HysterSisters.com is a massive online community with over 475,000 members and over 5 million posts.
Our community is filled with women who have been through the
Hysterectomy experience providing both advice and support from our active members and moderators.
HysterSisters.com is located at 111 Peter St, Toronto, Canada, M5V2H1 and is part of the VerticalScope network of websites.
With free registration, you can ask and answer questions in our HYSTERECTOMY forum community, get our FREE BOOKLET, access Hysterectomy Checkpoints and more.
You are not alone. The HysterSisters are here for you. Join us today!
|
|
Extra Swellly Belly A Sign Of Too Much Activity?
|
07-12-2013, 08:41 AM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 503
Hysterectomy: June 6th, 2013
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Extra Swellly Belly A Sign Of Too Much Activity?
I had my TAH (abdominal) and left ovary removed on June 6th, so I'm a day over 5 weeks post-op.
My doctor told me at my last appt. to walk and really no more instructions other than "take it day by day".
I tried to do walking when possible in stores (no lifting, no pushing the buggy, etc.) since we've had rain every day for going on 2 weeks. That's all I would do (other than going up and down stairs since my bedroom is upstairs and the kitchen, etc. is downstairs).
Every time I have walked and tried to not over do it, my belly swells up even more and I have more pain.
Yesterday morning I had to get an IVP (x-ray procedure) to have a look at my kidneys/bladder/ureters and the table was hard metal so no support. I had to lie flat the majority of the time and it was very painful.
I knew I would pay for that later on in the day since my belly blows up in the afternoon if I walk. This was different because there was no walking (well not much) involved and more of stretching of the abdomen muscles on a flat hard surface as well as being brought down flat on it in the beginning and near the end.
Sure enough, my belly was swollen last night even more so and I had a hard time sleeping due to the pain in my back (spasms), as well as my abdominal and groin region.
It frustrates me that I get more pain and swelling when I do what I'm told to by my dr. and sometimes wonder if that is a sign of overdoing it? It's hard to know what to do or not do at this point.
I'm not lifting heavy items, not having intercourse, not taking baths (showers only), not vacuuming or sweeping, etc. and just not sure if I'm doing more damage while healing because of the extra pain and swelling.
If our belly swells more than the normal abdominal swelling, does that mean we need to cut back on our activity or do we just push through it and continue to do those things (not prohibited activities of course) and eventually the extra pain and swelling will even out?
It's 5 weeks out and I'm still having those issues so not sure if I'm doing more harm than good.
I'll talk with my dr. about it at my 6 week appt. but wanted to hear what others have experienced or suggest.
|
Sponsored Links
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
07-12-2013, 09:20 AM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 17
Hysterectomy: June 3rd, 2013
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Re: Extra Swellly Belly A Sign Of Too Much Activity?
I had my surgery on June 3rd and I am feeling the same way. I am walking around the house and going up the stairs and not over doing it but by the end of the day I have Swelly belly and it hurts. I went to the grocery store on Sunday and I had a hard time making it around the store. I thought by now I would be doing a lot better. Sounds like you are in the same boat
|
|
07-12-2013, 09:42 AM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 503
Hysterectomy: June 6th, 2013
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Re: Extra Swellly Belly A Sign Of Too Much Activity?
Thanks Dileen for your reply. It's so frustrating to be in more pain when you're doing simple things like walking and not doing anything that you shouldn't be.
I walked last Saturday in two stores and had my husband do all the picking up, pushing the buggy, etc. but started hurting so bad in my groin area (near my hips) that I told him I was sitting in the car when he went to another store.
I was swollen up even more than I normally am and it makes me so frustrated because I'm only doing what the dr. said, walking!
It makes me want to do nothing but that's not an option as I don't think that would be healthy either. Just don't want to make the recovery time longer if it's hurting me more and making me swell more to do the doctor's orders.
|
Sponsored Links
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
07-12-2013, 09:53 AM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 17
Hysterectomy: June 3rd, 2013
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Removed both
|
|
Re: Extra Swellly Belly A Sign Of Too Much Activity?
My doctor said to listen to my body and if starts to hurt to stop. Sounds like that is what we are doing...we need to walk around and not over do it but if it starts to hurt go sit down. I am just glad to know that I am not alone feeling this way after 5 weeks. I think some people think we should be feeling better...if they only knew what it feels like inside. I say one day at a time and we will get there
|
|
07-12-2013, 10:22 AM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 503
Hysterectomy: June 6th, 2013
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Re: Extra Swellly Belly A Sign Of Too Much Activity?
Well I wouldn't be doing much walking at all if I stopped when it hurts, LOL. That's why it's so frustrating because it starts with me not long after I start an activity.
I know what you mean about people's expectations of where we should be in our recovery period. I have read that it takes 8 weeks to get sort of back to normal and then 6 months to a year for our insides to get back to normal and heal completely.
I see that you had a TAH like I did, and although all hysterectomies are hard and difficult because we all had our insides worked on, we have the additional external incision that has to heal too.
|
|
07-12-2013, 10:23 AM
|
|
|
|
Posts: 11,979
Hysterectomy: March 26th, 2012
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Re: Extra Swellly Belly A Sign Of Too Much Activity?
|
Quote: |
|
Originally Posted by SC/NCGal
I had my TAH (abdominal) and left ovary removed on June 6th, so I'm a day over 5 weeks post-op.
