Anyone Had a Laparotomy?
Discussion
I had to look the word up.
Laparotomy: surgical procedure involving a large incision in the abdomen to access internal organs. Mine was an extraction point (to remove a section of my bowel) and whilst the surgery was performed laparoscopically, the cut (running vertically through my navel) was made to remove the affected area. The decision to do it in this was because I already had an abdominal hernia and the surgeon did me a favour. Call it a two for one deal.
The surgery was performed about three months ago. My recovery has gone well and it almost feels like 'it' never happened. There has been some slight itchiness around the wound but no other issues. I'm working as normal and don't feel any tenderness in and around the cut area. However, for about a week now, I've felt something, like a twinge of discomfort when pulling myself up from a relaxed/seated position. It reminds me of how it felt when the wound was clipped (post surgery).
Am I about to pop open like a packet of crisps?
Joking aside, how long does a laparotomy take to heal fully?
Laparotomy: surgical procedure involving a large incision in the abdomen to access internal organs. Mine was an extraction point (to remove a section of my bowel) and whilst the surgery was performed laparoscopically, the cut (running vertically through my navel) was made to remove the affected area. The decision to do it in this was because I already had an abdominal hernia and the surgeon did me a favour. Call it a two for one deal.
The surgery was performed about three months ago. My recovery has gone well and it almost feels like 'it' never happened. There has been some slight itchiness around the wound but no other issues. I'm working as normal and don't feel any tenderness in and around the cut area. However, for about a week now, I've felt something, like a twinge of discomfort when pulling myself up from a relaxed/seated position. It reminds me of how it felt when the wound was clipped (post surgery).
Am I about to pop open like a packet of crisps?
Joking aside, how long does a laparotomy take to heal fully?
As I understand it, a vertical cut through your abdominal muscles is easier on recovery than a horizontal cut.
I needed an operation in July where I had a big old horizontal cut. ~250mm wide, basically following the contour shape of my bottom ribs, right under my ribs too, seperating my stomach muscles from my ribcage, shifting my stomach and liver out the way and rummage around and clear space to perform the operation. It then got infected and they needed to partially open me back up to remove that (and leave open to drain & heal by itself)
3 months on I'm still struggling with recovery. I get out of breath walking up stairs or going for a decent walk. Deep breaths are a bit of a chore. When going up or down stairs with any gusto I feel the need to hold/support the scar area. I cant fold my arms as their natural rasting position is right on my scar.
I have the seasonal flu/covid thing at the moment which deffinately isnt helping. Coughing/sneezing/blowing nose all hurts my rib/diaphragm/scar area.
The surgeon told me that it would be gone Christmas before my stomach muscles were knitted properly back together.
I needed an operation in July where I had a big old horizontal cut. ~250mm wide, basically following the contour shape of my bottom ribs, right under my ribs too, seperating my stomach muscles from my ribcage, shifting my stomach and liver out the way and rummage around and clear space to perform the operation. It then got infected and they needed to partially open me back up to remove that (and leave open to drain & heal by itself)
3 months on I'm still struggling with recovery. I get out of breath walking up stairs or going for a decent walk. Deep breaths are a bit of a chore. When going up or down stairs with any gusto I feel the need to hold/support the scar area. I cant fold my arms as their natural rasting position is right on my scar.
I have the seasonal flu/covid thing at the moment which deffinately isnt helping. Coughing/sneezing/blowing nose all hurts my rib/diaphragm/scar area.
The surgeon told me that it would be gone Christmas before my stomach muscles were knitted properly back together.
Ambleton said:
As I understand it, a vertical cut through your abdominal muscles is easier on recovery than a horizontal cut.
I needed an operation in July where I had a big old horizontal cut. ~250mm wide, basically following the contour shape of my bottom ribs, right under my ribs too, seperating my stomach muscles from my ribcage, shifting my stomach and liver out the way and rummage around and clear space to perform the operation. It then got infected and they needed to partially open me back up to remove that (and leave open to drain & heal by itself)
3 months on I'm still struggling with recovery. I get out of breath walking up stairs or going for a decent walk. Deep breaths are a bit of a chore. When going up or down stairs with any gusto I feel the need to hold/support the scar area. I cant fold my arms as their natural rasting position is right on my scar.
I have the seasonal flu/covid thing at the moment which deffinately isnt helping. Coughing/sneezing/blowing nose all hurts my rib/diaphragm/scar area.
The surgeon told me that it would be gone Christmas before my stomach muscles were knitted properly back together.
Ouchies. Wishing you a speedy recovery. I needed an operation in July where I had a big old horizontal cut. ~250mm wide, basically following the contour shape of my bottom ribs, right under my ribs too, seperating my stomach muscles from my ribcage, shifting my stomach and liver out the way and rummage around and clear space to perform the operation. It then got infected and they needed to partially open me back up to remove that (and leave open to drain & heal by itself)
3 months on I'm still struggling with recovery. I get out of breath walking up stairs or going for a decent walk. Deep breaths are a bit of a chore. When going up or down stairs with any gusto I feel the need to hold/support the scar area. I cant fold my arms as their natural rasting position is right on my scar.
I have the seasonal flu/covid thing at the moment which deffinately isnt helping. Coughing/sneezing/blowing nose all hurts my rib/diaphragm/scar area.
The surgeon told me that it would be gone Christmas before my stomach muscles were knitted properly back together.
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