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

[*Beema*]

Have they shown you how to get up off the bed without hurting yourself?

Just using this bar they have put on the side of the bed a bit like a post, they got me to start using it on day 3 instead of the triangle thing and elevating the back of the bed up.

Try rolling over to your side first, and pushing yourself up with one arm, while bracing a pillow against your scar with the other hand. And swing your legs out at the same time. Then stand up.

I will try that way later on this evening and I will do it when one of the MW's is here so I get some help if I need it.

Thanks feeb , lucky I haven't had any constipation, been on the metamucil and coloyxl as well so everything in that area has been moving well from day 2. I wonder if things were particularly bad first thing this morning as when got up I needed to do both, maybe it was putting extra strain on that area? The backup OB and MW's just keep mentioning how bruised my wound is, but I have no idea what would be considered normal or excessive bruising. So far today I have been on just the Capadex and am doing ok, but I haven't lied down again since my nap before lunch, I am so tentative to do so I think the pain that I have been experiencing when trying to get in and out of bed would be pretty darn high on anyone's threashold

Thanks Ruf, Yeap glad everything is moving well in the bowel department! I am hoping that I don't need to go down the path of the Endone tonight, I have done well during the day on the Capadex, but have only been sitting so not doing any twisting, turning or rolling movements.

Thanks bubno3, DH is on leave as of Thursday night for the next 3 weeks, so he will certainly be able to take the pressure off once I get home, it is just getting up and down regularly that will be hard. It has been funny actually I got worse afterpains BF'ing DD1 than I have had with DD2 and she is a much better feeder, I think my uterus has gone on holidays after contracting for so long! Will keep a close eye on everything to make sure it is healing well and not getting infected.

Thanks Jennifer, I will speak to the OB again tomorrow or Thursday morning about it and be more specific with it as well, she isn't my normal OB so while she is very good, she works a bit differently to mine so I may need to be more specific about it, she may have thought it was a more general complaint about pain, but it is more specific.

Oh Vixster it is really interesting that each CS has been completely different for you, your latest sound really painful and horrible I will mkae sure that we have a good suply of pain relief for when I home. For me this is really unusual I rarely take pain medication, I will put up with a headache for days, but have had to just take it this time because it has been horrible when I don't have it.

I passed wind quickly about 7 hours post CS - just after DH ate my dinner all my waterworks and bowels are working beautifully, I think there is a connection between my bladder and the pain, because when it is full I can't even stand up, but the pain when I was moving out of bed was different like a stabbing pain and tearing sensation, not very good at all.

Black Rose, I hope it is something that could be a quick fix. I really don't want to be scared of hoping into my own bed once I get home.

MG, thanks so much so really great advice and information there, I was told how to get out using the vertical pole, but no one has demonstrating anything for me, just said to stop using the monkey bar grip thing on day 2/3, to tilt the bed up (which I won't be able to do at home) and swing my legs over. The monkey bar is still there they have just hooked it up, but I can easily unhook it

I think I am best to rope in the MW tonight or tomorrow and get her to do some demo's and if I am still having trouble, I can then demonstrate to the OB what the problem is.

7 days seems reasonable, tomorrow is day 7 if we include the day of Csec as being day 1 as I think because delivery was 11:35am (before 12noon) it is classed as day 1. I feel good in all other ways, I am able to walk around stand up sit down, care for bubs etc, just not being able to get in and out of bed, and it is really hard having to do it a few times overnight to care for bubs, night before last the MW came in every single time and was a gem, last night I was up quite late as DD2 was unsettled as I expected due to my milk coming in, so I only had to get up to her once overnight and had only just had Endone 30min prior. Which had worn off by the time I went to get up and had the big problems this morning.

Thanks aussienic, I have been sleeping partially on my side, but will try and sleep more on my side tonight to see if it helps reduce the strain.

Thankyou everyone

[Just Me]

It's not easy and I can totally understand what you are going through. I had that kind of pain for the first day, but everybody is different. The RHS of my scar also hurt the most but that was because they had some difficulty getting DD2 out and tore all the muscles on that side (I found out later). The midwife told me the side the finish off the stitching is usually somewhat painful depending on how it has been done - mine was finished off on the LHS but it might be why your is sore at the moment too. I also had dissolvable stitches.

It does get better. The first days are the hardest. I know it sounds really difficult and try not to overdo it, but having blood pumping around your body does help with healing so if you can manage a very gentle short walk, even up and down the maternity ward a couple of times a day, it might help to heal things up a bit more. I don't know if you are getting time for it or not, but I think that was the thing that helped me the most. Mine was also incredibly painful getting up and down for the first few days, but once I was upright, I could take slow and gentle steps so I tried to get my movement back by getting myself mobile.

The important thing is to listen to your body though. If it feels like it is too much then it probably is and you need to take it easy. If your DH is around to help you out for the next couple of weeks, maybe ask him to help you out of bed too. My DH lifted me in and out of bed for the first couple of days (they didn't put me in an electronic bed mine needed to be manually cranked) and also for the next couple of days after I left the hospital. He got up in the middle of the night and got DD2 out of her craddle - which was next to my side of the bed and he put her back in it after I had fed her. I think it all made a difference.

