pulling, burning pain on left side

This is Kathleen . I just had a TAH on Sept. 8, 2004 and I done really well from the surgery. I didn't have to take any pain killers and it was going along so good, BUT now I am having a lot of really bad, pulling, burning pain on my left side. I went to the DR. and was told it could be a hernia( which is what I thought also, as bad as it hurt), but after having a CAT scan it turns out that it is fluid pockets in the scar tissue. He told me it could be a little painful, but this is no little pain. I literally can't stand up for more than 2-5 minutes without needing to lay down because the pain is so intense. I had to break down and get my pain medicine filled to stand it. My question is; Is this normal for fluid build up to hurt this bad? He was not going to prescribe me any antibiotics until I told him how unbearable the pain was. He then said maybe I had a little infection. Would infection hurt this bad? I am at my whits end about this. I don't know how much longer I could take this awful pain if nothing works. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through anything similar to this. Thanks!!!

Hi Kathleen

I also had a TAH on 14th Sept and like you I was doing so well from surgery, no pain killers and when I got home I was feeling even better, but at the weekend I started to feel this pulling, burning sensation in my left side as well, almost like it was tied too tightly, (if you know what I mean). I noticed that I had about three external stitches on that side and there was some redness around the stitches. In the hospital they did point this out to me and said the reason for the external stitches is because they had problems sewing it together ewwwwww

I went to the DR and he gave me antibiotics for what he thought was an infection starting. He did not mention fluid pockets in the scare tissue. OK I thought, but by the next morning I had a very dodgy stomach, I was concerned considering I had not been to the toilet hardly, then all of sudden it was probably a weeks worth. So concerned I called the doctor back and he changed the tablets. The sharp burning pain has gone, but the left side is taking longer to heal I have noticed and feels more painful than the other side.

I hope this helps you a bit ! Since coming out of hospital I have logged on to this website everyday and I want to say how informative and helpful everyone is, when I have thought about a problem, I just log on and the answer is there. This is my first time posting and I hope it will be one of many.

So hi to everyone and looking forward to getting to know you all

Pulling and burning is most often normal. Sometimes it will last for a few months post op....and should get less and less over time. Then you may have a tugging sensation without pain OR if you do too much or sudden movements, you may get a sharp pain. In any case, if you are concerned about it, call and talk to a nurse. At 1 year 8 months post, my incision still aches if I am too active- or on my feet too much. Take Care..

Thanks for the posts girls. I appreciate you taking the time out to do it. I will try to be more patient. Maybe the antibiotics will kick in soon.If this left side pain would go away, I would feel like a million! Thanks again and good luck to you all!!!! Kathleen

I am now at 4 weeks post op, but when i had my operation on the wednesday, out of hospial on the saturday, stiches out on the sunday, and by the tuesday morning i had teribble burning on the inside of the incision,yes you guessed it in my left side ,there was no terrible pain more like aches, i realised straight away that it was an infection, i rang the doctors and was put on antibiotics, straight away they started to work and the infection subsided, but i was left with a little red lump on the left hand side where the infection had been, anyway this week this little lump as began to weep a little so i am wearing a dress over it the doctor has had a look and said just to let it be, i have and already it is starting to look better, if the pain getts any worse i would say for you to go back down to see your doctor.

Thank you for the post. I will go back if it continues to hurt this bad. Thanks again! Kathleen

I am 4 wks. post-op amd am having problems on my left side also. My Dr. told me yesterday that the bladder is there and that I had a bladder infection. I have had bladder infections in the past but do not feel like I have one now. Then she did a culture from inside my vagina and said I have an infection in there and that this strong Cipro antibiotic would take care of it.
When I got up this morning I had very sharp pains in this same area, left side right below the end of my incision line which is healed.
I can not even stand up straight because of the pain. I was tempted to go to the emergency room tonight but called the Dr. and she called back and said take some tylenol, go lay down and put on the heating pad. She says I probably pulled a muscle. I don't see how when all I did was slowly get out of bed.
Now I am still concerned and plan to go to Medac or somewhere tomorrow and get another opinion on whats going on. Just to ease my mind.
My best to all of you and speedy recovery.

Thanks
maybe a pulled a muscle also. All I know is it is really bad pain. I can't do anything because it pulls on it terrible. I hope you get to feeling better. Thanks for writing and telling me your story. Good Luck!!! Kathleen

I put heat to my left side and then left it there for awhile and I can tell a little difference. Maybe it is a pulled muscle and the heat it relaxing it some. I sure hope so. I just know this is not normal pain from an operation. I have had enough to know. I really appreciate the posts girls and a good, speedy recovery to you all! Thanks, Kathleen

I 'm almost 8 weeks post op, and I also have pain, off and on, to the left side of my incision since right after surgery. The rest of my incision is fine, but the left side has always been worse since day 1. It's not as often or as bad as it was at first, but I occasionally still get it. I wonder why it seems a lot of women get this left sided incisionl pain.