Let's talk gas

Hi Ladies. I got my date (Feb.3!) and am excited to finally be on my way. I plan on keeping my positive attitude and will take all the great advice I have found on here to make this as easy and comfortable as possible. I am having a TAH with removal of the ovaries and cervix as well. I am 46. I have seen some discussions about "the gas attack" but no one has actually WHY this happens. Why is there so much gas? If you are empty before you get in there, what the heck is in there to manufacture any gas? Okay, okay, I feel kinda silly asking, but I always do better when I know the why of something and this seems to be the thing that causes the most misery. Thanks. Robin >~

The gas pains don't necessarily start immediately after surgery - it might take a day or so -- but I think it isn't that the gas is "caused" by anything - it is just normal gas, which normally you wouldn't notice. after surgery, your abdomen is sore, and the gas is painful because your insides have been manipulated and shifted a bit.

Best wishes for your surgery

from surgery experience, the gas comes from that do to messing with the intestines, and moving your parts around. Its totally normal with any abdominal surgery.
Its scares me to because I am always gassy, grrr. and have IBS, diverticulosis, chronic diahreah. I'm hoping that after hyst. some of this pain and irritation from that will go away. I hear about constipation being horrible, that scares me to because if I get backed up I vomit, that could really hurt with stitches and staples.
I'm keeping a positive attitude also, at least about the surgery and recovery. I feel in my heart that I will come out better then ever. I want to be more active, and not have 2 or more weeks of each month where I feel horrible.
If I find some medical info on the gas issue I'll send it your way.
prayers for your upcoming surgery and recovery.

My DR told me that other than the movement of "inside parts" that gas can come from the gas they use to inflate your stomach in the L of the LAVH. Although it seems no matter how this proceedure is done we have to face the gas issue.

Oh it aint that bad, yall. Mine was most bothersome 24 hours after surgery. Im almost 3 weeks post op and its no big thing now. We just all found it odd that gas was the most annoying thing. I personally wasnt expecting that. Just make sure you have a good supply of gas pills and stool softeners and you should be good to go.

Good luck to ya'll. And remember this:
When you are nervous about this procedure, just remember the reasons why you are doing it. Worked for me - everytime!

A friend of mine had a LOT of intestinal issues prior to her surgery and she said it immediately stopped when she had all the bad parts removed. so, there's something to add to your list of positive things to look forward to! I have the all the crummy stuff every month, but my primary motivation more than anything is the fact that my beloved grandmother passed away 3 years ago from ovarian CA. I don't want to go through that, so am taking care of several issues at once here. Thanks for the input.

Just as a little reassurance, I had really no trouble with gas after surgery, and I alway had a problem with it preop. As Olia said, some gas-x and stool softeners, along with lots of water, and I was good to go.

Also FWIW, I vomited several times the day after my surgery, and surprisingly it really was not painful -- just yucky.