Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
388423 tn?1208308371

Question about Surgery

Hi ladies!  I had a laproscopic ovary removal and vaginal hysterectomy (Not sure how to spell) last tuesday the 8th.  I have a question about how long the pain last.  Even with the pain medication the doctor prescribed, it feels like I am having contractions as soon as I eat anything.  Lord help me when I really do have a bowel movement.  This puts me in tears and in so much pain I am dizzy and in the bed for an hour or more after.  Is this a normal sideffect or should I contact the doctor.  I really dont want to be a whinny baby, but with the fever I have had the last couple of days and now the pain I am not sure if I should be concerned or if this is normal.  

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Ashley
19 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Your doctor may be right, it may just take awhile... although I was on the toilet with probably 3 BM's today, so I guess everyone is different.  I don't want to "push" either.
I can't tell when I'm going to pass gas or poop, so I wind up shuffling myself to the john just to sit there.  My family is laughing at me, but it's all good.  I also find that when I feel like I have to fart, standing up makes the fart come easier.  Gravity?  You say?  lol

I had another fever tongiht, but thankfully skipped the chills.  I am up, yes, farting again, but I didn't cry too much more tonight.  My hubby and I watched Shrek 3 on DVD, and it was nice to have the distraction.  

The fevers seem to be coming at night, nothing over 100, so I'm just trying, like you, to deal with it.  Slow and steady wins the race, eh?  Well, since I'm not shuffling too fast anywhere, I bet I'll be a winner!!!!!  

Have a good night, Ashley, God Bless you.

Donna
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi. I just joined today. I'm sorry you're having such a rough time. I'm concerned about the fever. That's something you should really lean on your Dr. about. As for the BM, if they gave you any pain meds with codeine(percoset,darvocet or generics)those will back you up & make it harder to go.
feel better, CB
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, My doctor told me that the pain I was having could be because of constipation. The intestine passed by the incision site and caused the pain.  Remember, you have staples in there, too.  I know what you mean about "going".  You don't even want to push b/c it hurts.  I have had trouble in the BM dept and have had to take softeners just to have a BM.  If you can believe it, I actually took citrate of magnesium to go.  In 4 weeks I've only gone 4 maybe 5 times.  At my post op today, the doc said to continue with the softeners and that it takes a while to get back to normal.  

I'm surprised that he said 102 for the temp.  That's kind of high.  On my post op papers  it was recommended to call if it was 100.4.  Are you still having a temp?  If you are and it isn't going down please call the doc again.  

Hope you feel better soon,
L
Helpful - 0
388423 tn?1208308371
Well the visit with the doctor was pretty much a waste of time.   He told me that the severe pain when my bowels move is something I will have to deal with until my insides finish healing.  He also said that a low temperature is nothing to worry about and not to worry about it unless it is over 102.  Now I have to say the doctor I seen was the one here on Fort Riley.  I am not able to drive the 3 hours to my surgeons office.  But I am feeling a little better today.  Thanks so much for your concern.  I guess I just whine to much about the little things.  Hope you all have a great day and enjoy the sunshine.

Ashley
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey, I'm so glad to see you are going in to see the doctor!  Good girl!  Don't feel like a wuss AT ALL--the doctors KNOW sometimes patients have to be seen for things like BM's, pain, fever, and it's their JOB.

You are in charge of your body.  Make sure they know it, and protect it relentlessly!

Let's hear what the doc says when you get back, and the stool softener I had was a chewable that actually tasted pretty darn good!

hugs,
Donna
Helpful - 0
408163 tn?1242949501
Ashley,

I hope you are at the doctors. Let us know how you make out. Good Luck.
Laney
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dear Ashley,

I'm sooooo happy you are going to the doctor tomorrow. It is best that you go and get checked out. Is the pain and cramping worse right after you eat? Even though it has only been seven weeks, for me, I forget, but it is the worst then. Try to walk around your home a little right after you eat, and what ever you do; don't over eat. Five or six small meals are better than one BIG meal!!!! You know what? Even today, I coughed really hard, and it still really hurt. It almost kind of scared me 'cause it hurt so bad. So, anyway, you're going to have pain for a while. Sorry about that.

I hope you sleep well.

Hugs,
Shari
Helpful - 0
447161 tn?1262923084
Hey Ashley,

Good. Off to the Dr.  
I wish you luck......
Love to you.....Kim
Helpful - 0
388423 tn?1208308371
Thanks for the comments and support.  I call the dr and he told me to come in tomorrow to be checked out.  He said that some pain is normal as the bowels start working more and more but if the pain meds isnt controling it plus the fever he wants to rule out possible internal bleeding or an infection.  So it is off to the Dr office first thing in the morning.  Wish me luck..  Thanks again for all the advice

Ashley
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Good girl, for calling the doctor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shari
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dear Dear Ashly,

Sorry you are feeling so rough. First thing I would do if I were you is take advantage of being by yourself, and just let those farts rip!!!! Nobody's going to know. I had really bad cramping when I had to go poop for the first few weeks. I don't know if it is as bad as your pain, but it did hurt. I can't believe they didn't put you on stool softeners before you left the hospital and then, also, told you to stay on them. Somebody screwed up!!!!

