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You’ve just come out from having a caesarean section. You’re happy that your scar is healing well, and you seem to be on the mend after some fairly major surgery. But have you had a general undiagnosed pain in your abdomen even years after having a caesarean? Something that no one really does tell you about is future maternal complications associated with cesarean delivery. About adhesions after c section.
*This post has been updated, it was first published in October 2018. Also, If you are suffering with any medical condition, I would urge you to go see your medical specialist, obstetrics expert or doctor. I am not a medical expert, and this post is my experiences plus my research on this topic. It does not constitute medical advice.
- Adhesions After a C-Section
- What Are C Section Adhesions? What Causes Adhesions After C-Section?
- How Are C-Section Adhesions Diagnosed? Adhesions After C-section Symptoms
- Does Your C Section Scar Tissue Give Any Indication Of The Adhesions?
- My Own Adhesions After C-Section Experience
- How To Avoid Adhesions After C-Section
- How To Treat C-section Adhesions
- What Are the Long Term C-section Adhesion Complications?
- Do Read Some Of The Comments Below
Adhesions After a C-Section
What Are C Section Adhesions? What Causes Adhesions After C-Section?
An adhesion is scar tissue that has formed after surgery. You can get c section adhesions from a previous cesarean section, or they can occur with any advanced pelvic surgery or abdominal operation. The adhesion formation following cesarean sections joins two internal body surfaces or organs that were not previously connected, or may cause organs to stick to the abdominal wall. This happens as the body heals, and the tissues or organs inside the body adhere to the other organ surface. Adhesions can occur after any surgery, but are most common after abdominal surgery, and abdominal lesions are most likely to cause complications.
Adhesion after c section has been show to happen in 24-73% of cases. Obviously therefore, a c section or multiple repeat cesarean delivery can be one of the big risk factors in adhesion development in pregnant women.
How Are C-Section Adhesions Diagnosed? Adhesions After C-section Symptoms
Do you think you may have abdominal adhesions after c section? Here are the main c-section adhesions symptoms.
- Acute pain on moving that may even be sharp and stabbing. Trouble standing up straight.
- Chronic pain – sometimes non-diagnosable pain even years after having a cesarean section.
- A swollen or bloated abdomen
- Pain during intercourse – or pain and swelling of the abdomen afterwards
- Pelvic pain
- Painful Bowel Movements
- Constipation or IBS symptoms
- Increased pain when menstruating.
- A painful scar
- Gas after c section – build up which may cause bloating or pain
Does Your C Section Scar Tissue Give Any Indication Of The Adhesions?
Scar adhesions after c section may give some indication of a problem starting to occur. Recent study research has stated that you are more likely to have adhesions if your c section scar tissue is
- raised,
- indented (i.e. you can see the scar tissue from c section pulling if you lay down) or
- dark in colour.
Although do be aware that this is not the case with my own incision scar tissue after c section. I have never had any c section scar tissue pain and I have certainly not had multiple cesarean deliveries.
My Own Adhesions After C-Section Experience
For me, the first three weeks after having a C-section were actually far better than I had expected. I’d not had a particularly long delivery time or blood loss, so had no cause to think that my experience was anything other than ordinary.
Read this post here for my post operative tips after a C-section.
I’d had to stay in hospital for 5 nights, by which time I felt that I had really started to heal. My scar seemed to be settling well, I started to be able to stand upright again and I was regaining good mobility. I put this down to staying quite active after the operation.
Of course, because of the surgery, sitting up was hard from being laid flat, but I was coping well. And then about a month after having my child I started to have some real problems. Now I can see that these were c-section adhesions symptoms, but at the time I was totally unaware.
The first thing that I noticed was that I had some real problems after eating. Straight away after eating my abdomen would swell up and be really painful. It felt like something was really pulling inside. And heaven forbid I ate anything spicy! My stomach would end up like a balloon.
At the same time I had a real back pain. But the pain would also be much worse if my stomach was painful. And my pelvis was really aching.
Is This C-Section Adhesions Back Pain?
Now, when I had been pregnant I had definitely had pelvic pain in late pregnancy (as the pelvis ligaments start to soften in late pregnancy it is common to have pelvic pain) so I just considered all this to be a side effect of my body trying to get back to normal. But after almost 3 months I went to see my doctor.
He referred me to a physiotherapist, which was (slightly) useful for the back pain, but didn’t quite address the abdominal swelling or the pain after eating.
About 4 times I visited my GP, each time saying how bad my stomach pain was and how I swelled up with food. I ate a FODMAP, gluten free and dairy free diet but to no avail. Even started eating bran fibre. I stopped caffeine, fruit and fizzy drinks. Nothing changed.
The doctors prescribed buscopan and peppermint capsules, telling me that I had developed irritable bowel syndrome after being pregnant. The tablets helped, but not much.
I went back to work after a 6 month maternity leave, and occasionally I would be doubled up in pain at work. The pain after eating was still there and occasionally it was unbearable.
I was also hoping to try again for another baby with my partner, but intercourse was painful and I would swell up afterwards. It would cause an awful lot of pain and so we stopped trying.
It was a major factor in why I am now resigned to only having one child.
I Was Really Worried.
The most concerning thing for me was the worry that it was something more serious. It may sound melodramatic, but I lost my Dad to bowel cancer when I was in my early 20s. He was only 61. What if this was something more serious?
I pushed my GP for a second opinion and thankfully a bowel cancer screening test came back negative. They also referred me to a gastrointestinal consultant.
By this time a good 9 months had gone past. I was at work, but pretty much living with constant daily pain. It would have been great to say that I was losing weight due to all this, but I wasn’t. I was so upset on one GP appointment that she declared that I was suffering from post natal depression and gave me antidepressants! She actually thought that they would help with the pain. Unfortunately they didn’t really.
My maternal mental health was really suffering.
After just over a year I was seen for an MRI scan at a local hospital. The consultant examined the images, again reassured me that it was nothing serious. But he told me what it probably was.
C-Section Adhesion Complications
He told me that he thought I was suffering with adhesions after a c-section. Until that point NO-ONE had mentioned adhesions c section may have caused!
Strangely enough, a friend of mine was also having some real issues. Like me, she had not had repeat cesarean deliveries, nor had she had any pain where c section scar is. But she started having real bowel problems after the birth of her only child in her 20s.
