Reversal Questions

[JudeD59]

Had the reversal Wednesday afternoon, came home last night. Don't know what my expectations were, but I was more worried about bowel movements and retraining then pain from surgery, yet I feel like I was hit by a truck. My whole right side from the incision to my hipbone, from my crotch to my ribcage is so freaking sore. I can't even stand to have it lightly touched. The pain pills aren't doing much to take the edge off of the pain. I ran a slight fever in the hospital, but it went away, so I don't think it's infection.

So I'm wondering is this normal? Does everyone have this level of pain after reversal? Or is it because I had adhesions and they had to make the incision 8 inches long instead of the normal three or four? I know they said they had to cut through fresh layers of muscle to do the job, could that be making it so much more painful? Or did I screw things up by spending so many hours on the toilet trying to get my bladder to work? I wasn't pushing or anything, but I was sitting and leaning in different positions to try to get my bladder to release. I have bladder prolapse from my hysterectomy in 2006 so sometimes I have to adjust to make it function.

I'm very glad they didn't have to abandon their original cut and open my midline incision because then I would be dealing with two incisions instead of one.

I know a lot of people on here said the actual reversal wasn't bad and they were off pain pills in a few days. So I'm just trying to figure out if this pain is part of the normal process or something I should call my surgeon about. The discharge papers said the penrose drain would be removed before I left the hospital but it wasn't. Was yours left in until your appointment to get your staples removed? I think it's a good thing that it is still in because a lot of liquid has drained out. I mean through the bandage and onto the floor repeatedly.

Last night, I had a lot of gas pain and it hurt so badly to get up that I said, screw it and I trusted the fart. About 20 times. And it was fine. No poopy in panties, just air. I took Colace today to counteract the constipating aspects of the narcotics.

Any answers or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Judy

[Joannerogers]

I'm so sorry you are in such pain. To me it doesn't sound normal, but I've never had a reversal. I would definitely call your doc right away. The sooner you do, the sooner you could be feeling better.

Best wishes

Joanne

[JudeD59]

I'm so sorry you are in such pain. To me it doesn't sound normal, but I've never had a reversal. I would definitely call your doc right away. The sooner you do, the sooner you could be feeling better.

Best wishes

Joanne

Thanks for answering, Joanne, especially when I know you are going through so much yourself at the moment. Sweet of you to take the time to respond to me.

I know surgery and incisions always cause pain. I'm used to that. And if I knew this pain was normal, I would just suck it up and push through it. I will say that none of the doctors or nurses at the hospital or the visiting nurse today seemed alarmed by the amount of pain I was having, so maybe this is normal. I don't have fever, so no infection and I pooped a lot in the hospital without any problems, so no obstruction, so I'm probably just being an alarmist. I'll give it the weekend and see if it gets better or worse. If it was from the aerobics I did trying to get my bladder started, it should get better now that the bladder is working fine and I'm resting.

How long do you have to wait until they remove your catheter and see if your bladder will function on its own? I have my fingers and toes crossed for you.

Judy

[tammylayne]

Everyone is different - for me there was not a lot of pain with my reversal, but my incision was only about 4 -5 inches and I had no drain.

If you are worried AT ALL....please call your docs office. That is why they are there,,,and if there is an issue - it gets dealt with. If there is not an issue - then you will relax a little, which will help with healing ( at least that is how my mind works ) 5 surgeries later, I have come to understand that no one gets a sticker for being brave - we can ask questions and put our recovery ahead of everything else,

Hope you are feeling better soon. This is a HaPpY surgery...and the sooner you are feeling better, the sooner you can enjoy the HaPpY things that a reversal surgery can bring!!!!!!

[Joannerogers]

Judy, I go to my surgeon on Monday and they will take it out. They won't let me leave until I can pee so they said to be sure to bring a lot to drink so I can fill up the ole bladder to give it every chance to step up to the plate! If not, they will recath me! You didn't mention I should be doing aerobics though, I guess I'll have to jog down my hill and back lol! I hope you know that I'm am just joking about the aerobics !

Take care I'm rooting for you too

Joanne

[jhocno197]

It probably is because of the longer incision and the cutting of the muscles - I would still call and tell the on-call doctor what's going on; if it's normal, maybe they could at least adjust or change your pain meds to be more effective.

[cathy123]

I was tender when moving for awhile but don't remember any sharp pain. And I did not have a drain after my reversal. Sonic is probably fine but wouldn't hurt to check with your surgeon.

On the bright side that is great that you have control. I did not at all in the hospital. I think your reversal will be a success from that perspective.

Best wishes
Cathy

[JudeD59]

Thanks to all who replied. The pain is worse today. It's hard to tell if I'm running a fever because of the tylenol they have me on, but I took my temp this morning when I woke up and hadn't had pain meds for awhile and it was 99.8. My normal temp is 97.7. So I contacted the surgeon on call and he gave me two options--go to ER now or wait and meet with my surgeon at 9 am tomorrow. I chose to wait even though I'm in pain because I trust whatever tests he would run or decisions he would make more than I trust the ER doctors who don't know my case. Of course if things change in any severe way before now and then, I'll go to the ER. I don't think it's a blockage, at least not a complete one, since I'm having bowel movements and gas.

Yes, Cathy, I agree that I've been very lucky in the bowel habits so far. I don't know how long it will last, but so far, it's been good. I wish you were seeing more success, but there is still time for it to happen. I have my fingers crossed that you'll see great improvement soon.

Judy