Gas and bloating after intestinal surgery?

I had a couple procedures done a couple weeks ago (sigmoid colectomy, and reversal illeostomy) on my abdominal region, and now, a couple weeks later, my intestines continue to gurgle and rumble and build up gas like nobodies business. It gets to the point that my stomach gets distended, and the pain from it spreads to my back. I know that excess gas is a side-effect of intestinal surgery, but I was wondering how much longer should I expect this to go on? I'm eating sort of regularly, though not nearly close to normal, and I've pretty frequently been nauseas lately.

Anyone have any tips on when things might start to get back to normal? I'd appreciate it greatly.

That is a hard question to answer. A certain amount of gas is normal. It basically depends if the gas is making it through your bowel and getting out okay. If after your two weeks, your abdomen is getting distended to the point you can tap it like a drum, and feel it resonate, then its not normal. You may have a partial blockage. Your diet may need to be changed first, then if that doesn't work they may need to do a follow through gastrograffin study.

If you are passing gas (farting up a storm), thats good.. just see your doctor on your scheduled appointment date.
If you can tap your belly and hear it resonate like a drum, go see your doctor earlier for a checkup.
If you start passing blood in your stools or stop passing gas entirely, go to the ER for evaluation.

I wish I had some good news for you, but in my own personal experience . . . I had a c-section 10 months ago and I still get really bad gas pains from time to time. For the first month or so I would have bad pains that hurt all the way into my chest and thought i was having a heart attack! Mine usually gets worse at night so i really watch what i eat. Try to avoid fried foods or anything that you already know makes you feel worse. You might need to talk to your doctor and maybe he might have some suggestions.

Try some Gas X or something similar.