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October 2014 Moms
MrsL2B
member
C-Section Recovery Check In
MrsL2B
member
I thought it would be nice to have a place to discuss our recovery from this surgery. Feel free to add any other comments or concerns that you have had!
How far post-op are you? How's your recovery coming along?
Are you still on pain medication? How are the side effects?
What about your body surprised you the most after your C-section?
How far post-op are you? How's your recovery coming along?
Are you still on pain medication? How are the side effects?
What about your body surprised you the most after your C-section?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: C-Section Recovery Check In
I have just about weaned myself off the Percocet, and I am mostly taking ibuprofen at this point. My appetite has finally started to return, which is nice because breast-feeding has really picked up steam lately.
I was very surprised by all the post-op full-body swelling from the IV fluids. Most of it is gone now, but there is still a lot right around the incision. However, despite my rapid loss of this bloat over the past five days, I still have no idea where my abdominal muscles went. I can't feel them tighten at all when I know I'm using them.
And if they didn't tell you (like they didn't tell me) make sure you hug a pillow low on your belly if you have to cough or sneeze. It helps lessen the pain.
How far post-op are you? How's your recovery coming along?
Today will be day 9. Yesterday was the first day I started feeling significantly better. The bruising and swelling have gone down but my incision area is still quite swollen. I definitely don't remember having that last time.
Are you still on pain medication? How are the side effects?
I never took the Percocet because narcotics make me vomit every single time, but yesterday was the first day I stopped taking round-the-clock Motrin/Tylenol. As long as I'm wearing the abdominal binder I feel okay on my own now though. I'm hoping not to need any medication today, but I'm not sure when I'll be able to take off the binder.
What about your body surprised you the most after your C-section?
How much more bruising and swelling I had this time. Last time the nurses were complementing my doc on how beautiful a job she did. This time the nurses were kind of scared I think. It really looked bad.
I have been very fortunate to have an easy recovery. I didn't need the pain meds after 24 hours. I did experience a lot of gas which luckily went away after I started being more active in the hospital.
My incision hurts a little but only on my right. I have a couple of fibroids on that side and I can feel them throbbing, planning to ask the OB about them at my 2 week check.
I do feel more exhausted than I did with my first c section, for the first week I couldn't walk very fast and quick outings made me tired but I'm feeling stronger now.
My doctor also said I could drive as long as I was off the pain meds so I've been taking short trips at least once a day. I would be pretty depressed if I couldn't leave the house!
I'm impressed by everyone who has been able to quickly stop using the hard drugs.
18 days
How's your recovery coming along?
This has been the best recovery out of the 3 cs I've had. I don't know if it has to do with refusing drip narcotics or having an epidural instead of a spinal but I feel about 85% recovered and have for a few days now.
Are you still on pain medication?
No, I've been off all pain meds since day 4 postpartum
How are the side effects?
I used colace so that cut down on constipation portion of the side effects for me.
What about your body surprised you the most after your C-section?
How much easier it is to sleep comfortably. I'm still not sleeping on my stomach, but sleep comes much easier these days. Even if it is in 2-3 hour increments
Alexander Flynn ~ September 24, 2014
Yesterday, I am sure I overdid it as we left the hospital in the am. And I really paid for it last night. The sides of the incision burned and was in great amounts of pain. I'm still taking the Percocet. Only side effect is the constipation -haven't gone since Wed am. Just trying to stay ontop of pain and relax more today.
What has really surprised me was that my milk came in so fast. I hear c-section babies come in later.
How far post-op are you? How's your recovery coming along?
Unplanned c-section after 29 hours of labor
8 days today. I'm not sure if I am making improvements in recovery or not. Right now it still hurts to get in/out of bed - and I can't find a comfortable sleeping position. I'm slow at walking, and feel like there is a lot of belly weight on my incision (which, there is). Going to the bathroom is still a 10 minute process and stairs are taken infrequently and cautiously.
At 5 days post-op, I went into the ER for some symptoms: At each point that I'm due to take some more Oxycodone/Ibuprofen/Tylenol, I start to shiver uncontrollably, have shortness of breath, and have back/chest pains. I went into the ER because my DH finally decided to take my temp, and it was at 101 degrees. While at the ER, I had urine test, blood test, and a CT scan and it was determined that I have a skin infection and a mild case of pneumonia (which apparently is common when laying in a hospital bed for several days). The Ibuprofen/Tylenol that I was taking was keeping my fever down so I didn't think I had had an infection. I went home with two diff kinds of antibiotics. Yay - more drugs!
