Recovery Progress Reports for Hysterectomy dates Jul 09-Jul 15,2012

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Originally Posted by noni422 Had to reply to this post.... was sent home with 30 percocet 5mg tabs 2 weeks ago. I called the Dr. office the next week and was told I couldn't get a refill unless I came into the office (30 miles away). Too tired and sore, so waited until my followup a few days later. Dr. had a difficult time giving any more (only 20) because she stated most women just don't need them. Seriously? I'm a nurse and taking care of patient's pain is very important in their healing process! I really felt bad for asking for more. Ice packs help and Ibuprofen is okay. Maybe this is a good thing so I don't overdo it! Happy healing to everyone!

Makes me sad to read this. Hate that you were made to feel badly for asking for what you need... and you're a nurse! Sounds to me like you probably would have kept yourself in check from what you'ver written. You didn't need the judgement on top of all we have to deal with. Just sayin'!

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Originally Posted by noni422 Had to reply to this post.... was sent home with 30 percocet 5mg tabs 2 weeks ago. I called the Dr. office the next week and was told I couldn't get a refill unless I came into the office (30 miles away). Too tired and sore, so waited until my followup a few days later. Dr. had a difficult time giving any more (only 20) because she stated most women just don't need them. Seriously? I'm a nurse and taking care of patient's pain is very important in their healing process! I really felt bad for asking for more. Ice packs help and Ibuprofen is okay. Maybe this is a good thing so I don't overdo it! Happy healing to everyone!

Are you sure we don't' have the same Dr? Mine only ordered oral meds after surgery - I was at least at a 7 when I got out of recovery and they had to track her down to get an order for something more than the oral norco because I also had a little nausea.

Then after that part was under control the norco wasn't doing diddly-squat for pain. They tracked her down to change the timing of the meds - she gave me norco every 6hrs only. She refused to change it. The nurses were great though and alternated ibuprofen and the norco every 3 hrs and that really started to help me. I felt like I was doing lamaz (sp?) breathing due to the pain till they got it in check.

Sometimes I feel like my mother and want to wish on them that they have a major surgery like us and then take only what they order us and see how they feel. They make us feel like wusses to need help.

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Originally Posted by Km578 For those of you with restless legs - I haven't tried this yet, but my aunt said to put an unwrapped bar of soap under the fitted sheet. Doesn't matter the type of soap. Have no clue what it's supposed to do or how it helps but her lady friends swear by it. I'm going to try it tonight, can't hurt anything.

I do this for leg cramps, and I know it works for that - don't have RLS too often, and maybe that's why! I use any bar of soap that I've gotten from a hotel - doesn't matter what size, brand, scent. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by pinigri I hate that! I've gotten a lot of the same lectures. It's true as far as constipation is concerned, the pain meds don't help but if you have major pain, you don't move and we must move (at least a little) everyday!!! Also I have musculoskeletal issues so I know all about how pain builds. If you don't get ahead of it, if you let it get bad without treating it, it's that much harder to get it under control. People who abuse pain meds make me so mad bc then people like us who need to use these meds have to fight the stigma! I'm weaning myself off the pain meds now bc I feel ready but I'm still taking a decent amount of hydrocodone and ibuprophen. I don't feel badly about it at all. I'm coping with the constipation and it doesn't seem like I have a whole lot more trouble than most. I know I can't heal if I'm paralyzed with pain.

Chasing the pain just makes it harder to heal - controlling it is a lot more empowering!

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Originally Posted by jd51 I do this for leg cramps, and I know it works for that - don't have RLS too often, and maybe that's why! I use any bar of soap that I've gotten from a hotel - doesn't matter what size, brand, scent. Good luck!

I will be trying this tonight and see what happens. As I said originally, can't hurt anything. And if it stops me from maybe having to take another pill for another thing I'm happy. I've had this occasionally over the years, a couple times a year probably, but since surgery this is craziness! I'm excited to try it

Day 14-I'm also going to try the soap tonight for the restless legs. The tingling/burning pain seems worse above and below my incision. So sensitive! Still more low back pain today even though I haven't done much May all of you sleep well tonight. Better days ahead I know

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Originally Posted by Sunloverdee22 Day 14-I'm also going to try the soap tonight for the restless legs. The tingling/burning pain seems worse above and below my incision. So sensitive! Still more low back pain today even though I haven't done much May all of you sleep well tonight. Better days ahead I know

hehe lots of us will be playing footsie with soap tonight it sounds like. I have my bar in place just waiting to be sleepy enough to go to bed.

