The Colon Club

Hi. This is my first time posting here. I just had Bowel Re-section surgery 6 weeks ago today. I was told to expect an 8 week recovery and over all I am doing well but I was looking online to see what to expect at this stage in my recovery because of a few things I have been feeling and just wondering if it's normal and how long to expect it to last etc., That's how I happened upon this site. I had 9 inches of my sigmoid colon removed due to 7 years of Diverticulitis flare ups. They attempted to do the surgery robotically but ended up having to do an open incision in the bikini line so I have 6 incsions a few of which have a puckered appearance now, I'm not sure if this is because the swelling has gone down some or if it will always look this way? I spent 4 days in the hospital, came home, and basically slept for the first week I had NO energy which I was told to expect. The first two weeks were the worst but I have slowly but surely gotten better with each passing week. I have gotten my energy back and I am feeling pretty good now. Bowel movements are pretty normal and I have been able to eat whatever I want I just feel full very quickly.
I am curious to know if it's normal 6 weeks into recovery to still feel some soreness/tenderness around the incisions and my abdomen feels 'full' and 'firm' It also feels very 'crowded' in my pelvic area if I cross my legs. It doesn't hurt it's just an uncomfortable, strange feeling that I am hoping will go away with time. I also don't like anything touching my abdomen. I have been wearing lots of sundresses and elastic waist, soft material shorts.
Just curious to know if others have felt any of these same things and how long it takes to feel completely normal. Thank you!

Hello, I had my resection on 10th January this year and slowly my abdomen is returning to its previous shape! For a couple of months it was very puffy with distension around the largest incision ..bikini line like yours with the other laparoscopic incisions less problematic. As I am having chemo, I'm not sure if this has slowed down the healing, as the large incision line flares up after each treatment, and it still remains a bit mis-shapen. You are fortunate that your bowel activity has returned to normal, mine haven't! My chemo started about a 6 weeks after the resection and up till then bowel activity was all over the place and still is!
I hope your incisions soon recover to acceptable but maybe It's still early days. I do massage the scars, when I think of it, with bio oil....maybe this would help?
Love xxxxx

I had about 3 ft of my colon removed. I had a weird sensation in my abdomen afterwards, no pain or anything like that, just felt weird and uncomfortable. It took about 2 months for it to feel normal again. That's also the time it took for me to be able to sleep on my side again.