How Long Does Bloating/Gas Pain Last After Laparotomy?

[hollandlop]

Hi.

I had a laparotomy 4 weeks ago to get a 6cm ovarian cyst removed from my right ovary due to endometriosis.

I had a bikini cut about 4.5 inches. Right now, my abdomen is still very swollen. I still feel a lot of gas and bloating, which gets worse around late afternoon to night time. (Why does it get worse at night?)

The doctor told me the wound would take around a month to heal, but the gas takes longer to go away. Is that true?

The area around my wound is still painful, but the most painful is the pressure from the bloating and gas.

And I feel like I have to go pee very often when I feel gas pain because it feels like the pressure from my abdomen is squeezing my bladder.

How long will this bloating pain last? I can't fit into any of my pants right now. I have to wear dresses all the time!

I'm also taking simethicone tablets now. But they don't seem to work very well to alleviate the gas pain.

What can I do???

[misss626]

I am so glad it's not just me being a fatty!!I had a laparoscopy to remove a cyst a week and a half ago...still bloated and it's made my body shape look so ugly

I'm very hourglass and my clothes are all quite fitted and I look awful in everything at the moment-awful awful awful
I started jogging again but I still look like Mr Greedy-when will I get back to normal?

[Riggssmum]

Hi all, one week today i am having my cyst removed, i do not have endo, the consultant feels it is due to having been on the progesterone only pill for over 8 years.  i have recently lost 5 stone so this is soul distroying. i look pregnant my pants don't fit, when i go back to work my uniform won't fit. and i made my boss promise me she would never let me have a bigger uniform. i would like to know if you get this message how all you ladies got on back in 2009.  having read your story i am now more frightened

[Nadine12345]

How long u got to be back to normal

[kymmi_boo]

im slightly worried about my op. im overweight and after the doc has scared me with his risks etc i am a little unnerved! im having an 11 cm cyst removed by laparotomy and am having the insision down my tummy from my belly button down. has anybody had a similair op at a weight of 20 stone or above? xx

[ski324]

Hi,

I had a 7lb (yes, 7 pound) ovarian cyst removed when I was 23, (which was 5 years ago now) and I still have gas ALOT and it's horrible.  I went on the pill right after the surgery because they did half of a hysterectomy on me and since I was so young, I was hoping to have kids someday.  I have gained about 60 lbs since the surgery- and I was (and still am) very active.  I was a size 4 when I had the surgery.  It ***** and I have had more pain in the past 5 years than I ever had pre-surgery.  I'm hoping I am a rare case, but I want to know why I have so much gas 5 years later!  

[cmelch]

I know I am VERY late to this discussion, but it helped me so much!  Bloating is definitely my worst symptom and I felt like there was something seriously wrong.  I am not yet 3 weeks post op and I can only fit into a few pair of pants (that were big on me before the surgery).  Just wanted to say that it is so good to hear that my symptoms are normal and that with time (hopefully) they will subside.  

[joe199]

Don't give up I am finally starting to see an improvement and I am almost at 10 weeks now. !!

Try to go for walks alone. I find I have expelled quite a bit of gas while walking. Also try to watch what you eat for the next couple of weeks not to eat food that give gas. My stomach also gets worst at night. The doctor told me it is normal because we use our stomach all day and it is still sensitive so by the end of the day it starts to swell up again. Also we eat and so sometimes by the end of the day it is bloating. Me too the area gets sore by the end of the day especially if I didn't stop all day. I still don't fit into my jeans but at least I am starting to get pants into some of my pants. I thought I would have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe !!

Are you fitting into your clothes yet ?  I actually put on 5 pounds and I am convinced it was all gas and swelling weight not actual fat weight gain.

Did you gain any weight since surgery ?