Question on Pain

I didn't have a problem with pain management. I had the typical patient-controlled IV in the hospital but never asked what it was - I'm assuming morphine. I zapped myself every 30-45 minutes at the beginning and whenever I attempted movement. Before long, it was once an hour. I was uncomfortable and felt a little fragile, but not in severe pain.

Once home, I took the percocet (oxycontin) every 4-6 hours or so but by about a week at home had weaned myself down to only before bed and sometimes during the night. I supplemented with ibuprofen (Advil) as needed.

Some of the pain meds you go home with can cause constipation right when you don't need it - your bowels take a while to "wake up" after being under anesthesia. So, it is like a double whammy. That's why I got off the oxycontin as soon as I could.

By about 2 weeks post-op, I wasn't taking anything regularly and only ibuprofen on occasion. By 6 weeks post-op, I'd pretty much forgotten I'd had the surgery - despite the big ole 8-inch incision in my belly.

Some of us have pain, but some of u tolerate this surgery very well and weather the storm easily. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones like me! Sure, there was pain, but it was easily managed, that's all.

Good luck!