I agree with all the ladies....Please call you doctor!!!! You can't go on the way you are feeling. Do know, that we are ALL thinking about you...just keep posting if it helps, honey. first, though, call your doctor.....if you can't talk to him...some doctor should be "on call" for him. Please post back with that you've talked to a doctor.

Gentle Hugs,
Shari
Helpful - 0
388423 tn?1208308371
Thanks for all the comments and support.  I have a call into the doctor and waiting for him to call back.  This is the first surgery I have ever had.  So I am not really sure what is normal and what is not.  I will let you all know what the doc says when he calls me back.

Thanks again
Ashley
Helpful - 0
187666 tn?1331173345
It took me a couple weeks to get my poop groove back (is that what they mean when Stella got her groove? I haven't read the book). But after the first two days I was doing mini-poo's. And that was with the stool softeners. Absolutely, call your doctor's office, ask about stool softeners and tell them your temp is up. That's not a good thing to have. And don't be shy about letting off a little steam, er, gas. It helps a lot. Let us know what you hear tomorrow.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree with the others and I hope that you called you doc!  Sorry you don't have anyone in your area who can visit with you.  Just be brave and take the initiative and get to that emergency room if you have to.  Good luck, Tjoyce
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just let us know how you're feeling and what the doctor says.  Look, even a couple BM's since last Tuesday doesn't sound like your body is getting back "in the BM groove" (should be a new rap song any day).

Please let me know what the doctor says--why can't you call tonight?  It's early--I know they expect to hear from us... so do it & revert?

I'll be praying for you.

Donna
Helpful - 0
447161 tn?1262923084
Hi there,

I think you should definitely contact your GP or the hospital where you had your surgery.  They would not let me out of hospital after my hyst until I had had a BM.  
Your high temperature is also a concern as it could indicate an infection.  Please call someone today!
I am worried for you.

My love and prayers
Kim
Helpful - 0
388423 tn?1208308371
Thanks for the support.  I have had a couple of bowel movements but it feels like I am having a baby.  I wasnt given any stool softeners or anything and had not went to the bathroom for a number 2 at all.  But I have to laugh about it cause if I didnt, I would be insane. After taking a couple of bites of food, I waddle to the bathroom holding my stomach in tears casue it feels like Im having a baby.  And I think what makes the whole situation worse is that I am home alone.  But I will call the doctor in the morning and see what he says.  
To take my mind off everything, I have been watching alot of TV and playing with the cat as much as I can.  But It really does sound like you are doing much better than I am.  I just have to say that my pain tolerance is very low anyway.  

Thanks for the comments and I really do hope you feel much better than I do.
Ashley
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think you should definately contact the doctor.  They wouldn't even let me leave the hospital until I moved my bowels, and if you haven't had a BM in a week, That'll give you pain & a fever!

I had an open surgery on the same day you had yours, Ashley, and it sounds like I'm doing better than you.  With all my other conditions (obesity, diabetes, HBP, 20" incision across my abdomen) I'd be doing worse then you are, but I think I'm actually doing better than you are, from the sounds of it.

Please call the doctors.  There is no reason not to, even if just for reassurance!  They can prescribe stool softeners (which are chewables, not at all like that **** last week).
Also, what the girls told us is true... it's really important to get the gas out.  I'm still farting up a storm... lol

I had an "almost regular" bm this morning, and I've had diarrehea most of the day since.  My butt hurts more than anything else I've got going on!

Please keep us posted on how you're doing.  Are you reading?  Listening to music?  Laughing?  These things may sound trivial, but they take our minds off our illness, and give our bodies a chance to "rest".  I am so tense, it's unbelieveable.  I have to remind myself to relax my muscles several times a day.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm worried I'll cough or sneeze, or if it's just my bodies way of dealing with having to get up & down from bed today.

You're my surgery sister; please call the doctor & let me know how you're going to deal with this situation!

hugs,
Donna
Helpful - 0
388423 tn?1208308371
I forgot to mention that I am home alone now.  My mother had to go back to Alabama for work and get my children back into school.  This makes me just a little more concerned.

Thanks again
Ashley
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Ovarian Cancer Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Learn how to spot the warning signs of this “silent killer.”
Diet and digestion have more to do with cancer prevention than you may realize
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.