At first, the most effective way to deal with gastric bypass pain is with prescription pain medication. When you are in the hospital after gastric bypass surgery, you will likely receive pain medication through an intravenous (IV) line. In fact, your doctor may use a patient-controlled medication system to allow you to control the administering of the IV pain medicine. Once you no longer need medication through an IV or have checked out of the hospital, however, you may deal with gastric bypass pain by taking oral pain medication your doctor prescribes. Additionally, following your doctor's instructions regarding resting and physical activity may help you better manage the pain.
After a gastric bypass and while you are still hospitalized, you may receive pain medication through an IV. This is intended to help you through the initial days of recovery. Depending on your doctor's preferences, you may receive the IV pain medication via a patient-controlled analgesia system. This sort of system allows you to push a button when you are ready for the next dose of medication rather than waiting for a nurse to visit your room and administer it. These systems are usually carefully programmed to ensure that you cannot take an overdose of the medication your doctor prescribes for gastric bypass pain.
When your doctor has decided it is time to stop the IV pain medications or it is time to go home to finish recovering, you may switch to pain medication in pill form. A doctor may prescribe a prescription medication to help control your pain in the initial days of recovery. For example, he may prescribe such medications as hydrocodone or acetaminophen combined with codeine. As gastric bypass pain gradually tapers off, however, you may not need the prescription pain medications any longer. At this point, you may use over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, to manage your mild-to-moderate gastric bypass pain.
While medications may provide the most immediate and effective method of controlling gastric bypass pain, you may find that following your doctor’s instructions help as well. For example, following his instructions for resting, getting physically active, and even eating properly may help you avoid unnecessary pain or better handle any gastric bypass pain you are already experiencing. Additionally, you may employ relaxation techniques and meditation to control your discomfort. Some people even assert that listening to relaxing music helps minimize the perception of pain.
