Is This Pain Normal?

I had an abdominal hysterectomy on 8/21/07. The epidural did not work and I was in recovery for over 2 hours, with the morphine pump not controlling the pain. Later in the day, they gave me morphine in my IV, which helped. I came home the next day, and was on Percocet for a week, which controlled the pain. After my 1-week doctor visit, he switched me to Darvacet, which gave me weird dreams, and I switched to Tylenol, which the doctor recommended. During the Percocet, I had terrible constipation and had painful BMs. Since switching to Tylenol, I still have pain and am unable to do much of anything - after 3 weeks! I am discouraged! I don't know if I have damage internally from the bout with constipation, or if something inside is not healing properly. I hurt almost constantly, in the area of my incision, but inside. I'm also still spotting some, even though I had stopped after about a week for a couple of days. I'm also hardly sleeping. Do I have cause for alarm?

Hi there,

I think if your feeling so much discomfort it may be worth a visit to your doctor. It doesn't matter whether it's only just for reassurance and peace of mind for you. It is normal to still have pain at this stage of recovery but if your worried about the incision then perhaps a visit would be best.

Take care.......Karen

Hi (((joesbeaux)))
Welcome to Hystersisters! I'm sorry you've had such a rough time of it so far. I see you are just today 3 wks out from your surgery. I know it can seem like a long time, but you are still very early in your recovery. Most women aren't able to do very much yet, without causing pain.
It is possible you could have hurt yourself straining, but it could be that you are trying to do too much too. I agree with (((Karen))) it might be a good idea to go in and have everything checked out to make sure nothing more is going on.

Have you read through the Checkpoints? They will give you an idea of what to expect at each stage in your recovery and tips on what not to be doing. I would suggest you rest and see if you can get the pain under control and then try doing very little and see where your limits are right now. If you continue to hurt, even when resting that will be a sure sign you need to see your dr and find out what's going on.
I hope you get to feeling better soon. Keep us posted on your progress.
's, Rita

I'm so sorry you're still in pain.

I agree that a call to the doctor is a good plan right now. Also, a visit to the doctor (so he/she can see if you're having trouble just moving around, etc.) would be a good thing.

At your stage post-op, I was still in considerable discomfort. While many (((sisters))) are off stronger pain meds at less than one week post-op, not all are. I'm not saying that you necessarily need more pain meds, but if you feel you do, it may still be appropriate for you.

At one week post-op, I went to one of my surgeons to have another staple put in my incision. (My incision was hip-to-hip because of the panniculectomy they did along with the TAH.) I said I was almost out of vicodin, and he said, "Just take ibuprofen. But go ahead and take TWO at a time (meaning 400 mg.)." I just didn't know what to say -- but I knew that wasn't going to cut it for me.

Two days later, one of my surgical drains needed to come out, and they sent me to my GP. She took one look at the way I was walking down the hall and said, "What are you taking for pain?" I said I only had two vicodin left and I was trying to make them last because the surgeon wouldn't refill. She reached right for her prescription pad and wrote out another prescription, saying, "Your body can't heal if it's in pain." She continued to refill as necessary during my six-week time off work.

I guess I'm saying this episode taught me that, in my case at least, I no longer expect my surgeons to manage my ongoing pain. (I really thought they should, too. I don't think that's a strange expectation, but now I think I was mistaken.) My GP knows my whole situation better, is much closer and my relationship with her isn't transitory (like it is with my surgeons). Just a thought for you.

I also had difficulty sleeping at night, and I found that avoiding the mid-day naps was the best cure for that. I had forgotten how difficult it can be to sleep at night if I catnap during the day!

All my best wishes. I hope you feel better soon.

I appreciate the responses. On Monday, 9/10, I developed a sinus infection/congestion in the midst of all this! I called by OB-GYN about calling me in a prescription for an antibiotic and to ask about the pain and my problems. He seemed to think that the pain was a normal process, but still seemed to think the over-the-counter pain medications would suffice. He did not think it necessary to see me. He did call me in a prescription for a Z-pack, which immediately started helping my congestion. The coughing and sneezing has definitely not helped my pain either! I am doing better from the sinus infection, and my pain is a little lighter. I'm taking 3 Tylenol (1,500 mg) every 4 hours. I've also during this week been taking a cough syrup with codine at night, so I've been sleeping much better! Also, the pressure to urinate frequently has subsided somewhat. I guess it's just taking me longer to mend than a lot of people. It couldn't be my age, could it?? I turn 62 next week, but am very active and healthy and reasonably physically fit. I guess my body is telling me I'm not as young as I think I am!

I don't think I have strained myself. I've done very little. My wonderful husband, who is a pastor, and is doing double duty with me, has literally waited on me hand and foot! He developed the same problem with congestion that I did, but has kept going and has improved on his own without help from antibiotics. After a week, I did spread up my bed with his help, and sorted the clothes for him to launder. I've folded towels and underwear, and that's the extend of what I've done. I haven't sat up much either; I've practically lived in bed. It has hurt to sit up for too long at a time.

At any rate, this website has been SO helpful to me! I just wish I had discovered it before my surgery. I really was not well informed at all about this surgery. It was the very first surgery of any kind I have ever had. Not even a lot of friends who had gone through this were very helpful. One friend made me a stomach pillow and warned me that laughing, sneezing, coughing, etc. would hurt, or I would not even have been prepared for that!

I hope I'm turning the corner! Tuesday, 9/18, will be 4 weeks, and I'm ready to at least go back to church, let alone going back to work! Thanks for all the help. The checkpoints have been helpful, too.