The Colon Club

I had my reversal surgery on Monday, so I realize I am only a few days out. But I am still experiencing great pain around the surgical site. Specifically, there seems to be a muscle right above the stoma hole that is particularly sore. I can only describe it as a burning pain, which only goes away if I stretch out my stomach, and even then it still lingers a little. Has anyone else experienced this? I’ve been off narcotics since day 2, not wanting to slow my bowels down. So I’ve been on ibuprofen only, which isn’t having much effect. I will call my surgeon on Monday if it’s still around, but wanted to know if anyone else has dealt with this. This is greater pain than I experienced after LAR surgery. I’ve been walking every day to try to work out the muscle, but the pain continues at the same rate. I am assuming it’s muscle soreness and not something else, I’m not 100% sure. I know it’s not gas pain because I’m experiencing that too and it feels different. Any help is appreciated!

I’m not sure if you have the same thing I did but the “stretching out the stomach” comment stood out to me. I had a pain in my incision after my resection and it always felt let it needed to be stretched out to make it feel better, kinda like a really bad cramp at the incision. I explained that to my surgeon and he gave me a prescription for Valium to relax the muscles. It definitely helped.

I cannot help you but I wish you to find the solution very soon.

Claudia

Did you contact your physician?
Tylenol is my go to medicine but because of chemo it's that or gabapentene which I find works best.

Susan

I called my surgeon today. He is busy with major surgeries today but said I could come into the hospital today to see him or a resident if the pain gets worse. I think the pain is a little better this morning, though. Since there is no fever or any other sign of infection, he thinks it is musculo-skeletal. I will go in to see him tomorrow and see what he says. In the meantime, he said to keep a cold compress on it and monitor it throughout the day.

I do feel like it's getting a bit better because I was able to get up and walk around and make breakfast this morning without feeling crippled by the burning sensation. The pain was still there, but felt more tolerable.

Tdubz, I plan to ask him about Valium!

Today I went into work and also to see my surgeon and to pick up my Percocet prescription from the pharmacy. My surgeon said everything looks fine and my pain is muscular. He said this is actually a deeper cut than the LAR. I didn’t know that and and wasn’t prepared for this much pain after the reversal. I was more worried about bowel movements, which surprisingly have been the least of my problems. Going to work today was probably too much and my walk home was excruciating. My surgeon also prescribed Valium which I picked up on the way home. So I’ve taken both Valium and Percocet today, neither of which have relieved the pain, but I sure am drowsy. I think I will stay home until this gets better. Right now the pain is so bad that the only way to relieve it is to lie in bed.

I started taking ibuprofen instead of narcotics because it’s a more effective painkiller for me. I also haven’t been moving around much (snowed in) so my pain has lessened greatly. I have important work meetings tomorrow and Friday, but I may have to stay at home tomorrow to reduce risk of exacerbating the pain. We’ll see about Friday. You would think that moving around and walking would help, but for me right now it seems to make things worse.

I continue to have 6-7 bowel movements a day, which seems pretty normal! I’ve had a few minor accidents, but overall it’s manageable.