Stomach messed-up post surgery

[Ayesfreen]

Hi, I had a stage 3 endometriosis surgery 6 weeks ago, they removed endo from my bowel, bladder and of course ovaries and the surroundings. I am recovering well, however my stomach has been greatly affected, I experience acid reflux, bloatiness, trapped wind and constipation nearly everyday. I am seriously fed up of it.

I was given Omeprazole from the hospital which didn't help at all so my GP has prescribed me Lanzoprozol to be take everyday for next 2 months which isn't helping either. My consultant also, recommended symprove probiotic which I am taking already.

Please advise if anyone else experienced all this after their surgery and how did you recover from it?

Thank you

[Endosufferer1]

Well, bentonite clay does help with intestines but I'm surprised you have that after surgery. I've been told that you need to wait up to 6 months before everything comes back to normal. I'd wait a bit longer.

[Jade2006]

I had terrible acid reflux, to the point I requested to have a endoscopy as it was so bad even a few months after surgery.

[emilylilly]

Hi I have had 2 surgeries and since my last one in September my bloating, stomach pain and gas has been really bad. I have just started an anti inflammatory diet after some advice from this forum. Basically it's cutting out sugar, saturated fats, gluten and most dairy. Seems abit much but even though its early days it seems to be helping. I also drink peppermint tea and have ginger and turmeric everyday. It may not work for you but it's worth a try. You can Google all about it. I really hope you find some help it can make life hell. Take care 🙂

[Blackloganberry]

Hello ! I’ve always had digestion/bowel issues with my endo anyway due to where it occurs (pouch of douglas) however I’ve definitely found my stomach has been coping less well post surgery, I’ve had 6 surgeries in the last 3 years some endo some not and it’s definitely had an impact in terms of bloating, wind, cramps, and no clue what my bowels are gonna do! I follow some good accounts on insta about endo & diet - they say anti-inflammatory diet works really well in the long term for endo and can help reduce flare ups. It’s like a Mediterranean diet. I’m also trying a low fodmap (ish) diet and that’s definitely helping, so might be worth a go for a short time just as things recover. General anaesthetic and antibiotics can have a lot of impact on your system, so can stress, and the whole process can be stressful. I’m also trying nerva which is an app, it’s hypnotherapy directly targeted at your digestion and telling it to calm down! There’s a gut health pre/pro biotic called myota I was recommended by nhs health professionals who did a study on ibs and had good results with so I’m also trying that because it’s low fodmap and so not hard to digest. Hope some or any of that helps & it’s better soon!

[Sabrinacolada]

Hi,

After surgery last year I seemed to have worse bloat, constipation and naseau. I was told it was likely due to opiates but I weaned off and found it was still a daily problem. It was a diagnostic lap ( found stage 4) and I was told they had freed the ovary/ uterus which was stuck to the sigmoid colon ( I know now I need a MDT) .

Was your surgery by a multi discipline team? I.e. was a colorectal surgeon present? Could it be arranged for you to speak to them directly about your concerns?

In my case I paid for an mri privately which found a large rectovaginal nodule which I am waiting for mdt surgery on. You need to elucidate if there could be further lesions specifically the POD. This cannot be visualised easily at lap and can be missed as in my case.

To manage it I realised most of the signs were secondary to constipation. I find without laxido I cannot void fully and its painful. I tried high fibre / everything else recommended by the gp but find laxido am and pm has helped. I have started dienogest about 12 weeks ago, no meds stop the bowel signs but generally speaking I have less pelvic pain.

As above an anti inflammatory diet helps. Keep a food diary to look for any triggers as everyone is different. Also find I am really bad/ painful after eating beans, broccoli in this manner.

I really feel your pain. Its awful and is a hard balance to try and live with ongoing bowel issues I hope you get some relief. Unfortunately as always advocate for yourself. The symptoms are not right so ensure you get answers.

