Question:
3 days post op

I didn't expect to be in this much pain and most of it is because of gas!! I don't know what to do to help. I can't sleep and definatley don't want to eat. Yuk. Thanks for any tips.    — hannahsmom1014 (posted on September 6, 2008)

September 6, 2008
I'm assuming when you say gas, you mean the kind they used to blow you up during the surgery ... My overnight nurse when I was in the hospital told me that because that kind of gas does not go into your intestines, you can't just pass it. She told me that the best way to get rid of the pain was to walk as much as possible. It does not matter if you have to walk slow - at this point, you don't need to concern yourself with exercising - just recovering! I hope you feel better soon! *hugs*
   — lauren_marie

September 6, 2008
Thanks Lauren and yes I do mean the air they fill you with to do laprny. I will takes the huggs too !! All I can get thx again!!
   — hannahsmom1014

September 6, 2008
I feel for you! As soon as I got home I had a family member pick up some gasex thin strips that dissolves on your tounge and they did help. The main thing is to walk though and that will also prevent blood clots and pneumonia. I hope you feel better soon. Good Luck!
   — STEPHANIEJOHNSON81

September 7, 2008
I had to walk to get rid of "surgical gas". The more I walked, the better I felt. Once that gas was gone, if you still have "the other", try Gas-X. They have chewables and dissolveable strips. The Gas-X REALLY helped a friend who had the surgery 2 weeks after I did. She said it made her feel "human" again. Hope this helps!
   — pattschiele

September 7, 2008
You need to MOVE to rid of that gas. I was up walking the day of surgery. The gas did not completely go away until 4-5 days past surgery. My second night in the hospital, I got 3 shots for the gas discomfort. It's not really pain, is just being so unfortable laying down in a hospital bed. Just plain walking, or bending will help immensely. DAVE
   — Dave Chambers

September 7, 2008
walk, walk, then walk some more. It's the only thing to help relieve & get rid of the gas
   — Donna O.

September 7, 2008
I'll be 6 mos post-op on Wednesday. My gas pain was the worst part of my entire surgery experience. I had a horrible time with it. Walking did help but mine took about 2 weeks to completely go away. Of course, every day it got better and better but it definitely was not fun. I hope you start to feel better soon. Just know that all the negative stuff that you encounter after surgery is temporary. Everything eventually gets better. Take care!
   — fsu94

September 7, 2008
Robyn- I had my surgery September 5, and I think the gas pains were 100 times worse than any incision sites. They told me that because the gas is in the abdomen, you can not just pass the gas normally. Walking, walking and more walking is what is needed. I am not up to much walking at a time, but several shorts walks around the house throughout the day seem to be helping Laying down in bed definitely makes it worse. I remember thinking yesterday before I went home (the day after surgery) - "Why the hell did I do this?" But it is getting better. My other big problem is nausea. It has bee pretty bad, but they did give me a patch, and it is somewhat better today. Best of luck to you - keep in touch! (I had a laparoscoic gastric sleeve.) Wendy
   — Wendy M.

September 7, 2008
Take the pain meds they gave you when you got out of the hospital. If you are out, call the doc and ask for a refill as you are in pain and can't sleep. If they gave ypou nothing, then call and tell them you need something for the pain and to help you sleep. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

September 7, 2008
Get whatever pain meds and sleeping pills you can get and WALK! Walking helps the gas diffuse through the walls of the intestines and OUT of your system. The MORE walking you do, the FASTER it gets OUT. Good luck. Hope you feel better soon, Hugh.
   — hubarlow

September 7, 2008
I agree that the walking is the best answer. I also used a heating pad. I made one out of tee shirt material and filled it with flax seed. Put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. it will form to where ever you lay it on your body and it really helped.
   — VeraWalker

September 7, 2008
Chewable Gas-X or chewable Maylox. Better than tums. Paula B.
   — paulajaneb

September 9, 2008
Over the first two weeks, a lot of trapped air and gas have to work it's way out of your body. A lot gets in during the surgery. You aren't eating anything at this point that can really produce gas, but take care to sip carefully and don't use a straw, because swallowed air will increase your problem. It gets better, promise. You may find that you will have burping and gas though, many do. I've been fortunate that my only problem seems to be a bit of involuntary burping when I drink anything.The pain is coming from the pressure of the air on traumatized tissues in your abdomen, I'm sure. Don't be afraid to take advantage of the pain meds, that's what they are there for. It really does get better. :) Dusty @};-
   — Dusty Ray Vaughn

September 9, 2008
They are exactly right about the walking. I couldn't because of complications from the catheter during surgery, but I did take a short walk the first day around the hospital and by all means sitting is better than lying in the bad. I sat for 6 hours the day of the surgery and never had a lot of pain from the gas. Good luck, DUsty @};-
   — Dusty Ray Vaughn

September 9, 2008
They are exactly right about the walking. I couldn't because of complications from the catheter during surgery, but I did take a short walk the first day around the hospital and by all means sitting is better than lying in the bad. I sat for 6 hours the day of the surgery and never had a lot of pain from the gas. Good luck, Dusty @};-
   — Dusty Ray Vaughn

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