10 days post-op still hurting and GASSY

[Wormwood]

I had a laparoscopy on March 25th. Two paratubal cysts removed and half my ovary and some fallopian tube. 10 days later I still hurt but I think it's intestinal gas! My tummy is still swollen, the incisions don't really hurt, but I have all this gas going on. I "let it out" and it just comes back again. I've gone from being constipated to having liquid diarrhea in the past couple days. I have no idea if I was given an antibiotic during surgery and will ask the doc on Monday. I'm wondering if my intestinal flora has been killed off. For now, I just started eating Activia yogurt and taking simethicone (Gas relieving tablets). Anybody had this problem? Any suggestions? These pains are not funny! It's like knife stabs all over my abdomen and it makes my right side where the ovary and cysts were hurt. I'm supposed to go on a trip in 3 days and I want to feel good! help!

[MarieMichele]

I had some degree of post-op gas for 8 weeks but I had a laparotomy.  I thought it would never go away....to the point I was beginning to think they left surgical equipment inside of me.  But no, it was just gas.  I had what seemed like a solid brick of gas in my upper abdomen for 2 months and prickly pains on the upper belly whenever I rubbed it.  I think mine is a worst case scenario, though, since many others tend to feel relief way sooner than that.  Just keep doing the things you've been doing along with walking, gentle massage of the gassy areas (seems to help relocate the gas to an exit) and any other remedies the ladies here provide you.

[kimmery]

Hi,

I actually just had surgery two weeks ago myself and I am super swollen and bloated still... BUT in my patient discharge info they did say that if you have any sudden changes in your bowel habits (constipated or diarrhea) to contact your doctor. It might be nothing, but it also could be a sign of something else so I wouldn't just wait and see... I'd call your doctor if you can.

Hope you feel better soon, and good luck!!

[Wormwood]

It's intestinal gas, as I'm tooting and burping. My husband went and got me probiotics this morning and I took one. I'll take another this evening and see how things stand in the morning. Feeling ok this afternoon. I'm really curious if I got an antiobiotic IV during surgery and it just killed off all my good bacteria making digestion difficult.

[Sandymac]

Gas seems to be a problem quite frequently. There are actually two types of gas that cause the problem . The first is the gas that they introduce into the abdominal cavity that expands the area and provide the Dr's with more visibility. This gas doesn't always get "pushed out" and will cause pain especially around the shoulder area, and abdomen. Walking and a little heat helps this type. The other gas is the usual intestinal gas that perhaps is a result of the pre-op bowel cleansing, meds,  etc... I think though  that 10 days is a little long to still be having a problem..

Hope you feel better and let us know what the Dr. has to say..

Sandy