Post Hysterectomy Swelling

saltycandy13
saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Anyone tell me their experience with the swollen tummy after their hysterectomy?  I went in with skinny jeans and now I'm wearing stretchy yoga pants that are too (or were) too big.  My stomach is a big bulging mess.  The nurse told me 2 weeks but seeing I developed a blood clot, she said longer for me.  Aren't I the lucky one?

 

Also, I put on 4 pounds.  Didn't eat much so it must be the Iv's.  She told me each bag weighs 3.5  pounds.  When will this bloat go away?

 

Karen

«1

Comments

  • ckdgedmom
    ckdgedmom Member Posts: 166 Member
    #2
    it takes a while

    I was so swollen after my hysterectomy (big incision) that I looked 9 months pregnant!

    swelling after surgery is very normal as is a weight gain from all the fluids...

    I tried to drink a lot of water to flush it through my system...I think that helped some...

    you will be swollen for several weeks...it's just part of it sadly...but the good part is the hard part is over!

    the fluid retention should go away within a few days...the swelling takes longer...

    so glad you are on the mend!!!!

  • saltycandy13
    saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
    #3
    9 months?

    OMG!  LOL  that is awful.  I am just puffy and walking today, felt like things were loose in there.  I told my husband I know my parts are gone.  He said it's all in my head.  But then I felt things shaking.  Maybe it's the swelling and bloating?

    Does the swollen tissue contain fluid?  My god I feel like the Goodyear Blimp!

  • lovemyhubby
    lovemyhubby Member Posts: 27
    edited January 2018 #4
    Have you thought about using

    Have you thought about using a belly band? It was really helpful to me for several weeks

  • MrsBerry
    MrsBerry Member Posts: 102 Member
    edited January 2018 #5
    I am 11 days post-surgery and

    I am 11 days post-surgery and some of the swelling has finally receded. Still not ready for the skinny jeans, LOL!  The way I figure it, it is the least of my concerns!

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,515 Member
    #6
    MrsBerry said:

    I am 11 days post-surgery and

    I am 11 days post-surgery and some of the swelling has finally receded. Still not ready for the skinny jeans, LOL!  The way I figure it, it is the least of my concerns!

    I remember the swelling and

    I remember the swelling and bloating, and it does go away.  It just takes time.  Remember, you just had MAJOR surgery.  Be kind to yourself.  MrsBerry, I think you got it right, "the least of my concerns".

  • MugsBugs
    MugsBugs Member Posts: 111 Member
    #7
    Belly Band

    Thank you all - you guys are amazing.  I am 1 week away from surgery and have found so many useful tips that I wouldn't have thought of.  I am making sure that Gas-X and a pillow are going with me to the hospital.  The belly band also sounds like a good idea.  Do they give those to you at the hospital or should I order one before surgery?  My biggest concern is the stairs when I get home.  The bedrooms and bathrooms are upstairs so I am planning on going up the stairs once when I get home and not coming down until it is comfortable.

     

    All - thanks again!

     

  • CheeseQueen57
    CheeseQueen57 Member Posts: 933 Member
    #8
    MugsBugs said:

    Belly Band

    Thank you all - you guys are amazing.  I am 1 week away from surgery and have found so many useful tips that I wouldn't have thought of.  I am making sure that Gas-X and a pillow are going with me to the hospital.  The belly band also sounds like a good idea.  Do they give those to you at the hospital or should I order one before surgery?  My biggest concern is the stairs when I get home.  The bedrooms and bathrooms are upstairs so I am planning on going up the stairs once when I get home and not coming down until it is comfortable.

     

    All - thanks again!

     

    Upstairs

    i had to stay upstairs too after my surgery. Be sure to have someone help you up the stairs and go very slowly. I almost killed myself going up my stairs. I thought I could do it myself. 

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,814 Member
    #9
    MugsBugs said:

    Belly Band

    Thank you all - you guys are amazing.  I am 1 week away from surgery and have found so many useful tips that I wouldn't have thought of.  I am making sure that Gas-X and a pillow are going with me to the hospital.  The belly band also sounds like a good idea.  Do they give those to you at the hospital or should I order one before surgery?  My biggest concern is the stairs when I get home.  The bedrooms and bathrooms are upstairs so I am planning on going up the stairs once when I get home and not coming down until it is comfortable.

     

    All - thanks again!

     

    Mugs, Made sure you don't use

    Mugs, Make sure you don't use the gas-x until AFTER you pass gas .... They won't let you go home until that "event" occurs! Best of luck on your surgery.

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,814 Member
    #10
    Salty, I gained weight as

    Salty, I gained weight as well. And, was incredibly swollen for a few weeks. There is a thread out there where several of us talked about post hysto experiences as they were ocurring. I can't remember what it was called at the moment and it goes back to 2015.  If I get some extra time, I'll see if I can locate it.

    Glad you are home and now on the mend. I think you will find this process easier to deal with than we expect it to be. You will amaze yourself at how strong you are.

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,483 Member
    #11
    I don't remember being

    I don't remember being bloated much at all.  Luckily I didn't have any stairs to climb.  I remember having to sleep on my back for a few days and I didn't like that.  But who cares if you're bloated? That was the least of my worries.  I was just so glad it was over. 

    Love, 

    Eldri 

  • MrsBerry
    MrsBerry Member Posts: 102 Member
    #12
    MugsBugs said:

    Belly Band

    Thank you all - you guys are amazing.  I am 1 week away from surgery and have found so many useful tips that I wouldn't have thought of.  I am making sure that Gas-X and a pillow are going with me to the hospital.  The belly band also sounds like a good idea.  Do they give those to you at the hospital or should I order one before surgery?  My biggest concern is the stairs when I get home.  The bedrooms and bathrooms are upstairs so I am planning on going up the stairs once when I get home and not coming down until it is comfortable.

     

    All - thanks again!

     

    My post op instructions

    My post op instructions encouraged stairs and walking. Of course, I had robot assisted laparoscopic, your mileage may vary.

  • saltycandy13
    saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
    #13
    Vanity is my favorite sin

    Hi Ladies and thanks for all the remarks.  And I agree.  It is the least thing to to worry about, but being as vain as I am, I am just disgusted with the way I look.  I had to go back to the doctor today.

    It seems my beautiful blood clot looks worse.  So now she, the PA, because he wasn't there, replaced my bandages.  And still of course, we are waiting for the jury's decision.  Sighs.

    I found out from the looks of it, I have 6 weeks of swelling to look forward.  She just loved my stretched out Yoga pants.

    And I weighed 2 pounds MORE on her scale which sucks.  Now they think I have a bladder infection because my vagina is actually swollen and they cant figure out why it has turned actually such a dark purple, it is almost black.  

    As you can see, the pathology report is number 1, but all of these things are getting me really down in the dumpers.

    They sent me for a urine test in their lab.  I couldn't do it. It hurts to strain myself so now I have to go back again.  And they want more blood tests because they want to make sure my blood level hasnt gone down.  Does this ever end?  Aaagh...don't answer that.

     

    Karen

  • derMaus
    derMaus Member Posts: 558 Member
    #14
    MugsBugs said:

    Belly Band

    Thank you all - you guys are amazing.  I am 1 week away from surgery and have found so many useful tips that I wouldn't have thought of.  I am making sure that Gas-X and a pillow are going with me to the hospital.  The belly band also sounds like a good idea.  Do they give those to you at the hospital or should I order one before surgery?  My biggest concern is the stairs when I get home.  The bedrooms and bathrooms are upstairs so I am planning on going up the stairs once when I get home and not coming down until it is comfortable.

     

    All - thanks again!

     

    Mugs, get an abdominal binder

    Mugs, get an abdominal binder from Amazon (or similar). The ones they give you in the hosptial ain't worth crap. Below is a link to the one I used, but there are many others. Having the additional straps to adjust the level of support was very helpful for me. I wasn't as diligent as I might have been in it's use and, due to an ill-advised upward dog, now have an incisional hernia...but that's another story. Sneezes and coughs are your enemy, but I'm sure you already know that. I used a small buckwheat pillow from the Japanese market because it's dense and heavy enough to really hold things in when needed, and also used it as support when sleeping on my side (in my binder). I had a TAH and didn't any unexpected problems with it except for the aforementioned incisional hernia. Best of luck to you! B

    https://www.amazon.com/Healthcom-Abdominal-Comfortable-Postpartum-Maternity/dp/B01AW5HKY6/ref=sr_1_11_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516664594&sr=8-11&keywords=abdominal+binder&th=1

  • CheeseQueen57
    CheeseQueen57 Member Posts: 933 Member
    #15
    saltycandy13 said:

    Vanity is my favorite sin

    Hi Ladies and thanks for all the remarks.  And I agree.  It is the least thing to to worry about, but being as vain as I am, I am just disgusted with the way I look.  I had to go back to the doctor today.

    It seems my beautiful blood clot looks worse.  So now she, the PA, because he wasn't there, replaced my bandages.  And still of course, we are waiting for the jury's decision.  Sighs.

    I found out from the looks of it, I have 6 weeks of swelling to look forward.  She just loved my stretched out Yoga pants.

    And I weighed 2 pounds MORE on her scale which sucks.  Now they think I have a bladder infection because my vagina is actually swollen and they cant figure out why it has turned actually such a dark purple, it is almost black.  

    As you can see, the pathology report is number 1, but all of these things are getting me really down in the dumpers.

    They sent me for a urine test in their lab.  I couldn't do it. It hurts to strain myself so now I have to go back again.  And they want more blood tests because they want to make sure my blood level hasnt gone down.  Does this ever end?  Aaagh...don't answer that.

     

    Karen

    Try to pace yourself

    Unfortunately this is a marathon not a sprint. 

  • saltycandy13
    saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
    #16
    absolutely!

    yes, we need a marathon, but I can see this is no picnic.  Sighs..... a day at a time.

  • ckdgedmom
    ckdgedmom Member Posts: 166 Member
    #17
    derMaus said:

    Mugs, get an abdominal binder

    Mugs, get an abdominal binder from Amazon (or similar). The ones they give you in the hosptial ain't worth crap. Below is a link to the one I used, but there are many others. Having the additional straps to adjust the level of support was very helpful for me. I wasn't as diligent as I might have been in it's use and, due to an ill-advised upward dog, now have an incisional hernia...but that's another story. Sneezes and coughs are your enemy, but I'm sure you already know that. I used a small buckwheat pillow from the Japanese market because it's dense and heavy enough to really hold things in when needed, and also used it as support when sleeping on my side (in my binder). I had a TAH and didn't any unexpected problems with it except for the aforementioned incisional hernia. Best of luck to you! B

    https://www.amazon.com/Healthcom-Abdominal-Comfortable-Postpartum-Maternity/dp/B01AW5HKY6/ref=sr_1_11_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516664594&sr=8-11&keywords=abdominal+binder&th=1

    incisional hernia

    I got one too!

    I thought it was lifting my heavy cast iron but I think the yoga might have contributed to it...it was so large (literally like a 3rd boob as it was under my breast) that my best firend named it Gertie.

    I had it repaired with mesh via robotic assist almost a year to the day after hysterectomy...

    I now skip the vinyasa in yoga after trying one upward dog and felt it in my hernia area...not risking it...

    and yes those binders are better!

     

  • Northwoodsgirl
    Northwoodsgirl Member Posts: 571
    edited January 2018 #18
    Post hyst swelling
    I had an open procedure so abdominal swelling was a change for me after surgery and today 9 years later. With 26 or so lymph nodes removed, and omentum removed and vertical incision about 10 inches long my waste line changed a bit. The day I was discharged I couldn’t even put my bra on because I was so swollen. I had packed yoga pants but didn’t think about a yoga bra! I lost 20 pounds by the time I was 4 days post-op and discharged. Your swelling will go down with time. Your body is doing the best it can considering the trauma you have just been through. Be gentle with yourself as you recover. Give yourself a year to regain your waistline. In the meantime buy yourself some cute yoga pants.
  • saltycandy13
    saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
    #19
    God Bless You

    LOl  I love your post.  thank you.  This is the perfect excuse to get hubby to spring for some new Victoria's Secret Yoga Pants.  I like the Pink ones with the glitter.  LOL  thanks!Laughing

  • evolo58
    evolo58 Member Posts: 293 Member
    edited January 2018 #20
    Swelly belly! I had one after

    Swelly belly! I had one after my myo, but it wasn't that bad. It might be far worse if things are yanked out than if things are put back in.  I might have to be taking some notes myself soon. Good thing that end-of-season sales are coming soon ... might be a good idea to see if maternity-top pants and sweatpants are on clearance. The maternity-top pants might be good if you want something a little dressier, or at least a little on the khaki or jeans side. 

    Here are some suggestions on another forum:

    http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/showthread.php?t=412086

    OK, OK, these are maternity, but some aren't too bad, and some aren't too expenisve. You might get a better deal with department store clearance sales or consignment stores, though:

    https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=maternity+pants+for+petites

    (Sorry they're petites, but you get the idea. I happen to be petite. Those boho pants are gorgeous, but I doubt I will have the slightest inclination to hand-wash ANYTHING I don't have to. I don't even like hand-washing stuff now! If I can't at least wash them normally, I'm generally not interested.)  Anyway, look! Skinny jeans. Wear a looser top over them, and ... Smile

    And as you can get your old pants on ... mostly ... but they are juuuust a little too tight at the moment:

    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Button-Extenders-for-Jeans-Pants-2-Pack-Add-an-extra-inch-Ideal-for-1st-trimester-of-Pregnancy-by-More-of-Me-to-Love/976347048

  • saltycandy13
    saltycandy13 Member Posts: 167 Member
    #21
    thanks

    Great links!  I will look into them!!!

Discussion Boards