She had different adhesion symptoms after c section. Her experience of adhesions was abdominal pain years after c section and severe IBS symptoms that did not resolve with any treatments. She also had many endometriosis symptoms, and was finally going to have an operation to investigate the cause. She had been having these symptoms since she had had a caesarean a number of years previously.
When they investigated her pelvic floor in keyhole surgery they found lots of scar tissue which they attributed to her caesarean years before. They told her that bowel adhesions after c section were quite a common occurence. They also warned her that these dense adhesions may affect her future fertility.
It was also possible that these severe adhesions to her bowel could cause a bowel obstruction or bladder injury / tear. That there is a maternal morbidity associated with severe adhesions. Finally they told her that these were adhesions after a c-section, when no doctor had ever even mentioned this as a possible cause of all her troubles.
*Update* – this same friend is still having lots of issues several years after the keyhole surgery…
How To Avoid Adhesions After C-Section
Is there a way to avoid adhesions after c-section treatment? It may not be totally possible. There are exercises that you can start very soon after birth, such as belly breathing. But I would definitely discuss this with your health provider, physio or midwife straight away after your operation.
At the very least I just wanted this article to give people more awareness of how my primary cesarean delivery has led to adhesion pain after c section, that I wish that I had known more about adhesions symptoms after c sections so that I could have avoided all the pain myself.
How To Treat C-section Adhesions
Again, in the first instance I would ask you to go see your medical specialist, obstetrics expert or doctor. I am not a medical expert, and this post is my experiences plus my research on this topic.
Both myself and my friend were told that there was a way how to get rid of internal scar tissue after c-section. But we were warned that the adhesions would probably return. If you try and remove the scar tissue with surgery or laparoscopy, it just creates a further problem as more scar tissue comes to bind the area even more.
I have read about physio exercises that may reduce c-section adhesions pain and symptoms, and other alternative treatments, but cannot vouch for them being successful.
What Are the Long Term C-section Adhesion Complications?
I am still suffering with pain from my c-section adhesions years later. Almost 8 years on I still do suffer occasionally with abdominal bloating. I also occasionally suffer after eating spicy food, though not to the extent that I did that first year.
At the start, after about 18 months I found that the swelling and pain became far less frequent, and whilst they haven’t completely stopped, they did not affect me day to day like back then. I definitely have more diarrhoea and constipation issues. And sometimes get pulling pains in my abdominal side.
My cure has been time. I do still occasionally self prescribe buscopan and peppermint oil capsules / tablets if I do have abdominal pain. I would also say do go see your GP or obstet gynecol – as always I’m not a medic, so obviously their expertise is far greater. And every case is different.
Lots Of Women Have IBS or Digesive Issues With Pregnancy and In The Months After Birth
A further thing that the gastro-intestinal consultant told me was that a lot of women suffer with constipation and IBS problem during pregnancy and after birth. In fact, he said that being pregnant and having children can completely change the way the gut reacts.
No-one has told me this. When I was pregnant, I had suffered for the first time ever with constipation. The midwife did not really comment on this, she just asked me to stay more hydrated and gave me lactulose. But in truth I was actually drinking a lot more than normal when pregnant, as I am not normally good at staying hydrated.
Do Read Some Of The Comments Below
I have discovered since I first wrote this post 2 years ago that it really resonated with women patients from all over the world. I have subsequently had lots of really useful comments, suggestion and stories about adhesions post c section written in the comments of this post. Whilst it may not answer your questions, I would definitely say to give the comments a read that come after this post. And do add your own story, adhesions after c section symptoms or suggestion as it may be of use to someone else further down the line.
8 years on from my caesarean experience I do still suffer occasionally with tightness and some digestive issues. Gas pains after c section are real! I also suffer from back issues… which I will possibly cover in a future post, as I do think these too stem from my birth complications.
So – do you have any of these symptoms of adhesions from c section? I would love to hear your stories. Do comment below. Or connect with me on social media.
Enjoyed this? Why not read My Birth Story?
And please do pin this post about adhesion after c section symptoms and treatment for later.
This child birth fiasco is such a complicated drama sometimes! Good post. #GlobalBlogging
Thank you
I am having the same issues and to think the doctor at the ER said that it was possibly scar tissue. I thought he was crazy but this has to be it all the same symptoms.
This is crazy but I’m going threw all this right now I had a csection 3 months ago and I’m having stomach issues. I even had a colonoscopy and everything is normal.
I would definitely get back to your midwife or doctor about this!
Yes! Interesting article. I had my second emergency section 3 and a bit years ago and I suffer from strange pains and tightness especially to the right side of my scar. I can feel thick scarring underneath and it’s very lumpy on the right. Sometimes after I eat it’s really uncomfortable it feels like a bit of my bowel or intestine is stuck to the back of the scar tissue. It’s a strange feeling. Sometimes I get strange pain there if I stand up suddenly. After birth I knew the scar tissue was over laying itself and I even bought some serrapeptase supplement which is supposed to help but I never finished taking it I wish I had now as it might have worked! Just hoping it won’t get any worse than it is now.
Thank you for reading Madeleine. I’ve never heard of serrapeptase, will look and see if there is any evidence that it does improve matters.
I just had my lump removed. It was a 4 cm round mass of endometrial tissue that had adhered to my scar and the surrounding muscle.
Don’t ignore the pain, if you can feel the lump and it hurts, make someone diagnose it. A biopsy can tell you what type of tissue it is. Keep pushing til it’s better or diagnosed.
Good advice. Sadly I do not feel a lump, but am still 7 years on having issues. I think your point about keeping on at the GP or gynae is a good one.
I have all of these symptoms and pain since c section, 3 years and 8months. I’m still waiting for an investigation keyhole surgery. The doctor thinks I have developed endometriosis but I don’t have endometriosis symptoms. However the pelvic pain I’m struggling with I believe is due to the scar which seems to be adhesion.
I do hope that they resolve your issue. I am still having trouble 6 years on…
3-4 years after my cesarean I started to suffer with severe abdominal pains, always at the doctors or A&E with unbearable pains, couldn’t have sex had time off work struggled exercising and eating, I lost a dramatic amount of weight.
My worries were everything was always fine and nothing could be identified, bloods, urine, STD’s, ultrasound.
