4 days post op and suffering!

Yes - Walk, Walk, Walk.  If your abdomen hurts, hold a pillow to support it and walk.  I learned this with a c-section.  I know it is painful, but take your pain meds and when you feel the pain go down walk.  Then as you can bear it start coming off your pain meds.  They slow down the action of your intestines which you need to pass the gas.  Yes- it's a double edged sword.  The meds help handle the pain, but they also slow down the getting rid of the cause of the pain.  Best wishes to you!!!!  It will get better!!!! 

Thanks, it helps to know it gets better.

Are you trying GasX strips or the chewables?  The strips did nothing for me but I used the chewables and it helped so much.  I burped all that gas up.  You could also ask if you can start a probiotic since all the antibiotics they pump in us kills the good bacteria as well as the bad. 

Just like everyone else said, WALK WALK WALK.  I'm in Florida where it's God awful hot and humid so if I can't get outside before it starts to feel swampy, I do laps around the house.  It's better than nothing and in the first couple of days post-op, it got the gas moving in the right direction.

OH dear sorry for what you are going through.

Yes walking helps..but not until I was on my PPI (prevacid solutabs)AND found out taking them between 5-7pm as recommended by surgeon..whalla..that fullness, uncomfortable, bloated feeling left. ANd made room for more liquids.

Also, if you are taking pain med AND its not helping much..it now does more to slow down your digestive/bowel system than helps. It kinda backs up on you.

Lastly, Ginger tea is for digestive help..and I used to take that for GAS and it really worked. BUT if your gas is NOT in your tummy but abdomen/chest cavity..thats when WALKING is most helpful

Hang in there..this too shall end, Jan

Thanks Jan, I think I over did it yesterday, I got in, 52 gm of protein and 64 oz of water, a lot I think for a new post op, I was miserable last night!! today Im taking it back a notch easy on the protein, still trying to get my fluids in and I Have not taken any pain meds, It has helped some but the belching and bloating continues. feel like I need to stand on my head!!lol

I had surgery the same day as you and have as much experience as you, so my advice is based on what has happened to me; I am not sure if it is good advice for you.

Every time I sip, I close my mouth, exhale, and then swallow.

I am walking as much as I can: I just came back from a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood (with my 7-year-old as company). I am now burping up a storm! I hope to take two 15 minute walks in the evening.

Also, the only time I lie down is when I go to sleep. I think that helps the gas issue as well.

I cannot prove it but I attribute the fact that I feel so good (relatively speaking) to the fact that I walked in the hospital as much as I could. I haven't used pain meds since I was in the hospital and I used GasX only once, on the night I came home from the hospital.

So all I can offer you is an echo of what others have said: Walk, walk, walk!

I hope you feel much better very soon!

BTW, the fact that your doctor's office didn't get back to you promptly concerns me.

Thanks, I cant believe they have not called back yet. but Im walking walking it moves it up to my neck area still have trouble getting it out from there, I do suspect I am swallowing too much air with fluids, so Im modifying how I drink, thanks for the ideal. it has got to get better!

im same day surgery as you and i feel ur pain. every time i drink anything i burp right after. ive also been passing some gas. but walking hurts but it seems to be helping. im also taking pain meds which dont seem to  help much. but i think what ur feeling is normal. the broth is a good idea. what are u eating?

haven't ate much today 1/4 c of cream of wheat and 4 oz of protein shake, its 2p here so I still have a little time today, popsicles are pieces of heaven but they don't give you much, I'm trying to step a little back today to see if it helps, what have eaten today?

i had jello for breakfast with a protein shake (half the protein for the day)
i had beef broth for lunch with some water
and ive been sipping on more protein since then
oh and i had a popsickle for a snack.