[matlee123]

I just have to rant about how rotten I feel right now. Last Thursday, I had a hiatal hernia repair, gall bladder removal and stomach wrap to stop the reflux.

The Doc said I'd be back to work in a week easily with very little post operative pain.

Hah! I woke up crying from the pain in my shoulders. Nurses just let me cry without giving me any relief. Your pain is only from the air they pumped in for surgery. It will dissipate in a few days. Well, I still can't breathe deep from pain, my shoulders still hurt bad, can't sleep, and I look six months pregnant from the bloat!

The Doctor said the air should only stay for 48 hours. Well I am a bit beyond that. I gripe so much because the surgery itself doesn't hurt, its the ***** trapped air!

So to any of you who have had laparscopic abdominal surgeries, how long does this misery really last? Any ideas for relief would be greatly appreciated also.

[mcmama]

I just had major surgery as well, which included repair of a hernia caused by the stress of a tumor. While they were in there, they took Uterus, ovaries, tubes, and appendix, and some surrounding tissue for tests. I did not deal with the pain of air trapped, there were other pains. At my hospital, they had me hooked up to a pain pump. You can dispense the medication as needed, but it locks out an overdose. They also gave me this thing to blow into every hour, so that my body would get used to breathing deeply again. The worst thing for me was constipation.

Your surgery was Thursday, and this is Monday - you may find that over the next few days you make great progress.

The trapped air should usually dissippate in 48 hours, which is what my son experienced with surgery for mega ureter repair as an infant. It is very painful. Moving and walking around helps. (with an infant, I exercised him, moving his legs, sitting him up, holding his tummy) Since it has not dissippated, if you are still in the hospital, they need to be doing something to help you get rid of it. How much are you walking?

With abdominal surgery, recovery in a week is pretty unlikely. How large is the incision?

I am 4 weeks post op - incision has healed, but I get very tired a lot, and my insides still feel pretty bruised!

[MiracleBaby06]

i know this is a bit differnt than what youve had but last year i had a csection with my daughter and had trapped air for 3 days and once it did release it was very lil at a time which made it worse. hope u feel better soon

[QueenAngie]

(((hugs)))

Many times they also place your body in odd positions to get to the correct anatomical site for optimal surgery. They really can twist your body around while you are asleep.

Maybe it is partially the surgical gas, but could be sore muscles too.

Take an anti-inflammatory med like Motrin, if your doc allows this.

[swt1899]

Doctors always say "Oh there's nothing to it" or "You'll be back up and running in a week" That's what they said about my dad's back which he fractured in 2 places after hurricane Katrina. He was sawing down a limb from a tree that fell and got knocked off the ladder. He has 2 metal rods in my back and the Dr's were all saying he'd be back to his old self in no time. Ugh! I could have rung this Dr's neck! I was so mad!
My dad was in bed for 2 weeks and needed meds for depression (which my mother got for him). I wanted to call the Dr and give him a piece of my mind.
I think that Doctor's try to tell you that there is nothing to the surgery meaning... they know how to do it and do it well. And the recovery... that is the best case scenario. Most people dont' bounce back like that.
I'd call the Dr and see and make sure things are healing right. My mother had some surgery for endometriosis back in the 70's where they inflated her belly with gas. She said she was very uncomfortable for a while. She also had a herniated navel. I'll ask and see how her recovery went back then.

[mcmama]

I think they want to keep an optimistic attitude so that you don't get the idea that you're just going to be SOOOO sick sick sick. But then there is real life. And for many of us, real life involves working, raising a family, and making decisions and taking steps that don't always have doctor approval. And there is also the "don't worry I know what I'm doing" thing. A lot of doctors, even female ones, have never stayed home with kids and so have no idea. Many have a support system in their families, and assume that everyone else does too.

Because I am such a nervous wreck about this sort of thing anyway, I found it helpful to talk to the patient advocate at the hospital before admitting (it was part of the preadmission process) and explain among other things, my fear of anesthesia based on previous experience. Boy, did I get a detailed explanation of what was going to happen to me, how I would feel, what to expect. It was great. And I still hate anesthesia, but it took away some of the fear - and during the week that followed I was better able to understand what my body was recovering from.

I think knowing what to expect alleviates the depression that follows from the frustration about being weak or in pain. Instead of saying "you'll feel better soon" or "most people get over it" if you have a realistic expectation, then you are spending each day progressing toward getting BETTER, not worrying about why you "failed" to recouperate as quickly as you were led to expect.

I still have problems with mammoth fatigue. And I stopped the painkillers once it was possible to stay asleep without them because I was having the worst dreams. After stopping them, I slept much better. I think the drugs they give you for anesthesia really stay in your system.

[QueenAngie]

Take one day at a time. Generally major surgery is 6 weeks for things to heal, and probably 6 months to get back into your normal routine and feeling good.

Nobody will tell you that......but facing emergency surgery, when there is no other alternative.......gotta go through the surgery to fix broken bones.

Nobody likes post op pain, nausea, fatigue, genera weakness. Just take one day at a time.

Multivitamins, good nutrition, daily afternoon naps, beginning to take a daily walk when appropriate, and plenty of water to hydrate
are all good general post op tips.

[lynloy]

Try lifting your arm above your head, I have heard it does help with the air problem. I had mine the old fashioned way in 2000 so I had no air, but I did have a bunch of staples.

[AudreyOka]

Leisa,

How are you? it's been 6 days since you last posted. Are you feeling better?

[matlee123]

I am now nearly two weeks out from surgery and feeling much better. Thanks for all of the support.

The air bubbles began to diminish by day 5 and by last Friday I felt like a human again. Now I'm just tired.

Thanks again everyone.

Leisa