Okay, not to beat this issue to death, but can someone explain why, exactly, there is so much painful gas after takedown? At least, in my case, there is. And I'm walking, walking, walking, chewing, chewing, chewing, and I know that it will eventually go away, but I'm wondering what causes it?

I thought they fill you up with air, so they can see in there better. It is definately the worst part of surgery for me. During my last scope, when they put in the air, I just about went through the ceiling.

Thanks, Cataja. I had no idea that they did that (the dirty dogs).

With me, i am 6 months past takedown, and i still have lots of gas. it only hurts occasionally now (thank goodness). But i know the reason why i have so much all the time is because i haven't learned how to fart yet. so when i have gas, i have to use the restroom.

Rudolph, I'm sure each of us is different in terms of gassiness. I have always seemed to be prone to it, but 5 days after take down (same as you) I am not having this problem (now let's not discuss butt burn.......). I'm not sure of this (anyone else??), but I don't think they pump the air in for the take-down. They do for surgery #1, especially if it is done laproscopically, but I don't think it is necessary for take-down. On the other hand, for some reason any abdominal surgery (as in a cesarean section) will result in gas that they wait to pass before they'll let you eat anything. Also for some reason during surgery the intestines "shut down" and all those peristaltic contractions need to start back up to get that gas out.
As I said, I have not had trouble with gas, but I have had some pretty painful cramping. It is similar, though not nearly so long lasting as when I had some relatively minor (passed in a few hours) blockages w/ the ileostomy. I assume, even though I am eating very soft food and, like you, chewing chewing chewing, that the area of intestine that was sewn is swollen and tender and that could be causing the pain.
To get to the point of all this, I wonder if the pain you are having is from cramps like this? Just the normal peristalsis but causing pain due to tenderness. It is just a thought. At any rate, do you have pain meds and a heating pad? Those might help.
Best of Luck for everything!
Jenny

I have heard it is the filling with air and the waking up of the insides that have been quiet for so long.

Last night I decided to have a great Mexican meal including a huge helping of pinto beans. Yum! Today, my stomach felt inflated with tons of gas. I decided to go for a walk and managed to release the gas while doing so...even though I hadn't planned to do so! So, I farted my way down Main Street of my beach town. I just kept looking straight ahead! I sure feel better! Fortunately, most of the people walking were tourists! I'll never see them again!

A year and a half after TD, I have less gas than I ever had before, even since childhood and decades before I got diagnosed. Gas right after TD was bad, and when I DO get gas, it's pretty uncomfortable, but in general I can really tell that the guts I have left are healthy! There's no bad smell either! (Remember the smell of active UC? OMG.)

Thanks, everyone, for all of your great replies. One week after takedown, I'm finding that the gas pain is much reduced, much more bearable. And walking, of course, helps.

Inspired by Cece's cute story about her walk on the beach, I posted a joke in the Just For Laughs forum.

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