Should pain from laparoscopic surgery last for 2 weeks!

[240zgirl]

I had laparoscopic surgery on January 11 for removal of right ovary, tube and hemorrhagic cyst. I had severe cramping before surgery. Surgery was ok, no problems, Dr. said everything was as expected. Now it is 2 weeks later and I have been on vicadin(80 tabs over 2 weeks and I NEVER take any kind of pain medicine, barely even advil) which I have been able to decrease down to 2 tabs (500mg) twice a day, once in late morning and once late at night. I saw my Dr. yesterday and she said everthything was looking good and I could slowly start taking walks. I did a very small amount of walking (about 1/4 to 1/2 mile), maybe more than I should have, but I am a 25 mile a week runner, so I thought I would be ok.
The Dr. suggested that I try to stop the vicadin and switch to tylenol 3, I tried this today and it did not help the pain. The Dr. just had to renew the prescription for the vicadin. My question is, should I still have this much pain from surgery at 2 weeks? Did I just do to much walking to soon? I thought this would be an easy thing, and I would be pretty much back to normal by now, or at least not have this cramping pain. Should I seek a second opinion from another doctor? I am now kid of freaking out that there is something more going on. Thanks for any help with this.

[TiffRox]

Well hearing each of your stories makes my symptoms feel a little bit more normal. Like you, I expected to be back on my feet within a week, with all of these pain issues being LONG behind me. Apparently, that's not the case! I'm on my 4th day, since the surgery, and still taking my pills like crazy! My pain is more like a "stabbing" sensation...not sure if it compares to yours, but definitely not normal. It's difficult to even get out of bed! In fact, almost impossible. Ugh...hopefully it will get better for us all soon!

[240zgirl]

Thank you so much, it is reassuring to me that this pain is normal.  I thought I would only have pain from the site of the ovary removal.

Yes, good advice on the vicadin also, don't think I could ever get hooked on it though, because I absolutley hate the way it makes me feel.  They determined that I am slightly allergic to it as it causes me to have exciteability and insominia( which is just great on top of everything else) but it is the only thing that takes away the pain.

I am so glad you are here, it really helps ease my anxiety, Thank you again.

[MarieMichele]

Yes, weening off means longer gaps between doses and smaller doses until you don't need it anymore.  That does not mean to suffer if the reduced dosing does not help with the pain.  You also do not want to get hooked on the stuff since at some point the doctor will not renew the prescription.

The internal pain you described sounds about right to me.  They did a lot of work internally even if it does not seem like it externally.

I do not know why doctors always downplay how long it will take to recover.  They make it sound like a walk in the park, but no abdominal surgery is THAT easy on the body.  Yes, laparoscopy is easier than open surgery, but it is still surgery.  Healing times can be longer than advertised.

[240zgirl]

Thank you MarieMichele and DaniDante for your responses. Yes, BM's are fine, followed advise here on prunes, veggies, and fiber cereal. I didn't realize two weeks was the minimal recovery.  My Dr. made it seem as though I would be fine in a week. I just keep thinking something else must be wrong because of the type of pain, I guess. I haven't seen anyone describe their pain...mine is like menstrual cramps, only ten times worse, I don't have pain from incisions, just a slight soreness on the right side where they took the overy, nothing that I wouldn't need any kind of pain medicine for. It's the cramping, it is just the same as before the surgery, although, it must be getting slightly better as I have been able to cut way down on the vicadin from every 4 hours to every 10-12 hours. They diagnosed a ruptured hemorrhagic cyst. I guess I was nieve, I thought that removing the cyst would take away the cramps. So if I can go longer between doses of vicadin, is that what is weening off? Will I just keep being able to go longer between doses, or take one pill insted of two untill the pain is so small that I won't need them? I appreciate your help, I have not had surgery since my cesarean 21 years ago, and have not had to ever take any kind of prescription  pain medicine since that time, so I am just kind of freaking out at having to take so much medicine as well as still having the bad cramps, as I am a very health conscience person.
Also, I will follow your advise and go much slower with trying to increase physical activity. Thanks again for your support, I am so glad I found this forum, it helped me tremendously with the nervousness before surgery.

[MarieMichele]

Are you managing OK with bowel movements?The Vicodine can really slow things down and lead to constipation which can then lead to too much straining against the internal parts that are still healing. Two weeks of minimal activity is the basic recovery period for laparoscopic surgery. Maybe you did more than you should? Too much lifting, walking, or other physical activity too soon can set back recovery times and make overall recovery take longer. Just be patient about having to live a less active lifestyle a bit longer and ween off the pain killers as soon as you can do so comfortably, especially the narcotic ones like Vicodine.

[DaniDante]

I think what u are experiencing is normal. That shoulder pain is the worst!!! I had the same surgery on 1/18. I had a tennis ball size cyst removed from right ovary. I have been reading a ton of experiences with this and u sound normal. I came on here a few days ago asking about pain and pressure on my bladder 5 days after surgery and Marie Michele told me yes it's normal.
I had that shoulder pain for days. And everyone says it should be gone after 24 hrs. And I have the cramping pressure still 8 days later. Everyone says to be patient. It's hard I know. Good luck.