Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 6/8/2007

Question
HI I have searched the internet and also called my doctor and no luck.  I just had umbillical hernia surgery and I am so bloated from the gases building up from being put under.  What can I take to relieve this horrible bloating.

Answer
I doubt it's the gases from being put under (unless the case took a very long time). Depending on how big the hernia was (and how much bowel manipulation there was), the more likely cause is ileus (bowels temporarily stop working). This is common and the best thing for it is to move around. There are no medicines to take. As long as you are passing gas, you are OK. If you stop, then see your surgeon.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston