How much bleeding and pain is "normal"???

Hi,
Apologizing in advance for the lengthy post.

Three weeks post-op with LAVH and left SO (right one went in April). I posted on Monday about some major bleeding I had started having, and thanks to all who responded. My doc worked me in that day, and said I was healing well, it was just new capillaries and the suture material breaking up. She cauterized some places and told me to spend some time in bed because I was having a lot of pain.

Today I have been bleeding heavily all day. Around 2:30pm started having severe, sharp pains in my right side (pain has always been much worse on the right). I did walk both yesterday and today in an effort to get some stamina back before I return to work next Thursday.

Called and talked to my doc's nurse, who wasn't too worried but did say to call the on-call doc if the bleeding doesn't get better. She wasn't alarmed by the pain, but the pain is the part of this that freaks me out the most. I took two Darvocet at 3:30pm and they have hardly taken the edge off.

Here's my question.....at what point do you go to the ER for pain control? I just feel like doing so would be like "crying wolf" again, as that's how I felt Monday when I went to my doctor. But, how much pain are we expected to just tolerate??? With the endo, I went to the ER a couple of times just for pain control, and was treated very differently by different doctors. I don't want to be labeled as a drug seeker, but again.....how much are we supposed to deal with?

Thanks in advance, sisters!
~kristen~

If I were you and I was in a lot of pain I would go to the ER asap. The bleeding concerns me. Take care of yourself and don't worry about what others think. Let us know how you make out.

I am very sorry you are dealing with so much pain.
Heavy bleeding is not normal. I bleed, but never through a pad, pink to bright red for 8 weeks post op.
I had vaginal pain from my vaginal cuff area for about 7 weeks, and today 11 weeks post op I am pain free until the gas problem rises, then I hurt in my pubic area....weird. As far as pain like your describing, I never had that kind of pain from my LAVH until I got a post op infection at 1 1/2 weeks. I hurt so bad it wasn't even funny, but I didn't take any pain meds for the pain or a fever reducer as I didn't want to mask my symptoms. I went to the hospital on the 3rd day due to the pain and my fever not going away.

Are you running a fever or feel fatique? If you go to the ER and tell them you had a hysterectomy and you are in great pain with lots of off and on heavy bleeding, they might or you might be able to get a Cat Scan or something, your right side needs to be check out, you might have adhesions and those are painful. Beings you had your right SO in April you could be dealing with adhesions. I think if I was you I would demand test (cat scan, etc.) to see what is going on, and if your Dr. doesn't want to order them then I think I would go to the ER...JMO Take care and my prayers are with you!

I had bleeding and pain yesterday. The bleeding was bright red, but not real heavy. A pantiliner about every hour was okay. My dr actually had me put a tampon in (I don't suggest that unless your dr actually says so) and that stopped it.

The pain I had was comparable to the second or third day of my period--and my periods were not the reason for my hyst; they were pretty normal.

I understand about not wanting to cry wolf. If you can reach your dr's office again, that would be good. Still, if you are feeling really terrible, better safe than sorry. Keep us posted.

P.S. My dr had me come in this morning as a result of the bleeding. He said everything is healing normally, that this just happens as some of the stitches dissolve. He said it may happen again, and if so, just to do the same thing (tampon) again. In some cases it might be granulation, but mine was not.

Thanks so much for all of your quick responses.

The bleeding has slowed down now. The pain seemed better for a little while, but is getting worse again. I'm going to give it a little while and then go to the ER if I have to.

When I had the hysterectomy, my right side was already full of scar tissue from the previous oopherectomy. Is there anything non-invasive that can be done about that? I certainly don't want another surgery!

Thanks again, and many blessings to all.
~k~

i understand what you feel about the pain. i am 2 weeks post op today and i am in more pain this week than last week. my dr sent me home with only 20 percocets and they've been gone. i called and they will not call in anything else..say i shouldnt be in that much pain. how do they know? i am not a drug seeker either but they sure make you feel that way!

i had an lavh on aug 3rd and the only time i have any pain is in the morning getting out of bed and right before a bm. im still spotting pink/yellow.
i think for you to be bleeding this much and having so much pain is horrible, something is NOT right.im only just under 3 weeks and sometimes i can hardly tell i had surgery.although my 2 boys are comeing home tomorrow ages 5 and 2 i will probably start to feel it chasing after my little guy.

If the pain is so bad it needs to be checked out. I had the same dilemma as you ,not knowing if all women were feeling that amount of pain and I was being a baby. I eventually went to Urgent Care at the hospital and got an appalling service the doctor thought I might have arthritis in my hips !!! I asked if he thought it had anything to do with the surgery and he said "what operation have you had again" his advice was to take 2 paracetomol !!
Needless to say my wound reopened the next and the cause of the pain had been a massive build up of blood and serous fluid. So I wasn't a baby ( I am putting a complaint in about the emergency doctor)
If you feel the pain is really bad you need an explanation that makes sense to you and your particular situation. I totally agree with pain relief once you know what is happening. Sometimes quite minor things can cause acute pain and also we have different pain threshholds. Trust yourself -if this pain is greater than you thought for this stage seek medical help and be ASSERTIVE. I hope this all resolves soon and that you get on the road to a speedy recovery
warm regards
Jean

Laura,

Didnt your surgeon have you taking ibuprofen and tylenol in addition to the narcotic meds? I get great pain relief with ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours and tylenol 650-1000mg every 6-8 hours. I havent used narcotic pain meds for a week now. I also use my swelly belly belt, but an ice pack (or ice in a ziplock shoved in a tube sock) over the incision are works well too.

But for all concerns, call your doctor. I know you mentioned youll be seeing him/her on Monday. MAKE A LIST and take it with you. Some days, the biggest problem youre having takes precidence and the other questions get forgotten. If you write them down and take the list with you....well, you see how it will help. :-)

no my dr only sent me home with 20 percocets and he told me to NOT take ibuprofen as it can cause bleeding after a surgery. that's where i am confused...most of the ladies here are on that why am i different? they ended up calling me in some darvocet which doesnt do much but i just sit with a heating pad and it helps. but then i start flashing and sweating and have to take it off!! not to mention we dont have a/c!!