What to expect after TVH?

I would be grateful to hear from the Sisters that have gone through LVG - what to expect after? Is swelly belly & gas as much an issue as with TAH? How long it took you to stop feeling pain?
I am getting increasingly nervous about the whole thing, so I guess I am looking for some king of reassurance....

Thanks in advance!

I had a TVH and the pain I experienced after surgery was like bad cramps. My recovery room nurse gave me a couple of shots of Demerol in my IV and I had no pain anytime after that. I never used my PCA pump or took the Percoset I was sent home with. Of course, I'm just one case. Everyone is different.

I didn't have a problem with swelly belly or gas afterwards. The only swelly belly issue I had came around the 5th week post-op and it appeared at the end of the day as I had become a little more active (followed doctor's instructions though ). I think gas and swelly belly are individual experiences, too. Some have more issues with one or the other, or both, no matter what type hysterectomy they have.

I wish you the very best! Hang in there!

s, Deb

I had a TVH, I used the morphine pump at the hospital, but not alot; they moved me to percocet after 24 hours, I did that (1 pill every 6 hours for a couple of days, by day 3 I tapered to 1 pill every 8 hours then moved to motrin). I had the pills, I knew of no good reason to be in pain. I'm on occasional 400 mg motrin at this point as I carefully test my limits.

I had some gas and constipation. I have celiac and was undiagnosed until a few years ago, so I know intestinal distress. This was not too bad, but uncomfortable. I took the colace the Dr had ordered, 2 a day until the floodgates opened on about day 4 (after I stopped the percocet). I then stopped the colace because I had 2 days of D. I'm more or less settled now (day 10). HOWEVER, I ate more at dinner last night than I have been eating, and I had felt the bowels beginning to move, and I swear the colon must have brushed up against the vaginal cuff from the inside.... INTENSE pain, but only for a few seconds. just the weirdest thing.

So, nowhere near many of the TAH stories, but not a free ticket either....

I had a TVH and really had very little pain. I had a spinal which I feel helped the initial pain. When I got home I only took about 8 percocet to help sleep through the night. Sleeping at first felt different, as you lay on your side it feels like things are moving around but as days went on it improved.

I had a little swelly belly but it was not bad at all. I just went back to work today and I have some swelly belly back. To me that is a reminder of how important it is to listen to your body. Just remember everyone reacts and heals different. Also all of the hystersisters are awesome and I have learned so much.

I wish you the very best!

Thank you all so much for your responses & kind wishes!
I am getting increasingly anxious, and your words of encouragement really help.