I had stitches there also....well on the right side. I was glued shut with internal sutures in the muscle. It's the largest incision I have. It took a few weeks for it to stop hurting when I put the muscle under strain. I would say it was about 4 weeks before it stopped or at least I noticed it stopped. Then when I tried to jog a little between 4-5 weeks it still didn't like it. I haven't tried doing any large amounts sit ups or anything because the doc said that one particularly takes about 3 months to fully heal up because it was the through the muscle. So the pain is normal. It may subside quicker for you, or may take just a bit longer. Depends on how quick you heal. I wouldn't try to work it too much for at least 4-5 weeks, but let it tell you what it can do. That is a serious hernia waiting to happen.

On a side note, my sutures are currently exiting my body through that incision. Sorta wierd having white strings sticking out lol.

boomerkae wrote: »

That's my most painful spot too. It looks weird too - it's sort of dented/dimpled in unlike the others. Almost looks like a new belly button, where the others are on smoother terrain.

Yep, mine is dented/dimpled also. Doc said it would release and return to normal when all the sutures exit my body.

The way the doctor explained it to me is that (for me at least) he doesn't cut the muscle itself, but the sheath surrounding the muscle. That is what I got a couple of stitches in, and then he just pulls the muscle fibers/bundles open to make a big enough hole to get the organ out. The pulled muscle feeling was the muscle stretching he did, and the pain is the stitched sheath. either way, 8 weeks of no ab work would allow the stitched part to heal to most of the strength it would have. I'm now 9 weeks out, so i guess I should do some ab work to see how it feels.

I didn't notice any pain there after 4 or 5 weeks unless I was doing something strenuous like the last, hard reps of bench press or lat pulldowns.

Rob

I have 6...1 on the right side of my belly button, the bulb that allowed me to administer my own pain meds was inserted in through my belly button so that's my longest/biggest.
Besides 1 being about 3 finger lengths up above my belly button, the other 3 are scattered to the left of my stomach.

loriloftness wrote: »

Jamezln, yours are like mine except your large one is on the right and mine is on the left. I got steristrips to hold mine together.

Yep, that's the weird thing. A lot of folks have the big incision on the left. Funny thing is that if you click on the image, it rotates back upright. Did't have any pumps or drains. Just the I.V. where they injected the pain meds the first day before I began drinking them the second day.

--James

Maybe, i'll have to ask him when I see him again in January. I think it's interesting.

I think it's funny how it's all blown up like a balloon. I still remember that first escape. Thought it would never end.

My larger incision is centered about 3 inches over my belly button. I had steri-strips and my pain medication was injected into my IV. Thanks for posting the picture Jamezin. It is interesting to discuss and compare incisions and how they are sealed as well as pain medication. I think it's neat that I had a husband and wife (both Bariatric Surgeons) perform my procedure. lol. I'm looking forward to my 6 week check in with my Surgeon on Dec. 29. It seems like a long time to wait after such major surgery. I did see my GP for a 1 week check in as was recommended before surgery. If I have any questions, issues or concerns I can always call the surgeon's office or the Bariatric Team who work out of the hospital.

I also noticed pain when lying on my left side for the first few weeks. By far the larger incision above the belly button must be where they pulled the stomach out of before they stapled what was left. My larger incision is still quite sensitive at 3 1/2 weeks out.