I hope your recovery goes well from this point. It does get better and in a few weeks, you'll fell almost normal again. Just take it easy in the meantime and work at your body's own pace

[Mother Goose]

hon, don't wait to get them to demonstrate how to move. If it hurts, ask them to show you to make sure you're doing it right.

A bed stick is fine. We use those for certain circumstances. In fact, you can often hire them from the hospital to take home for a short period. It just slides under your mattress.

You could also try taking some pressure off your stomach muscles when you're sleeping by elevating your legs. Something as simple as a blanket or towel rolled up under your knees. A towel can also be used hooked under your feet (and held by you) to swing your legs up onto the bed. But make sure someone demonstrates that to you.

[*star*]

Hey Beema,

Lots of good advice in here for you.

I just wanted to add that you sound like me when it comes to pain meds and not wanting to be reliant on them. I found out the hard way that even when I thought I was feeling a little better, I would overdo it or try to cut back on meds that I really needed. Please just take them as often and as long as you need them. You will get off them eventually, but it's not worth the pain and harm to your body if you don't listen to what you need.

All the best for your recovery.

[AnyDream]

Hey Beema, just popping in to give you a big .

I had really high pain levels and struggled getting out of bed too. I insisted on them getting in a physio to show me what to do, it took a bit of insisting but finally someone came down. No one seemed to think it was a very big deal but jayzas it hurt & I was scared about how I would cope at home (without any bar thingies to help). But I did. You will too. You will notice that it gets just that little bit easier, day by day.

BUT - listen to your body. I noticed around day 5-6 that the pain seemed to worsen, then the wound started leaking, turns out I had an infection brewing. I was at home by that stage so it took at bit of agitating to get the hospital to pay attention. So make sure they check your wound *really* carefully and don't let them excuse any tiny signs of leakage (like they did mine). I do hope it's not an infection coming on, and instead just a normal part of your recovery. I think a lot of people are keen to be pretty blithe about their post-op pain when that's not how it is for a lot of us.

[Vixstar]

Hey Beema,

Lots of good advice in here for you.

I just wanted to add that you sound like me when it comes to pain meds and not wanting to be reliant on them. I found out the hard way that even when I thought I was feeling a little better, I would overdo it or try to cut back on meds that I really needed. Please just take them as often and as long as you need them. You will get off them eventually, but it's not worth the pain and harm to your body if you don't listen to what you need.

All the best for your recovery.

true true! no one will think less of you and if they do...they have never had a c-section!

have been thinking of you.

xxxxx

[*Beema*]

Thankyou!!! I have finally got my laptop back and can come in a reply, after being on my phone which is very painful to read let alone post!

I am still having trouble getting out of bed, DH is having to help me, and overnight I am spending a bit of time in my BF'ing chair (recliner with stool) as it is more comfortable then getting in and out of bed for DD2 one or two extra times a night.

Yesterday was a bit better today, but I feel as though I have gone backwards today in the pain department, I am still on the Capadex and a lower dose of Voltaren, my scar looks ok, there is no new weeping so I don't think there is an infection and I am keeping the meds up, the pain isn't worth it Thanks star

Thanks Just Me, I started taking short and slow walks down the corridor so I was more prepared when I got home as our house isn't particularly small and it also is two story. The stairs are fine going down, more painful going up, but they are improving.

Thanks MD, that is exactly where my biggest issue is, I have been feeding DD2 at 4-5am-ish and having a dose of meds then and after that feed getting back into bed so that when I get up in the morning they are at the peak but not really helping much But DH is getting u then and is able to help me. Hopefully I see improvement soon.

I got the MW's to go through it again and also spoke with the OB, and I was doing it "right" way and they said yeah and that I shouldn't be experiencing pain...

Thanks MG I have been sleeping on my side, but wondering if I should pile up the pillows and elevate my top half and my legs, so that I don't have to get up from being flat and my legs being elevated reduces pressure, it was how I had the bed set up in the hospital and was the most comfortable.

This afternoon I have been gets waves of pain coming through, it is like a stinging but with all the nerves and stuff that have been cut it is probably just them "waking up" don't know really.

The wheat bag is providing relief so it is getting a work out, and resting a lot.

I hope your recovery is improving Vixstar

Hopefully things will improve more over the next week or two, DH has two weeks off from now so I am hoping that I will be feeling a lot better when he does go back to work.

Thankyou again everyone xxoo

[Indadhanu]

Hey Vic,

I just wanted to jump in and give you a great big hug Recovery from a c/s is rough, especially all these things no one ever mentions... like getting out of bed or sitting in the car (i found sitting in the car agony, especially corners)! I remember one day I bawled and bawled my eyes out (probably day 5 baby blues ) because I thought for sure I'd never ever sleep on my stomach again! And I remember being so exhausted but not wanting to even comtemplate walking to bed, let alone getting in bed!

Keep up the pain meds. You will soon be feeling fine, able to get in and out of bed, the car, up and down stairs, and picking up both of your gorgeous girls soon
Did the physio give you some core strength exercises to help get everything back where it should be?