My doctor told me at my last appt. to walk and really no more instructions other than "take it day by day".
I tried to do walking when possible in stores (no lifting, no pushing the buggy, etc.) since we've had rain every day for going on 2 weeks. That's all I would do (other than going up and down stairs since my bedroom is upstairs and the kitchen, etc. is downstairs).
Every time I have walked and tried to not over do it, my belly swells up even more and I have more pain.
Yesterday morning I had to get an IVP (x-ray procedure) to have a look at my kidneys/bladder/ureters and the table was hard metal so no support. I had to lie flat the majority of the time and it was very painful.
I knew I would pay for that later on in the day since my belly blows up in the afternoon if I walk. This was different because there was no walking (well not much) involved and more of stretching of the abdomen muscles on a flat hard surface as well as being brought down flat on it in the beginning and near the end.
Sure enough, my belly was swollen last night even more so and I had a hard time sleeping due to the pain in my back (spasms), as well as my abdominal and groin region.
It frustrates me that I get more pain and swelling when I do what I'm told to by my dr. and sometimes wonder if that is a sign of overdoing it? It's hard to know what to do or not do at this point.
I'm not lifting heavy items, not having intercourse, not taking baths (showers only), not vacuuming or sweeping, etc. and just not sure if I'm doing more damage while healing because of the extra pain and swelling.
If our belly swells more than the normal abdominal swelling, does that mean we need to cut back on our activity or do we just push through it and continue to do those things (not prohibited activities of course) and eventually the extra pain and swelling will even out?
It's 5 weeks out and I'm still having those issues so not sure if I'm doing more harm than good.
I'll talk with my dr. about it at my 6 week appt. but wanted to hear what others have experienced or suggest.
|
SC/NCGal. Walking is good, but if you find that after increased activity, the swelly belly is mire prominent, slow down a little. Try not to get too frustrated with it. Our recovery is a process. You just have to be patient with it. It can take up to a yr to get to 100%, so at five weeks, you are doing pretty good. Listen to your body, push it when it lets you and slow down when it tells you to. My swelly belly was always worse when i tried to push myself more than what my body was ready for. Hang in there sweetie, you will get to where you need be, when you need to get there
Lots of ((HUGS)) to you
|
|
07-12-2013, 10:29 AM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 503
Hysterectomy: June 6th, 2013
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Re: Extra Swellly Belly A Sign Of Too Much Activity?
Thanks Wandatd. I'll just take the extra swelly belly (vs. regular swelly belly, LOL) as a sign and feel okay about not doing as much.
I don't want to overdo it and have tried hard not to, but figured the extra swelling was maybe a sign to slow down even more.
|
|
07-12-2013, 02:16 PM
|
HysterSister
|
|
Posts: 107
Hysterectomy: February 25th, 2013
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
|
|
Re: Extra Swellly Belly A Sign Of Too Much Activity?
I still have some swelly belly issues and mine was in February. I find that taking 400mg of Ibuprofen in the morning before getting too busy helps quite a bit. I also make sure to take it later in the day if it feel like I am getting too swelled. This is one heck of a process. Just remember that it took you more than 5weeks for your body to need the hyst, so consider the swelling your bodies way of telling you "I'm fixing us up proper, so slow down and let me work."
|
|
Similar Threads
|
From This Forum |
From Other Forums |
1 Reply, Last Reply 06-20-2013, Started By minni b 3 Replies, Last Reply 09-27-2010, Started By MCHOWENS 10 Replies, Last Reply 05-29-2009, Started By elfdream 4 Replies, Last Reply 03-19-2007, Started By foxyj 18 Replies, Last Reply 09-28-2005, Started By lifetimelady01 2 Replies, Last Reply 08-10-2005, Started By Shenzi 3 Replies, Last Reply 04-16-2005, Started By frenchfamily 15 Replies, Last Reply 04-07-2005, Started By kdragonfly 2 Replies, Last Reply 06-26-2003, Started By Dottie303 2 Replies, Last Reply 04-10-2002, Started By tjm617 4 Replies, Last Reply 04-09-2002, Started By thewifey 3 Replies, Last Reply 05-27-2001, Started By Lee Smith |
2 Replies, Hysterectomy Options and Alternatives 10 Replies, No Uterus - No Ovaries - Yes HRT - Surgical Menopause 1 Reply, Preparing for Hysterectomy (pre hysterectomy) 0 Reply, Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories 4 Replies, No Uterus - No Ovaries - Yes HRT - Surgical Menopause 10 Replies, Preparing for Hysterectomy (pre hysterectomy) 13 Replies, Preparing for Hysterectomy (pre hysterectomy) 4 Replies, Hysterectomy Options and Alternatives |
|
Advertisement
Hysterectomy News
TODAY'S EVENTS
Calendar -
Hysterectomies -
Birthdays
Request Information
I am a HysterSister
Your Hysterectomy Date
$vbulletin->featuredvideos is not an array!
Advertisement
Advertisement
|