Are you still on pain medication? How are the side effects?
While at the hospital I had only asked for 1/2 dose of Oxy because my pain was being managed well (by the nurses) and I wasn't in a lot of pain. They told me when I go home to take a full dose just because I'd be moving around much more. Shortly after, though, I went back to 1/2 doses of Oxy along with Ibuprofen and Tylenol. I do not know if/when I will be able to come off it because it's still so painful. I get super drowsy and dizzy from them when they start to kick in, but then feel great and can move all around the house, hold baby, etc.
Most recently I have been having extremely vivid dreams and wake up completely confused! This morning DH woke me up saying baby was ready for diaper change and I thought he was elsewhere feeding and that DH was out of town or something, so really confused when I woke up. I finally just asked "what's the status of LO?" and it was completely different than what I had thought.
What about your body surprised you the most after your C-section?
The swelling!! I wasn't prepared for how much larger my ass and legs would be! I didn't plan well for my "going home" outfit. What I thought were baggy comfy pants weren't baggy at all and the moment I got home from the hospital I was wearing nothing but a robe around the house because nothing else fit. Not even my shoes. Thank god it's getting chilly here in MN because all that fit me are my slippers! I wore those to LO's first Dr. appointment and plan on wearing them to my Dr. appointment tomorrow.
Also, don't underestimate the need for "granny panties"! I got a size larger underwear in preparation for recovery - but they were still bikini style....duh! Can't wear those!!! It's hard to find pants that cover a large ass AND fit up and over my floppy belly.
ETA: unplanned c/s note
15 days
How's your recovery coming along?
This was a RCS and recovery is much smoother and quicker this time.
Are you still on pain medication? How are the side effects?
I've only taken Aleve since I've been home from the hospital. After my third day home, I haven't even needed that.
What about your body surprised you the most after your C-section?
No surprises this time, but after my first I was surprised by how numb my scar stayed for so long. It was about six months before it went away.
O14 January Signature Challenge: Snow Fails
Recovery is taking awhile. I had preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome and I think that doesn't help. I try to do things and then seriously regret it. It took me 2 weeks to finally lay in bed (I had been sleeping in the recliner with DS in a rock n play in front of me. Bed is sort of amazing and just a few days ago I was able to lay on my side again!
I'm not on pain meds any more. I was on them for about 10 days (Percocet) then switched to Tylenol. Now I take Tylenol if I over do it but not often. I couldn't ever take Motrin due to being on Lovenox so that probably didn't/doesn't help recovery!
I was most surprised how swollen I was. A lot of it was from the preeclampsia but also the c section itself. It took forever to go away. I felt like an elephant! Now that it went away I'm amazed at how fast my stomach went down. I'm also amazed at how my incision looks... almost like it doesn't exist. Regardless of what it looks like... I panic when I touch it or see it in the mirror... it just freaks me out. Not to mention the sensation of the area around the incision feels so weird doesn't help! Oh also my lower stomach hurts so bad I can't stand touching it or having LO kick me. It doesn't help I have to stick a needle in that area every night either.
12 days
How's your recovery coming along?
This was a RCS, but I really don't remember the recovery from my first. I guess it's going alright, except for the hip and pelvis pain. It's awful and worse than any time in my pregnancy. Also, how long did y'all's bleeding last after?
Are you still on pain medication? How are the side effects?
I'm taking Motrin during the day, and my Hydros in 1/2 doses at night. I would have dropped them by now except for the hip and pelvis pain.
What about your body surprised you the most after your C-section?
I don't know, I might have been shocked by the amount of swelling a body can do.
9 days. It's getting better every day. I still expect way too much out of myself so I overdo it sometimes and then I'm in pain but for the most part I have been doing well.
Are you still on pain medication? How are the side effects?
I decided to stop using them last night. I was using Percocet, but it made me incredibly itchy and so, so tired which I have no patience for with a 4 year old, 2 year old and a new born. I haven't been too sore today so I think I can manage the pain with just the ibuprofen.
What about your body surprised you the most after your C-section?
I was surprised by how quickly I wanted to get up and out of the hospital bed so quickly after surgery. That bed was so uncomfortable!
Piper Jo: October 14'