Belly scars from previous surgeries

jc_twomamas

Afternoon all! I hope everyone is having a safe and relaxing holiday season...I've been on and off of here for the past few days but have enjoyed reading everyone's Christmas fun, gifts and sending up t&p's to those going through difficult times right now. I'll get back to my routine after the new year!

Okay, I've tried researching as much as possible but haven't come across any good answers online or in books regarding my question. I've had two emergency abdominal surgeries, both fall 2013. I have five 1-2 scars from each surgery making my stomach a really fun road map.  Anywho, in the past week all of the scar areas have become painful, kind of like when they were healing 2-3 weeks post surgery. My best medical guess and google analysis assumes this is due to the scar tissue stretching and having more blood flow back to it.

My questions for you all is, have you experienced this at your surgical sites and if so, did it last the rest of the pregnancy or did your body eventually adjust to the stretching? It hurts when I'm going to sit/stand/laugh too hard/sneeze. Anyone who has had abdominal surgery, you know that this is kind of the feeling you have 1-3 weeks post surgery.  That's how I'm relating it at least. I'm going to ask my midwife about it in a few weeks as it's not an emergency, but I thought I'd ask to see if anyone else has had similar situations and how it panned out. 

Happy Saturday! 

:-*

SuperFudge00

My surgical scars are fifteen years old so I don't have any of those sensations, just their expansion.

Hope you feel better.

OliveMom3

I had a c section with DS and my scar gets itchy from time to time.

tif5596

I also have a road map from multiple surgeries to remove ovarian cysts and endo. I have one large one inside my belly button. They have started stretching and itch like crazy! The one in my belly button has started getting a little uncomfortable recently. I'm also going to ask my doctor about it but I'm sure it's normal.

SuperFudge00

tif5596 said:

I also have a road map from multiple surgeries to remove ovarian cysts and endo. I have one large one inside my belly button. They have started stretching and itch like crazy! The one in my belly button has started getting a little uncomfortable recently. I'm also going to ask my doctor about it but I'm sure it's normal.

That's what my scars are from. The belly button one used to be on the inside, now it's totally visible. DH noticed a few months ago and asked what it was, like I had secretly gone out and had surgery without his knowledge.

littlemissluc

I had an umbilical hernia which left me with a not so good looking scar of a belly button. Since my belly started to grow, the scar is getting bigger and wider but I feel no pain. I do put Eucerin lotion with 10% of urea for extra dry skin to that area as well as all my belly oils. Maybe that's the reason why it doesn't hurt or itch at all. Have you tried putting lotions on your scars?

jc_twomamas

Thanks all. I use coconut oil almost everyday! It's more inner pain (on the inside walls of my stomach where the scar tissue is) than itching or stretching feeling on the outside. Most def going to follow up with my midwife, just thought I'd ask around!

tif5596

That's what my scars are from. The belly button one used to be on the inside, now it's totally visible. DH noticed a few months ago and asked what it was, like I had secretly gone out and had surgery without his knowledge.

Mine as well. The one in my belly button is quite large because they had to pull pieces of my ovary from it and they had to stretch it after they made the incision. It used to be covered up by my belly ring but now it's totally visible!

palm513

I have only had a c-section so no multitude of scars but with my last pregnancy it felt like I had just had the surgery... this time so far atleast it just itches... the pain lasted off and on from week 23 - 30 and then seemed to go away (well to other places like my back)... I hope you feel better soon... and my Doctor said then that it ia very common for scars to hurt or itch when they stretch it has to do with how it is being stretched... I would bring it up at your appointment (as I believe your doctor should be aware of anything that concerns you even if it's nothing) and you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

justyouraveragemama

I had my gall bladder taken out 3 years ago and my scars are starting to hurt a bit like you described yours. Not all of the time but sometimes. The one in my belly button is really sensitive though because whenever baby hits it, it's really painful. I thought this was normal but maybe I should bring it up to my OB at my next appointment.

jc_twomamas

@palm513‌ @ballerinamom‌ and @KonaiNeto‌
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one! Has/did anything help relieve it? I tried putting my headache pillow in the microwave and placed it warm on some of the incision sites. It helped for a little while.

palm513

devow27 said:

@palm513‌ @ballerinamom‌ and @KonaiNeto‌
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one! Has/did anything help relieve it? I tried putting my headache pillow in the microwave and placed it warm on some of the incision sites. It helped for a little while.

The best thinf that worked for me was applying a pressure... wearing a girdle also helped the kind that covers your whole tummy I bought the biggest one walmart had, and it worked great with the baby bump (although bump size and pre-pregnancy size would be huge factors here)... also heat worked some... and the menthol based pain relieving lotion... also, try not to sneeze. Sorry for any horrible mistakes I'm currently on my phone and yeah...

musicmamma2015

I had appendicitis and a subsequent infection. I had a great deal of pain about the third month and the doc said it was the scar tissue getting moved around so sounds normal to me. Felt like cramping just on one side. Now that baby has moved up and our of that area I rarely have any pain there, but I wonder about when he reaches the hernia removal at my belly button if that will be the case. Hang in there

AmCheri

I had an unplanned c-section early summer 2013. I've been experiencing pain and general discomfort at the incision site, as you say internal pain, since the start of the second tri. Talked to my doc and he said it's not uncommon. Scar tissue from the abdominal surgeries can adhere to various places, including organs. When your uterus expands, that can cause the scar tissue to stretch and pull, resulting in localized pain. It stinks. Comes and goes for me.

obelishky

I've had multiple abdominal surgeries and have experienced the pain you're dealing with as the scar tissue tries to stretch. Hang in there mama.