I was beginning to think I was making these “pains” up and it was all in my head, I hoped everytime the doctors would find something just so I had an answer, during investigations I was treated for pelvic inflammatory disease, IBS and told I may have endometriosis.
I was a young mum (17) so was not old enough for a smear and even with my symtoms and me pretty much begging for a smear was refused numerous times, my worry was is this cervical cancer as its been in the family.
We was trying for a baby during this time and was unsuccessful.
Eventually I had a laparoscopy 10/12/18 and they found dramatic amounts of scar tissue which had connected my ovaries to my abdominal wall and wrapped around other organs so these were separated this was 5years on.
Magically I got pregnant on 23/1/19 so this was actually the cause for my not getting pregnant.
We had our second daughter by cesarean in october 2019 and hear I am again with the very familiar pain from before but much more sooner this time only 4months in, because I have experienced this before I know exactly what it is.
Please keep pushing your GPs because if it wasn’t for me constantly asking and raising my concerns so offen I would never had it done.
Always listen to your body because no1 knows it like you do.
Thank you for sharing your story. As you say, it can be hard if the medical professionals don’t seem to want to listen. But you do know your body best. I hope you get some help this time around.
Hiya, I just wondered if you had pain/discomfort when lifting or if your child tries to climb on you? I’ve had 3 c sections and my youngest is now 3. I have only been able to exercise the last year or so. I’m wondering if it is adhesions, the discomfort is in different places but not around my scar it tends to be higher up. Thanks
I did have general pain to be honest. And it was also up under my diaphragm, not just in the area of my scar. I certainly think it is worth asking your doctor if it could be adhesions?
Mother of two, first delivery was natural, no complications. Second delivery was a nightmare. Gestational diabetes and baby was breach throughout entire pregnancy. C section was scheduled for 1 week before his due date, but baby broke water 2 weeks before due date. First pregnant was precipitous, so I knew this one would come quickly. I had a one hour drive to the hospital, but there was a car accident between us, and we almost didn’t make it. While stuck in the managed to get an ambulance.
Timeline: Water broke at 11pm, we called an ambulance mid-route to hospital who picked it up at 11:53 and got us to the hospital quickly (6 mile drive in total) baby was born at 12:20.
I knew it was going to be a csection, I was prepared for that, I knew it was going to be very different than my first, but I wasn’t prepared for the four for months of convincing doctors that something was wrong.
At the hospital I spend an extra day (amid COVID19 worries) because I physically could not get myself out of the bed without assistance.
It was not any better when I got home. 5 separate ER visits in the first month after delivery. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t eat, or sit comfortably. I definitely couldn’t get out of bed.. I was “sleeping” in a chair, with a new born.
They finally got a diagnosis: gall bladder issues. Unfortunately, gall bladder removal without an infection is considered “elective surgery,” which was on hold due to COVID19.
When I finally had gall bladder removal surgery l, they realized it was adhesions. They removed my gallbladder anyway, “cleaned up” my c section and send me home.
It’s been almost a year and I’m still not better. My csection scar looks like a midriff canyon (.. almost a year later) . I’m uncomfortable all the time. I haven’t take a full, deep breath and expanded my lungs in since 2019. And I don’t see any end to this discomfort..
Wow this really does sound like an extreme case if it is affecting your breathing. All I can say is keep on at your healthcare provider. And keep asking what they can do and why they haven’t done anything. Sadly, I do realise that COVID is having such an effect on whether people are seen and whether non-emergency treatment is provided. But you do need to keep reminding them that you are still in pain.
Thank you Karen. Part of me wishes that I’d had a natural birth, but it wasn’t to be unfortunately.
Never heard of this before. My first was an emergency C-section, ruling out my planned home birth. I was so stubborn that I was back home within 24hours of the operation. I can now see I was very lucky to have no complications. Hope that time continues to help you. #MMBC
Glad that you had no problems after your op, and thank you for reading
I having all the same issues and nothing seems to help. I’ve had a CT scan and a colonoscopy and they have found nothing. I am currently 7 weeks pregnant with my second and the pain is unbearable. Far worse than I have ever experienced. I am hopeful with a second c section they can put things back together better because this is no way to live. I’ve been told it’s IBS and to figure out how to deal with it. I have also been treated for SIBO and that seemed to help for a month or so but always comes back. Very common to develop SIBO after abdominal surgery but most doctors don’t talk about it bc it’s hard to diagnose. I plan to do another SIBO treatment after baby. You cannot treat while pregnant.
So sorry to hear this. I hope that you get it sorted with a second CS. I was also told that pregnancy can affect your digestive system, and found that my digestion has been completely different since having a child.
Thanks so much for posting this! I’ve been going through so many similar issues, to the point that I’m now 3.5years post c-section and still occasionally Google my symptoms for answers, cause I never got anywhere with the Dr’s. The list of symptoms is absolutely 100% me, and my scar doesn’t match any of those descriptions either. I’ve been told IBS (which I have had in the past, so knew it wasn’t that) or possible endometriosis, but because the only way of getting a diagnosis of endo is through laparoscopic surgery, it’s never even been entertained. There had been mention of possible scat tissue, but again obviously no way of knowing without investigation. I’m now almost a year into being back on the combined pill (last resort as I was at the end of my tether between this and constant irregular periods/spotting) and I have to say, its not completely gone away, but I do think it’s gotten better with time. I still get the odd random stabbing pain that takes my breath away, but it just seems to be one of those things I’ll have to live with. Reading posts like this and seeing so many commenting on how similar their experiences have been is both reassuring not to be alone and deeply discouraging that so many are going through these things for so long without answers. I feel like this needs to be shared with medical professionals so they can understand how powerless they make us feel when it comes to our own health. I know they can only go with what they are presented with and unfortunately quite often their hands are tied as they don’t have the time/resources, but we should never be made to feel we don’t know our own bodies or are making these things up. OK I’ll get off my soapbox now. Thanks again for sharing your experience and research and to all who have commented
I am pretty sure that we are just the tip of the iceberg. I’m sorry that you are still having trouble years on, like you I still get the odd twinge, but in the main time has healed me somewhat. As you say though, getting diagnosed was a major difficulty, and sometimes it felt as though we were not listened to.
