Literally can’t stand after c section?

[IsedtoK]

Had c section this morning and can’t get off the bed to stand. Pain is so bad. Is this normal? I’ve read people tend to be able to get up after 7/8 hours.

Thank you!! I’ve managed to walk on my own now but I feel pushed about a bit with it. I know I need to do it but I think a few hours after was a little soon. Hope they don’t turf me out tomorrow!

Best way to sleep?! Any ideas welcome

If the pain is also higher up, shoulder level sometimes, it can also be trapped wind from the surgery, this was horrific pain for me which I coûtent believe could be due to that.

This was my experience too. Horrific pain & no standing for days.

I’m feeling worse this morning although can walk a little. Pain is quite bad but movement better.

I didn't sleep in hospital. You will sleep at home in your comfy bed.

Don't try to lie down flat, or anywhere even close to it. I lay down on my bed when I got home and trying to get up was the worst pain I had, absolutely hideous. Pillows, pillows, pillows.

I didn't really sleep in hospital either, just grab naps when you can.

Have you had regular pain relief through the night?

@Numbat2022, one of the midwives after my ELCS was a withholder - the anaesthetist came round a few hours after the op to discuss pain relief, he said if I needed Oramorph to just ask the midwife at any point, as it'd already been prescribed.

The day after, when I'd had no sleep due to the pain, the patronising cow kept saying "Let's just see how you get on with the paracetamol and ibuprofen, darling". Sorry "darling", but we've tried that and now I'm asking for something a bit more effective, which I've been advised I can have.

I was finally allowed it at midnight, 10 hours after initially asking for it, and probably only because a different midwife came to check on me. It was horribly frustrating.

OP, take the morphine. I am not a doctor but this is how it was explained to me - when you are in pain this consumes your body’s energies in trying to help you cope. When you take pain relief your body can start to heal more quickly. I’m sorry to any HCPs on the thread if that’s nonsense but it helped me.

I had 2 CS, first an emergency and 2nd elective. I really struggled after first on inadequate pain relief (paracetamol only) but asked for better pain relief after 2nd and found my recovery went better for it. Take the stronger meds!

For getting out of bed, I was shown how to roll on to my side and use swinging my legs down over the side of the bed combined with pushing up with my arms to make sitting up and getting to standing easier. It puts less pressure on your recently operated abdominal muscles and uses the weight of your legs to help pull you up to sitting vs getting to sitting from lying on your back.

Did you have SPD when you were pregnant? I had a c-section and couldn’t understand why I was in so much pain compared to the other mothers around me, who were up and mobile quite quickly. Many years later I was told that the SPD would have made things more painful, and I wished I had been told this at the time.

Remember the movicol and glycerine suppositories. Anything morphine based causes severe constipation.
Hope you feel better soon.

Remember the movicol and glycerine suppositories. Anything morphine based causes severe constipation.
Hope you feel better soon.

I had this, the pain was horrendous, i likened it to having someone hold a scalding hot iron on my stomach. I needed morphine top ups for the first 24 hours and then was on codeine, paracetamol and diclofenac to the max dose for 5 days or so.

It is major surgery.

I mean this very kindly OP but it is absolute madness to decline morphine after major surgery if your medical team have prescribed it for you. You won't need it for long - I had three days' and it made all the difference. It didn't make me drowsy or woozy. The final dose made me feel a bit sick and shivery and I took this as my body's signal that it didn't need the morphine any more.

Yes- they tried to get me up and I fainted and when very funny and nearly vomited

Take the pain relief and make sure you get it as sometimes can be forgotten

Why are you against the morphine/opiates?

They really take the edge off in the first few days. I'm on day 6 post my 3rd c section and now just on ibuprofen and paracetamol but the first two days was on the strong stuff too.

The more mobile you can be, the faster your recovery. Take your painkillers on a schedule, even if you don't feel like you need them at the time. I didn't really experience any pain, and didn't take painkillers after first 24 hours after my EMCS but I think that is really important to being able to keep gently moving. (I have a very high pain threshold I think). I was also a lot more comfortable once I was home.

I haven't read all the replies, so sorry if this has already been mentioned, but are you sure the pain is from the wound? I've had two and only realised with the second that the really agonising, can't stand up straight pain came from trapped wind. Forget peppermint tea - get some proper trapped wind meds (I think I used Windeze, but other brands are probably available!). Hope you feel better soon!

Take the Oramorph. It will help with the pain and you’ll begin to feel better. It’s tightly controlled and it won’t be addictive, you won’t be allowed to get to that level. You DO need to get the pain under control to begin to recover.

can anyone help with what to do about being told to go home when not ready? I had the c section yesterday 12pm and they’re saying I should be leaving the afternoon. I know some people do this but I’m now here in tears as I honestly don’t think I will cope leaving today. I can walk a bit better but not well. Im still in pain and have no support at home until Sunday. The woman is being really aggressive and I’m just in tears and don’t know what to say

Why have you got no support at home? Where is your partner? Any family? Friends?

Honestly, I nearly ran out of the door - you'll be in the same amount of pain at home as you are in hospital.

That is awful.
Back in my day we kept women in for up to 5 days post section. Of course, the post-natal wards were not the absolute mayhem that they are now, with armies of noisy visitors staying all day and night.
Is there nobody who can come and stay with you OP?

@CornishGem1975 @endofthelinefinally i do have support at home I just don’t feel physically ready.