Agony after c section

[Horseshoe1]

I had an emergency c section early yesterday morning after a very traumatic and long labour. I'm still in hospital and confused because i feel in total agony (like to get out of bed is a nightmare- to change or even just lift my beautiful daughter would be impossible). The midwives are strongly suggesting I have to get on with it, and that I'll heal better if I push through and get used to the soreness. I just attempted this approach and found myself holding my baby and screaming 'help' as I was convinced I'd collapse from the pain. Is this really a state of mind issue? Do the painkillers not work for some people? The other women on the ward seem to be having a much easier time, and some delivered via section more recently than me. Any opinions appreciated. I'm meant to be going home tomorrow. DH is being heroic by the way, but I want to look after my precious first baby myself too - he is doing everything for me!

[helensburgh]

I've had 3 caesarian sections..1st emergency and I was back to normal on day 2. Same if not quicker with 2nd.
But my third oh my I couldn't move without agony.
I eventually was given oromorph but I'm convinced the surgeon just wasn't as good as my scar looked horrendous with huge overlaps of skin.
Take your time. And ask for painkillers

[Loulou2kent]

I only got the pain you describe when they didn't give me painkillers when the last lot wore off.

I was up in the shower & walking a few hours after the operation. Which did make me feel much better.

I didn't realise I could ask for more painkillers until one morning whilst on my way to scubu I was literally clinging onto the moveable cot whilst wheeling my boy down for his antibiotics. I thought I was going to pass out & the midwife said to me to just let them know when I'm feeling so sore. They were slowly making the dose times longer & I could have had meds a while ago.

Keep asking for them & if you need to get someone else to have a word on your behalf. Mine was only terrible in the mornings & that's when I had to do my very long walk to scubu. So really noticed it. You shouldn't be in that much pain.

Hope your feeling better soon

[PlaymobilPirate]

You need to bensure vocal - I wish I had been! Ds was on nicu - a ten minute hobble across the hospital so I missed out on the drug rounds. I thought I was dying the 2nd night but thought I was just being a wimp.

I almost punched my usually lovely mother who told everyone I'd had my baby 'the easy way with just a little nick'

[PlaymobilPirate]

Oh and the chairs in nicu that were about 3 inches off the fucking ground didn't help much either!

[SheepyFun]

That isn't normal. Admittedly I had a elcs with a good recovery, but with 'just' paracetamol, ibuprofen and, I think, coedine (which I had to ask for) I was OK, and in less pain than I'd been during almost all my pregnancy (unusually, upper back problems). Ask for more, and I hope it gets better soon.

[SpeakNoWords]

I've had two EMCS, the first after a very long and difficult labour. The second was at 37 weeks when I wasn't in labour or expecting to deliver. The recovery from the first EMCS was much much worse than from the second. I think the effect of having been in labour for days really changes the recovery time afterwards.

I had loads of painkillers and learn quickly that I had to keep on top of taking them to keep the pain at bay. I found afterpains to be almost as bad as the worst contractions. I don't think you should be experiencing searing or sharp pain though, I wonder if your wound could be beginning to be infected? I would ask them to double check that everything is ok.

[Imscarlet]

It gets better day by day, I promise you. In 2 weeks you will be a different person!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

No one tells a woman who has just had a hysterectomy to power through,in fact they stress the importance of not lifting anything heavy etc. Yes, being mobile is good , being in agony is not.

Try not to compare yourself to others on the ward, everyone heals differently.

[endoflevelbaddy]

You shouldn't be left in so much pain, and if the nurses can't / won't help you need to see the doctor to sort out prescriptions.
Pain meds won't work as a one of and need to be taken at regular intervals and to build up some what, particularly anti-inflammatories e.g. Ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen.

After my emcs I was given codeine, paracetamol and diclofenac so I could take something roughly every 2 hours day and night. And I was up and about with baby properly day 2, although I was been encouraged not to overdo it. I know if you're breastfeeding now some trusts give different drugs and diclofenac has fallen out of favour - but you should be able to get an opioid type product, anti inflammatory and paracetamol to control your pain.

2nd time around I had an elcs and just told the anaesthetist what worked for me last time to ensure prescription was the same. I did go home much quicker though and dealing with stairs and not spending majority of day laying in bed with baby (as I did for 3 days with first) left me exhausted and in much more pain.

Try to rest as much as possible and make a nuisance of yourself if you have to make them get your pain under control.
And congratulations it does get better pretty quickly so you can start enjoying your newborn.

[Heirhelp]

Buzz now and say you can't cope with pain and you need something more. If they are not forth coming ask for the supervisor of midwives. You can alternate pain killers so ibuprofen/diclofenic and then two hours later paracetamol.

[ShowOfHands]

Powering through is good advice but not through pain. You have to mentally push through the weirdness. Standing up straight feels wrong and tight and like you'll tear but that sensation is misleading and standing up straight is better for recovery, as is being mobile. Pushing through or ignoring actual pain is foolhardy.

I was discharged 12hrs after my first emcs and didn't need a single painkiller. My friend was still in bed after 6 days. It's luck predominantly.

Get your physio to show you how to sit and stand. It will help.

What sort of pain is it and where? Sharp and tearing at the incision site? Or bruised? Or throbbing? Is it in just one place? Is it constant or on moving? Identifying what and where can help with managing it.

[EstelleRoberts]

You poor thing. People do respond differently to painkillers, depending on how many active copies they have of the genes that govern liver enzymes for processing the drugs, eg opiates. You, like me, may be one of the unlucky ones who respond atypically to analgesia. You may need to ask for different/stronger painkillers. Badger them until you get them!!

As others have said, the day following the op is the worst, so you should be feeling quite a bit less sore tomorrow. Don't feel bad about buzzing for help in the meantime.

Congratulations on your new DD!

[Ledkr]

Pain relief builds up in your system so needs to be taken regularly for best effect.
I've had 4 sections and was so pissed off with late meds that I took in my own for the last two.
Peppermint tea for the wind as well.
Try moving about in bed before trying to get up. Sliding your legs up and down, tilting your pelvis all gets you ready to stand.
I was in agony with my first but not too bad with the others.
Hope you feel better soon and don't be scared to ask for painkillers and help.

[SpookyPotato]

Hey OP, I was still in so much pain at this point and thought it would never end. But each day got better.. like someone else on this thread, I couldn't walk the day after and then the next day walked out of hospital holding my baby! I hope you start to feel better soon.

[Horseshoe1]

Thank you all so much. I have been feeding DD all evening which is just a delight. Have also done some very slow circuits of the ward with DH which has built up my confidence a bit. In answer to questions, I am on ibruprofen and coadamol. I think I needed a proper dosage of oramorphs, not just the one off low dose I got. Am also not convinced I respond well to painkillers- one of the issues with my 3 day labour was that pethidine didn't help much and epidural worked on my legs but not my contractions. Had a rough time all in all which is probably part of the reason I feel so bad. And whoever mentioned gas, I think that's a very good point and is absolutely adding to my pain. The burning sword analogy is exactly right for trying to stand up!

Thanks again, I feel more confident to ask for help now, and a bit less scared in general. Will keep you posted xxx

[sycamore54321]

I am so sorry OP you have been treated in this awful way and I'm glad to see things are a little better in your most recent post. It is intolerable to leave a patient in pain, and dangerously negligent to then expect that person to have sole care of a vulnerable newborn.

I suggest you call a nurse/midwife now. Ask them I document the fact that your pain has been excruciating, that the pain relief you experienced to date has been inadequate. Ask them what they are going to do about it and ask them to document that. Also tell them that you have feared you might collapse and injure your baby when overwhelmed by pain and ask them what measures are in place to ensure this does not happen again, who will care for your baby if you don't have visitors etc. Have this request documented too.

I absolutely hate this mysognistic dismissal and downplaying of women's pain, particularly in childbirth. Make sure all your concerns are noted and if you are not being listened to, ask to speak to someone more senior. It's not right that you should have to put on your assertive hat when you have had what sounds like a terribly difficult few days. But please find the strength to do it, you deserve adequate management of your pain and every support for recovery.

Please also don't compare yourself to other patients, or allow the midwives to compare you. Everyone's experience is different and yours sounds tougher than most, even if you hadn't had a section it sounds like an ordeal.

Congratulations on your new baby, you are a hero for putting yourself through all that. Please make sure they take you seriously when you say this hurts and something isn't right.

Best wishes for your recovery.

[elliejjtiny]

You poor thing. I had awful pain after both my elective section and my crash section. I hope you feel better soon.

[TurquoiseDress]

OP- first off congratulations!

I really feel for you, this is how I felt after my CS with first baby.

The advice to take all the meds they offer is all well and good, but I found that the drugs round was infrequent & I found myself buzzing for meds and being denied any oramorph for several hours at a time despite the anaesthetist prescribing it 2 hourly as needed, on my chart.

I promise it will get better but I'm sure right now, it's pretty shit.

My 2nd (and last) night on the post natal ward was hellish, worse than the first.

Big hugs for you- and wine for when you're feeling better

[Horseshoe1]

Thank you. So encouraging to hear from others who have been through the same. Earlier tonight I felt like some freak case. The doc / registrar still never appeared to see me tonight but apparently will in the morning. All you lot have made me feel lot better. I honestly never considered that the pain meds were insufficient and that this could be easily sorted. Thanks for all the congratulations- my little one is so amazing and I just want to be ready to jump whenever she needs me!

[Redkite10a]

I found diclofenac much more effective than ibuprofen for my infected episiotomy lady time. It was a sympathetic GP who prescribed it for me after I'd done some googling and checked the breast feeding network information on it to make sure it was OK with feeding. The midwives at the hospital had told me there was nothing else except paracetamol and ibuprofen I could take.

I was readmitted into hospital 2 weeks later to be restitched. When I told the midwives I was on diclofenac they admitted they did use it on the ward, and got it prescribed for me.... I was also prescribed oramorph but I didn't find it helped. I'd definitely keep.buzzing to.let them know you are in pain, and insist on seeing a doctor.

[Ledkr]

Reading this thread made me ponder how women's treatment after a section varies.
Having had 4 sections myself I had a different experience with all of them.
My 3rd was the worst with kind nurses who took dd for a bit so I could sleep on the first night, to the second night being snapped at that "we are not responsible for your baby, you are" and having ten o'clock meds at 1am

I think it's about time people realised that a section is MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY and in no other circumstances would we have that and be expected to care for a newborn (especially after bring told not to lift a kettle)

Mil has just had a big abdominal op and has all but apologised to me for overstaying her welcome and waiting to be fed not realising how much pain i must have been in.

It needs to change. We have the right to good care and adequate pain relief even if we are supposed to be martyrs now we have children.