1 week away-getting nervous

HI Eveyone,

My surgery is coming up on 10/2/12. I am nervous and excited. I have been reading up everyone's experience right after surgery and their recovery. I noticed that everyone has mentioned the "gas pains". I am having the robotic surgery to remove my cervix, uterus and fibroids. I also suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (diarrhea type). How severe was the gas pains? I worry because my IBS can be a mess with stress. I will be taking the bowel prep the day before and will be working on eating bland foods a week prior to help relax my stomach. Just curious to see how strong the gas pains were and what remedies helped.

Thanks

Hi sis, I had a TAH on Aug 24th. The gas pains were on and off and I still get them, but not that often. I had BAD gas pains the second day of surgery. I had gas x and that helped a lot. Also walking helps, but its hard to walk that much right after surery because you are so tired and get wiped out fast. Try to not eat spicy or gassy foods. You will get through it tho. I remember everything that I went through, but looking back (only 4 weeks post op), it all kinda seems like a blurr... Good luck to you and a very speedy recovery and hope no gas pains for you!!

Hello, I have mild IBS too. I had a really bad time on Day 2 and 3 with gas pains, mostly because I hadn't been to the toilet before my op and was really backed up. I didn't go until Day 5 after using suppositories.

So my tips would be...
get your bowels cleaned out before the op!
try and get hold of some peppermint oil capsules - anti spasmodics (I took loads the first 4 days)
I was told to avoid liquid fibre as it made the spasms worse, stool softeners seemed be okay.
Some drugs, such as morphine, can add to the bowel discomfort, so ask the anaesthetist for advice on which pain meds to use.
If you really get bunged up, don't be embarrassed to ask a nurse for suppositories, they are really quick and effective (and not painful)

I know some people have had continued gas pain, but I found after my first BM I was fine. I did have to be careful what I ate to make sure I went regularly, but no more than usual!

Hope that helps!

Thank you ladies.. I will be having a bland diet one week prior (my choice). It will help my IBS. I also have to do a colon prep the day before. So my insides will be clean. LOL! I was just worried about the gas pains. I will be spending this week getting all my items I need for my hospital stay and aftercare.

Thanks again

Get a heat pack and peppermint capsules....and let the gas out lol!! All the best x