Post-Op ..... #4

So, I had my abdominal wall repair surgery last Thursday and came home the following day. The pain and uncomfortable feeling was about what I was expecting. It was similar to my C-sections and the TRAM. The part that I wasn't expecting was the drain that was put in my pelvic area. OMG did that hurt ! Getting up out of bed, using the bathroom was so painful. It is still painful today (Tuesday) but not nearly as bad as it was. I stopped taking the meds Sunday morning and the pain has been bearable. If I get up from my chair the wrong way, I still get that sharp pain in my groin area, but it goes away after a few seconds. I go back to see the doctor this Friday, so I am hoping that he will remove it then and I can finally move forward !

As far as the tummy area, it is very tight. It looks the same as before because my doc just opened up the previous scar. I have stitches, which will probably be removed this week. I tried to sneeze yesterday and wow, did that hurt. Laughing is no laughing matter (I know, I know).....

TMI- As with any surgery, having a BM is very difficult after surgery. I was taking stool softeners before I came home and I had a prescription for softeners as well as laxatives. Even with all of these aids, it took several days to produce anything (even gas !). Of course, once something was ready, it hurt terribly, due to the pressure that you are putting on the stomach muscle. Things are still not 100% normal, 4 days later, but as long as there is something coming out, I am not concerned.

"Muscle Weakness"

Well, I just returned from yet another surgery. This time to repair my "muscle weakness". After the last surgery to remove the scar tissue from my lower left abdomen, my muscle didn't bounce back like it should have. So, my intestines were pushing out beyond my waistline (about 4 inches).  We waited a few weeks to be sure that my insides were all healed. Yesterday was the big deal. It is weird to say it, but I was counting down the days. I have had to wear my fat pants because none of my other pants would fit around the bulge.

This surgery was pretty simple, just repairing the muscle and adding more mesh. However, it seemed much more painful last night. The incision wasn't the worst part. The new drain that was placed in my pelvic area is killing me ! It is a really sharp pain when I go to the bathroom or try to get back into bed. It's not quite as bad today, so I am hoping that it will disapate over the next few days.

Until then, I am under strict orders (from my husband) to sit in my recliner and not do anything. I definitely don't want this to happen again !