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Another new post surgery question--gas

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Posted 1/14/2010 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
OK -- supposedly folks get gas problems after surgery due to the injection of gas as part of the robotic procedure.

But is this gas also in your gut? In other words, will this result in lots of farting (I like to fart anyway -- as long as it's just air!).

I'm just wondering how the gas gets in your digestive system.

Or does it just slowly dissipate by itself?

In fact, how many had bloating and gas problems?

Mel

Posted 1/14/2010 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
So far I have some minimal gas distress but nothing really bad.

 

Posted 1/14/2010 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
open surgery here, and no bloating or gas problems.
Posted 1/14/2010 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
definitely not an issue with my open surgery either
Posted 1/14/2010 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
the gas used in the RRP is used to inflate the abdomen, allowing more room for the instruments. This gas, due to the nature of the position used during surgery (feet up, head down, to allow the organs to slide upwards, giving even more room) will usually collect in the upper torso, that's why so many complain first of arm and shoulder pain. There is some amount of it passing between the lower and upper abdomen, how much I don't know. This gas is normally absorbed by the body, but the tissue can be loaded with it, but takes a few days. As far as I know, this gas doesn't involve intestional gas, at least to any big degree. The intestional gas is produced by the amount and type of food, along with if the lower tract was cleaned by enemas or laxatives before surgery.
Posted 1/15/2010 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
I had some gas and cramps for the first 2 days post surgery. I also took some stool softner for a week.
Posted 1/15/2010 12:06 AM (GMT 0)

RRP - no gas problem.

Zen9

Posted 1/15/2010 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
gas was very uncomfortable for me for about 2 days.  Farting is no picnic with the cath in.  I made the mistake of a bid meal day before surgery and regretted it, took a couple days but it all got back to normal.
Posted 1/15/2010 12:20 AM (GMT 0)

I look like I had a Kangaroo pouch for a few days. I have seen a post or two where a small amount of the operative gas escaped into the soft tissue. It kind of makes for a snap crackle and pop feel to the skin. My post operative period was actually uneventful as related to any discomfort from this. The GI gas is unrelated to the operative gas. I lied about passing gas at the hospital just so I could get the heck home. I was feeling the rumbling and knew I was fine. Started real normal GI status when my diet became more normal. I was religious about taking my stool softeners and may have actually taken one extra for 2 days starting about day 5.

Posted 1/15/2010 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Bear had major pain in left shoulder from gas for 2 days or so until it dissapated.  Old sock filled with rice and microwaved for two minutes made a great heating pad. 

CareBear

Posted 1/15/2010 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Like others, I could not go home or eat solid foods until I passed gas. It was day 2 after surgery when I barely passed gas but that allowed me to eat solid foods. I was on a liquid diet 2 days prior to surgery so I was hating the smell of broth. One thing to consider if after the catheter is removed, be careful about farting. The first time I farted I peed all over myself. I couldn't fart and keep from peeing.... I am much better now but that is how the incontinence worked for me give or take a month after surgery. I guess I was multi-tasking!
Posted 1/15/2010 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Mel, I had no issues with gas after the surgery. In fact it felt good to pass a little once in a while.

I believe that the majority of folks who complain about gas pain are referring to the type James talked about from the gas they use to expand the body cavity.

They really went into detail with me about that and explained that was one of the reasons they talk about walking as much as you can. Seems the internal heat generated in the body by walking burns off and dissipates the gas. The quicker you get rid of it by walking the less likely the chance of it causing issues.

By the way, one full trip around the parking lot behind the apartments is just a little over a 1/4 mile. I was able to make 2 or 3 rounds each time and tried to walk 3-4 times per day. Breaking it up that way was doable and didn't cause me any issues. They will give you a really nice canvas shopping type bag when you get there. I used it to carry my cath bag in and that way didn't rely on the small leg bag and also didn't make anyone uncomfortable in the elevator. Like I was really worried about that. LOL. With the exception of about 25 apartments the entire building is used by visiting doctors and interns anyway.

Good luck,

Sonny
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