Is this swelly belly?

Had my LAVH at 9:30 am on 6/10/08, and was home by noon on 6/11/08. I ended up having a spinal block, and the initial recovery after surgery seemed much easier as a result. I did not have a catheter, but still had trouble getting the bladder working at first. The nursing staff was great, especially since I had to pee about every half hour once my bladder started working. I feel lucky in that I have had very little pain, but it is deceptive and therefore hard to make myself take it easier. I do feel constantly bloated, especially after eating even small meals. Is the swelly belly everyone keeps talking about?

ELS41

It's great to have you join us!

I'm so pleased your recovery is going well and with little pain, but you're absolutely right in that it can make it easier to overdo things.

Have you found our <link> Post-Op Page yet? It's absolutely packed with information, including articles that will answer most of your questions, and weekly checkpoints, too.

I hope some of your ((sisters)) will be along very soon to share and, in the meantime, I'm sending all good wishes for your recovery!

Yes, blaoting sounds as if swelly belly might be partly the culprit. Not to be too nosy, but if you have not yet had a BM, that is probably contributing to the bloated feeling.

Welcome to the board and I'm glad you are starting your healing so well! Yes, the internal swelling combined with the sluggish instestines and gas started out my swelling early on in my recovery too!

my swelly belly is physically noticeable....

Yes Michelle mine too especially really low center, as the day goes on it gets worse!

Stay hydrated, take your stool softerners...and really, DO NOT overdo it.

You will be swollen in varying amounts for awhile since you are still in early recovery.

As the weeks go by, things will get better....

I had LAVH on 4 June, and my belly began to swell that day as the day went on! It's 11 days later, and I still look pregnant! But, it does seem to be getting smaller now. I asked my doc when this would end, and she laughed and made a comment about my being thin, so it did look pretty obvious. She said it would take about a month.