post-op..is this normal??

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday marked 3 weeks since my surgery (surgery date was 4/15.. Ironic because I am an accountant LOL). I had a 6 inch abscess as well as 9 inches of the terminal ileum and appendix removed. I am not having much "surgical pain" unless I walk around a lot (by a lot I mean a trip to the Supermarket). However, I am more concerned with the discomfort I have after eating and when I wake up. I am trying to eat small low-fiber meals (although my surgeon said by now I can eat whatever I want) but maybe they need to be smaller. I can't exactly describe how it feels but I have discomfort/slight pain throughout my abdomen, it sort of feels tight and I can kind of feel the food pushing through or like a pulling feeling. Not sure if that even makes any sense. This feeling lasts a while and discourages me from wanting to eat although I know I have to. My bowel movements are mostly loose stool, starting to be formed, with an occassional watery stool. Has anyone experienced this? I plan on going back to work on the 16th and hope this feeling is gone by then. Also, how much longer until I feel "normal" again? Not sure why I expected to feel almost better by now. I am trying to stay positive but the past couple of months have definitely put a strain on my worklife, relationship and overall mental health, I feel like I am starting to fall apart, the only thing keeping me together is knowing the worst has got to be behind me. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hi Scifigal2k,
Thank you for your response! You're right, I went for a bit of a walk today and felt better and worse at the same time. So weird. I feel okay when I am sitting but as soon as I stand up I have horrible discomfort.

Good luck and thanks again!!

My son - age 19- had the same surgery six weeks ago. He is a college student and made a pact with his surgeon which was he would have surgery (was not an emergency but a stricture was causing many issues) before college was over IF he could go back to school "in a few days." He was in the hospital for three days and back to school within five days of surgery. He described similar pain to which you are referring to and his surgeon said it was "normal healing." He did find eating smaller meals easier and he was on his low residue dies until last week. His stools gradually become "more normal" and although they are not completely formed he states it is not diarrhea. He was also told that some of his pain came from internal stitches that "take a long time to dissolve." I hope it gets better soon and you can get back to work!