Well I am pretty sure people that come in with ileostomies have an easier time recovering from this surgery. I had my colon, rectum and gallbladder removed. I was starting to feel better from surgery pain until today when they changed my pain meds to oral, trying to ween me off the hardcore drugs so I don't go through withdrawl like a lot do here.

I can manage the pain, and it is better 13 days post op but my gas pain is unbearable. I am on gas meds but I am having a real hard time. I keep hearing once I am on a CIR diet things will adgust and get better. I just don't see any light right now. Had a very hard day today, a lot of crying and regret. It is so hard to deal with and my gas just doesn't stop. I was never a gassy person with a colon, guess my wishful thinking of staying that way hasn't worked.

Does it get better? I have a constant foley in now for the next 6 more days then I start to self intubate and you can just see the bubbles leaving my pouch in the tube. Sometimes it is so bad I feel like I am being stabbed in my abdomen area.

Yes, it gets better. After surgery you do have more gas than usual. Not eating also causes gas, they have to make sure your digestive system is working well enough for food. Also, your pouch isn't stretched out yet either. Make sure you aren't swallowing air, don't use straws, and I'd stay away from carbonated beverages. When you can eat remember chew, chew, chew, drink, drink, drink. Avoid gas producing foods for awhile too when you can eat. Walking around will help with the gas too. Just make sure you discuss the gas problem with the doctor and nurses and see if there is something they can do for it. It'll get better, hang in there.

I have a j-pouch and I have alot of gas. I was taking 1 pill like it said my doctor said it will take a least four or five a day. It seems to be working because I have not gone to ER since May. Good luck hope you get better we all know that pain.

Walk, Walk, Walk and walk some more...that is about the only thing that you can do until the gas works its way out of you...NO chewing gum either! I am assuming that you are either on a full fluid diet (milk products produce gas) or a soft diet (carbs produce gas) and mixing applesauce with... potatoes or other carbs at the same meal makes even more gas! No doubt about it, you can't get away from it...your diet is going to produce tons of gas until you can get back to a normal diet and reduce the gas producing foods...
Can you get someone to massage your back? I find that it worked wonders with gas and so does a heating pad under your back...not on the tummy.
Raising your arms above your head can help to release the gas from your stomach and make you burp and prevent it from moving down into your guts...less painful that way...
Hang in there...in 6 days the tube is out and then you are in control!
Sharon

Thanks ladies Just feels hopeless but I am sure depression is sinking in, I was ok in that area until about 2 days ago and became an emotional wreck.

I do walk but since they changed my pain meds by the time I make it down the hallway my incisions are killing me. My pain management doctor just came in a few minutes ago and I told him that so he is adjusting my pain patch.

I eat the CIR diet the hospital has on the menu. I can't order a lot of things that are on the menu. A lot of chicken, turkey, today I had meatloaf that is on the CIR menu. Jello and broths. I am trying to avoid dairy, pudding had me doubled over so no more of that. I have a very small appetitie, I am forcing myself to eat. Between the weird tastebuds, 1/4 size stomach I have from a sleeve I had done years ago on it and this balloon/gastric tube that hurts like hell it is not easy.

My bladder is also a mess. I pee every 10 minutes. But I am told that there is a bladder issue for a bit since the pouch sits right on it.

nope, no gum either. I don't like chewing gum anyway.

The pain from the air/gas will subside in time...your intestines have to kind of 'wake' up,..you may have a kind of ileus from the surgery or the pain meds...try and walk, also if allowed by the doc or nurses, maybe a cup of warm tea can sometimes help...as the internal pouch enlarges over time the type of pain you have now will be gone....try and stay strong...in a few days or so, when your guts totally 'awaken', things will start to feel better.

Everything is awake, reason they are happy here when I had the gas, told them it works. well my gas is way better. I eat more and it has helped. Man I wish I could eat veggies or a salad. I am so burned out on dried up hospital meat. ugh

I am out of here Friday so few more days then I can finally shower and feel like a human being again My penrose drain comes out tomorrow and my terribly painful gastric tube is out Tues but i am going to beg for tomorrow to come out.

Glad you are starting to feel better.