How do you know if you've done too much?

I just read the post-article on doing too much and causing irreparable damage. But how do you know whether you've done too much? I feel like I've been pretty good. Suffered a big setback during the first week when the minute I felt better I decided to clean the house. But I quickly learned that was not smart and took it easy. I had a few laughing fits that felt like my guts were being ripped out (laughing, coughing, sneezing--very painful) and I did the stairs more than I should.

It's about three weeks now and I still feel pain. Better every day, but I have all those stabby, achey, sore, pulling sensations other people are talking about. Tried to go for a walk yesterday and started really feeling uncomfortable after about 15 minutes of walking. Paying for it today. Is that okay? How do I know if I'm good?

greenie -

As you are recovering some aches and pains ate normal. Signs of overdoing it could include:

Bleeding after increasing activity, especially if you haven't been spotting or bleeding

Extreme fatigue after increasing activity

Stabbing pains after adding new activities especially if they included things like moving or carrying heavy things.

I am hoping other members will come alomg with their experiences.

:hearts;

Thank you. Yah, I did have some bleeding that week and I know I did too much, but overall I think I'm good. That article (the one in the articles section) really scared me, the bit about if you overdo it you form adhesion that take on a life of their own. After I read it, I thought, geez, how do you know if this happened? And why don't the doctors tell us this stuff and more strongly caution against it. Hopefully it's rare.

I want to know this too! I'm always kind of scared...how much IS too much? But then I also don't want to form blood clots because I slept about all day.

Greenie -

If adhesions form, from what I understand, you will start to feel the pain more as a constant thing because your organs are fused together. Or certain movements might bring sharp pains.

Your body should tell you if you overdo it. In early recovery things like gentle walks, light housework (there are articles in post-op on menu on what that is) an drinking plenty of fluids are the right things to do.

Your Dr. should also have given you some guidelines. If you look in the Video menu (upper right under the tabs) I believe there is is a video from one Dr. (actually the nurse) that talks about their recovery procedures. You might want to check that out.

Also check out the hysterectomy checkpoints for your week of recovery.

Glad to have found this post... Was about to start a thread on the same topic. I'm particularly sensitive because I am an adhesion veteran. Was diagnosed 2 years ago with adenomyosis and hyst was recommended. Delayed it because it felt so major and, quite frankly, I was petrified. 6 weeks ago I started having acute and debilitating pain on the right side of my abdomen. After many tests and exams, my ob/gyn urged me to have the surgery so she could also look around. When she got inside, low and behold I was full of adhesions, likely from having my gall bladder removed 6 years ago.

As much as I was uncomfortable post op, I could immediately feel the improvement upon waking from surgery. One week post op and I was feeling so great, I started walking a bit, doing light household chores and working from home on my laptop. I'm two weeks post op tomorrow and I'm worried i've increased activity too much.... I haven't exactly been perfect with the no bending, taking it easy directions.

I haven't had bleeding since day 3 post op. But the last few days I feel that familiar tugging, sharp pain, and gloating. I'm putting myself on lockdown tomorrow but am worried i've Idone too much already. Or are those feelings just the normal part of recovery and my body's way of saying "slow down sister"?

Hello Ladies. I so enjoy this site, thankyou for all your questions and responses. I too was wondering if ive done internal damage by doing too much as well. I have watched the videos of dos and donts and been reading lots in here on how to take care of myself and ive tried to be careful and walk lots, drink lots of water and prune juice trying anyway, cuz before my surgery i had hard time drinking water, but the first week post op wow i couldnt believe it as i couldnt stop drinking water, which was very good thing as i was sooooooo thirsty all the time and actually had no prob drinking water..and i too had a hard time not bending, so that was one of my big no nos that i found out coupleweeks post op, so ime hoping i didnt hurt myself. as yeah the things that could happen are concering so now ime trying to squat and use different movements when i have to bend over, which is comical when i have to do it...so for now what i try to keep in mind is that ime still in early recovery and i only have this one chance to heal right the first time which ime taking head to when i first read that in here its definitely fore front in memory...Peace be with you all