So painful after hysterectomy

[DoingJustFine]

I had an abdominal hysterectomy 2 days ago. They discharged me today. I'm still in loads of pain! They gave me Codeine but it's not really helping.

I don't remember my C-sections being this painful.

I think the issue might be that I haven't properly pooed yet, aside from one fart and a teeny tiny poo nugget. I probably still have some trapped wind too? I've had Movicol (nothing) and Lactulose (nope). The one thing that did get the fart and the buffet out was a glycerin suppository - should I send DH out to buy some?

I just can't get comfortable. Getting in and out of bed is so hard. The car journey back was painful.

I wish they'd let me stay in hospital longer, to be honest.

Hi Op, I've had a hysterectomy last year and for me the wind pain and not passing a stool was very painful. On my second night I woke up in a constipated type of pain and walked about to help ease. I walked downstairs and by the time I reached the bottom step I farted for so long and it was pretty loud! I felt pretty relieved and went back to bed. I woke up on day 3 and passed a stool. After that the pain for me was minimal and I managed to come off painkillers. I did drink prune juice the night before so I think that helped alot.

Sorry it’s painful and they don’t really prepare you for it. The first week after my hysterectomy was awful, I remember moaning like hell on here about it! The bloating was horrendous, I looked 6 months pregnant.
Take rennie deflatine and peppermint capsules. Oh and docusate sodium (brand name Dulcoease) is a good laxative, takes about 48 hours to work.
It will get better in a few days, take care.

I'm on the loo drinking a double-bag peppermint tea and SH has gone to get me the suppositories.

Pray for me. And for all of us, when it finally explodes!

Thank you, @Winewednesday and @MissyB1

Sorry you went through this too!

The post about farting made me laugh, which really hurts!

OP I'm recovering from fairly extensive gynae surgery and found that buscopan helped me too with the horrendous constipation pain. I also have a stool for my feet when I need to go, leaning back, found raising my arms like I was cheering helped and exhaling into my bum with BM. I'm now 7 days post op and things are moving a bit more normally. Having a pillow behind my knees helped me get comfy in bed too 💐 hope you get some relief soon.

@mrsmacmc Thank you for the tips! I'm glad you're feeling better. I'll definitely cheer when I finally poo.

It's even just lovely to know that this is normal. If it weren't for you lot, I'd be terrified I was dying.

The farting was so bad for the first few days, even my husband was surprised, haha! Google Moo to Poo, a nurse recommended it to me. Try to walk for a few minutes each day too if you can or when you feel ready

lactulose does nothing for me and it’s only that or movical (always vomit when I’ve had this) is available on prescription.

The only thing that works for me within 24 hours is dulcoease (take 3 times a day) and ducolax before bed.

I’ve been given suppositories in hospital and they did nothing.

Buscopan, peppermint oil capsules or Rennie deflatine will help, are you drinking lots? Try dulcoease if you are still constipated but make sure you drink a lot, have you eaten lots of fruit & veg? The heat may be making you dehydrated & you may need to increase the amount you drink until the weather cools down.

How much movicol? You can mix up 8 sachets and drink that.

@DoingJustFine getting there 🤞🏻 I can really empathise with what you're going through. If someone had offered me a gun on Monday I would've gladly taken it 😆 I called the ward to ask for help and the nurse said 5 days post op is when we'll start to get concerned. The buscopan really helped as it stopped the sensation of 'needing' when I didn't. Remember you've been rummaged around a lot so the nerves will be potentially misfiring too. I've been surviving on toast, jelly, piling fluids in and soup as can't face anything else at the moment. My DH was very alarmed when I refused coffee until today too ❤️

Dont forget a heat pack can help with the muscle pain (if you can bear it)

I had gynae surgery 2.5 weeks ago and also felt so bloated and in pain from constipation. I drank loads of liquid, took dulcoease 3 x a day, max strength senakot 3 x a day. Started with some farts after 3 days then on day 5 I had a poo. I'm still not 100% now in the bowel department, but it took about 10 days to feel reasonable.

And make sure you are drinking enough water this will also help with meds and motion.

Its the codeine that bungs you up

Of it’s codeine and not co-codamol you might also be able to take paracetamol. If unsure you can always chat with a pharmacist

I had an abdominal hysterectomy too. They kept me in for five days because I lost a lot of blood during surgery, but I didn’t poo properly until day 7 :(

i recommend drinking loads and loads and loads of water. and walk as much as you can.

You are all so helpful! Thank you from the bottom of my arse!

I've discovered the issue: I'm (literally) shit scared. The suppository worked its magic and I did an explosive fart and a few choice nuggets, then immediately clenched to hold it in?!! It was involuntary. I think I'm scared my bits will collapse.

I could probably poo normally if I just chilled out.

The Moo To Poo video is great! The breathing into my tummy really worked. I just need to stop the immediate "STOP! Reverse!" panic.

You're all brilliant - thanks. Sorry for not replying individually.

Yes I'm drinking LOADS of water. LOADS.

I've taken lactulose and some duc-ease or whatever it's called.

I'm on only codeine (had that 4 hours ago) so I've had 2 ibuprofen now.

Also had another 2 buscopan things.

I miss the nurses keeping track of all my medications. I'm quite scared I'm going to crap myself in my sleep now.

@DoingJustFine

I'm so sorry your uncomfortable

I have 2 friends who've had this both experienced what you did after but 2 totally different experiences

Friend 1 went to NHs hospital kicked out after 2 days in agony with no strong drugs

Friend 2 went private in 5 days waited on hand and food and taken home in private ambulance lying down and given good medication

It's awful the nhs turf people out so quickly tho - outrageous

@lastminutedotcom22

In the NHS's fairness, I probably could have stayed longer if I'd complained more about the pain. It was blissful in there - I'd have stayed a month if I could!

But I know that you mean. That ambulance sounds bliss. DH did his best but the car journey was painful.

My men here (DH and two DS) are being so lovely. DS2 just helped me arrange my new giant body pillow around me for optimal comfort. He's normally grumpy (he's 14) but he was endlessly patient and kind.

It's only the first day though. Maybe by the weekend they'll all be sick of me, and just chick a few CupASoup sachets in my direction before they all sod off out.

I was scared to go the toilet too. I watched something on my phone (I don't usually take my phone to the toilet) and it helped me to relax. Deep breaths and then it was over. It really didn't hurt. Holding it may hurt with squeezing. The prune juice really helped. Codeine usually makes you a bit constipated so it may be worth trying different pain relief. I kept to paracetamol.

Totally empathise. I'm three weeks post major gynae surgery and still get pain when I'm constipated and still in too much pain to stop the constipating drugs. I was given laxido which is v effective but makes me gag. Have been trying my usual trusty method of soft dried apricots but they just seem to be producing wind. Hope you get a reasonable sleep. It does get better!

After I had an emcs I didn't poo for 6 days. I got to morning 7 after, my first morning home & knew I had to get rid somehow. I had taken lactulose by bucketful & drank gallons when I got home the night before, the pain was worse than the 60 hour failed induction. I was screaming so much my mum even came & held my hand while I sat on the toilet, like you I was terrified my insides would drop out. When it finally starting to happen I felt just like a head was crowning in labour but my god the relief after, my bum was in bits but I could cope with that after giving birth to a cricket ball. Have you tried hot black coffee with sugar in it? That usually moves anything, get your dh to make you a cup & then go & relax if you can on the toilet, take your phone or a book & sigh in to your bum.

I had major abdominal surgery earlier this year and I found holding a big fluffy bath towel to my stomach helped ease the fear

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.

This morning, after 2 black coffees, a fibre biscuit, some whole meal toast and 800ml water - I released the kraken! And it didn't hurt, which should reassure my neurotic sphincter.

I feel so much better - it doesn't hurt AT ALL when there's no wind or constipation.

Thank you all so much for your advice -- I did everything you said and it worked a treat.

THANK YOU