How much pain "should" DH be in

[FinnyStory]

I've posted previously about the anxiety before the op but DH has now had his surgery (yesterday) and seems to be in pretty good shape, all things considered.

I haven't been able to visit but I have spoken to him and he is complaining that the pain relief (morphine) isn't working.

He's had a kidney removed and has an incision the entire width of his abdomen. I'm thinking that what ever the pain relief he's still going to be feeling some pain.

Or isn't he? Should they be doing something better for him?

I thought the current theory was that people got going faster, and thus needed less time in hospital, if their post op pain was kept under good control. If the pain relief really isn't cutting it, worth telling someone.

Wishing him a speedy recovery.

If the pain relief isn't working he needs to talk to the nurses. Morphine is pretty much a case of balancing pain relief with being stoned out of your skull, (if my experience was anything to go by!). Yes I would expect to be uncomfortable in waves as the morphine wore off and it wasn't time for the next dose yet, but i would expect it and whatever other painkillers they are giving him to have some effect. Is he saying it isn't having any effect?

From what I understand, it is a very painful thing to have done.
However, he can be given other pain relief alongside morphine if he needs it. He needs to insist.
A little bit of pain is a good thing as it stops you from over-doing things, but bad pain that is all you can think about isn't.

My husband had heart surgery and was on a morphine drip with a press button for 2 days, then he was on 8 paracetamol a day when he came home, 5 days after op. After 2 weeks he tried to cut down, but the pain was bad. Speaking to the rehab team that rang, they said after major surgery, keep taking the 8 tablets a day for at least 4 weeks. He gradually decreased the tablets each week.

He needs his pain controlled well enough for him to be able to take a deep breath and to be able to move about a bit. If he can't breathe properly he's at risk of developing a chest infection. If he can't mobilise he's increasing his risk of getting a clot in his leg.

My DH had an emergency appendectomy and then repeat surgery on the site after it got infected. He was given morphine both times and it just didn't work for him. Apparently there are people who don't metabolise it properly and have to have alternatives. Could that be the case here?

Thanks all. He had an epidural in initially but said that wasn't working. Then oral morphine which he also says didn't have any effect (must have a bit?) although he was coherent whe I spoke to him so I don't know how much. Apparently they're coming to give him the self administer pump thing this evening, so it seems like they're on it, even if it's taking longer than he'd like.