His and Her Health

Post-Hysterectomy Pain!!
I'm haveing bowel pain, excessive gas and bladder pain – nobody told me how severe these would be before I got my hysterectomy – even just to pass gas is extremely painful. To have a normal bowel movement hurts like the devil. If it’s hard or if one is constipated it hurts like childbirth!!! I find it’s hard to get urine out and my bladder is extremely sore. It is excruciating if I have to cough or sneeze or cry or laugh.

Anyway I've read posts on this site and a variety of things together seems to be helping somewhat. No one thing by itself really seems to help, instead I have to employ a variety of remedies for the various pains. Any ideas are welcome.

I was told the first thing for sore bowels is keep the stool soft. I use stool softener (such as Colace or Peri Colace). In spite of stool softeners and liquid diet, I got the worst case of constipation I ever had in my life, just after surgery. I tried prune juice and stool softener but didn’t work. In hospital they wanted to give me Dulcolax, Miralax or other products – However I have irritable bowel syndrome so I dare not take a strong laxative. So when I got home, I used Baby Laxative instead – “Pedialaxâ€Â

Laying or sleeping on your left side may also help relieve the pressure of gas.

It sounds like you are experiencing symptoms of pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction. The pelvic floor muscles surround the uethra, bladder, rectal and vaginal opening. If there is a dysfunction in the PF muscles, tissues or nerves, then it could result in bladder, bowel and sexual dysfunction. The muscles get so tight around the rectal/anal opening that it makes it difficult to pass stool and gas, and both can be painful. Same for the bladder....the muscles surround the urethra and bladder therefore if the muscles are tight, they have a difficult time relaxing, resulting in incomplete emptying and possibly in pain. If listening to classical music helps, this is a sign that you are relaxing the muscles and that there is a muscular issue. If it is past the 6 week point then you should discuss this with your doctor and seek a pelvic pain specialist.