Major pain on left side only and b.m. Very difficult-is that normal?

hello there new sisters,
I am excited to have a place to go for support! I am new and my surgery was 9-24-03, SAH-with bladder repair. I have been experiencing LOTS of pain abdominally(soreness), but it seems to be primarily on my left side>I can feel knots there and they are super tender. My doctors office said that there was possibly lots of scar tissue in that area and that probably more work was done on that side during surgery. I am trying to be patient and take pain meds, but I am worried that maybe I might do damage to the healing process when I lay on my side. I've been trying to prop my swollen belly on a pillow when I lay sideways(I'm a side sleeper), but it still is VERY uncomfortable. I am having the most trouble with my bowels. I have taken fibercon(4 per day),Phillips Chews, prune juice,apple juice,applesauce, raisin bran, and on the 7th day post op after having no luck, I drank a Magnesium Citrate laxative type thing......This finally worked for that day, but was Very painful!!!!!
Everytime I go it is Very painful...I am not having a lot of vaginal bleeding EXCEPT when I have a b.m.-so I am worried that I may be damaging repair from straining. I had to have the surgery abdominally because of a past accident where I broke my pelvis bone in two places. I am really usually VERY tolerate of pain...but I think because I don't know what is normal and what to be concerned about.....I may be worrying for Naught!(LOL) I had two children naturally with no anesthesia and the third one had to be delivered "c" section,because of the pelvis bone break. I tend to be comparing this to all of that recovery and in my heart I don't feel it is alike in recovery. All of this bladder stuff I had done is due to not allowing myself to totally heal after my c-sec.,so I don't
want to make the same mistake again! I know I must sound like a worry wart, but I just want to make sure I am doing things right. Anything yall could tell me would be sooooooo appreciated.
Oh yeah, I am 41, if that matters.
thanks,
Wendy

I don't know if it's normal or not to feel the pain on the left side , but if it's not, then I'm abnormal also. I had a very hard time at first with my BMs, but now they are more regular. I have one daily, but they are fairly small ones. I am taking a stool softener every day, and also my calcium supplement has added magnesium - which may be helping. I still have to take gas-x ofetn (my surgery was 9/16/03) to releive the gas pains. I also have sore tummy skin and pulling sensitivity internally - mostly on the left side. Maybe someone who has been through this earlier that us can make both of us feel better. I also don't know what is normal and what is to be concerned about. Take care, and hopefully we will both be feeling better soon.

Hi aspired2art ..
I am to had the same problems in the beginning. I hurt really bad on the left side. I had a 12 day pre-op appt. with my Dr. I asked him about that pain ... He explained to me that whichever they started the incision on would hurt the most. I had the pain there for a couple of weeks then it went away. Then I had burning under the incision .. I again asked my Dr. he explained to me that as the vagina heals there is some pulling as it tightens
up.. it causes the burning sensation and would go away .. I used some warm compress on it, and it really helped. The pain is now gone ... I am now 6 weeks post op and feel 100% better ... I now have to remind myself I had Major Surgery ... he said I would be feeling allot of aches and different pains. But as long as I wasn't bleeding red blood it was all do to the process of healing ....

As far as your constipation ... I tried everything .. nO luck until I sent my D/H to the local store to get some tiny Fleet enamas. I only had to use 1 and within 5 minutes it started to work, and I finally had some relief... It worked again that night then the following day it really cleaned me out .... What a Godsend .. I hope it works for you
Enjoli

~*Mary B*~

Wendy,
My surgery was on 8-1-03. I am still having left side pain. I notice it gets worse close to a bowel movement. I have had a CT scan to see if there is a problem. CT showed nothing unusual. I am now on Bextra which is a strong anti-inflamatory. It is controlling the pain but not eliminating it. I have been doubling the dose for short term. I have had a number of problems with my bladder which still hasn't resolved itself. I am on Ditropan XL for bladder contractions.
But.... my biggest advice is to take it slow and give yourself time to heal. Now that I am 9 weeks out, I realize that this surgery is unlike any other. Your body is the best indicator of how it is healing. It takes a long time to heal after such a major surgery. Don't rush yourself. If you do, you will pay for it in the end. I have also realized that it might take months before we are totally pain free. Everyone says it will take up to a year before complete recovery. Time is a good indicator of how we are healing. I have been so frustrated because of the pain. At 9 weeks my doctor is concerned about why I am still having so much pain and we are going to continue to investigate the cause. You are still sooo early in your recovery! I have read numerous accounts of this similar problem. Research under the "Search" mode for left side pain or groin pain. There are lots of good threads there. Remember, relax and give yourself time.

Hi aspired2art, I too had horrible pain in my lower left area at the beginning, it got hard and super painful. My dr said it was most likely from gas and not having a bm. I started colace at that time and am still on it. colace is a stool softener, not a laxative so it not habit forming. It has helped alot. Remember, you are still very early in your recovery. try to plenty of water, walk a little if it is ok with your dr. and get lots of rest. I am 5 1/2 weeks post tah and those problems are gone. It does get better. s to you. Sue

Hi wendy, I'm new here too and had my surgery on 09/24/03 as well. I'm having most of my pains on the right..but what everyone else has said seems to make sense. I take a colace twice a day and although it seems to help, the gas pains just prior to a BM hurt like anything. Hang in there.
Hugs to all
judy

Hi Sisters!
ditto on the left side pain, its more annoying than severe and yes a BM does make it hurt worse and then I get a burning sensation. I walked alot starting the day after surgery and it helps with the gas and stiffness, I have been using the liquid phillips milk of magnesia, just 1 Tablespoon a day keeps things moving and loose. I haven't had any luck with the side sleeping either, tried propping pillows and putting ones between my legs too, but it feels uncomfortable. I did have a tummy binder put on right after surgery, and that kinda held things in place while I was in the Castle and getting up and down by myself. Took it off after coming home because it was starting to give me a rash. I may try sleeping with it on tonight and see if it keeps the belly from pulling when I try laying on my side. hang in there. I'm sure we will figure out something. 's

To ALL hystersisters that replied to my comment......
Thank you SO much for all of the replies and advice...
I feel better just knowing i am not alone!
Thanks
Wendy