What pains are normal and what pains are not?

I had my surgery 6/20, so I know that I am not supposed to be feeling perfect. However, I have pain on my incison, which looks great, but painful on the right side only. And it almost feels like it is deep inside. Also, sleeping has been almost impossible. As soon as I sit or lay for more than an hour I get a very bad back pain in my upper left side behind my lung. I assumed it was from not being to move really good right after surgery. But now that I am home and have alittle bit more mobility it has only gotten worse. The pain is not something that can be rubbed out either. I have read about symptoms of blood clots which mention back pain, but I do not have any other symptoms. Also, when I lay on my side it feels like my right side is being torn apart, no matter which way I lay. I am really not a big baby, I know it is still soon...but my back hurts almost more than the surgery itself...help...I want to sleep.
HUG to ALL!!

I also had the very bad back pain and sleeping on my side was impossible. I started sleeping semi- propped up with pillows under my knees. It looked really funny, but it helped for awhile. My buttom suffered as it always felt numb.

WitchiePoo,
Try walking a little more, when you sit for long periods of time you will get stiff. for the sleeping part, do like Love4Tea does, prop the pillows up. I still dont sleep on my stomach. and the sides are kind of hard too. the incision on the right side is still a little open.

Witchiepoo,

I am sorry it is so painful for you. I had pretty much the same problem. It felt like my right side was ripping open underneath my incision. It took 2 weeks before I could manage to lay on my side and then only with a pillow under my side and between my knees (takes pressure off of back). Sleeping propped up in a chair for 2 weeks my back and bottom both just throbbed.

If you back pain remains intense please give your dr a quick call. Never hurts to ask plus a little reassurance that all is fine goes along way.

Hope you feel better soon

I had an LAVH on June 26, 2007 I had the same sensation about a week post op. I ran a slight fever come to find out the thought I either had a blood clot or pnuemonia . It turned out to be pnuemonia with pleurisy. I was put in the hospital for two days on IV abx. then sent home on pain meds for pleurisy and abx. I would go see your Dr. ASAP it could be walking pnuemonia. Hope I helped I don't want to scare you but it is better to be safe then sorry!!
lola1

I would also say it justifies a quick call to the dr. Hopefully it is just muscles recovering but you don't want to risk anything.. you are further out then me and I have had my share of pains.. hahahah.. (don't laugh at me) but that isn't one of them. I had pneumonia and pleurisy last December and it's nothing to fool around with.. heck it took almost 3 months for the pleurisy to go away. Huge hugs and letus know how you are doing!

Hello ladies~ Thanks for your thoughts. I ended up going to the dr and she said it was normal pains, so I took 5 antibiotics that I had left from a dental visit and it went away, which tells me it wasnt normal pain. Hopefully the 5 pills were enough to kill what ever it was. I have felt better but just not myself.
Thanks again...
TO ALL!!
~Tonie

Have you been checked for a UTI? On the evening of the 23rd I had to make a run to them ER because of my back pain and low grade fever.

The dr didnt check me for anything...she said it was due to me not moving around a lot and possibly my position on the table during surgery...she told me to get a rub down, as if I could lay on my stomach??

~Tonie

Keep an eye on it - mine snuck up on me. The sign I had was the low grade fever and back pain.

I am glad you are feeling better