Will I be able to handle the first 2 wks?

I never really had any pain nor was I ever even very uncomfortable. I took only ibuprofen after I got home except narcotic at night as it helped me sleep on my back - which was about the most uncomfortable thing I had to deal with. I'm a stomach/side sleeper and couldn't do that for a couple weeks.

Pain can be well controlled with meds. The key is to take proactively on a regular schedule. Don't wait to feel pain and then take.

Thank u so much!!

For most of us, the first week or two is not fun and is the worst part of recovery but most of us do not have much severe pain.
The headache I had when I came out of the anesthesia was bad but only lasted a short while, and the shoulder pains from the Co2 only lasted a couple of days. Beyond that, I was achy and tender but not "IN PAIN". .
After you get home,take your meds on schedule for at least the first 5 days home (while you're in the hospital, you'll be kept well drugged), and then you can start tapering off of the serious meds, taking ibuprophin or acetominiphen on schedule and the narcotics only "as needed" (if your prescription meds contain acetominiphen, use ibuprophen as your alternate pain reliever- double dosing on the acetominiphen is hard on your liver).
For me, after 5 days, I did not use the percocet at all and ibuprophen did just fine....
Other than minding your meds, just take it easy, rest a lot, use an ice pack on your tummy when it feels achy, heat's good for shoulders, eat lightly and often, drink lots of water and tea, avoid anything carbonated, walk around a little bit every hour or so and follow your doc's instructions to the letter- if you're not sure if you should or shouldn't do something, call and ask- better to be sure and no matter what you ask, it won't be the silliest question they've heard that week.

It's going to be fine, I think I bet you earlier that by the 4th of July, you'll be wondering what you were worried about and I stand by that wager.

I am going to be honest with you because all you are hearing is the happy stories. My situation is different. I am 3 days post op and I am in a LOT of pain. At rest it's not too bad but if I get up it very painful. I have one particular spot that is so sore it hurts to touch the skin in that location and its not an incision site. I have to make sure I take my pain meds every 4 hours because If I miss a dose it takes awhile to catch up with the pain.

I am not trying to scare you - I am sure you will be just fine but I don't want you to believe that it's going to be a breeze when it may not be. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

It was really really really annoying. Certain things hurt. But nothing that I couldn't get a good handle on. The pain doesn't last too long. Every other day I had noticeable change. Now, at day 15, I might take one Advil at night if I'm feeling pressure or discomfort in the lady regions. Honestly, like most people say, the gas pains and the anxiety before hand will prob give you the most discomfort. Then, it's just a loooong journey of many many random little things that will pop up and freak you out for a bit or annoy you or make you get banished to the couch or bed resulting in mind numbing boredom. At least for me that's how it's gone. Stay strong, little Jedi! You'll do fine, I'm sure of it! And we'll be here to listen when you feel like venting.

Nutmeg, it is very much okay to be scared. Have you talked to your surgeon about your fears? S/he has a lot of experience with this surgery and pain management.

This was my first surgery, too, and I was more scared about the pain after than the actual surgery. You will most likely have some pain, but they will not let you leave the castle until your pain is managed - and you are the master of determining that. I found setting my cell alarm and taking my meds on schedule helped me never have pain issues at home - and ice packs help, too.

What is happening that has you considering surgery? When is your surgery scheduled for? Have you read many of the pre-op articles?

I have a very large fibroid and my surgeon gave me different options. But he said it will probably keep getting bigger because I am not near menopause. Surgery 3-15-13

Hello Nutmeg,

You will be fine. The anxiety may be messing with your head a bit now, but whatever comes along you will manage.

My experience of the pain was that immediately post surgery I felt a hot, burning sensation (and it was a sensation, not a pain) then the IV meds kicked in very quickly and there was no pain. Really - I would describe it as sensations - fullness, tightness, tingling. The gas was uncomfortable for a day but chewing a Windeze at night meant there was a great cheer in the toilet the next day and all was well.

I stopped morphine and codeine the day after surgery and thereafter have been just ibuprofen and a little paracetamol (UK OTC meds). I am day 10 now and like others have said, you get odd ouchies here and there, a bit of soreness but I have not had real pain. The best description I can give is like the sensation of having had stinging nettles, or sunburn on my stomach with sometimes a heaviness or bloated feeling and an occasional poke or pain on the side when I get up.

My only advice would be to keep up the pain meds on a regular schedule untill you feel settled. My doc said to stay on top of it for at least the first week. I thought I would be a bit faster and cut my dose in half on day 7 and I had a sore day as a result and a restless night.

Good luck. It is an exciting adventure.

x

I was prepared for lots of pain but it never happened. That's not to say I haven't been uncomfortable but I left the hospital with my pain managed and it was about equal to my preop pain.

While we're talking about pain meds -- Will I need to wake up every four hours at night to take the meds? Or is it silly to think I'll be able to sleep for more than four hours? I'm in good health going in. Thanks