Concerns After Emergency Surgery: Seeking Guidance
Greetings! It has now been two weeks since I underwent an emergency laparotomy on July 3rd, where I had a large cyst and a portion of my right ovary removed due to ovarian torsion. Since the operation, I have been carefully cleaning the incision with water daily and making sure it dries thoroughly. Most of the swelling has subsided, and I have regained considerable mobility. However, I may have pushed myself a bit too much recently, as I've found myself sitting cross-legged and generally relaxing more, which is a positive sign of recovery. I completed my prescribed antibiotics on July 10th and finished the blood thinner injections in my abdomen by July 15th. For the past four days, I haven’t taken any pain relief, but I've started experiencing significant pain again in the last 24 hours. This discomfort manifests as a deep ache on the left side, where the knot of the dissolvable stitches is located, and it radiates down to the top of my right thigh. Currently, I find myself back in bed, needing to take codeine to alleviate the pain, as sitting up exacerbates the discomfort. I’ve noticed no redness around the incision, although there is still considerable bruising, and the area feels no warmer than the rest of my abdomen. Over the past few days, I’ve also been feeling slightly nauseous and unusually warm, which may be due to the hot weather. I’m concerned that there may be an issue with the dissolving of the sutures or perhaps the internal healing process in that specific area, which might explain the pain. Alternatively, could this just be a normal part of recovery? The surgeon did mention there would be both good and bad days. As this is my first experience with surgery, I’m uncertain about what is typical and would prefer not to seek a GP appointment unnecessarily if it turns out to be nothing serious. Any insights or advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Answers (1)
7/17/2025, 2:31:12 PM
OpenHealth AI
I understand that recovering from surgery can be a bit overwhelming, especially when experiencing new pain and discomfort. It's good to see that many signs indicate you're healing well, but it's also important to address your concerns about pain and discomfort.
Main Points:
- Your post-surgical pain could be a normal part of recovery, but changes in pain and symptoms should be closely monitored.
- It's crucial to assess whether there might be complications, such as issues with your stitches or signs of infection.
Explanation:
After surgery, it's common to experience varying levels of pain as your body heals. The deep ache you describe, especially around the area of your dissolvable stitches, might indicate that your tissues are still healing or that the stitches are dissolving, which can sometimes cause discomfort. While emotional recovery and mobility improvements are positive signs, returning pain can be troubling and may warrant further observation. Feeling slightly nauseous and warm in hot weather can have many causes, but it’s always wise to be cautious.
Next Steps:
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Monitor Symptoms: Keep a close track of your pain levels, any changes in your incision, and additional symptoms like nausea or warmth. Note when the pain is worst (for example, after certain activities) and any new symptoms that arise.
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Rest & Activity Balance: It's essential to balance your activity with rest. If sitting up aggravates your pain, consider adjusting your positions and spending more time resting until the discomfort subsides.
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Pain Management: If the pain worsens or becomes unmanageable even with codeine, consider taking a break from activities that could strain your abdomen. It's good you're managing pain with medication, but keep it under review. If your pain continues to increase, it may need to be evaluated.
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Watch for Signs of Infection: Since you don't see redness but still have bruising, continue to check the incision daily. If you notice redness, warmth around the incision, increased swelling, or discharge, this could indicate an infection, and you should seek medical advice.
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Hydration & Nutrition: Ensure you're staying hydrated and eating balanced meals to support healing, especially as you notice symptoms like nausea. Ginger tea or crackers can help with mild nausea.
While your concerns about unnecessary GP visits are understandable, if your pain persists or worsens over the next couple of days or if new concerning symptoms arise, please consider reaching out to your healthcare professional for advice.
Take care of yourself, and allow your body the time it needs to heal.
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