Post Op pain and swelling

Good Morning,
I returned home from surgery yesterday 2-5-08 and am experiencing much more pain than I anticipated. I have a high pain tolerence and guess I expected to be up and going. The bloating and gas seem to be the worst and have not been able to have a BM. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Princess
you don't say what kind of surgery you had...but 'up and going' does not describe what you should be doing right now...

Gas and bloating can go on for some time, weeks in fact...and I was 6 days post-op before I had my first BM..not unusual I think...lol..ouch!

My advice - rest, rest and keep ahead of the pain with the prescribed medication. Also, get on your date thread and see how other people at your stage of healing are doing...it is a great reassurance.

take care
x

Had vaginal hysterectomy. Was able to keep one ovarie other was attached to the utuers and removed. I did not expect so much pain and thought I would resume a light daily routine but basically all I can do is eat, sleep, sit and pea!
Thanks for the reply

...lol...be glad you can get up and pee. I still had a catheter at day 3.

Don't be disappointed in your progress already...you're doing really well to be home.

Lots to read on here, but honestly, when you start finding out exactly what's happened to you, you won't be surprised at your so called lack of progress. Hundreds of internal stitches, internal bruising..and the list goes on..

The ladies on my thread all watched a hyster. on the internet, I thought gross - but it really made us realise the importance of resting and just letting your body heal itself - no short cuts.

Bit surprised you're in so much pain - can be caused by over-doing it...I would cut back on the sitting.lol.Hope you've got someone there to take care of you...

I am almost at 4 weeks now, but I remember the gas pains and the constant need to pee on the 2nd night after surgery. I had a TAH and removal of both ovaries. Call the doctor about your pains. My doc gave me a does of milk of magnesia (Spelling) after the second day and dose all was well, I also was taking stool softeners for the first 3 weeks. Take it easy, keep your feet up stay on top of your pain meds.

i found the gas from the lap to be extremely uncomfortable. i was still in the hospital on morphine at the point youre at right now. try to rest and take the pain meds on schedule..dont wait til the pain is really bad. ask your dr if you can add some motrin or advil inbetween. luckily for me, by the third day the gas pain was gone. i hope yours doesnt last too long.

I just replied this same thing to someone else too- I have eaten lots of organic yogurt and taken a pro-biotic everyday since right before surgery and have had an easy bm everyday since the day after surgery. I think the healthy flora in our intestines gets washed out with the bowel prep and needs to be replaced.

It has helped a lot! I am still only eating yogurt, soups, cottage cheese and fruit 15 days post-op. I had a salad Monday and it really messed me up in there! Bad mistake. Yikes! Not ready for that kind of food yet. I had a lot of work done in my cul-de-sac (under my rectum) Good Luck & hope this helps!

Stool softners, gas x and put an ice pack on your belly that helps alot..

Miralax worked great for me for bm's , small walks throughout the day really broke up the gas and ice packs along with taking it easy helped with the swelling.

Here was my timeline:

BM - 3 days
Gas Relief - 1.5 weeks
Swelling - I went almost completely back down at about 2 weeks but I still swell from time to time. Not sure when this goes away for good?

Hope you feel better soon. Do not try to rush things...take this time to

Hi,
It took me 6 days after getting out of the hospital to have a BM and I was in the hospital for 5 days. I am 4 weeks post op and I still have pain. I too have a very high pain threshold but I was not able to sleep on my side until about a few days ago and I guess I would try and roll over during the night and would wake up in pain. The doctor had told me to expect a 6-10 week recovery with the possibility of 12-14 and believe me I understand now why it is so long good luck!