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Swollen stomach after open surgery, any help?

Posted , 3 users are following.

lucia95417
lucia95417

I had Burch colposuspension for SUI a week ago, discharged from the hospital on Friday, with a catheter in place. Have a big stomach below the belly button, look like 5 months pregnant, and feeling as if I had a balloon with air in my belly. It's so uncomfortable, I wonder what I will wear when I start working again! Anyone had this experience? When would the swelling go away? I didn't realise it when I was still in hospital as I was in pain and very weak, and medical personnel didn't tell me anything that I had a swollen stomach. Is there anything I could do about it, for example, go to my GP, would they even help? I'm so lost. 

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • lisa59157
    lisa59157 lucia95417

    Posted

    Hi hun

    Thats completly normal i had surgery 6 weeks ago (keyhole) and it took around 4/5 weeks to go down! Its where they blow you up with gas.

    I lived in maternity jogging bottoms for weeks as couldnt get jeans or anything with buttons on x

    • lucia95417
      lucia95417 lisa59157

      Posted

      Hi Lisa,

      But I didn't have a keyhole but open surgery! Did they blow me up anyway? I'm feeling as I would explode soon. And have no idea what to do and who to turn to. My wound hurts, and I'm afraid I may get an infection. 

    • lisa59157
      lisa59157 lucia95417

      Posted

      I am not sure hun. I drank peppermint tea after surgery to ease the gas but if you are worried i would contact your doctor. Big hugs xx
    • lisa_66251
      lisa_66251 lucia95417

      Posted

      They blew me up but it’s one year later and I look pregnant and never had a stomache. Don’t care about that but feels like a foreign object on my body and hurts constantly 
  • lisa_66251
    lisa_66251 lucia95417

    Posted

    Me to. It’s awful and I feel abdominal pain constantly. Does it go away
    • lucia95417
      lucia95417 lisa_66251

      Posted

      My big stomach disappeared long ago, but I still feel like something is inside the abdomen. I have to wear a supporting belt (actually a knee wrap!) to hold it as I feel uncomfortable walking without the belt. My cut wound healed very well, but the place is all numb, I think I will remain numb. Slightly hurts when I press on it. I read that after such a surgery it takes up to a year to completely heal. So, I'm patiently waiting.

    • lisa_66251
      lisa_66251 lucia95417

      Posted

      Mine has been more then a year and still hurts a lot and a lot of swelling. Constant pain and swelling 
    • lucia95417
      lucia95417 lisa_66251

      Posted

      Should you not go back to the clinic and report you still had problems? Maybe they need to do examination why you still have them for such a long time.
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