I am currently almost 7 weeks pp after my 3rd csection. I’ve been dealing with constant abdominal tenderness. Not like you describe but adhesions are still on my mind as I’ve never felt like this before with any of mine. They did tell me at my 6 week follow up that it could be scar tissue but that we could wait on investigating in a few months to see if it gets better. Mainly I have tenderness around my lower abdomen and pen under my belly button and to the right of it. I’m hoping it isn’t a bad case and gets better with time but of course it just sucks feeling sore all of the time. I’m curious even if it is adhesions…is there really anything they can do anyway if it’s “mild” since surgery will just create more?
I would say that these questions are possibly only able to be answered by your medical professional. But as you say, more surgery may not help, as sometimes removing old adhesions just serves to create new ones, as my friend discovered. I hope that your discomfort does improve.
Ime also having the same problem Ime 6 weeks postpartum I’ve been running to hospitals since the bay is born every time I go they just give me antibiotics and send me home but I had to go a few times for them to take me and my pain serious they booked me for a scan they think it’s adhesions as it’s my third 3 section I have pain below my belly button right and left tenderness and feels so sore to press the pain radiates to my both sides of my lower back feels like strong men’s risk cramps so intense it affects me daily
It does sound like my early adhesions – hope you get sorted soon.
I’m sorry this happened to you – but well done for posting and raising awareness for anybody else who may be suffering from the same thing. GPs/hospitals can be so rubbish sometimes it’s genuinely worrying!
#itsok
Thank you. If someone else reads it and doesn’t have to go through 15 months of misdiagnosis then that’s good enough for me!
I’m 6-7 weeks in after a. Emergency c section.. I was epilating my legs last night bent over one leg and now I’ve got like a trapped wind feeling in my abdomen and it feels bruised above the incision.. is this the start of adhesions?
I think you need to discuss that with your doctor if it persists.
I’m 15 years after my second c sect. I have chronic constipation since and have asked for help from my GP too many times to count. I have tried all the Diets and all the laxatives but nothing works. Fibre, water – you name it, I’ve tried it! Just last week I finally had my answer – a gastroenterologist did a colonoscopy and he found my bowels are a mess of twists and turns – due, he said, to adhesions almost certainly from my c sects as these are my only history of abdominal surgery. There is no cure or surgery to fix. He has recommended an osmotic laxative like Osmolax – to be taken every day for the rest of my life. It’s been a week now and this isn’t working. But I’d been taking that one before in one of my many attempts to find a solution myself. I am grateful for my health children but it’s likely the coming (and past) years of this bowel disorder will impact my health and possibly length of my life. My father had bowel cancer in his 70s so I am worried about my future. I just have to learn to live with it.
I am so sorry to hear this. And do hope that the Osmolax does eventually help.
Hi Jo I would love to pick your brains.
U had my third c section 8months ago and have been getting a very painful, kinda feels tight abdomen, I do bloat a lot to. I have had pulling pains in my pelvic area ever since my first section too.
I first got the abdominal pain days after my last section. Do you think it could be adhesions?
Thanks for sharing your story
It does sound like my experience. But I would suggest that you mention this to your ObGyn, midwife or medical practitioner for it to be checked out further. If it is still going on ands giving you real issues after 8 months then it really does need looking at by the professionals.
Such a great post to raise awareness about complications following a C-Section. Both of my births were by emergency C-Section and I was shocked at how little recovery information was given after such major surgery. Most people were only interested in how the scar was healing, but there was very little focus on what was happening ‘underneath’. Thankfully, I didn’t experience the pain from adhesions you describe, but I did have discomfort and numbness from scar tissue, which I only learned how to treat after seeing a women’s health physio. Hopefully, this will change and there will be more understanding of what our bodies go through after this kind of birth and how to support ourselves to heal. #itsok.
Yes, it amazed me too. Until the practice midwife was weighing my baby a week after the birth when she commented on how well I was doing considering I’d had such a big op…!
I’m literally going through the exact same thing right now! However, I’ve suffered for over 7 years. First c section 8 years ago and second one 3 years ago. Been to GI doctors over and over. All tests normal. Headed to Gyno next week to ask about possible adhesions.
I hope that they can help. It does amaze me though that they never really discuss the possibility of adhesions!
So, I’m 2.5 years post emergency cesarean section. 9cm on arrival at hospital, to be told our baby was breach. He must have been breach the whole time. Went to dr within first 8 mths for pains in intestine area, offered buscopan. I have no issues going to the toilet other than urgency pee’ing which has only been there post birth too. Now, the aches are like pains now and intermittent. At it’s worst, pulling sensations, pain in various areas in what feels like the intestine area. The dr now said she can feel there’s dilated bits in my stomach and I’m booked for an ultrasound in 2 weeks. Will ultrasound show adhesions? It feels like there’s things in my intestine or that it’s twisted?
I would ask the ultrasound technician if adhesions can be seen, and discuss this with your ob/gyn consultant. It does sound as though you are having adhesion type symptoms, but I’m not qualified to diagnose. Do keep at your healthcare provider for answers. Hope you find a solution.
I’m so sorry you have had to go through this. I’m glad the symptoms have lessened.
Thanks for linking up to the #itok linky. Hope to see you again next week.
Thank you. It seems it it a pretty common post op complication, but not one that is ever discussed.
I’m a three time c section mama so I know the pain of adhesions very well! I have to say, I would never have even considered them to be the cause of my discomfort if it weren’t for the fact that a friend of mine (who had also had sections) had huge problems with them a few years ago. A super-helpful post for post c-section mums struggling with pain in the months after having their babies. thanks for linking up with #ItsOK xx
As well as the friend that I mention, since posting this 2 other friends have independently said that they’ve had some of the issues I did after their caesareans. Nobody had told them about this being possibly due to adhesions either. Thank you for reading
Wow, this is so intense – I hadn’t heard of these complications, so I appreciate you sharing your story.
Thank you
That sounds so painful! I’m glad to hear that it is getting better over time. #GlobalBlogging
It’s much better now. Thank you for reading!
This post was really interesting to me as I have had to have 3 sections. The first being an emergency. It sounds like I had a lucky run and sorry you have had to experience this. What strikes me is that when I have had this op 3 times no one has ever mentioned this as a possible issue. In fact apart from the threat of infection no one ever mentioned any potential issues to look out for. It is odd you have major surgery and just get packed off with a baby to look after… The same would not happen if you had any other form of abdominal surgery methinks. A subject close to my heart as you can tell. Thanks for sharing with the #DreamTeam
No, it amazes me that they send a lot of women out after just one night! At least I got wound care by being in longer!
