Discomfort and Pain
Quick Facts:
- Everyone has a different pain threshold and you should not be embarrassed to ask for medication
- Some patients may require narcotic pain medication
- For most, Tylenol is sufficient to manage the pain
- Pain can come from the incisions themselves or trapped gas in the abdomen
As the anesthesia wears off, you may begin to feel some discomfort. The medical staff tending to you will be mindful of any pain you may be feeling, but we encourage you to tell the clinical staff how you feel. We do not want you to suffer, but we also don’t want to overmedicate. Since everyone has a different threshold for pain, it is up to you to guide us.
Some patients may require narcotic medication during their hospital stay and possibly for a few days after discharge. We encourage patients to wean themselves off of narcotic medication when acetaminophen (Tylenol) is sufficient to eliminate their discomfort.
An odd sensation, but perfectly normal, is dull or sharp pain in the shoulder. This is most often caused by trapped residual gas in the abdomen. While this is perfectly normal, it can be alarming. If this pain is accompanied by shortness of breath or other symptoms of a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Gas pain usually dissipates within a few days after surgery.
