Bloated Stomach After Laparoscopic Surgery: Is It Normal?

A few days after your laparoscopic surgery, you may find yourself asking why your stomach feels so tight and swollen. Is this bloating just part of the recovery process, or is it a sign that something has gone wrong? Let's take a look at what causes a bloated stomach after laparoscopic surgery, how long it tends to last, and what you can do to ease it.

Is a bloated stomach after laparoscopic surgery normal?

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that allows your surgeon to assess your internal organs and complete the operation through small incisions. They insert a thin tube equipped with a camera (the laparoscope) and specialised surgical tools through these incisions. During the procedure, your doctor also pumps carbon dioxide into the abdominal cavity to create space for a clearer visual of your organs.

After a laparoscopic surgery, it is normal to experience a bloated stomach. This happens because a small amount of carbon dioxide may remain in the abdominal cavity after the procedure and is gradually absorbed by the body through time. This trapped gas can make your stomach feel tight, swollen, and uncomfortable.

What causes it?

Besides carbon dioxide, there are other reasons why you may experience a bloated stomach after laparoscopic surgery:

• Anaesthesia: a medication used during surgery to keep you unconscious and reduce bodily movement. However, it can also slow down your bowels, making it harder to pass gas and stool afterwards.

• The procedure itself: this can lead to a small amount of tissue damage, causing your body to respond by sending extra fluid and immune cells to the affected area for healing, leading to swelling and bloating.

• Intravenous (IV) fluids given during surgery: may sometimes cause temporary fluid retention, which could also make your stomach feel bloated.

How long does the bloating last?

Bloating after laparoscopic surgery usually peaks around 48 hours after the procedure. Most of the carbon dioxide gas is absorbed by your body within a few days, and any remaining trapped gas usually settles within 3 to 4 days.

You may notice a gradual improvement over the following 1 to 2 weeks. However, for some people, mild bloating can last for about a month or even slightly longer before it fully goes away.

What helps to relieve bloating after laparoscopic surgery?

To ease bloating, relief usually comes from a mix of physical activities, small changes to your diet, and, if needed, medication. Here are some approaches that may help: 

Physical activities

Physical activities can help relieve bloating after laparoscopic surgery by encouraging your bowels to start moving, which pushes out any gas left in your abdomen. To help you relieve your bloated stomach, you can consider these light activities:

• Frequent and short walks: they help stimulate bowel movement, improve blood flow, and reduce trapped gas.

• Gentle bed stretches: pelvic tilts or bending your knees while lying in bed can help shift trapped gas without putting strain on the surgical site. Only do these stretches after your surgeon has confirmed that they are safe for you. 

• Paying attention to your posture: sitting upright or lying on your side with bent knees can help the gas move; avoid lying completely flat, as this can make your pain worse.

Dietary changes

Dietary changes may also help relieve your bloated stomach. Here are some recommendations that may help you:

• Herbal teas: such as peppermint, ginger, and chamomile teas, may help ease bloating and discomfort.

• Warm and clear liquids: like clear broths, as these can keep you hydrated and are easier on your stomach. 

• Soft and easy-to-digest foods: as they provide necessary nutrients without forcing your stomach to work too hard. For the first few days, you can eat simple foods like plain rice, oats, boiled chicken, apple sauce, and well-cooked vegetables.

• Fibre: as it can help relieve bloating without causing extra gas. Once you can tolerate soft foods, you can slowly eat fibre-rich foods like bananas and melons. 

Over-the-counter options

To help manage a bloated stomach after laparoscopic surgery, there are also some over-the-counter drug options that can help break up gas bubbles in the stomach and intestines, making it easier to pass gas naturally.

Other options your doctor may recommend that you can use, such as:

• Stool softeners: make stools easier to pass and ease the pressure, adding to the bloating.

• Mild laxatives: which can help if constipation is making the bloating worse.

While these over-the-counter options may help, you need to check with your doctor before starting any new medication, especially since you are recovering from surgery.

Prescription options

In most cases, over-the-counter remedies are suitable to treat bloating. If these are ineffective, your doctor may consider prescribing:

• Stronger stool softeners or laxatives.

• Non-opioid pain relief, which manages pain without the bowel-slowing effect from opioid pain medication.

When to see your doctor

While some degree of stomach bloating is normal after laparoscopic surgery, certain symptoms may suggest a more serious problem. Visit a doctor if you have a bloated stomach that is accompanied by these symptoms:

• Severe or worsening pain

• Fever and chills

• Persistent nausea and vomiting

• Persistent constipation

• Persistent diarrhoea

• Abnormal stool colour (bright red, dark black, pale, or clay-coloured)

• Difficulty urinating, dark urine, or blood in the urine

• Changes in wound appearance (unusually red, increasingly painful, swollen, or starting to ooze pus)

If your bloated stomach is not improving and seems to be getting worse, you may consider consulting a doctor to have your condition reviewed. Schedule an appointment at Thomson Medical today.

FAQ

Why does a bloated stomach after laparoscopic surgery settle and then come back?

Why is my stomach still bloated after a month or more?

Which foods should I avoid if I have a bloated stomach after laparoscopic surgery?

Why does the bloated stomach feel worse when you sit down?

After laparoscopic surgery, a bloated stomach can feel worse when you sit down because sitting compresses your abdomen, making the tight, full sensation more noticeable.

The information provided is intended for general guidance only and should not be considered medical advice. For personalised advice based on your unique conditions,schedule an appointmentwith Thomson Medical.