My back has been achie-er then normal too, I attribute it to the lack of activity. I've had back issues in the past and this doesn't feel like that at all. My usual fixes I don't want / can't do just yet, lots of stretching and being the water helps me a lot. Sigh.

I'm starting to consider getting a massage before long. I haven't had one in SOOOO long and I'm sure even a good leg and back massage would really do wonders for the overall aches and stiffness from lack of activity.

It is easy tto over due it with pain meds. Ice pack was my best friend, its cooling soothing and helped me to relax. I refused to come home with percocet but that is just my own personal preference. Right now I find that my pain is gas pains. My bowels are moving better but still very busy so now I notice when I have pain its gas. Drinking prune juice, eating raisins and bran cereal has worked fantastic for me. The doctor said my intestines were stuck to $y extre$ely large uterus so I'm sure that along with the gas they filled me with for the procedure is causing my pain but I have not taken pain meds for 3 days and I was only taking motrin once a day. Thankfully I'm doing well with laying flat on my back when I feel discomfort I just lay down and get pressure off $my belly. I really hope you all feel great soon. As some-one else said listen to your body. Rest when you need to and get up and move. I'm trying to give myself a morning, noon and night walk of whatever distance I feel up to, no set standards. Good Luck! Anyone need to chat or vent I'm here. Positive attitude is important of course vbut sometimes we don't feel exactly positive for that moment and its good to just let it out so you can be after that. Hystersister Love, Mia

13 days post-op. 2 weeks ago now, I was getting checked in for surgery.

Really bad night of insomnia. Had tried Benedryl rather than Ambien last night and it didn't help. Down to about 3 hours of sleep. Not that much pain, but even taking a low dose of Ibuprophen brought back a backache for a while. Having warm flashes. However we did have a bad thunderstorm from 3:30-4am, so that didn't help.

I felt really well most of yesterday and did a little walking, but then collapsed late in the day. Only real issue was it was a very gassy day.

Cellutis continues its slow improvement. Wound continues to need new dressings 3-4 times a day. No fever.

We will have out-of-town friends staying with us tonight, so it'll be nice to have the company.

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Originally Posted by MrsJennifer Hi All! I had my 2 week post op appointment today and, because I am a glutton for punishment, I went ahead and had my mammogram as well! WHAT??? I know, I know! I've been putting it off since I got the orders back in February. I'm a teacher so I had to make sure I had everything taken care of before I head back to school on the 20th. Plus, I was there at the hospital to see the doc anyway so what the hey! The doctor did NOT do an internal exam, but looked at my tummy and felt the small incisions in my belly. She said all looked good. I can swim, but only recreationally, and I can continue walking as much as I want as long as I don't feel I'm pushing myself. Clitoral stimulation is okay, but no intercouse, of course. I'm really tired - pooped out today. It's been a long day and I'm going to open a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine and only drink one glass. Maybe my hubby will drink one too, I doubt it. It'll keep in the fridge for tomorrow I suppose. I wish I could invite y'all over! Have a wonderful evening and take good care of yourselves. Oh! I did ask her if my belly was still swollen or if I've been eating too many desserts. She ASSURED me that it was still swollen so I feel a bit better about that! Tomorrow I go for a massage - I can lay on my belly and my back is so sore that I'm so ready for it! Have a pleasant evening! Jen OH! MrsMia41 - that's about where my blood pressure always is. I usually run a little low but I've been told it's on the low side of normal - that's a bit where I live my life as well! HA HA!

Cheers Jen! I will be having some wine tonight. It is my husband and my anniversary and my 2 week post op.
Go to the doctors tomorrow for my 2 week check up. Feeling pretty darn good! Hopefully I can do more then just walk!