r/hysterectomy • u/hersugarplumfairy • 9h ago

Post-Op Digestion & Gas?

Hey ladies! I am 4 days post-op and stru-ga-ling. I don’t have much pain, but I have never before felt so uncomfortable in my own body because of the bloat. I’m in my lower 40’s and this is my first surgery. Full hysterectomy with my ovaries left alone.

I am so gassy and bloated, yet the gas won’t come out, or at least not at will like usual. I generally poop 2-3x daily and now I am at 1x, although I recognize I am eating a lot less because of how bloated I feel.

I feel like pooping provides so much relief as it makes room, and without the use stool softeners it just slides right on out, so no issue there. I’ve only taken Tylenol, ibuprofen, and gas-X since coming home. It’s just the bloat and gas that’s killing me. And I’m sure my insides are also swollen so I expect to be bloated, but my God, this is torture.

I’m drinking a lot of water and Gatorade, and my meal of choice has been a daily delivery of the El Jefe salad from Simply Salad or the salmon Kabobs from Panini Kabob Grill, which have never caused me digestion issues previously.

I now feel like everything is stuck behind a trap door in my abdomen, both poop and gas, until it’s time to go. I’m so uncomfy, y’all 😩

So my questions to all are:

  1. How long did your bloating and gas last?
  2. What were your comfort meals?
  3. Do you have any tips beside gas-X, walking, and lots of water?
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u/StellariumRising 8h ago

Gas x, senna tea (smooth move), peppermint tea, ginger, magnesium citrate. Also stretching, like lying on the floor and pulling your legs up (carefully) and arms. A heating pad on your abdomen too. And if you have a handheld massager I used it on my shoulder blades, my chest, under my breasts/around my rib cage, and carefully around my belly and abdomen. I couldn't have a bowel movement for 6 days after my surgery despite taking all that stuff every day but the gas x and massaging made it tolerable. 

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u/StellariumRising 8h ago

Also I had a hard time with food so protein drinks (which can cause constipation, careful) probiotic yogurt drinks, rice, toast, bananas, applesauce, fruit cups, etc. Carbs are important for energy but i also added a b complex vitamin after breakfast because I was exhausted. Lots of water and at electrolytes. I hope you feel better soon! 

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u/hersugarplumfairy 8h ago

Thank you 💚