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Abdominal swelling after a Myomectomy

I had a Myomectomy about 12 days ago. The Docter thought I had ovarian Cancer but turned out to be a very large fibroid in my uterus.   How long does it take for the swelling to go down in the Abdomen and for the numbness to subside?  This is really bothering me!  Also constipation is a big problem. I am scared and don't have much help my husband is disabled and abusive and I feel I am alone in all of this.
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A related discussion, When is completion of surgical healing? was started.
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The end of the three weeks seems to be the time when you are feeling more like your old self.  However you must not overdo it even then.  It does take time to physically and mentally recover after a surgical procedure.  Also it seems you have a lot more of top of that.

Sort out the constipation as suggested above.  Walk, lots of water, stool softeners and may I add my own tip - prunes (tinned, dried, in a yoghurt whatever!).  They really do help.  

Please look after no 1.
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149816 tn?1212683341
I had surgery on the 14th August, with a naval/pubic incision. I haven't had much numbness, more of a mild tingling sensation around the scar. I did have a thyroidectomy about 10 years ago and had horrendous numbness and sensitivity, all I wanted to do was hide the 6" scar with a necklace and I couldn't bear anything to touch it! That took about 18 months to go, but the throat area is very delicate, so I would imagine it would be much quicker on your abdomen. It used to really upset me and I thought it would be there for ever, but it just takes a little time while your body's healing. * A friend of mine has just told me she had 'numb knicker'for about 2 months afterwards, but warns be careful of doing to much 'heavy' stuff once it seems to go as it will come back for a few days!

I'm still quite swollen (well I hope it's swollen and not just fat!) over the past week a lot of the really mis-shapen swelling has gone down quite quickly and it's looking like a plump tummy with a line down rather than a piece of modern sculpture! So you'll probably see a big difference over the next week or so.

As far as the constipation goes, eat sensibly, have plenty of fluids and take a stool softener if necessary. Try to take gentle exercise and build it up, the more mobile you are the more your bowels are encouraged to function normally. I started (slowly!) walking around the block twice a day and gradually built it up to about a mile or so, but make sure you don't go too far as you'll probably get very tired, very suddenly and you don't want to be stranded to far to get home! Once the swelling starts going the pain gets less reduce your pain killers as they often make you constipated too.

I hope you're feeling a bit better soon, I found that the 3rd week post op seemed to improve things an awful lot, especially with the swelling and being able to move more freely and you feel a lot more your self.

Hugs, Lisa.
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117289 tn?1391712825
Ah yes, the old swelly belly!  This can last a few weeks or more.  Don't worry it will go away!  The advise on prunes is good.....they have always worked for me.  Walk a bit and drink plenty of water.  Let your body heal.
~Tascha
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Avatar universal
Was your surgery laperscopic or laperotomy?  If it was the latter, it will take several weeks for the swelling to go down.  If you are taking medication for pain management then that will cause constipation.  Make sure you drink plenty of water and take a stool softner like Colace or something.  It will help tremendously.  Constipation is normal after abdominal surgery anyway and medications can complicate matters.  The numb feeling subsides after a while.  I had surgery 7/12 and I still have numbness on my belly on and near the incision sight.  My cut was vertical from naval to pubic bone.  I hope this helps you some.  I am sorry you feel "alone" and I will be glad to help you any way I can.

Shawn
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