*HELP* Recovery questions with a CSec 5 days on...

[rufalina]

You dont want to take the strong drugs fir too long due to risk of constipation.

i was going to ask how things were in that department, cause that can make you feel terrible... If you cant get things moving, get something from the nurses. It will help and is worth it. I cant remember what I had, but it helped. Hope you are able to wean of the strong drugs and head home with less pain soon. xo

[Vixstar]

Oh hun! Okay, after three c-sections.....mine have all been totally different recoveries! First c-sections are the worse....so I thought!

C-section #1 2006 - panadol over 8 hours and volaren every 8 hours. Took about 48 hours to pee......because they told me if i didn't the catherter was going back in. NO WAY!!!! Prolly took another day to do no.2's and somewhere in between I passed wind which I was super excited about! Could you have wind pain? I drank Metamucil by the bucket loads. Disolvable stitches. MY OBGYN.

C-section #2 2008 - really fast recovery! Same pain killers as previous. Drank Metamucil again by the bucket loads. Some pain once I got home only because I had another child to look after already and so had a few more days of Voltaren and panadol. Disolvable stitches. MY OBGYN.

C-section #3 19th Sept 2010 - NOT MY OBGYN! This one is rough as guts, been doing it for about 30 years and very old school. No disolvable stitches. Metamucil did nothing so had some Agarol (sp)...white milky liquid which cleaned me out nice and gently but did so for 1/2 a week! Made life so much easier, not so bloated either. Wind pain when the drugs wore off....even today......Painful with a capital P!!! Lived on Panadeine, Endone and Voltaren for almost a week, esp since I had to walk up and down to special care......alone! Would have my bed in the upright possy and used the handle above to pull myself up so basically used all the strength in my arms to save my belly. Then kinda lean / roll to my left and somehow push with off the bed with one hand till I was sitting upright and then slowly place my feet on the floor and stnad up, bent over at first and then slowly stand erect. Hope that makes sense!! lol Ater a few days, was able to lay a little flatter ....even now I am still abit ouchie when laying down and still sleep with a pillow between my legs. Seems to ease pressure??? on my right side where I am still very sore. I have NOT sneezed in over 2 weeks....i am too scared too! Coughing is also painful even holding my belly. Not good or my lungs though.

For all 3 i came home with NO medication! Was told just to get panadol or panadeine....have been living on panadeince extra - 3rd packet now!

Tell your miswives o what is bothering you. It is their job to assist you and provide you with care. I saw my OBGYN every morning and told her o every ache and pain this time. At one stage I though I had clots in one legs. She explained it was my electrolytes changing.......she was right! lol

Hope things ease up for you hun. xxxxx

[Mother Goose]

oh hon, sounds like you're doing it tough.

Ask the nurses to put a slide sheet on your bed (which hossy are you in?). It is a slippery sheet that goes on your sheets. It will make it easier to get in and out of the bed. If they stick one on your bed - swipe one to take home

Make sure someone demonstrates correct and appropriate manouvers for ambulating (getting up and about) from the bed. The technique described earlier (rolling to side and using arm to lift) is a good one. Also make sure they demonstrate how to use a towel around your feet to swing your legs up on the bed if that is something that is difficult for you.

Are you using the monkey bar? Have you GOT a monkey bar on your bed? It's the triangle on a chain.

On a personal note, with my C-Sect, I was on voltaren and panadol. The first couple of days were hell - even going from standing to sitting was a nightmare. I think it took about 7 days for me to be comfortable. I remember going out to dinner at 10 days and being fine most of the time but needed to use the pram to support myself at one point. I was out with a surgeon at the time and he couldn't believe how well I had recovered so quickly...

MG