I have an autoimmune disease (behcets) , and it causes me to have a lot of vaginal and cervical inflammation... to the point, that I actually had to be put under anesthesia once to perform a simple Pap smear.
It had resolved itself until I got pregnant, and had to change my medication and then I ended up subsequently going without my medication for 4 months, due to insurance issues.
Because of the severe pain I experience every time I simply go to the bathroom or try to have sex, my doctor has suggested maybe is c section would be neccesary due to the severe inflammation.
I am immune suppressed, & a lot of people with my particular disease have trouble recovering after childbirth, due to not being able to heal properly.
Of course, I have the same risk for a c-section, but that's an area that I can keep an eye on and keep dry.
That said, I have a few friends who have not hesitated to tell me how awful their c-sections were, and how much pain that they were in, one told me it took her a week to recover. Needless to say, I am fucking terrified.
Can anyone please give me your experiences with your recovery? Was yours planned, or emergency?
Re: Terrified.
Sure you're not walking an hour or two later but in the grand scheme of things, having to stay in bed for a day or so is really not such a big deal.
I also have a ton of friends who ended up with csections for various reasons (failure to progress, breech etc) and nobody had a bad experience as far as I know. I made sure to talk all my friends personally and got a lot of positive stories. Once you wrap your mind around the fact that this is in the cards for you just try to have a positive attitude.
Not long after, they wheeled me into recovery where a nurse fed me some ice chips and talked to me about my delivery. In no time, they brought me back to my room to see the baby and my family. The nurses got me up and walking the next day and I was able to have a shower.
For the first two weeks I was pretty sore (I also didn't keep taking the pain meds when I left the hospital). It was hard to sit up and I felt like crap. You need to relax and take it easy for 6 weeks afterwards. Just focus on the baby and getting your rest. But, in the end I was perfectly fine and now I have a wonderful 2 year old. I'll be having a scheduled csection for our second son in December. Good luck! You'll do perfectly fine Just keep in mind that in the end you'll have your beautiful baby and you're doing what's best for your body!
Mine was an emergency but I had not been in hours of labor so I went into surgery refreshed. My body wasn't exhausted after hours and hours of labor. I do think that helped.
I really had minimal pain, to be honest. I left the hospital after 24 hours and needed only 800mg ibuprofen after the 3rd day. The gas pains were the worst- take a stool softener and gas x.
I realize my experience and recovery is rare but it's a good "other end of the spectrum" story to counter the nightmare ones people love to share.
I had a planned c-section (for medical reasons) and I had a wonderful experience. I went into it rested and ready. I was in and out of the operating room in an hour. That day was uncomfortable and painful, but the pain medication helped tremendously.
I was up and inthe shower the next morning (less than 24hours later) and in my clothes. I stayed on top of my pain meds and chugged water like it was my job. I was feeling physically "well" in about 2 weeks. I came off of all pains meds 7 days post partum...
If I had advice, I would say the following:
-- talk to your anesthesiologist before and during surgery to tell them your fears, concerns, etc. Mine was awesome and the second I felt like I may have been nauseated he gave me something for it and it immediately went away. After the baby was out he also gave me something to help me relax but not make me feel loopy or drugged up.
--stay ahead of the pain. Rotate whatever pain meds and ibuprofen they give you for the first day or so. Don't be a hero and think you don't need something.
--walk, walk, walk!!! I fully credit getting up and taking showers and walking the halls of the maternity floor with saving me lots of pain!
--talk to your nurses/doctor and speak up for yourself and your needs!
I would have another section without blinking an eye. It was a great experience for me!!
Ok, a week to recover? That’s not a long time for a major surgery. Its takes about 6 weeks to feel 100% normal. The first few days suck pretty bad, but the rest is manageable. They give pain medication. I say stay in the hospital as long as they let you, and if you do what they say you should feel a bit better when you go home