New, Scared, Pain Question

As stated above, pain is different for everyone. This was my first surgery of any kind, never given birth either. I was terrified of the pain, and to my surprise, it was "do-able". Don't be afraid to use the pain pump, and get up and walk around as soon as you can. Helps alot!! Had only a few gas pains but again, keep moving. Hope everything goes well for you and good luck!

Nadine
TAH/BSO

The gas pains can be from both, but most of the gas pains that we refer to is from having a sluggish bowel system after surgery. The "pain" is mostly from build up and then when you can release gas or have a bowel movement, that can be quite uncomfortable as well because there's this sudden release (picture a popped balloon). It's also possible that your bowels can be harder because this is a side-effect of pain meds. I haven't been constipated since I had gall bladder surgery in 2003, but I was after my hysto and just the bloated feeling while your other incisions are healing is not comfy at all.

this was my first lap surgery and i found the trapped gas to be very painful for the first two days but morphine took care of it. there isnt too much you can do about the co2 gas they fill you with..it just has to dissolve. i have had other abdominal surgeries with no co2 gas and i'd much rather have a few days of pain from the trapped gas than an abdominal cut. once it dissolves, you'll be surprised how good you feel. the lsh is an amazing surgery and i had a very easy recovery. good luck

I had the same surgery as you will have, almost a year ago. I had very little pain post op. I did ask for one shot (Demoral) but refused every other Motrin 800 they tried to give me because I just did not hurt. When I got home, I took nothing but Advil here and there. As far as the gas, my surgeon had me do a bowel prep (many ladies here do too) since the surgery was laproscopic and he didn't want to nick anything going in plus I had a bowel adhesion he repaired after child one was delivered. I had NO gas problems; started tooting the next morning after surgery. As far as activity, walked one mile 4 days after surgery and 2.5 miles one week after surgery. Other than that, when I got tired, I rested. It was really easy. Email me if you have any other questions. Good luck - you will do fine!
Kim
LSH 6/27/07

Thanks, ladies...as I said, my only "abdominal surgeries" were a laprascopic tubal as an outpatient and a Novasure ablation (pretty sure they didn't bloat up my belly for that, but maybe). I can't take Motrin or any other form of ibuprofen...first of all it tears up my gut and secondly, I'm on Celebrex for arthritis and you're really not suppsoed to mix the two. NOT looking forward to a bowel prep but we'll have to see what my doctor says. I've been known to click a PCA pump like a Nintendo video game...and I respond best to Demerol and Dilaudid, morphine doesn't come CLOSE to touching severe pain for me!

It has been one week today since my LAVH and I have been completely pain free for three days. I think that those of us that have had pain before surgery, whether it be from cysts, endo,or adenomyosis can tolerate the pain. At least for me, it is nothing compared to what I was feeling before my LAVH. Like many have said everyone handles pain differently. Good luck!!