Hi my name is Angela and I am 47 years old. I had an abdominal hysterectomy on the 9th of May this year, but kept both my ovaries. My incision is approx 20cm long (on the bikini line) as I had a large uterus from many fibroids). I m still in the early days of my recovery. However, in my 4th week of my recovery I was starting to feel normal. I could walk around & my abdomen didn t feel as swollen or tender as the 1st few weeks. So on the Thursday I decided to go into town & see a couple of art exhibtions. I didn t drive or walk much as I got public transport & its a short walk to the train station & to the art gallery. Plus I managed to sit where I could at the gallery so I wouldn t over exert myself. However on the Friday night (6th June) I had very runny diarrhea which I thought was unusual. I have been using stool softening agents & laxatives in the early weeks to help with bowel movement and then weaned off them. My last laxative was on Wednesday (4th June) and had loose bowel movement Wednesday night. I was fine all day Thursday & Friday, but then Friday night my bowel movement was very runny & I passed alot of diarrhea. It was only one toilet sitting. I had also done some stretches early in the night (bending forward & touching my toes) to stretch my back & hamstring muscles as I had been sitting alot. That Friday night I didn t sleep well. The right side of my abdomen felt very uncomfortable (the right side near the ovaries has been the most sensitive since post op. I ve had a burning tingling sensation since the post op). Then when I woke up in the morning the right side felt worse. It felt inflammed and I had a slight pulling/tingling sensation. Saturday night my right side felt more swollen, then Sunday my whole abdomen felt swollen/inflammed/puffy, especially around the stitch line (bikini area) and around the pubic bone area. It s now Monday and my abdomen & pubic bone area still feel swollen/inflammed. I feel it more when I turn in bed, get up out of my chair or bend over. It feels really puffy & fluidy. Would you have any idea what it could be? I ve read up about Incisional hernias & Diverticulitis. Could I possible have the symptoms of one of these OR an infection? Also I have to tell you that 7 days after my surgery I came down with a really bad cold and I was coughing & sneezing alot. Plus my nose was very running. I was producing alot of mucus so I had to blow my nose constantly. This lasted for 14 days. I m worried I have strained my abdomen. I hope you can give me some indication on what is happening to my abdomen. I have booked in to see my GP this week, but thought a medical professional here might be able to give me some insight too.