Laparotomy, Radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy

[Bandung]

I had a major surgery about 8 months ago but the pain around my stomach hasn't gone away. My blood tests and CT scan results are normal.They mentioned that have adhesions which make me in pain all day all night, so I only rely on the pain reliefs.

[Motiva]

Hello,

Are you able to exercise? The pain may be instability of your core muscles. Sarah Russell of The Ostomy Studio is a superb instructor with clinical knowledge. Since I started with her I pain free and regaining confidence in my body.

I understand it also takes a long time for the lower abdominal contents - bowel and bladder to ‘rearrange’ themselves when the supporting sling of the uterus and its ligaments have gone.

Have you talked to your specialist nurse?

Hope the pain subsides soon.

F x

[Bandung]

Hello, thank you for reply and sharing your experience. Yes the gentle exrcise. I have done a lot walk exercise. The mire I do the more pain come back. After all the scan with exam results were normal, they daid that very likely I have adhesions.I am thinking to find any way which can help to separate this adhesions around my abdomen scar/ unferneath my stitching.

Yes I have talked to the nurse from royal marsden hospital. They recommend me to take every day ibuprofen every 6 hour, paracetamol every 4 hour regularly without miss any single dose. I am on amitriptyline from GP and dihydrocodeine and cosmo col to avoid consipation. Also I am taking mirabegron 50mg Betmiga and Vagifem 10 mcg Estradiol because I have overstive bladder.

I take whatever they have recommended. Just hope my adhesions can be separate soon as it effects to my pain so much.

Thank you

[cmania]

I definitely agree with the walking suggestion. Try to take your pain meds ahead of your walk. Or find an abdominal support sleeve? Or back support. You can wear while walking go slow but the key is to keep moving.

If I remember one thing my surgeon told me was walk walk walk! (I have an ostomy and had 4 surgeries in an 8 month span so I had a belly full of adhesions!!)

Also therapeutic massage from someone who knows about adhesions. Mine did a great job of slowly working the adhesions away from the long scar on our stomachs. The hard part about pain meds they can increase constipation which also causes that internal adhesion pain.

[Bandung in reply to cmania]

Thanks cmania. I walk more in the summer but not everyday at this cool weather on my own which often I get tired so easily. I have zero hormon since both my ovaries were taken that's why I am very sluggish, lack of energy, very dry skin and other symptoms too. My oncologist has referred me to menopouse clinic at different hospital since June this year but my appointment with gynae-menopause has been delayed by the other hospital where the menopause clinic is, until January'24 which mean over 11 months since my surgery.I bought an abdominal support sleeve. Do I need to wear it everyday regardless when I walk or not? None of any nurse or doctor suggests me to use it so I have no idea about abdominal belt. I had asked GP about it, but she said that there is no need to use any belt around my abdominal. I am confious.

I will look for a massage therapist which I hope that they know about adhesions. I have asked a few of message therapists around where I live, however I haven't found any of them who can deal with adhesions.

I didn't realise that constipation causes extra internal adhesion pain. I am taking CosmoCol but that doesn't really effect my stool, so I need to consume more fruits like oranges, citrus, etc alongside the pain meds to help me to open the bowel.

[cmania in reply to Bandung]

yes menopause does a number on our energy! I would just wear the sleeve when you walk not all the time. Mainly for the pain….just try it to see if it makes a difference.

[Bandung in reply to cmania]

Yes I live without hormon at all at this moment.Ok I will wear the abdominal belt when I walk. Thanks cmania for your tip. I will try it.

[Lizchips]

When they move everything around the intestines get angry. Pain lasted 7 yrs finally needed surgery and they noticed intestines was high trapped under rib. They fixed it and took 2 months recovery but I'm better no pain. Hopefully you'll get some relief. Liz

[Bandung in reply to Lizchips]

Hi Lizchips, how do you know that adhesions has effected your intestines? I am so sorry that pain lasted 7 years, that must be a very long time for you. I hope I don't need another surgery to remove this adhesions. I hope I can find another way to break my adhesions without the surgery. Glad that you have no pain anymore now. Thanks Liz for your sharing your experience.

[Artgreen]

I had a lot of pain due to abdominal core muscles not working as I was given no advice on rehabilitation exercises. Once I started them years later the pain is so much better. It may well be worth requesting a referral to gynae cancer/ MacMillan physiotherapy.

Wishing you the very best

Alex

[Bandung]

No one gave me any information either about the rehabilitation exercices except walking. Did you start the exercise by yourself or with a therapist guidance? Gynae nurse at the hospital mentioned about the pain team if my pain hasn't got any better next week. I will search for MacMillan physiotherapy.

Thank you Alex. Take care and speedy recovery for you as well.