questions

I read some of the posts re gas post-op.How can one avoid it best?Anybody who had something that worked please help.Scheduled for SAH 5/19 due to large fibroid and pain.
Thank you
Salvia

There was a lot of talk about gas pain on this board when I was pre-op. A lot of the ladies recommended Gas-X. I stocked up on it before my surgery and got the OK to use it from my dr before I was discharged. Thankfully, I never had the dreaded gas pain after my surgery but did have the need recently and it worked well. I was told that walking is a good way to help avoid this problem.

I do suggest that you talk to your dr about any over-the-counter meds and get his OK.

frequent walks, drinking something warm like hot cocoa and gas-x are what worked for me. I'm sure not eating foods containing beans and other gas producers are good too.
Oh and drink lots of water. I put benefiber in my water twice a day. I don't know if that did anything for me, but I thought it couldn't hurt.

I had a couple of bouts with gas, but all-in-all I think I did good. I didn't have any constipation problems so that was a bonus.

Try to avoid using a straw once you can manage drinking without one. Avoid carbonated beverages and ice chips (which you may need at first, just don't gulp down large quantities, there are air pockets between those chips). If carbonated beverages are your favorite, let it get flat first. Walking the day after surgery, working up to 3-4 walks a day while in the castle, more if gas pains strike you. Lay on your left side, helps facilitate it moving on out. Hot water bottle/heating pad if ok'd by your doctor. Pain pills and morphine slow the gut down...if you can, reduce what you take, but that isn't always possible. Stool softeners can help. If you are miserable ask for a dulcolax suppository, if no bm results it at least stimulates the colon. Gas X or phazyme hleps. The ingredient in these is mylicon that breaks up the gas allowing it to pass easier...Mylanta has this in it and sometimes the doctors order straight mylicon, which is simethicone by generic name. Walk walk walk walk.

Gas can be sooo unpleasant. What worked for me: Gas-X, Chamomile tea, Lots of fruit, avoid "gassy" foods and my favorite item a RICE SOCK. This was given to me in the hospital by a nurse that had TAH- and it was very helpful. Fill a tube sock with long grain rice, tie off the end in a note and heat in Microwave approx 1-2 mins. Place rice sock upper abdomen. The heat supposedly helps move the gas along. I would move the rice along in the sock Do not put the rice sock over the incision! The warmth of the rice sock was very comforting and soothing.
Teri
TAH/RSO 4/8/03

I had problems with gas and with bowel movements,I just couldn't either and the things that helped me were the gas x chewables with malox in them,the malox help with stomach acids.And a rocking chair,those first few days I didn't feel like walking much,I was just toooo tired,The rocking chair uses gravity where your sitiing up to move things downward and the rocking motion gently rocks things down ward.It really helped me.
Good luck I hope all goes well for you.