Increasing pain after partial bowel resection..please read

I had a LAVH/BSO with a partial sigmoid colon resection and a rectocele repair on June 21st. At first, the only real pain I had was from the rectocele repair. That went away after 3-4 days and by the time I went home (spent 3 nights in the hospital) I was amazed at how little pain I was in. I have been taking 2 docusate sodium capsules every day since I got home and have had a handful of moderately soft bowel movements and plenty of gas so I don't think I have a bowel obstruction, but my pain has been awful for the past 3 days or so. It's concentrated on my lower left side which I know is where the sigmoid colon is, the funny thing is that he made the resection through an incision on my right side. I don't know what that means.. did he pulled the colon across my abdomen and through that incision? It would have made a lot more sense to do the repairs through the incision on my left side. Anyway, I am at a loss as to why my pain is all of a sudden flaring up so severely. I don't have a fever, nausea, or any other accompanying symptoms. I will call my doctor's office on Tuesday once they re-open over the long holiday weekend, I'm just trying to figure it out on my own before then. It was like that first week without pain was too good to be true.

Thanks in advance for advice...I could really use some here!!

Hugs,
Angie

Do you think it is because some of the nerves are healing? Just an idea. Are you doing to much? If it get bad enough that you are concerned go to the ER. Good LUck and I hope that you are feeling better.
Kat

Hi Angie,

So sorry for the discomfort you are having! Have you tried a hot water bottle on the area that hurts? My doctor suggested it post surgery as it brings circulation to the area to help with healing. Also it's comforting and relaxing (assuming it's not broiling hot where you are!) I've also read posts from some that have had luck alternating hot and cold packs.

Is there an on-call doctor available at your doctor's office? I wouldn't hesitate to call if it is a worry...that's what they are there for! Any new pain is a concern.

Take care, and let us know what you find out.

Or a heating pad.

<<I had a LAVH/BSO with a partial sigmoid colon resection and a rectocele repair on June 21st.>>

Wow! I'm very surprised to hear your doctor did all this surgery at once! As for your question about pain post op, sometimes small adhesions (cobweb-like tissue) grows between and on organs. I'm not saying you have these, but they can occur with ANY kind of surgery. Sometimes they cause discomfort. If you're experiencing discomfort, please talk to your doctor about it.

hth, Barb

I had a bowel resection too, sigmoid colon during my hyster. But I did not have the pain you are experiencing. I had to stay in the hospital 8 days though! Was on ice chips only for 5 days!
I hope you call your Dr about this since it seems like a worsening of your pain. Better safe than sorry.
TIffany

Thanks for your replies ladies. The pain has been much better over the past 2 days thank God. I was seriously thinking of going to the ER but trying my hardest to avoid it... this certainly wouldn't have been my first time going there for abdominal pain!

One of you had brought up adhesions.. that's what I thought it was and was kind of mentally preparing myself for another surgery. But now that the pain has let up, I'm thinking it might have been from the Miralax (prescription laxative) I was using. The pain didn't start until a day after I took the first dose and stopped about 24 hours after my last dose. My stomach is typically very sensitive to any type of laxative; I get pretty bad cramping and gas, however the Miralax never bothered me. I suppose having the bowel resection adds a new aspect to things and the Miralax will be a "no no" for a while. I am still taking 2 stool softener capsules per day, they don't seem to bother me and I definitely need to take something because I'm still on long acting narcotics (Duragesic patch..I have been going to a pain management clinic for almost a year due to Endometriosis pain and it's too soon to stop).

Thank you all for your replies.. if the pain does flare up again I will go in. Right now it's sore but feels more normal and not enough to keep me in bed with the heating pad as before. I swear, my intestines are going to be the death of me one way or another!

Hugs to all,
Angie