Esophageal Myotomy

Recovering from Surgery: Pain & Discomfort

Once home you should feel better every day. Each day should bring more freedom of movement and activity. It is important to let us know if you experience pain postoperatively that was not present prior to discharge.

After surgery you can expect some pain in your abdomen where the small incisions are. Although we used local anesthetic during the procedure, pain will develop at these sites 6 to 9 hours later. How much pain a patient experiences usually depends on the individual and not on the operation itself.
You may have shoulder pain for the first few days after surgery. This is from the carbon dioxide gas used during surgery. That pain usually goes away in 24 to 48 hours. It helps to lie with your feet higher than your head when you feel this pain.
Pain in you chest or shoulder that is associated with eating is usually not serious and will go away. If it does not go away after an hour or two, call the office. This relates to food becoming stuck during swallowing. Call the offvice immediately if you experience sudden, severe pain that is unrelated to swallowing (especially pain in the upper abdomen); it could represent a significant problem.

Medication

You received a prescription for a narcotic: hydrocodone (Vicodin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) with codeine. You can take one or two tablets every 4 to 6 hours. Call the office if you have trouble swallowing pills; a prescription for liquid pain medicine can be provided.

If you experience itching or rash with the medication, stop taking it immediately and call the office. If you do not like the drowsy feeling associated with these medications or need less pain relief, try aspirin, extra strength Tylenol or ibuprofen (Advil). The dosages are:

Ibuprofen, 600 mg every 6 hours
Extra strength Tylenol, two every 6 hours, or
Aspirin, two every 6 hours

Call the office if your pain is not controlled by these medications. It is helpful to take some type of pain medicine (narcotic or over-the-counter) before getting out of bed in the morning and before going to sleep for the first few days after surgery.

Fever

A low-grade body temperature, up to 101°, is acceptable for a few days after surgery, but it should not go higher nor last more than 24 to 48 hours. Call the office if your body temperature is greater than 101° or lasts more than 48 hours.

Difficulty Breathing

Occasionally some patients will have a sensation that they cannot catch their breath. While the reason for this is not known, it is not cause for any concern. It probably relates to micro-collapse of air sacs in the lung during the operation, caused by the pressure placed on your diaphragm by the gas. The resultant sighs and deep breaths you take re-expand these areas. However, if you are having significant difficulty breathing, call the office immediately or go to the emergency room.

Digestive discomfort >>

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