(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Saturday Top Comments: Recovery Edition [1] ['Wafflehacker Aka Joshhacks'] Date: 2026-07-25 Pain sucks. Let me get that out of the way first. I know, you’re thinking “DUH, no kidding it sucks”, but when you’re living alone, albeit fully able, outpatient surgery sucks big time. Granted, it’s not the pain when I had my sleeve gastrectomy, because they woke me up early for reasons, but at least that only lasted around 5 minutes (an eternity) before the drugs kicked in and I went back to sleep in my hospital room. But still, if your procedure requires a hospital stay, at least what they give you will keep you out of it enough so that the initial post surgical pain is at a very low level. But when it’s outpatient, and you’re home later in the day…that’s another story. So on this past Thursday, I had my gall bladder out. Thankfully my surgeon was proactive and I was able to get it done by scope instead of cutting. Reading his notes on what was found, I was lucky. Stones were in the duct, inflammation caused adherence to the duodenum, and so on. So when I woke up, it mostly felt like really achy stiff muscles, except right in my middle near my bellybutton. That was a rather sharp pain. And coughing didn’t help. Duh. Then I stood up. When you have a lot of fat, even after losing lots of weight, and everything has started to sag so that when you sit down it all pools around your belly, if you stand, gravity asserts itself. That’s a bit of a strain on the scope incisions, especially on the one they enlarged for the actual removal of the bladder. Hence the sharp pain. But I’m digressing too much. Back to the pain. Thursday I got home, and the only thing that seemed to be going on was pain while coughing, and very tough to stand (because gravity). I was able to make some rice cooked in stock for my meals the next couple days. Friday I felt worse. I was taking the pain meds prescribed at the proper times, but still. Plus it could have been me, but the area around the bellybutton felt hotter. Later in the evening I too my temperature and it said 99.3. And I did feel that fever buzz you get. But sleep cures all. And I’ve slept. The hardest part of sleeping is of course getting out of bed. Because the core is so involved. and that brings me to the toughest part, which I’ve mentioned time and time again. Standing. The act of standing still hurts all the parts. The second hardest thing? Waistbands, even of the loosest clothes. Because they sit right at the incision point. But things are better today. I still have the one spot I have to brace while coughing, and that pain is still sharp, but as I sit, it has noticeably lessened. I’m gonna be OK, knock wood. My follow up is in a week and a half, and hopefully that goes well. Now I know how one of my friends felt in May when he had his out. And in the meantime, do what your Dr. says, take all your meds, and now on to Tops! Here at Top Comments we strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site’s best, funniest, most mojo’d & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! Here’s the new & improved DK6 version of how to submit nominations: If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, because of course you read these excellent comments, please send it either to topcomments at gmail dot com or send a kosmail to the username topcomments (below the avatar, click “Send Message”) by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find! It’s especially helpful if you include a link to the comment you’re nominating… hover over the comment and you’ll see Share and Report options. Click Share, then choose ”copy url” and paste that into your message to us. From RosyFinch: “Hereʼs what I think was a great reply: Rasil Bathbone stated personal judgment AND explained rationale. I would feel comfortable explaining why my own choice of Best Holmes is Benedict Cumberbatch. It is refreshing to feel the discussion is open and might be fun. Reply by @rasil-bathbon https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/22/800073162/community/you-can-think-it-but-dont-say-it/?__vfz=medium%3Dcomment_share%7Csharer_uuid%3D00000000-0000-4000-8000-0a012e769ef0#vf-019f8be4-d213-7b42-8445-5b1be322abef Story by @reasonabill ReasonaBill July 22 https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/22/800073162/community/you-can-think-it-but-dont-say-it/ If this is a repeat of a comment submission, the writer apologizes. 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