't do that if I could help it.
I was booked of work for 2 weeks but in the end I went back early....could not believe how this Op went.

Goodluck with your Op hun xxxx hope it goes as well as mine.

thanks, fingers crossed mine will be like yours.

 

[topsy]

I had my Op 2 weeks ago today. I had my Op at 8.30am, never had any pain killers until 2.30pm and only took them so I could go to sleep and not wake up in pain, I never went to sleep though as no matter how much I tried I was wide awake. Then at Midnight the nurse came in and asked me did I want anymore pain relief I said I would have two soluable solphadine as I wanted to go asleep (still no pain at this stage just discomfort) and didn't want to wake in pain....stayed awake until 1.40am from having surgery early the previous day and I still was expecting pain...even wind pain. Went home the next day and from that day to this the pain never came.
The only thing I had was once I came home after a couple of days I had a lot of tiredness. Also bending down low was uncomfortable so I didn't do that if I could help it.
I was booked of work for 2 weeks but in the end I went back early....could not believe how this Op went.

Goodluck with your Op hun xxxx hope it goes as well as mine.

Gosh Liz how lucky were you x