10 Solutions for Shifting Gas After Hysterectomy

Diet and Exercises for Gas After Hysterectomy

Gas after hysterectomy is a frequent post operative and painful side effect that is often overcome with simple strategies.

Michelle Kenway teaches you how to shift gas after hysterectomy and overcome associated bloating and wind pain caused by gas. Michelle is a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist and author of Inside Out the internationally acclaimed guide to pelvic floor safe exercise for women.

Read on now to learn:

• What causes gas after hysterectomy; and
• 10 great home solutions for shifting gas after hysterectomy.

What Causes Gas After Hysterectomy?

After a hysterectomy gut motility or movement is slowed down. Gas build up or wind is caused by a number of factors including:

• Inflammation with tissue injury (especially with abdominal hysterectomy);
• General anaesthetic;
• Post operative pain relieving medications;
• Fasting for surgery;
• Decreased walking and movement;
• Slowed nervous system/neural changes; and
• Hormonal changes.

10 Solutions for Shifting Gas After Hysterectomy

These simple solutions will help you to avoid wind or gas after hysterectomy treatment, and help alleviate gas pain and discomfort if it does occur. Choose from any or a combination of the following solutions:

1. Beware of gas producing foods

Some foods increase gas production when in the bowel. Limiting or avoiding the following foods can reduce production of wind or gas:

• Cruciferous vegetables – broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts;
• Legumes – lentils, chick peas, baked beans;
• Corn and potatoes;
• Onions and garlic;
• Wheat and oats; and
• Dried fruit.

Note: rice is non-gas producing carbohydrate.

2. Beware of carbonated beverages

Carbonated beverages or soft drinks contain air bubbles which are swallowed along with drinking. Try to avoid or minimise your intake of soft drinks during your hysterectomy recovery to minimise wind pain or gas after hysterectomy surgery.

3. Eat slowly and chew food well

Chew your food well to make it more readily digested in your gut so that it passes through faster and produces less gas in the process. Take the time to chew your food thoroughly before swallowing.

4. Avoid swallowing air

Try to minimise the air you swallow. Swallowing air is associated with:

• Drinking from a straw;
• Smoking;
• Chewing gum; and
• Sucking hard sweets.

5. Peppermint tea

Drinking peppermint tea can provide relief from wind pain. Peppermint promotes gut motility and can be useful in alleviating post hysterectomy gas pain. Avoid drinking peppermint tea if you have reflux or hiatus hernia to avoid worsening heart burn.

6. Probiotics

Probiotics aim to improve intestinal motility and reduce intestinal fermentation and gas production. Hysterectomy surgery is usually associated with large doses of antibiotics to prevent post operative infection. Antibiotics can cause an imbalance of intestinal bacteria. Probiotics are helpful bacteria when added to the gut. Speak to your pharmacist about your suitability for a course of probiotics. Many probiotics are readily available over the counter. Eating yogurt rich can also promote the growth and reestablishment of beneficial intestinal flora to help overcome bloating and gas.

7. Move regularly

Physical immobility is a major factor contributing to slowed gut motility and gas after a hysterectomy.  Moving in bed after hysterectomy surgery can be as simple as sliding one heel along the bed at a time towards your bottom, gentle knee rolling with feet on the bed and changing position pain permitting. Try to move regularly as advised by your specialist post operatively. Walking is an excellent strategy for improving gut motility and eliminating gas.

8. Body position

Laying flat on your back can be a very difficult position for passing gas and it does little to promote gut motility. Some women find that it they lean forward slightly this position can help to pass gas more readily than laying flat. Try leaning forward supporting the upper body on the back of a chair or on a window sill at waist height. Unless there is a medical reason for you to stay lying on your back, side lying can sometimes help shift wind and ease gas pain. Side lying comfort can be aided using a pillow to support the abdomen.

9. Warm packs

Warm packs on the abdomen can help to alleviate gas pain. Avoid placing warm packs directly over abdominal hysterectomy wound as sensation around the area may be reduced and healing tissues may be susceptible to tissue burn.

10. Pain relief medication

Some pain relieving medications slow down gut motility increasing the likelihood of constipation and gas pain. Speak with your doctor regarding medication alternatives that may assist you reduce your intake of strong pain relief such as narcotic and codeine-based medications if you are having difficulty with ongoing gas pain after hysterectomy surgery.

If you can incorporate one or more of these solutions into your recovery, you will be likely to manage and reduce gas after hysterectomy and alleviate gas pain more readily.

Author: “10 Solutions for Shifting Gas After Hysterectomy” is by Michelle Kenway, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist. Michelle is the author of the internationally acclaimed exercise guide that teaches women how to exercise safely after gynaecological surgery Inside Out - the essential women’s guide to pelvic support

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This information is provided for general information only and should in no way be considered as a substitute for medical advice and information about your particular condition. While every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, the author and publisher accept no responsibility and cannot guarantee the consequences if individuals choose to rely upon these contents as their sole source of information about a condition and its rehabilitation. Pelvic exercises accept no liability to any person for the information or advice provided, or for loss or damages incurred as a result of reliance upon the material contained herein.