Will my Swollen Belly every go down???

[maureen54]

hi , i had my partial abdominal hysterectomy March 2/09 and have been searching for info about swollen belly
while my recovery is going as well as can be expected with minimal pain(except when i need to sneeze/cough) and discomfort  when i stand up after having sat for a while (i get up and my insides follow later..lol) or turn over in bed....i am quite unhappy about this new swollen belly....what is the ETD Expected Time of Disappearance??? Or this a new reshaping of my body? ...thanks.

[old_before_my_time]

Hysterectomy reshapes the body because the ligaments that hold the uterus are also the pelvis' support structures. Once those are severed to remove the uterus, the spine compresses, the hips widen and the rib cage drops eventually sitting on the hip bones. That's why we end up with protruding bellies and the loss of the curve in our lower backs. For me, it's one of the worst after effects of this surgery as I still had a bikini worthy body at age 49 (even though I didn't wear bikinis any more). The loss of ovarian hormones caused a whole other set of devastating and nightmarish problems, not to mention the many medically documented increased health risks.

[sweetd12414]

Maureen 54,** I feel the same way you do...everything that you wrote is the way I feel..don't know what to do

[Maria1b]

I came upon this forum in desperation. I had a hysterectomy almost 20 years ago due to serious issues of low blood count and constant bleeding. With a blood count around 6, I was still well enough to exercise and do road-hiking and could walk 25 miles a day. Because I had to have regular transfusions the doctor decided I had to have a hysterectomy. Knowing as I did that I had what was described as a bulky womb with endemetryosis, I was against anything other than a straightforward abdominal opening, but the surgeon did a bikini line cut although I had said I did not care about having that.

The day after my surgery I felt very sick and could not swallow anything and had to have an NG tube in, and it was discovered I had a volvulus (twist in the bowel) - and ten days later having been on 4 hourly morphine injections for the excruciating pain, they made an incision down my entire body to try to find the twist and repair it. The bowel had stuck to dried blood in the abdomen.

I went into that hospital a size 12 (UK), came out a size 6 three weeks later.

Since that day I have had a badly swollen abdomen and been unable to wear anything tight round my stomach - no tights even in very cold winters. I have to have trousers especially made with insert panels and adjustable sections. I am now a size 22-24 round my stomach but have to have all my clothes adjusted as my top half is much smaller.

I have very bad adhesions all down my left side, and can only lie on one side or I suffer a sickening pulling feeling while in bed. All clothes cut into me when I am sitting down, making me feel really sick, and my stomach swell further. Ten years ago I was sent to see a doctor who told me there was nothing wrong with me except that I was fat, and it was nothing to do with the operation.

For nearly 5 years I have had a very bad abdominal discharge, yellowish brown and very smelly, so night and day I have to wear pads.

I measure 46 inches round the waist, I look as though I am 9 months pregnant, the swelling starts right under my bust and it is hard like a rock. It is affecting my breathing now as it is pressing on my lungs, and I am constantly exhausted. I come home from work and put on my nightclothes as that is the only time I am slightly comfortable. I am in constant pain and discomfort and my abdomen is continuing to swell day by day. It is uncomfortable to bend in the middle so I am never really at ease in a chair other than an armchair. I suffer vomiting and diarrhoea if I wear anything that is in any way constricting round my middle (hence the reason my trousers have to be adjustable so I can quickly ease the pressure as my stomach swells during the day if I am tired or unwell and is rock hard).

I have had a cat scan, examinations, seen lots of doctors, and basically been told there is nothing wrong with me and I have to 'learn to live with it'. It has wrecked my whole life, physically, emotionally, sexually as extreme pain made intercourse impossible.

I would like to find peace and a bit of comfort in my remaining years - does anyone have any suggestions at all? I would be so grateful.

[TroubleCollins]

I had mine in May 2012 and the swelling has never gone down even with sit ups and I take hormone replacement. My bladder has just prolapsed again and I need surgery again. I am very unhappy and am having another surgeon do the surgery which doesn't mean it will turn out any better. I also have pain in my abdomen that goes thru to the back although it is my left side. It is quite excruciating pain. I've had an ultrasound and they didn't find anything.  Something must be causing the pain though which actually makes me double over because the pain is so severe. Anyone have any suggestions ?  Thanks !!

[Cherie762]

things shift and move to adjust to you new anatomy..could be muscle, fat or some othe tissue,,,it wont stay a void...your body naturally heals its self,,,,,there is a big difference between post surgical swelling and weight gain after a hysterectomy

[maureen54]

hi cherie
good to know i am not the only one. i can't imagine how i would ever be able to fit into my clothes like this....how does the void fill with muscle? like doing sit ups?  etc...i know this can't be done now...thanks

[Cherie762]

my belly was quitte swollen too your retaining water and fluids are probably filling the void were your organs once were...once your body fills that void with muscle , fat tisssue your swelling will go down it is a nirmal part of healing can not give you a time frame everyone is different likelu 2 mths tops.

[Elizzy99]

I had a complete hysterotomy 20 years ago. Went home the next day! Did not feel well. But have always been a size 10-12. Now turned 60, and about 2017, ate 57 started to get pain inside like my bowels were moving and would double over from it. I let it go. I have been getting more bloated and bigger in the area just under my breasts to my pelvis. I have tried the water pills from dr., I have even used miralax, thinking I was clogged up. Had a CT-Scan and they say it's just fluid. I have bleed on and off from bowel area for about a year? No doctor seems to know what to do about this. I, myself have always been in good shape. now in pain anytime I eat even a small amount. something is not right.

[old_before_my_time]

Do you possibly have a partial bowel obstruction?