Happy or not - post Caesar pain????

[Kat]

Hi everyone,

I never thought I'd be posting in this section, but here I am. The battered survivor (if I'm doing that?) of a Caesarian birth following 26 hours of labour only 13 days ago.

I am totally in love with my daughter, but I'm also kind of waiting to get past the pain and the medication so i can enjoy her more.

What I'd like to hear from other Mum's who've had Caesars is about their pain and their recovery. I feel totally in the dark, I have acosted my ob and will be confronting him tomorrow about getting more feedback and info but I'm still interested in what other Mums have to say.

I'm 13 days out and still taking suppositories and strong painkillers at the maximum dose. If I am late in taking some tablets I get severe abdominal / lower back pain which spreads right up my back in excruitating muscle spasms.

Did anyone else experience this level of pain / need for pain relief after a fortnight?

How long did your pain last? I am so jealous of those of you who managed on panadol only. when I take panadol as a substitute for just one of the painkillers I end up in agony where I can't move at all :(

looking forward to hearing from other Mums

Kat

[Elfin]

Dear Kat


I have had 3 c/s and didn't really experience a great deal of post operative pain . The first c/s was the best. It only really took me about 4-5 days till I was pretty much over any pain. I only used panadol and had 1 suppository the night after the c/s was done.

The second was a bit longer as I had a lot of scar tissue and had an adhesion so I had a bit of pain on the left side from the adhesion. But by 1 week I was fine and maybe the 3rd was a little worse not much though maybe a full recovery after 10 days. I think it took a little longer as I had 2 children already at home and my baby was in intensive care so I had to walk a lot and did more at home then I really should have. I very occasionally can feel the adhesion as a slight pull but nothing more.

I definitely think you should see your doctor just for a check up. Maybe it is some scar tissue that is causing the problem. Check out this website www.birthrites.org (I don't think there is an au at the end). It is a great site about healing after caesarians.

Hope this helps a bit
Easterlily :)

[willsmum]

The pain level sounds a bit excessive. I have had 2 csections and was on panadol (and then only at night to help me sleep) by day 3 both times. I was driving the day I got home from hospital both times. The second time took a bit longer to settle completely but probably only because I had a 3 year old to deal with as well. I am now 14 weeks post csection and it is as though nothing happened apart from a bit of itching in the scar sometimes and a numb tummy.

I'd be demanding further investigations if you are still in such agony 13 days later. Good luck!

[razzle]

Hi Kat,

I had really bad pain for at least 2 weeks after my caesar (after 30 hours labour). In the first week in hospital I took 2xCapadex (which is paracetamol & something else) every 4 hours night and day. I was buzzing the nurse every 4 hours on the dot, I asked for something stronger but they wouldn't give it to me :( . When I went home, week 2, I still took Capadex during the day, but nights weren't too bad. I also had 3 voltaren suppositories in hospital. Week 3 and 4 saw me taking one Capadex and one paracetamol maybe twice a day.

Your level of pain does seem excessive so I'd be talking to your doctor. Let us know how you go.

Enjoy your daughter - and watch out for her legs kicking you when you're changing her!! My daughter still does that - I'm at the right height for her to kick me where it hurts! :p

[Kat]

Thanks to those of you who wrote back under this thread - it is very much appreciated.

I've had a very trying couple of weeks and to begin with felt very upset that my pain appeared to be in excess of what others experienced....then a few other 'symptoms' came along, plus my tenacity at trying to force doctors to listen to me and to speak to each other (I was visiting my GP but also getting different feedback from my ob and getting really fed up - had me going back to the dr over and over to sort out - and in the course of this we found the 'real' problem)

I had gallstones!!!!

So in the midst of my labour pains - I was actually having a severe attack of something called something like colioangitis? which is the fancy word for severe gallbladder / gallstone inflammation.

I've been back to hospital and had a down the neck (ERCP) procedure to remove stones from the bile duct and to open up the duct to allow small stones to pass through.

I apparently have to go back to have the whole gallbladder out, but can wait a little while.

2 days post-procedure and I'm not on painkillers this time but am feeling much like I was a few days after the caesar - sorry for myself, shaken up and a bit feeble.

