Apendix pain help

Are you splinting with the pillow when coughing, deep breathing, or sitting/standing up as I suggested earlier? Is the incision open to air with the surgical steristip in place or covered with a gauze pad? If covered, is the bandage wet with either clear or red discharge? If open, what does the area around the incision look like. Of course after surgery the actual incision will be a reddish/pinkish color and you may have some bruising due to manipulation of the tissue. Is the steristrip (a long piece of tape looking material over the length of the incision) clean (or no change from when you left the hospital) it should be clear OR any blood on it should be dark and old–any fresh, red areas on the strip? Dear, you have just had major surgery—you have had your skin opened. Unfortunately, with most surgeries the pain gets worse before it gets better. Take your pain meds every 4-6 hrs (I’m assuming they gave you either Vicodin or Percocet) or however the prescription is written and if it says take 1 to 2 tablets and 1 doesn’t help, take the 2nd one after an hour following the first one. Remember what I told you about not being afraid to use the pain meds. You can call your Dr to check, but ibuprofen (Motrin) can help with the swelling which is part of the pain in itself. The tissue is angry for the insult brought on it. And use ice, ice, ice!! Ice packs help a lot with the swelling as well.