❤ Sabrina xx

[Serviette]

Hiya sorry to hear this. I had stage 4 recto vaginal 12 weeks ago and my IBS and bloating is so much worse than before the surgery with an uncomfortable feeling under my left rib as though I've had a big meal and having to buy bigger clothes as it's uncomfortable. I thought it would settle down in time after surgery but realised need to do something, so have started an anti-inflammatory diet, and probiotics, ginger tea, Peppermint tea and eating smaller meals and more regularly, although sometimes you've got to eat takeaway, have a drink and accept the consequences. I'm no saint. Tbh, I've not seen much difference so read yesterday that taking Peppermint oil regularly can help so going to give it a try. I've tried to cut down on gluten too as read can be an irritant. Found a gluten free lager called Skinny. I'd prefer not to take prescribed meds unless it makes an obvious difference. Had a bowel surgeon do my surgery with the endo specialist but it just seems to have messed up my digestive system. Sorry there's no real solutions here but feel your pain and if anything works, will let you know. I've a follow up with the surgeon in a few, will be raising this. She's a BSGE endo specialist. Really hoping it'll settle down in time x

[BloomingMarvellous]

Hi Ayesfreen , I feel for you as it’s the balance that gets thrown again into new state post the state it’s already in. The attempt to find homeostasis again. Obviously keep your medical team in the loop to ensure it’s nothing they need to act on .

I found that Symprove helped but only after putting fish sourced Omega 3 for 3 months to take the inflammation down and repair the gut tissue first. It’s a quite common practice to need to do it with leaky gut tissue. I carry on the Omega 3 daily since then as it helps with the endo management and pain too.

Ontop of that I found Quercitin really useful as digestive enzyme that apparently works/ down regulates the same pathway -Janus Kinase - that’s involved with endo lesions and progression according to new research by Dr Stephen Palmer in the US.

I wasn’t drinking enough water either so that was upped by my physio with some electrolytes and I now make sure I have 3 litres a day spread out which is still a bit below what was suggested but it’s about right for me.

Until my gut settled down I had lots of fresh veggie and chicken stock soups as it did make me feel queasy alot while it was so swollen and inflamed. Making sure I had enough protein has been key too . Other things emerged was that I was lactose intolerant so dealt with that and it’s quite common as a consequence of cellular change post Klebsiella infection ( oft lurking as UTIs) that are frequent infections found with endo sufferers. Everyone is different but it’s easy enough to assess this one. Dr Google has all the details on the 48 hr check on that one.

Pain relief and getting the gut less inflamed directly I ended up using castor oil packs and Epsom salt foot baths or baths whenever I needed.

After a short period I got rapid pain relief having been on all the morphines etc for the previous year or so and have kept things ticking along since. My gut is changed still but it’s not a major issue . I reckon it’s a case of gently trying to nudge things forward that seem to work for you. If you’ve not read it Kate Edmonds Heal Endo book is super useful and pragmatic self help stuff.

[Channy3]

Hi hun, glad the op went well. I also suffer from acid and I take omeprazole 30mg which is okay but when I find that I need something more, I buy a frijj milkshake, it does have high level of sugar but it’s thick and creamy which really help to ease mine… ☺️

[megiiva]

Hi, hope you're feeling better now,as already been few months I had two laproscopic operations in the last year.One for a fibroid the other for stage 4 Endometriosis. I start having problems with my stomach before yo be diagnosed, but after both operations the bloating and pain still stayed, like the intervention never helped. I was diagnosed with SIBO after the first operation got treated, but returned like a month after.Then it turns they missed the Endometriosa at the first operation and got operated like 9 months after for the Endometriosis (April 2023)The bloating and pain is still here everyday. Sometimes dissappear for few days,but basically I feel like that 25 days of the month. The doctors said that this may never go until I actually go into menopause (I'm 44). They found I still have SIBO, and got treated with antibiotics, but now having a second round with ( Rifaximin) as still have it Basically what both the surgeon and the gastro doctor said that this is like the chicken and egg situation, some people are like that ( so, I may never get better until the menopause, don't know after rea). This highly affected my daily life for the last 2 years and I pray will wake up one day and will he all gone. In the meantime taking Symprove, Turmeric,Fish oil ,magnesium and Saccharomyces Boulardii.I walso do Activi eith chia seeds.So all of this definitely helps.Im not 100% still but definitely feeling some days better. I've been having a problems with reaching orgasm as well in the clitor maybe because of the nerves that has been cut or that had Endometriosis liaisons, don't know,doctors saying to wait I give myself 6 months so till October, so hopefully all will be gone. I will keep you updated. You can check my YouTube videos for it.(Channel Megiiva).Wishing you speedy recovery and let me know if you are feeling better...Megi