need tips for sore tummy

dear sisters,
i will be 3 weeks post op (TAH/BSO) on monday. i still get tired easily, and i feel sore all in the abdominal area. when does that soreness go away? at first it was my incision that hurt, but now that doesn't hurt--what's hurting is the area all around from the incision up to the bellybutton. i called and got more pain medicine yesterday. please write back if this happened to you. thanks. deltabelle

Deltabelle - I had tah/bso 3/22 and the abdominal pain will last for a few more weeks...but each week it gets better. I went back to work 1/2 days at 7 weeks and still had pain when I got home each night so got back in bed with heating pad. I tapered off pain pills at about 4 weeks and took ibuprofen in between pain pills and continued the ibuprofen through week 8. At week 12 I was feeling LOTS better. Hang in there...it DOES get better...just don't rush yourself.

Hi Deltabelle,

Yes, this happened to me, too. This is very typical. At your stage of recovery, you may start to feel your surgery much more. This is because more anesthesia has left your body, and your stitches have started to dissolve, leaving weakened muscles to take over.

Soreness and swelling is your body telling you that it is still healing. Though the initial recovery is 6-8 weeks, total recovery takes al least 6 months.

At 5 months post-TAH, I still get twinges and tenderness on occasion, as well as swelling. This tapers off slowly over a long period of time. I think you are perfectly normal.

Listen to your body...take its cue to continue to get lots of rest for a few more weeks. You only have one chance to heal properly from major surgery, and this is it!

Of course, always feel free to call your Dr. if you are really bothered about something. When I had my TAH, I had no realistic expectations of my recovery until I discovered this site at your stage of recovery.

My very best to you...

Linda

I've grown quite fond of my good old hot water bottle! At 2 weeks post-op I am feeling pretty good all things considered but it feels comforting to lay that warm bubble on my tummy, kick back with my feet up in the recliner and snooze. I notice that the swelling is not even noticeable in the morning and by evening it is back so to me that is an indication that it happens because I've been upright too much. Then it's back the chair and the bottle! It gets better each week,right? I haven't slept this much since I was an infant!
Happy recovery,
Maggie
SAH Dec 1st for fibroids

Thanks Maggie, for the great tip! You can use a heating pad, too, just be careful that you don't fall asleep with it on!

It might help to fold up some towels, and put them in a pillowcase - like a big, flat, non-fluffy pillow, then keep that across your belly as you sleep. That helped me after my laparoscopy - the weight felt good, and it protected me from the covers, stray flopping arms, and the cats.

I hope you feel better soon!

Hi Deltabelle
I also had surgery 11/27 and was wondering if you got an abdominal binder after surgery? If so, it really helps to keep this on even if you are just laying and watching tv. If you don't have one, a snug pantigirdle will do wonders as well. My verticle incision still burns at times and I do have discomfort in the abdomen on either side of the incision. And make sure you don't try and overdo like someone I know It's not worth it!
Take care and God Bless