My body is rebelling - 11 days post hysterectomy.

I'm 11 days post op and I feel like my body is rebelling. My boobs are so sore I can't remember a time they hurt so badly my face has broken out like I'm a teenager going through puberty and I still haven't really taken a good bowel movement. I can feel that I need to go but I can't get it to come out. I've been taking colace and mirolax but still nothing moving. I'm also having trouble falling asleep at night now. Ugh. Hopefully all of this is temporary but I'm feeling very frustrated. Also when does the swelling go down! I still feel so swelled up and look like I'm about 6 months pregnant. I can only get certain clothes on I've been wearing the same pants for 4 days!!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by krussell4 I'm 11 days post op and I feel like my body is rebelling. My boobs are so sore I can't remember a time they hurt so badly my face has broken out like I'm a teenager going through puberty and I still haven't really taken a good bowel movement. I can feel that I need to go but I can't get it to come out. I've been taking colace and mirolax but still nothing moving. I'm also having trouble falling asleep at night now. Ugh. Hopefully all of this is temporary but I'm feeling very frustrated. Also when does the swelling go down! I still feel so swelled up and look like I'm about 6 months pregnant. I can only get certain clothes on I've been wearing the same pants for 4 days!!

I broke out too, (I'm 54, btw), and my breasts are still sore ish. As for the swelly belly... it comes and goes now, and I'm 6.5 weeks out. It does get better!

At 11 days post-op, you're still very early in recovery. Though you kept your ovaries, the trauma of surgery or the compromised blood supply may have them "off-line" for a while leaving you with hormones-out-of-whack symptoms. My chin broke out, as soon as one area started fading more zits would spring up! The insomnia and sore breasts are likely similar.

On the digestive woes, our bowels can be wonky for quite a while after surgery. I had to actively manage my system for about 7 weeks before things returned to normal. Foods good for the digestive system are those high in fiber & magnesium, often the same foods. Whole grains, fiber cereals, fruits - dried, fresh, or frozen in smoothies - nuts, seeds, avocados, bananas, dark leafy greens, prune juice and enough water to swamp a canoe. Walking also helps get things moving. Propping your feet on a low footstool properly aligns the colon for emptying. Also, sitting on the throne with your feet propped after a meal may prompt release. Some Sisters have reported that warm liquids work for them.

The swelling sounds like my old companion Swelly Belly . Trying to find out more about it is what brought me to this site. Fluids gather around inflammation sites as part of the healing process, and lucky us, that's in our tummies . My doctor said I'd likely start noticing it less around 8 weeks, and he was right, though I'd still go to the mat with it after doing something intense (particular episodes at 8-1/2 weeks, 12 weeks and 5 months come to mind...). When you feel up to getting out, invest in a few separates (skorts, pants, skirts) with wide, comfy expando-waistbands to mix and match with shirts. My wardrobe was mainly fixed waists, and I had to forego those for about 6 weeks. I made sure the bottoms I bought were trendy enough to wear again - I'm looking forward to wearing them this summer.

Pants? To hell with pants, get comfy and the dulcolax pink pills. You'll be poopin in no time

	Quote:
Originally Posted by krussell4 ... I can only get certain clothes on I've been wearing the same pants for 4 days!!

Eh, I'm going to suggest not doing the Dulcolax Pink or Regular (both have the same measure of the same active ingredient, and Pink has more added ingredients and extra dye) or any other stimulant laxative. The premise of stimulant laxatives is that they speed up bowel contractions and irritate the intestinal lining to make a bowel movement happen. That's why they can be rather explosive and rough on the very internal areas which need healing. Too, regular use can cause the body to not recognize the signs of the urge to empty, possibly exacerbating constipation. See Laxatives vs. Stool Softeners.

Stick with bulk, water-water-water and more water, and stool softeners (which work by allowing more water to the stools), along with a healthy diet. One thing you might want to do is discuss with your doctor the dosage of stool softeners. I personally had no luck with the stool softeners, filed them under "Useless" and resorted to prunes, fiber cereals and prune juice. Some Sisters were instructed to take a different dosage of the softener. I was not. Your doctor will have the best advice on that.