Trapped wind after an operation

[rainbowgirl2016]

Hi

I had my gallbladder out on Monday with keyhole surgery. I was in so much pain that I stayed in Monday night and came home in Tuesday. I'm still in loads of pain, I think with trapped wind as my tummy is huge! It hurts between my boobs (as if the gallstones pain is still there). Also I'm finding it so difficult getting in and out of bed, as well as standing up and moving around. Is this all normal? I looked on nhs website but it says the wounds will be sore for a few days and same with the wind.. I'm worried that it's now Thursday and I'm still not feeling any easier. Thanks

[SteX]

As a fellow lap chole patient, did they clear your common bile duct of all stones?

Everyone's different after an op obviously, I was sore for a couple weeks. I use a wheelchair so can't be too much help with mobility, but trying to walk the couple handfuls of steps to the loo at home was rather painful for a few days.

Have you been given pain meds on discharge? If so, what? If not, get yourself to GP today for some.

[ronniebarkersauntie]

I have no idea about gallstone operations but I know from experience that constipation can be a huge and very painful problem postoperatively in general. Have you “been”?

[rainbowgirl2016]

Thank you for your reply. I had an ERCP done last Tuesday as one was stuck but when they did it they said they couldn't find any so think I had passed it. They said they had put dye in to check and also did numerous trawls which showed it was all clear. I then had the gallbladder taken out on the emergency list so was quite quick. I was given codine to have. Am having codine, paracetamol and buscopan all in 1 go every 4 hours.

[rainbowgirl2016]

No I haven't 'been' yet but the pain feels much higher than constipation. It's like where my diaphragm is (I think?!)

[Oblomov18]

After c sections, trapped wind can be incredibly painful. They give peppermint oil. I was very sceptical. But it works amazingly and is well known.
Could that help you?

[OwlBeBack]

I had my gallbladder out in November and had nothing like that amount of pain. I’d give the Ward a ring - did they give you a follow-up contact number when they discharged you?

By day 3, I was sore but doing everything normally including working and looking after 3 teens!

Hope you feel better soon.

[SteX]

Oh, wtf.

Codeine? Fuck that. Codeine metabolises to morphine, and is known to spasm Sphincter of Oddi. Also, you can still produce gallstones, cholesterol "bits" and bile sludge sans gallbladder.

I'd go to GP, explain what's happening, Tramadol would be a much better option.

[SteX]

Also, opiates and opioids also constipate you (Codeine).

[rainbowgirl2016]

Oh really? I have a 4 and a half year old and an 8 week old and I cannot do anything. Hubby is off all week because I literally am in so much pain. No follow up is needed apparently as they said it all went well. Been having peppermint tea and peppermint tablets too but nothing seems to ease. Then when I move it feels like my skin is tearing open!

[Veterinari]

You need to go back to the doctor. If you aren’t passing gas or faeces then they need to sort is out. Codeine won’t be helping

[SteX]

Please go to GP this morning.

[ImListening]

When I had my c section the trapped wind was unbearable. For me I just kept drinking hot water as that was the only thing that helped.

But make an appointment to go to the GP so they can check you

[MadeForThis]

Peppermint oil tablets. I took 3 a day. And you need to pass as much wind as possible. Raise your knees and rock.
You need to poops asap. Gp can prescribe lactose.

[Rolleyprincess]

Oh poor you :( I had mine out last year and have to say the after/recovery as far worse than I was expecting :-/ I found one vaguely not comfy position to lie in and stayed there. My dad kept googling the trapped wind thing to try and help me but nothing really helped..mine was same place as you and also all in my neck/shoulders.
The advice was to try to keep moving but it was awful (sorry this doesn’t sound v positive but thought I should tell you that the pain isn’t unheard of after)
Crossing my fingers it eases for you!!

[rainbowgirl2016]

Thank you all. Yes I think I've completely underestimated it really!

[vilamoura2003]

I had mine out in November. I must say, it was so much worse than they had prepared me for. I was told that I would be up and about within 3 days feeling pretty fine and back to work within 2 weeks. I ended up having nearly 6 weeks off work - it knocked me for six. I had a slight infection and had to have two lots of antibiotics. I couldn't roll over in bed, lie on my side or get in and out of bed without pulling myself up with the help of a chair for 4 weeks. Everytime I did too much it felt like it was pulling inside. My stomach was sooo swollen and bloated I felt like I was 13 months pregnant and I had to wear elasticated bottoms. I also had a keyhole wound right underneath where the underwire would go so was unable to wear a bra for at least 4 weeks either.

I spoke to my consultant and he just said that everybody is different and some people recover quickly, but some take longer. He said even though it was done through keyhole surgery, it was still a big operation inside.

At the time when I was recovering, I felt like I would never be well again and it was a slow slow process, the antibiotics didn't help - wrecked my insides. I suffered from quite bad upset stomachs at first as well while my system adjusted. However after lots of rest, I can now say I am fine. I still sometimes get an uncomfortable sensation where it used to be, however I have spoken to a few people who have also had it and they say the same.

Peppermint capsules, peppermint tea, massage your tummy in a clockwise direction looking down at it. If it is wind related, it will ease as the wind goes up or down. They basically pump you up with a bicycle pump so they can see and get around, that needs to be absorbed and then dispersed.

I hope this helps and you are on the mend soon

[piefacedClique]

I had horrific trapped wind after my gallblader.... worse than the operation pain. Peppermint tea worked for me. Don’t get me started on the pain of going to the toilet for a few days after tho! 😳

[Snoopyokay]

Hope you are okay OP I had the same op 2 weeks ago but I am feeling fine now. I would ring the ward and ask them to check you over. I was in a lot of pain in my shoulders from the gas it was blimming awful!

[MarthatheWombat]

They use gas to inflate your stomach when doing keyhole surgery so it's probably from that - they do try to get it all out before closing the keyhole sites but it's a very common side effect of it especially shoulder tip pain/above diaphragm. Keep going with the peppermint and try and move as much as you can bear, but give the ward a ring/go to your gp if it's getting too much to cope with. Hope you're better soon!

[Kneehighinshit]

The trapped gas is not in your digestive system!!! It is between your muscle and organs as they 'inflate' you for keyhole surgery. No amount of digestive aids will help you. As there are no nerve endings in the diaphragm (where the gas is trapped) it is reflected in shoulder and chest pain. This can last up to two weeks. After my keyhole surgery they had to explain this many times as I was convinced I was having a heart attack.

Take it easy and dose up on the pain killers. I hope you have a quick recovery

[Snoopyokay]

Also heat pads for the shoulders are a god send!

[dahliaaa]

Peppermint tea !
I also had really bad constipation after my gallbladder op for quite a while. Needed fairly heavy duty laxatives to sort it out.
Hope you feel better soon.