Swollen tum.........

[Langara]

Can anyone please tell me roughly how long it takes for tummy swelling to go down following a hysterectomy (vertical incision). My tum was reasonably flat until I had the op. (admittedly it was only 5 days ago), and I expected some swelling but now it looks like the surgeon put a rugby ball inside me! I am not being impatient - simply wishing to know whether to buy some more comfortable clothes.

[charlie12]

Hi there

Well done on getting through the operation. It really depends on you , the skill of the surgeon , how well you heal , what was done during the surgery. After 5 days I was still very tender , I had a second operation and the swelling for that took ages I.e many weeks to go down. However an infection is not impossible , so if it is hot or swollen definitely call your GP or the ward. In fact I would be inclined to do this anyway , you may be able to speak to be of the medical or nursing team who looked after you.

Good luck with the pathology report.

Love and lots of healing hugs

Charlie xxx

[Madz]

The abdomen can be swollen for some time after surgery and this is quite normal, it gradually reduces as the bowel function returns to normal and should be getting back to normal after a few weeks. If you look at your scar - take that as an indicator of internal healing, still red and swollen the insides will be similar, as the scar heals so the swelling will reduce.

Best wishes Amanda x

[salan]

I would get advice from a doctor to put your mind at rest. The sooner the better.

You could have infection? you might need antibiotics

I had a hysterectomy cut down from belly button. I was in hospital for a week they drained 6 litres of fluid out of me gave me 3 pints of blood. i had to have intravenus antibiotics for about 3 days and my lungs was starting to collapse.---- I was lucky i had a borderline tumor no treatment. That was 5 years ago.

Know what you are going through.

Love

Sally-Anne x

[doodoolatrice]

My abdomen was very swollen for a wekk after my op. It looked at if I had a rugby ball stuffed in there. You can get trapped wind after surgery. I did and it was quite painful. You are advised to walk around to release it but I was so poorly due to the work on my bowel that every time I moved I was sick so I couldn't move around. By the time I came home from hospital nine days after nine days of constant sickness, and no food my stomach was the flatest it had been in years. Love Kerry xx

[marold52]

My tummy was swollen for quite some time about 4 to 5 weeks and it also seemed more swollen one side of me than the other, but now 22 weeks on i am flat again. I used bio oil every day on the downward scar every day and i cannot even see hardly now where the cut is. good luck. luv Margaret.

[Kvarsan in reply to marold52]

Hello, I am the same, flat tummy pre op now swollen and more on the right side. Will it flatten by itself in time?

[special-k]

Hi, I had my hysterectomy a week before you and I also have a swollen tummy. My two sons and husband took me out to lunch today and as soon as I got home on went my pyjamas.

I have a vertical cut,when I had the staples removed on Tuesday it did bleed a little bit so I had steri strips put on, then on Thursday it was quite sore at the end, so I had a dressing on that. Then Friday evening it was oozing at the top so I went back yesterday and the whole scar was sprayed with inodine and a big dressing on all of it. It feels ok, I have to go back tomorrow. I'm not allowed to shower or bath, so that I keep it dry.

The scar is also starting to itch, I've been told that's a sign of healing. I do feel much more comfortable and the pain has eased a lot, it still hurts inside when I sneeze or cough though.

I'm looking forward to the day when I don't look pregnant, but I guess it's still early days though still

Anyway I do wish you a good recovery, and your swelly belly goes down soon

Love Karen x

[Langara]

Thank you everyone. I am probably being a tad impatient - just hoping to look as slim and trim as I did when I was 21 ( dream on!). Blessing is I do not have a great deal of pain, although as you rightly say, Karen, coughing and sneezing are a bit of an ouch. A dear friend (huh!) told me to-day that I look several months pregnant!

Thankfully, all my stitches are dissolvable so I will not have to have any removed. I do hope that your wound soon heals completely Karen.

Anthea xx

[willow123]

Hi. I have a vertical scar from above the belly button down. My op was in october to remove a very large tumour. My tummy has only just gone down and my scar is not as tight.As long as its not hot, it should be fine. Good luck.

Louise. Xx