questions about surgery recovery

As most of you know I had laprascopic resection surgery of my ileum one week ago. I am home recovering and I just have a couple of (probably dumb) questions for those of you who have been through this:

1. The main incision was through my belly-button. I feel a small lump just above my belly button but it is soft on the sides and below it. Is this just normal swelling, or do I need to be concerned about a hernia? My follow up appointment with the surgeon is not until June 12. I just need some re-assurance that this is normal.

2. I was having bad D, which I know is to be expected. Dr. Rubin called me today, and told me I can take up to 2-3 Immodium per day to control it. Since I have a huge tendency toward C (or I used to anyway) I was a little nervous about that advice, so I only to 1/2 a Immodium pill. It seemed to stop the D, but now I have bad gas pains all up my back, which feels worse than the D. I'm wondering if any of you used Immodium shortly after surgery, or if you waited to let your body regulate.

I'm doing pretty well otherwise. I get tired easily and I find it hard to sit in a chair too long. It is easier to walk or lay down. Any and all advice is always appreciated.

Hi Gumby44!! i have been checking on you but been quiet on the board. anyway, my was open like NCOT, but mine was below the belly button and was about 7 inches long. I had a hernia repaired with mesh prior so the surgeon was avoiding that place. A lump from what i have been told is not necessarily anything unless it hurts, or get worse or has puss. Of course only the surgeon would really know. When i had heart surgery last December, i had a lot of lumps and bumps and such....i called the surgeons office several times and the nurse always called me back to discuss what i was seeing. a couple of times she said to stop by anytime during the day and they would have any of the surgeons look at it just to calm my nerves. So if you are concerned, just call them. that is what they are there for. I hope this helps.

as far as the 'D", i had if starting about day 4 after surgery and for about 2 weeks. then it kind of stopped on its own. Dr said to take imodium like you but he said it was just part of the surgery and the bowls "adjusting" to the surgery and missing some parts.

stay on a healthy path and call the surgeons office if you have any concerns.

MIROWPL

Is the lump over one of the scars? I had my gallbladder removed laprascopically and had some lumps around the small incision sites. It was just scar tissues and went down a bit, but it's still a bit raised in those spots (even though it's been two years).

Yeah. Scar tissue... What I thought all along... >_>

Hey gumby...what everyone else said!  I had lap back surgery and lap gallbladder and had lumps at those incision sites.  They took a while to go away for me.  The back one was worse as I was pushing myself a little to hard to do things right after and it increased the swelling around it.  To this day, 2 of the 4 gallbladder incisions still have a little hardness around them and I had the back in 2002 and the gallbladder in 2004.

As for immodium...can't help you there.  It is too powerful for me on any day.

Aww, gumby, that sounds like an awful night, indeed. I had the opposite post-surgery experience in that I was painfully constipated after I started trying to eat a bit. My genius surgeon told me to take milk of magnesia, but the amount he instructed me to take was quite large. I was so worried about post-op obstruction that I took his advice and ended up pretty dehydrated and demoralized. I think maybe just letting your body adjust to its new, post-surgical form for a bit might be ok. (Obviously, if the D continues at a dangerous pace you'll need to address it, but it's still early days).

I'm sorry you're having to go through this. I remember a really claustrophobic feeling, like I was stuck in a cycle of pain and other symptoms and I couldn't get out of it. That did subside as my body got used to its post-surgical self, and I'm hoping the same happens for you.

Totally understandable that you're having this down moment. I'm no expert, but I'm an internet busybody, so I'll say it's probably ok to let yourself feel this way when it comes over you. Repressing emotions while trying to heal might just be a strain you don't need.

Healing after a surgery *is* a big thing to do, housework or no housework!

I'm sure it will be lovely to see your son when he arrives, but you don't have to get excited about it right now when all your energies are so low.

I really feel like it's still so soon after your surgery, and that you suffered so much leading up to it, that it's ok to let yourself go through whatever emotions/lack thereof come through. Give yourself a break for the time being. Most likely, you'll sort things out, and if you don't, for whatever reason(s), you can address all that in due time.

Thanks....I'm feeling a little better now...I was just having a bit of a pity party. I'm used to being so active, and this fatigue is very frustrating. My son just called and is coming home tonight instead of tomorrow. He sounded so happy on the phone and reminded me that he is a 25 yr old boy, and can care less if the house is clean enough. He did cheer me up and it will be really nice to see him. He is working and living in Detroit now, but he got a scholarship and will be starting grad school in Vermont in August. I need to treasure these moments in time when I get to see him, sick or not! Thanks as always for the support!

Beckysmom...what happened with your daughter's MRE? Is she doing ok?

Gumby- Big Hugs and Congratulations on your son's achievements! You must be a great parent to have such a great kid.