I didn’t have c-sections with mine BUT I have experienced side effects after birth, things that have never been the same since & cause daily pain. Like you things have got better over time thank goodness! #itsok
Thank goodness! and thank you for reading.
Wow! that must have been so scary and frustrating. My wife is about to deliver our first child so I appreciate you sharing this information for everyone to read!
Thank you Ben. Hope everything goes smoothly for your wife.
LadIes there needs to be more awareness for c section recovery… especially emergency c section. I can relate to all your comments… I had an emergency c section 2016 and was re admitted shortly after because in my words had weird right sided pain….couldn’t find out why apart from saying there was some residual tissue whatever that is…. fast forward 3 years im bloated gassy the left side of my pelvis is perfect. But the right side is so painful dont even get me started on ovulation and period pain! The amount of times ive been to hospital thinking its appendicitis or ovarian torsion is ridiculous just to be scanned or given pain killers… ive had mri internal scans im severely urinally incontinent, im grateful to the hospital for saving my baby and me but my quality of life now is a joke…. ive been to the gp recently due to the symptoms to query ovarian cancer and as a result had 2 ca125 tests and normal….I dread my period im scared of more surgery as it creates more problems but I don’t want to carry on like this. I went for a scan to be told my ovary wasnt visible I asked my dr why? She said because urge probably covered in scar tissue or moved out of place… I dont know how these celebrities opt for c sections like its a trip to the dentist. Its hell!!
I just came across your article while searching for answers on why I still have excruciating, sharp pain when I change positions, 8 years after my THIRD csection. Now I’ve found that yours is not the only one to mention the IBS and digestive issues that I’ve been dealing with for several years now as well. Those issues led to gallstones and my gallbladder being removed. Three and a half years after gallbladder removal and I still have horrible digestive issues. I’m convinced I have adhesions. I’ve been to GI, had colonoscopy and endoscopy and they can’t find anything major that would be causing all my issues. Tried FODMAP with no results. Guess it’s pointless to look for the adhesions as it seems nothing can be done.
I tried FODMAP to no avail too. And at the moment it does seem as though there is no solution to adhesions. i hope that things improve.
Hi Jo and all of you!, you cannot imagine how well I understand you. I had my firt c-section 14 years ago. It was a emergency one and the recovery was relly painfull, but 15 days later I was feeling really well again and enjoying my little baby so much!. I will never forget the trip we made to New York 10 months later when everything started. I felt for the first time in my life bowel problems. I had pain, gas… and thought I had eaten something in Manhattan that caused me a small indigestion. Well, how wrong I was. The problems went on for weeks and started really worring me. Like you, there are cases of bowel cancer in my family and I was so afraid of having something serious and not being able to take care of my baby!. They checked me for everything, parasites, colonoscopy… and nothing showed. I ended up with buscapine and fiber …
And obviously the problems just went on. I changed my diet a thousand times, eliminated certain products, looked for some more natural medicines.. but nothing worked. I was terribly bloated, had diarrhea many days, my belly was just so full of gas and tthe pain after going to the toilet was terrible. Awful!. I still could enjoy my baby and even had the energy to get pregnant again. The pregnancy was so much worse than the first one. I felt everything pulling in my belly, the gas was unbearable, some days I could not stand up straight… Anyway, they recommended a second c-section and when the doctor opened my belly I will never forget his question. “But how many c-sections have you had? I thought you had only had one, right?”. I confirmed it to him and his next sentence gave me so much peace, finally I knew what had been going on with me for the past three years. He told me “You are so very full of adhesions. Your abdomen seems to have gone under 3 or 4 c-sections in stead of one”.
The surgery was very good, the recovery amazing and felt really well for 7 years. I guessed he released some of the adhesions and new ones had not formed yet. I had my health back (it was never like before having had the babies, I still got bloated very often, but it was good enough) until everything got really bad again. Gas, pain, bloating severely… one evening the pain became really bad, I also started having nausea… one hour later I was really sick… and was diagnosed with partial intestinal obstruction due to abdominal adhesions. After a few hours everything returned back to normal.
I had another one 6 months later. Now my symptoms vary very much. Somedays I feel really well, others really bad and most of them neither well nor bad. I feel something is wrong but I can put up with the discomfort quite well. They are reluctant to do anything. They do not want to open me again, not even lamparoscopy seems to be an option for me. I guess nothing is going to be done until I get a complete bowel obstruction… I don´t know.
Oh I do hope that they can find some solution for you! But will say that my friend had a laparoscopy and it didn’t really help.
Hi Jo and everyone here,
I had my first c section 23 years ago followed by next one the following year. Since then I’ve suffered so badly with abdo pain, low back pain, tearing pain if I move awkwardly, gas pains and so on.
I’ve now reached menopause and found that whilst things seemed to settle down in respect of the pain associated with periods, the constipation has caused some serious issues for me.
This culminated in me being sent for a colonoscopy to investigate what was going on. Well I thought I was going to die when they started entering the camera and push it through my lower intestine. I became tachycardic and they had to stop immediately. I’ve since been told this was caused by adhesions which confirms my diagnosis years back by a gynaecologist.
When I look back over the years of pain I’ve had it makes me sad to think how no one warned me of the complications of this type of surgery. I’m glad to read these stories and feel I’m not alone so thank you.
P
I’m sorry to hear that you had so many problems after your c-section. But as you say, we are not alone in this, and I am just glad to be able to give a voice to all those going through the same thing.
What a story! I am glad you continued to push for help. #MMBC
Oh my goodness. This sounds horrible. I’ve had 2 c-sections and have got off easily apart from a little numbness around the scar. x
I’ve been having the same since an appendix removal 6 months after my c section. Loads of tests and no one can find out what’s wrong. Makes you feel like you’re making it up! I am in very early pregnancy and in a lot of pain lower right pelvis and can’t find anything about people being in similar situations and early on in pregnancy. I’m being tested to find out what’s going on but be good to know if other people have had pain from their scar right at the beginning and it isn’t anything more serious 🙁
Possibly a second operation in that region so soon after a c-section could cause further adhesions. I would talk to your GP though. I am no expert, but as you can see, lots of others who have read this post have suffered similarly with pain and feel exactly the same about not being believed.
