Gas pains after recent surgery

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patc73
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Gas pains after recent surgery

Post by patc73 »

On Dec. 7th, I had laparoscopic "Da Vinci" surgery: a radical hysterectomy. From the minute I awoke from anesthesia, I had no pain from the surgery itself. But the problem I encountered, which just yesterday started feeling better, is extreme cramping from gas. Do people like us (with MC) have this happen often? Generally, I don't have cramps, unless I've eaten something I shouldn't. But I was being good and only eating safe foods, even at the hospital (where they fed me very well, by the way, strictly avoiding all my food intolerances). Ouch! If this kind of pain were an everyday thing, I'd be bedridden.

Anyway, I'm feeling better now. May you all have a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday feast! (Bring on the Roast Beast!)
:santasleigh:
Pat C.

"Don't sweat the small stuff.
P.S. (It's all small stuff!)"
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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Pat,

I only had cramps when I was reacting. I wonder if the cramps could have been connected with the anesthesia, or due to an antibiotic that you were given during the surgery. :shrug:

Merry Christmas. I'm glad that you're feeling better in time for the holidays.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gayle
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Post by Gayle »

Hi Pat,

Glad you are coming around the bend and feeling better ... just in time for Christmas. Getting rid of a cranky uterus is a gift in itself. :smile:

“Gas” pains are common following surgery in the abdominal/pelvic cavity. It really matters little whether the procedure was done as an open procedure, or done via the “minimally invasive” DaVinci route.

During the laproscopic approach, the abdominal/pelvic cavity is insufflated -- i.e. -- “inflated” with a gas in order to be able to maneuver around and visualize what they are doing with their instruments. The gas itself can be something of an irritant to the internal organs. Then too, what one has to understand is that although the DaVinci approach does not require an incision, there is instrumentation used inside of the abdominal/pelvic cavity to facilitate getting the job done. All the instrumentation required is in itself something of an irritant as they touch and maneuver around the internal organs.

Then too, the irritation caused by the insufflation and instrumentation around the intestines, can cause the intestines to slow down a bit, -- or -- not work quite as smoothly as usual. All of this does equal discomfort and often “gas pains”. To make this worse, the analgesia prescribed is often a medication containing codeine, which further plays havoc with the normal intestinal movements so that any gas which is in the intestines is not being expelled in a timely manner.

In other words “Your innards do know that something was in there maneuvering, -- poking, prodding and roaming around”!! This has nothing to do with the anesthesia, or the fact that you have MC, and has everything to do with the fact that this procedure is basically (although considered a minimally invasive procedure) IS an invasive procedure as far as your internal organs are concerned.

Never mind what the advertisements you may have viewed on the internet say. The woman who gets up off of the operating table following a hysterectomy done with aide of the DaVinci equipment – And gets dressed in suit and high heels, and goes right back to work, (or to a party that evening) – is not a real person who just had this surgery. She’s a fake! :wink:

No question that it is an advantage :cool: to be able to have this surgery this way, but it is NOT without some after affects. ME THINKS … It would be nice if the surgeons who are so proud of being able to offer this approach, would at least admit to that!!

Cheers,
Gayle
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patc73
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Post by patc73 »

Thanks, Gayle and Tex! You're right, the doctor didn't mention the after effects. But having had laparoscopic surgery before, I knew I'd be inflated. I just didn't remember the gut problems being quite so acute. The antibiotic probably didn't help, either.

Merry Merry,

Pat
Pat C.

"Don't sweat the small stuff.
P.S. (It's all small stuff!)"
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