It’s been about ten weeks since I had open surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy together with the left Fallopian tube.
The wounds have just healed. I have now noticed that there is swelling on the left of my belly button. I assume this is the site where the Fallopian tube was.
Is this normal? When does the swelling go down if it is normal?
Is it also normal to get pains where the scar has formed.
I was hoping that things would settle by now.
Dear Fata,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss.
Sadly I am not medically trained so cannot give you specific advice on your symptoms and with such limited information it is difficult to provide specific advice.
Whilst I do not wish to alarm you, swellings can sometimes be a sign of infection. I would advise getting reviewed at your GP practice or medical health provider. If you find that you have an increased body temperature of more than 37°C or offensive smelling discharge or a wound site starts oozing or feels hot to touch, please do get medical attention as soon as possible as these can also be signs of infection.
As a gentle reminder, you should take it very easily for about six weeks after surgery. Your body will be using its energies to heal internally. It is normal to feel physically and emotionally exhausted during this time and please do be kind to yourself. Recovery can take time and some days will be better than others, one day you maybe ok and the next you maybe in discomfort or more emotional. This is perfectly usual and the healing process will go back and forth in this way for however long you need. It is important to listen to your body’s signals and pain and feeling tired are your body’s signs to tell you to rest. We suggest keeping a healthy balanced diet, drinking lots of water and resting. Once your wounds have healed, very gentle exercise such as a short walk can help, but please do take this slowly.
Sending much love,
Karen x
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