Reading your post has never been more timely, I just delivered my daughter via c-sec a couple of months ago and occasionally i do have some bloating and pain. I will use your peppermint oil treatment and also see my obgyn next week to see if there’s anything i should be concerned about. Thank you!
Hope these tips work!
Thanks, this is such a helpful blog!
I wanted to see if I can help some fellow sufferers with what I’ve learnt.
Some NHS trusts have women’s health physios. You can self refer to them – so no need to go through the GP. They deal with all sorts of issues including post birth prolapse, adhesions, incontinence and pain. I had no idea but since finding this out, I wish I had known before and want to tell as many women as I can. It’s such a specialist field – not all physios might realise your back pain is related to your shattered pelvic floor!
I was in a LOT of pain post C-Section but had had a long induction Labour resulting in a c-section, blood loss and of course a baby that wouldn’t sleep! I assumed the pain level was a result of all those issues and not being able to recover properly I raised concerns several times at hospital and at my 8 week check. I was told I might be “overdoing it”. I also berated myself that I must have a low pain threshold!
My physio now tells me no one should have pain 2 weeks post C section!
A year or so later my pains had just about gone. My periods were painful and heavy but something I put down to happening after having a baby. I slowly got back into exercise and particularly pilates which I now believe really helped with my recovery and pain so strongly recommend with a good teacher.
It was such a difficult time that we didn’t start trying for another baby for at least 4 years. And then of course we couldn’t get pregnant! Adhesions can cause infertility.
After a few years we eventually tried fertility treatments. I had some tests which didn’t show any issues. We were so lucky and on the 3rd round became pregnant with twins!
I carried them to 36 weeks. At times I felt like my c-section might burst but assumed it was pregnancy paranoia and a result of being so big with the 2 of them.
The surgeon was horrified when we started my c-section. He nearly did an emergency hysterectomy. My uterus was fused to my abdominals. My bladder was behind my uterus. My baby boy basically was starring back at him when he expected to see bladder and a uterus wall.
I was asked whether I was in horrific pain after my first birth? Had I had bad periods? Had I had trouble getting pregnant?
I was then told I had to sit in a chair for 3 months and recover properly. I was given a 24 hour epidural to help with the pain and decent pain killers and help to go home with.
So if you feel something isn’t right then please do raise it again and again. I know it’s hard, especially with lovey babies to look after but you are important too.
We are all very lucky to be here and knowing that this was the issue might have saved a lot of pain and heartache along the way.
There isn’t enough awareness, particularly from GPS.
2 years on from the delivery, the pain has eased. I had good help – pre lockdown – from the physio and am considering surgery when the babies are older but ideally I’ll get back to full function through exercises. Decent pain relief has been critical at times and I wouldn’t hesitate to push a GP for what you need!
Take care everyone and good luck!
Wow. Sorry to hear about all your difficulties. But what brilliant advice. Thank you for sharing this! I’m actually going to add a section in this post about reading the comments in the hope that more people read your helpful advice.
This post has been very enlightening. Luckily (I think) post myonectomy surgery to remove a pretty big fibroid that was on the outside of my uterus, I was told continued pain was likely adhesions. At the time it was mainly my hip that was painful but now 2 years later the bloating, painful bowels and sharp pains continue. It’s re-assuring that everyone else’s experience seems to point to the same diagnosis as me as like everyone else you do worry – I am beginning to think another fibroid has grown but being menopausal now they say that is not possible. Anyway I will try finding out if there is a women’s physio at my local trust in the hope that they might have a solution to the pain issue. Thank you everyone for sharing.
I feel human again after reading this post! I have had 3 c-sections, first was an emergency! After first i was fine, no issues and he is 15, after 2nd he is 8 bit bloated nothing major. But after the 3rd- OMG- from day 1 I have had bloating, diarea,stomach pain, painful intercourse, abnormal bleeding, and just above my scar I do get a hard lump. I’ve had every test done including ultrasounds and MRI, Results ‘ scar tissue’. I do try massage my tummy every day and I also take lactose, it helps with bowel movement so I’m not as gassy or bloated. I’ve cut out lots of diff foods as I felt certain food flared up the bloating( not sure if bloating is food or scar tissue related) . The irregular bleeding- my smears are all coming back normal, I did have fibroids removed last year, but that didnt stop the bleeding,so I had an app with a specialist in September and he said he sees a fibroid in my womb, so I’m going to get that removes and hopefully that solves that prob.
I really feel at ease after reading this post just to realise that I’m not alone, or imaging these symptoms.
Does anyone know if these adhesions can affect you 30 years after having your las c section.
I have just come out of hospital after spending two days in there with excruciating abdominal pain on my scar. They have done bloods, urine, scans and told me there is nothing wrong and sent me home just to take pain killers.
20 years ago I had a hysterectomy and when they operated I had scar tissue attached to my bladder and they had to cut it away.
I am just wondering if this could be the case again, I just can’t go on like this, I feel like a fake.
HELP someone x
I would ask your GP. And ask to be rerefered. As I say a lot in the comments, I needed to keep on asking, and even when it feels like a brick wall. It’s very difficult getting a face to face appointment in the pandemic. But do keep on at your healthcare provider. I hope they find out what the issue is!
Hi! Im a massage therapist studying this very thing. Adhesions form on the organs surrounding the uterus and can be broken up to some degree with massage therapy. Was this ever mentioned to anyone here or did anyone recieve massage therapy for c-section scar?
Hi Mary. No, that was never even spoken about to me personally as an option, but is certainly really interesting. Thank you for reading!
Has anyone else been offered or discussed this?
I am going for MicroCurrent Point Stimulation which is supposed to release the scar adhesions. The scientific studies on it are outstanding- everyone has positive results. And… it’s not invasive so you don’t have yet another thing to heal from.
Do let me know how you get on with this, will be interesting to see. I hope it works for you!
