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Being housebound
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03-07-2003, 12:58 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 227
Hysterectomy: March 24th, 2003
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Being housebound
My doctor suggested that I may be able to return to work after 2 weeks. At first I thought, cool, I won't have to miss much work. Then, after reading the many recovery posts on this site, I really examined what the doc said - " you MAY be able to return to work after 2 weeks" He did NOT say " you WILL be able....".
So now that reality is starting to sink in and I know that yes I MAY be able to return to work after 2 weeks, the likelihood is that I will be off work longer than that.
I am such an active person, I work out of the home at least 50 or more hours a week and am on the go constantly, with errands, social groups, professional groups, shopping, gardening, household projects, grandkid events, etc.
During the past 2 months I have been mostly housebound (for me) because of heavy bleeding. I've basically just been going to work, except for 2 or 3 outings. I'm already going half stir crazy and if it wasn't for my computer and especially this site and the chat room, I know I'd go mad.
Now since the big realization set in, I'm kind of panicking about having to be even more inactive. I'm not so good at being a princess, perhaps.
Thanks for being there HS
ConnieW
TAH/BSO scheduled for 3/24/03
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03-07-2003, 01:05 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 47
Hysterectomy: January 28th, 2003
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Being housebound
Please listen to your body before you try to go back to work in 2 weeks. The Dr saying you may be able to return is his/her way of saying we'll see. I am returning to work 3/11, which is 6 weeks to the day of my surgery. All in all I feel good and am thankful for an uneventful recovery. However, I am still sore but am looking forward to going back. Like you I am an active person and could not imagine being "out of the loop" for 6 weeks. But for the first 4 weeks I really didn't care if I was in the loop or not-just concentrating on recovering. Good luck with your surgery and recovery!
Lisa
TAH/BSO 1/28/03, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adhesions, scar tissue
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03-07-2003, 01:29 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 6,053
Hysterectomy: February 5th, 2002
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Being housebound
Hi Connie
As hard as it may be, you will have to keep reminding yourself that taking it easy for a while is the best thing for you.
For me personally, I wouldn't have been back at work at two weeks. I literally was a couch potato for the first two weeks. I got out of bed in the morning, took a shower, then had to take a nap to recover from it.
There was also brain fog - I couldn't concentrate on anything, couldn't even read a short magazine article for a couple of weeks. I was cleared to drive at two weeks, but mentally I didn't feel up to it.
I was a little stir crazy at 4 weeks, but I don't work in the winter and my mother came every day to keep me in line.
At 5 weeks I went to a trade show with DH, wiped me out totally, I slept for 2 days after.
And as late as 6-8 weeks there were still days when I had to take a nap in the afternoon.
We all heal differently, and I had a very easy and uneventful recovery. I'm glad you are thinking you may not be ready to go back at 2 weeks!
Best wishes!
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03-07-2003, 01:39 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 81
Hysterectomy: February 5th, 2003
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2 weeks is too soon
I agree with Lisa, as active as you have been, you will probably find yourself just concentrating on recovery for at least 4 weeks.
I have always been very active with my job, my friends, my garden, my children, my church, etc. When I found out I would have a 6 week recovery I originally thought, "oh good! I can scrapbook, I can quilt, I can do genaology, I can catch up on all those sit down things that I haven't had time to do" HA! was I dillusional!
What I didn't count on was #1 the first couple weeks I would be still under some of the effects of the anesthesia, and the next couple weeks sitting up for long periods to do all these things would be a difficult. Believe it or not sitting up--at the computer or at the table doing scrapbooking is an activity!
I have done a little bit of all these things, but to go back to work--I don't think so!
Many of us do get anxious to get out and about, and have an outing of some kind, only to be wiped out afterwards.
One thing I have noticed is that after the initial visits, cards, phone calls, meals brought in, people tend to leave you alone--they get back to their regular lives and just forget that you are still stuck at home. I'm finding I have to reach out to people, to let them know that I'd like their company in small doses.
I know that I did the same thing, but will remember now and make sure I keep in touch with those friends and family recovering from major surgery.
Hope this helps you out. I'm sure other sisters will be along to say much the same thing.
Jo
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03-07-2003, 01:57 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 29
Hysterectomy: March 25th, 2003
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Being housebound
My doctor said that the "surgical" recovery time is usually about two weeks, in other words, you could technically return to work at that point with limitations. But he also said the reality is that most women need about 6 full weeks to recover. He told me that while I might feel good in the morning, I would most likely hit a wall by noon.
Good luck with your recovery.
Bonnie
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03-07-2003, 02:06 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 17
Hysterectomy: November 22nd, 2002
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Being housebound
I was back to work 17 days post op from a TAH. My doctor told me also I might be able to go back to work that soon so that was my mind set from the beginning. I am very active and can not sit still. I always have something I can do. I did no laundry, housework, vacumning (I haven't touched the vacumn since Nov 21, HMM wonder how much longer I can get away with it )
I did fine the other girls in my dept are very understanding and stood behind me and played police and yelled at me for every little
I did. I went home and was asleep by 7:00 everynight.
If I had it to do all over again I would not change a thing in my recovery. I do not think everyone is capable of being able to do this but I do feel if you feel up to it and are able to go for it. It's your body and their is no rule of thumb "Because everyone heals at the own rate. " Good luck
Britt
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03-07-2003, 03:23 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 477
Hysterectomy: July 17th, 2002
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Being housebound
Dear Connie,
(((Hugs))) to you,sweet lady. I know this is going to be a rough time for you, being so active and all, but remember that you've been limited by just female problems as of late. I had a tah,bso with cervix removed for endo, adeno, fibroids, and other stuff,work on my feet alot, had some complications in the hospital a rough recovery, so I didn't return to work until 7 1/2 wks. postop, and even then, it was really tough. Just realize this is major surgery and all major surgeries take at least 6=8 weeks for recovery enough to start functioning again. It actually can take 6=12 months to fully recover from all the internal stuff. Please be realistic in your expectations, know that you're gonna need help at home for about 2 wks postop, get that lined out, know you're probably gonna be home for at least 4 wks if not longer, have things lined out at home you can do to keep you busy, reading, puzzles, work from office (if that's possible), computer time, time with your kids (if you have them) and rest,naps,easy walks around the house, lots of fluids, good nutrition, etc. We have been there, done that, all of us heal at different rates, so please be prepared, sweet lady. You may be ready in 4-6 wks postop, which is unusual, but then, it may take 6=8 wks postop, even with a vaginal hysterectomy, it still takes time. The abdominal one you have the incision, but the vaginal one has many more internal stitches inside, which is rough,too. You will feel so much better after healing and wonder why you didn't have this done long ago, but during recovery, lots of things go through you mind. Take care, prepare for anything, including more time off than 2 wks., even if your boss pressures you, remind him/her this is major surgery, takes time to heal and you want to recover right so you will be up to par. Sometimes when you do things too quickly, you pay a big price, go backwards, have more pain and maybe complications. I care about you. I'll be thinking of you, praying for you. God bless. Keep us posted on how things go and your surgery date.
DebraDeeH
this is my opinion;always get medical advice from a doctor
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