How you might feel (physically) post D&C
Hi ladies,
I'm one week post-D&C today and have been scrambling to look up some of my post-op side-effects to make sure they're normal. I love my doctor, but wasn't prepared for some of this so I thought some of you might find this handy. I won't tell you how you might feel emotionally - you're likely to be all over the map.
Physically, though, here's what I've experienced since last Wednesday:
-Went in to D&C on two nights of no sleep and a horrible migraine
-Woke up from D&C with post-migraine euphoria. Actually felt wonderful, physically. Ate waffles, took a nap, had a caring friend visit that afternoon.
-First full-night sleep that night, after a week of horrible, horrible sleep due to the emotional stress of knowing we were losing the baby.
-Felt absolutely 100% physically fine on Thursday (day after). STAYED HOME ANYWAY. Allow yourself at least one day post-op.
-Felt 100% fine on Friday - went to work. NOW WISH I HADN'T. Not emotionally ready and I was exhausted by the end of the day. And I sit at a desk. Also, people kept asking where I'd been - was it something fun, etc. If I'd stayed home on Friday, they would have forgotten I was even out by the time Monday rolled around.
-Some very slight cramping during these first 2 days - barely noticeable but used a heating pad anyway because, well, they feel nice.
-Also very little bleeding for first two days post-surgery. Almost nothing.
This is when things started to change
-Saturday (three days post-op) woke up with stronger cramps, uncomfortable bloating, heavier (not alarming, but definitely increased) bleeding. Was able to go for a long walk to help with cramps.
-Sunday. OH MY DOG THE BLOATING. So uncomfortable. Why was this not brought up prior to surgery?
-WEIGHT GAIN - I know I ate some feelings the week before the surgery, but not 5lbs worth. You may experience some weight gain / water retention in the days immediately following. My face is swollen, my stomach feels very distended. A little TMI, but it feels like you really have to have a bm, but then you don't feel any better after you do. Also? Your bms may be a little uncomfortable and you may notice a lack of strength in those muscles.
At one week post-op, I feel like I'm having my worst bloating so far today. I look bigger than I did while I was pregnant, and feel very "full." After Googling quite a bit, I realize now this is normal, but sure wish someone had given me a heads-up.
I have been exercising since Saturday's long walk. Nothing major, but the activity feels good. My doctor said it was absolutely fine - just listen to my body. Mine is telling me to move. Don't do anything that doesn't feel right. If you need to walk, walk. If you need to sleep for 3 days, DO IT. As someone else on this board wisely pointed out, just because you don't have stitches doesn't mean you didn't have surgery. Listen to and respect your body.
-Oh, and headaches. Don't be surprised if you get quite a few of them in the days following. Apparently also very common.
Re: How you might feel (physically) post D&C
I had both of these symptoms and I had a natural miscarriage. The headaches were horrible and started about a week after the miscarriage and lasted about 10 days. The weight gain/bloating was insane for me--16 pounds! This was over about a three week period, during the holidays, and I was grief eating, but my goodness, it was crazy! Thankfully, the weight started to come back down over the past week--I'm down 6 pounds and will hopefully keep going in the right direction in the coming weeks.