I’ve had 4 ceseareans over the course of 18 years and yes all your symptoms are correct! I am now pregnant with my 5th and last child. I have placenta previa with 3rd degree adhesions which is stretching my bladder during the pregnancy. Over the past 18 years being able to hold my urine was impossible and painful…. now I have answers! The adhesions bonded to my placenta which is now resulting in a hysterectomy and bladder surgery. I’m in bed rest and I feel oddly happy that I finally have answers and my wonderful doctors will fix almost 20 years of bladder incompetence. All the accidents and embarrassing moments gone! And yes I have IBS as well. I honestly believe your health is determined on which doctor you have. I’ve been to 4 different doctors and the last one caught the adhesions. Also it can only be seen with a special sonogram machine as well as a special MRI. My doctor is Dr Titan at Baltimore University hospital in Baltimore Maryland. He is well basted in his field. My journey has been long but finally I will have my body under my control. He is determined to get rid of all my adhesions!
I mean placenta previa with acreta increta and percreta
Could I just add that this can happen with any scar. Mine started from my appendix scar at age 7 I am now 60 I had them cut away years ago as they stuck things together. They couldn’t do my smear test last year as they are covering the cervix entrance.
I went to a seminar age a gym 11 weeks after my 2nd c-section for a “restore your core” seminar. I was introduced to a yoga core ball that changed dramatically how I healed after my second compared to the first.
There are YouTube videos or how to use it.
I had painful adhesions connecting to my bladder after my first and it hurt whenever my bladder became too full. And a large bar of scar tissue under my external scar.
Massage therapy help after that surgery and that magical little ball helped so much after my second. I have no pain and the pooch is slowly flattening.
Now, I think you are onto something with this. Restoring your core after a caesarean is such an important thing! But sadly, no-one seems to mention this when you have the operation here in the UK.
I had c section 10 years ago. initially I felt some pulling deep inside but I was able to move around until menopause. I gradually lost range of motion and the tightness in my scar tissue affects my walking, sitting, even sleeping. It causes my back and neck pain and lots herniations. I saw a lot of PT and MDs, no one could even thought of that. I stopped working for half year under disability. About 2 years later, I finally figured out its the scar tissues! I tried PT pelvic floor specialists, massages, only one PT in NYU Langone helped but I was told that my ovary was sticked with my abdominal wall hence so much pain and more and more scar tissues due to the constant pulling and it’s too deep to be solved by manual treatment. I am going to try laparoscopy. What happened was my OB closed the cut by stitching all the layer together. It was common practice 10 years ago. Now you can “request” stitch to be done by each layer. I still can’t believe I had to figure this out by myself. All the new patient form asks what surgery you had before, isn’t?
This makes an excellent point. I do think if you have serious adhesions like an ovary stuck then that is definitely a good reason to have your healthcare provider check things out.
C- section is so painful. My friends have a really bad experience of C-section. I just thank god again and again that I have had 2 beautiful daughters with normal and natural deliveries.
It’s so true that no one knows the pain ur suffering unless they go through the same…I was a late mum had my 1st baby at 39 3 years ago, had gestational diabetes and my waters broke very early on 9th April 2018 and spent time being monitored in hospital until I went into labour Thursday evening and had an emergency c section as I’d developed an infection my son was born 10 weeks early on Friday 13th weighing 3lbs 12oz but thankfully healthy just so small, we both had to be on antibiotics for a week and he spent a month in neonatal until he built up some weight, recovery of c section was horrendous and the baby blues kicked in omg what an emotional rollercoaster experience…fast forward only a few months I find I’m pregnant AGAIN instantly freaked out about the birth what’s goin to happen how am I goin to cope looking after my 1st born and being pregnant as my partner was at work I felt awful and depression kicked in bad, I even got proposed to that Oct and I didnt feel how i odd to have from such exciting news it was like a little person in my head was saying omg u wanna marry me I’m not good enough I’m miserable and so sharp and felt rotten and looked awful why the heck does this man wanna be with me lol. I ended up experiencing a little longer pregnancy no gestational diabetes but my gosh I looked huge like i was having twins or triplets lol, the pressure around my c section scar was sharp stung and I was getting those lightening pains in my pelvis like crazy it was making walking awkward. 1 week after suffering from a stomach bug I woke and felt odd and stood up and whoosh my waters went right in view of my partner who was only recovering from the bug too, he went to shower I got cleaned up and rang my mum to come help look after our 1st born. We got to hospital in good time, spend a good 12 hours having contractions and sooo disappointed in the gas n air as it done nothing for me (felt like was it even switched on? Lol) they basically forced me to face facts that I wasnt goin to develop from 1cm like my last baby and to get the c section started…I burst into tears as I really wanted to try natural, they said it could cause harm to my scar and I had to do what they advised. I felt everything was so overwhelming this time around getting the epidural was sharper and once on the operating table I felt anxious, I felt all the tugging and moving me about behind the screen in front of me, it freaked me out, the anethitest said he was goin to give me something to help and joked it be like a big glass of red wine, I felt no better and I could hear his tone wasnt good when he suggested the surgeon hurry on, once I saw my baby over the sheet in front me I was thrilled to see a big healthy baby boy lol but once they started moving me to the bed to go into the recovery room I disliked being touched I felt so weird sensitive like, and man I hate how ur numb for ages from ur waist down ya cant lift urself or move like u want to. I had my 2nd son on the 9th April 7lbs 12oz and just few days before his big brothers 1st birthday unbelievable. Next mornin was a nightmare I never felt such pain and discomfort on my body like it, the nurses were wanted me to move from bed to chair…the hardest task ever so much I burst into tears and begged them to let me sit on the bed dont touch me it hurt so bad it terrified me, so they let me have my pain medicine with breakfast then try again later, I got out to the chair just about. I couldnt stop crying I felt so sore and frustrated with my body this time around, I loved having my son this time in cot beside me so that kept me busy only for the nurse to come tell me they needed to take my son to Neonatal asap as he had high levels in his bloods to do with jaundice this just floored me as I felt dejavu another son goin to Neonatal, so got showered and walked like a zombie to Neonatal to visit my boy we got home 2 weeks later he needed double light therapy. It’s now 2 years 5months on since his birth and I still feel so very tender like i got an invisible rope tied tight inside me below my belly button above my scar area. Periods get intense I’m sometimes doubled with the cramps like something is goin to burst, my 2 rascal sons dont realise how sore they hurt me climbing or jumping on my stomach area, course I try not to let them near my belly but it’s hard to control a 3 and 2 year old lol. I have basically a bumbag/fanny pack like belly that horribly hangs over my c section scar and I hate seeing my reflection especially naked, intimacy is dreadful as it seems to hurt now and at times I develop slight urine infection or thrush, I have PCOS so I’m lucky I got 2 sons at all and im thrilled I do but the pains and discomfort years after is so depressing, I feel I suffer bad IBS indeed, toilet dashes when i get bad cramps, when pains get so bad i break into such a cold sweat i feel dizzy and weak and scared I’m about to black out. Us woman suffer such hell it’s unfair, pain medication is useless.
