post-op, first update, 1 week and 1 day

hi Sisters out there!

I am fairly new to this website but have found it incredibly helpful and comforting....

I am 1 week and 1 day post-op for a TAH (total, abdominal)...plus the Dr. took out my appendix as she said there were signs of endometriosis on it....

She removed 1 large fibroid growing on the outside of my uterus connected with a stalk....both ovaries had cysts/endo as well as endo on my tubes...

I had an ablation 5 years ago, trying to save everything, but both endo and fibroids grew back and have caused alot of pain....

My stay at the castle was 3 nites....way longer than I anticipated...

I opted for a spinal because of adverse reaction to general...but he put something in it to sedate me and I slept thru the whole thing...

recovery: not as groggy, but lots of pain, and the spinal wore off very quickly; had to go on a moraphine drip for 2 days....

day 1 - vomiting and nausea the first nite; couldn't get out of bed; couldn't eat anything;

Day 2 - lots of vomiting and nausea; could only sit up; liquid diet;

Day 3 - went off the morphine to pain pills; still some nausea; started eating solids; started walking, had shower, started feeling like I would actually live but very very sore!....

Day 4 - walking, showered, got discharged; had a 2.5 hr. drive home - it was hell!...the Dr. on call for the weekend didn't issue any painkillers; found T-3's at home to get me thru the first couple of days at home...

I am now 1 week and 1 day....the first few days at home were rough; hard to walk without being hunched over....hard to get in/out of bed, BM's were painful....hard to sleep....hot flashes started....taking alots of advil and tylenol...

yesterday and today I've noticed I'm walking straight, I can sit up easier, I have a bit more energy, I'm eating more, taking less advil/tylenol....

however, I really did not realize how major this surgery is and it has seriously knocked me on my ***; I have my own consulting business and there is no way I am ready to go back to work anytime soon!...I can sit at the computer for about 1/2 hr. at a time, at the most....

My family is very supportive; it is hard to ask for help all the time; it is also hard to not over-do it; BUT I do not want to injure myself, tear, etc......I know it will make the healing process longer....

I thought I would be outside walking by now, and my recovery is slower than others that I am reading about, so I'm somewhat discouraged.....

In terms of how I feel today:

- bladder is still somewhat sensitive; going a bit more often; it is tender;

- BM's are also tender....

- can feel my insides - they feel sore, esp. on the left side, probably because of appendix also being removed;

- can feel top of vagina - feels sore

- hot flashes - several a day, but they don't last long

- nite sweats - blankets are on and off alot

- taking melatonin to help me sleep


I don't think I know all of the 'lingo and acronyms' of this website yet, so bear with me!

I hope my info is helpful to others; your stories are great and I'm so happy I found this website...

all the best,

Rona from Canada

Hi Rona

I know what you mean about the surgery knocking the stuffing out of you!

But you seem to be doing pretty well to me 1 week and 1 day post op :-)

After the first week I seemed to notice a change in how I felt every other week. There would be huge steps forward that had probably gone on daily but comparing to 2 weeks before helped me see it.

Just wanted to offer some encouragement & hugs!

Katy

I am still shocked at how I feel. I had my op on the 13th so almost 3 weeks ago, and its been a hard slog up till now. It amazes me that we are expected to be back at work in 6 weeks after a TAH, that would leave me just 3 weeks left. Miracles would have to happen in that time. Fortunately for me as I work term time it would almost take me up to the last week or 2 of term and being a school (boarding) matron, they are the busiest days, so I wont be going back till about 5th of Jan. phew

Rona, don't be hard on yourself by comparing your abilities with others, we are all so different and I imagine the reasons that brought us to the stage vary medicly so much that must influence a lot, and besides, we are all of different sizes, strengths, ages too. I use the information of others as a guide only to check my progress.

Look after yourself

Claire