The hardest part was that before going back to hospital the pain had completely subsided and I felt good - first day I felt confident and able to look after my daughter and I got shoved into hospital and put on a drip and nil by mouth and I felt like hell again :(

In theory and with any luck it is going to be all better from here but I'm still waiting and I am feeling terrible at the moment as I'm on antibiotics AGAIN and little Phoebe is struggling with terrible tummyache from them.

Thanks again guys for the feedback

Kat

[razzle]

Oh you poor thing Kat!!! I hope you start to feel better soon!

Make sure you get lots of help looking after little Phoebe and look after yourself.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_4_109.gif

[Elfin]

Hi Kat

Take care of yourself and get well soon. Hugs to you and Phoebe (such a pretty name).

Easterlily :)

[rebecca]

I was reading your thread and could not comprehend the pain that you must have been feeling...and also thinking to myself...OH **** this could be me sometime soon! I am relived for you (and a little for me) that they have found the root of the problem and the pain...you poor thing...u had enough to go through with the labour and now this....
Just a question...the gallstones, where these something that you got throughout your pregnancy? COuld they have detected them earlier? Was it caused by labour??

I am thinking of you and hoping that all clears up for you and the pain completly subsides so that you can enjoy phoebe and just feel good to wake up of a morning.

Take Care...I hope u have lots of people to support and comfort you...( or at least 1 fantastic person)

Love
Bec & Peanut

[willsmum]

My friend had the same problem. Apparently you are either susceptible to gallstones or you aren't, and the hormones associated with pregnancy can exacerbate the problem, which is why some people get their first attck either during or shortly after pregnancy. For the record she had a cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder) when her bub was a few months old and is now perfectly fine.

[shell]

i had my baby girl chloe by c-section just 4 months ago im pretty much over it now and doing every that i was before. Just try to get as much rest as you can dont over do things and if you can have someone around to help do things . Once you feel better you will see how wonderful being a mum is . good luck and hang in there it take a couple of months but you will get there.

[Hokey Pokey]

Hello Kat

I had an emergency csection 2 years ago and I remember it all very clearly.

I feel for you when you say what you are going through - know that you are not alone!

We all handle pain in different ways and the way the caesar was done can make alot of difference eg emergency or planned.

I suffered alot of pain.. emotionally and physically. I felt as tho I could not enjoy my bab bcos of the amount of pain i was in. I was on tremol and panadol and that still wasn't enough for a good 3 weeks.

I could not get comfy - laying down was so painful I gave up and slep upright in a chair... :mad:

Like I said - we all cope with pain differently. My first was almost 11 pd, I had her at a very young age of 15 and no drugs and had 3rd degree tear but I felt that a much eaiser birth than the csection!

It took me a while to be able to sneeze and bend etc a good 4 months infact before those pains and pulls eased.

I do hope that you feel better soon, it gets easier day by day and that is how you need to focus :)

[mummyb]

hi
well done a baby girl how special.
my first baby was born by caesar four years ago .
i am sorry to say that i didnt need much pain releif but every body is diffrent your body may heal quicker than mine did .i had infected stiches and the whole thing was a blurr of emotion.
dont worry about taking pain relief , its better than not being able to give your bub a cuddle .
im sure that by now you are feeling at least 50% better than when you posted and in acouple of more weeks you'll have no pain and the only thing you'll be worried about is what cute little outfit your baby girl is going to wear and you no what thats exactly how it should be.
oh and by the way my second baby 100% natural (ok gas and pethadine) good luck

[Kat]

Hi there again,

Thanks for writing back to this thread I really appreciate it - especially to hear from those who had a VBAC!

I still have a gallbladder - I am thinking of having that operation though it isn't pleasant to think if it now that I am fine and able to move around normally and lift and everything.

If we decide to have more children, I am praying that I will be able to have a VBAC as I can't imagine going though the pain and trauma and misery again.

big hugs to all you kind ladies, and yes, I did have one very loving husband to help with Phoebe. A couple of friends / family were able to visit a little but mostly a terrific man by my side who was the 'mummy' for a couple of weeks.

Kat