I’m 72 this year and had emergency c section with my youngest son in 1991 and I’ve also had front wall womb repair with mesh and always struggled with constipation since that time. For the past two years what started as a niggling pain in my lower right abdomen, which would seem to go upon resting has now progressed into perodical extreme pain lower right abdomen with tenderness, pain lasting sometimes 13 hours followed by projectile vomiting green fluid, shivers and sweats and then large normal bowel opening. Could this be an adhesion. I’ve had 2 normal colonoscopys although 4 polyops have been removed and gp service makes me feel, because I keep going back to them, that I’m becoming a bit of a nuisance. GP said in December that it was a tummy bug. My last episode lasted 9 hours I’ve
contacted gp surgery via online form for a face to face and they’ve offered me a phone appointment 23rd February, 2022 with a Nurse Practitioner. How are adhesions diagnosed please?
Adhesions in my case were diagnosed after I persisted in going back and getting further investigations. If you are still having issues I would keep going back to your GP, no matter how much of an irritation you are made to feel. They are there for your health, so complain if you feel like you are getting nowhere.
Oh my goodness I’m so glad I found an honest depiction of what I’m going through.
I’ve been traipsing the internet trying to find a human article to explain what is going on with my body.
I’ve just been diagnosed with adhesions and I’m having surgery as it’s causing me a lot of problems. This symptom list is everything I have been having so I’m hoping to finally have hope after the chronic pain I’ve been experiencing.
Unfortunately surgery is my only option as it thick adhesions. Xx
I do hope that it resolves for you. But I have been told that surgery to correct adhesions may only lead to more adhesions. I am actually suffering again with my own issues and am going to do a follow up post to this one!
I had heard that is a possibility. Unfortunately I have no choice but to have surgery as it’s caused quite a bit of damage and possibly causing bowel and digestion issues.
I’ll keep an eye out for your update. I’m sorry you are suffering again xx
Oh again I do hope that this resolves all that for you.x
2019 I had emergency C-section
2020 ended up in hospital with sever abdominal given morphine, in the space of an hour I was told kidney stones gallstones, pregnancy (was not pregnant) ectopic pregnancy (was not pregnant) and a miscarriage discharged with no answers.
2020-2022 occasionally get sharp abdominal pains on and off but can last from minute, days and weeks non stop get worse each time.
2022 was admitted into hospital again told was “stress IBS” and lack of vitamin D put on 40,000 units once a week the day after first taking these I was back in A&E with non stop sickness and was unable to keep fluids down as my body went into shock from the amount of vitamin D that I had to take so they reduce it to 4,000units everyday for 7 weeks which I refused.
2019-2022 high ALT (liver function) test results but have decreased to nearly normal level.
Today (06/09/22) phone call 1 month after discharge more blood tests on my liver (yet again) still no answer been going round in circles no drs seem to listen to me at all.
Reading this post has and realising how much I relate to everything in the symptoms! When I speak to my drs next I will be bringing this up!! And I might finally get close to having answers!
Thank you so much for your account, I always advise pushing for those answers!
Wow! I’m going through this. Two emergency c-sections one in 2000 and 2008. I’ve had abdominal pains for years, yes also been diagnosed with IBS but this has settled somewhat with diet management. I was finally referred for a scan to investigate the pains in august 2022. They found a pocket of serum within the scar tissue. I’m now under a specialist who has requested an MRI. Living with chronic pain is difficult when there’s nothing to see
I hope that they find what is causing the issue. I have just decided to try and completely eliminate any other causes that they can blame it on.
I am 8 months post c-section. I have been experiencing the most excruciating pain after eating. Usually pretty quickly. My doctor first looked at me describing all this like I was crazy. I know for sure that certain foods set off my stomach. (Never before pregnancy) but now I cannot have things like peanut butter, grapes, or bananas because super quickly my stomach starts bubbling and I’m in a fetal position on the floor. I also get super warm, break out in a rash on my face and neck, and when the pain is severe I puke like 5 times in a row. It’s really depressing me because it’s a gamble to eat anything pretty much. I never know what’s going to send me over. There’s been a few times where I feel shortness of breath when I go through these episodes. I’ve gotten an abdominal ultrasound and CT scan and they say everything looks normal. My scar is still pinkish and very bumpy. I know it’s all related to surgery but I can’t place exactly what.
Do push for answers! My problem was that I really didn’t question enough, and just took it that my GP knew what the issue was. 8 years on I am still suffering from a lack of answers and feel more should have been done earlier.
It’s really unfortunate that I think i might have some similar issues ! My c section scar is normal but I still feel like my bowels are weak and have extreme constipation! As well as indigestion issues is been a year since I had my wonderful baby girl and still dealing with not being able to do number two and feel good about it. I tried digestive enzymes, probiotics and prebiotics all seem to not help my body be 100% and of course no one warned me, please if you guys have any good advice let me know
My advice would always be to ask for a referral. My GP told me nothing about GI disturbances after pregnancy, the specialist told me that after having a baby most women have some degree of digestive issues. When you think about it it is understandable, as when we are pregnant all the bowels get pushed aside, up and squashed! Ask to see a specialist.
Wow reading this has made alot of sence to what i have been through since having my first c-section 5 years ago(now ive had 3) i thought i had just developed a bit of ibs. It can be really tough some days! I also have to avoid eating certain foods as 3 times eating the same thing seperate occasions i was in so much pain honestly felt like i was having contractions (i wasnt even pregnant) I even ended up in a&e once it was that bad! I felt like i couldn’t leave the house some days (i didnt have a choice had to do school run and would be shaking on the way home just to try and get to a toilet asap!). Ive been to my doctor a couple of times about it but all i get back is you have gastric problems then they do nothing else to help me….
Yes, I really do think that we are left to flounder after having a c section. I have recently discovered new abdominal exercises that could help – and they are gentle enough to start a couple of weeks after birth, but it is wild that all this isn’t even spoken about after major surgery.