How long till I don't feel I'm tearing/burning?

[supertabby]

I'm 3 days pp after my second section. This was an elective and I've been able to get out of bed since the morning after, I'm still in hospital but should be going home today.

I'm really struggling to move around - if I walk around (I mean to toilet etc not going for a jog!) I get a really bad burning feeling on my right hand side of my stomach, I'm trying to straighten up as much as possible as midwives said I need to do this. I know the pain is normal but it's so bad I'm struggling so much. I've been in tears from the pain and usually I have a high pain threshold.

I didn't have this type of pain the first time (emergency section) but I was on a lot of drugs for the first 3 days and not allowed up till day 4 due to being very ill. I obviously did have a lot of pain but nothing like this.

How long will this last? I know no matter what I need to really take things easy for at least 6 weeks, and I can handle being generally achey and crampy all the time - it's this burning feeling like I might rip open I can't stand.

 

[sheldonsmommy]

It gets better every day, I only remember it for a few days. Mind you I had existing numbness from my first section. It's likely from the staples pulling, so I know how hard it is to stand upright!

Make sure you take your painkillers regularly until it starts to subside for you. Once your incision begins to heal, I'm sure you will feel much better.

Also (and I'm sure you have already heard this from the nurses, but) don't use your stomach muscles with things like getting out of bed, bending over, etc. It will put more strain on your incision.

 

[JessPape]

What are you taking for the pain? you don't sound comfortable and may need some more pain meds to make you more comfortable. As hard as it is to move around, the more you move (without over doing it, just light walking) will help you hell better. Try using your legs not you stomach for the time being, If you need to wrap a long piece of fabric around your stomach or ask for a binder this will help with comfort too

 

[supertabby]

Thank you

I'm 9 days pp now and doing much better the last couple of days. I have dissolvable stitches rather than staples but midwife said the pain can often be the internal stitches.

I was just on paracetamol and ibuprofen but GP switched me to codeine for a few days as I had a horrendous headache (was worried about it being pre-eclampsia) and I think it's helped in general.

 

[JessPape]

The stitches will cause a little bit of discomfort/pain when they start to dissolve. So that very well could be what the cause was.

 

[ecarroll2]

I had staples and the burning/tearing pain continued for 2 weeks and even a bit more. It was immediately better after i had the staples out btw. The midwife mentioned that the pulling on left hand side was due to the fact that the staples there were extremely tight. I didn't have much support btw so I had no choice but to do stuff and get out of bed, and was back at work at slightly over 2 weeks post section. I was on morphine for a week, as well as paracetamol and ibuprofen. At 6 weeks post section it still hurts a bit when I get out of bed or turn, for example, but the section and the pain are now a distant memory. Glad you are getting better, wishing you a very speedy recovery!

 

[ispeakinsongs]

I think the first week was rough for me and then it was a lot better