6 weeks out today

Hystersisters,
I just wanted to say that it's been six weeks since I had a TAH and I wish that I could report that I am ready to go back to work on Friday! Sadly, I am terrified. I have done a couple of half days and came home in huge pain and collapsed afterward. I feel guilty because when I am at home alone, all I want to do is lie down or sleep. If I go run errands or do the shopping I immediately have to rest when I get back. My incision still hurts, (but I had a tummy tuck at the same time so it is bigger than normal) and swelly belly is a major reality especially after four o'clock pm. I still take pain pills occasionally and have difficulty with BMs, still taking milk of mag to help with that. I still can't wear my jeans or pants comfortably, though luckily I wear scrubs to work. Some one who is farther down the road to recovery please tell me your great experiences, how much better you are feeling now!!
On a more positive note, I can walk without as much pain, I am able to get up and down without preplanning, and getting in and out of the car is not quite so painful. Oh, I have just started sleeping on my side again, so that's good too....
Jasmine T; TAH on 5-19-05 for endo; uterus weight 194 gm with adenomyosis throughout.

Jasmine-
Dont fret, you are still early in your recovery, and it will get easier to do the things you struggle with now. I am now a year post-op, and althogh I still have some hormonal things to figure out, each and every day, the surgery becomes more distant. The feelings of utter fatigue, have been replaced with a couple days a month of feeling *tired*. If your body is telling you to rest, then this is what you must do, your recovery is more important than dust bunnies, and floor sweeping. Take the time to heal ,all the time you need, you must! We only get one chance to heal right, make it the best.
I had days that you are having, wanting to sleep, and rest, and my DH convinced me that is what I needed to do. I am glad that I listened to my body and did not attempt to overdo, although it was very frustrating to watch the world go on around me.. I looked at it this way............ For a short time, and only a short time, I will be a spectator in the game we call life, but when I get my bearings back...... LOOK OUT!!!!!

huge healing hugs
snickers

Hi Jasmine,

Snickers pretty much covered it! Good job, Snickers!

Please don't try to rush this recovery, 'cause it ain't gonna happen! I will be 4 mo. next wk, and I can truthfully say that I know I have a long ways to go...but, in comparison of the 1st month and now....tremendous improvement! It seems that I can now notice improvement week to week, but usually try to measure each month and look back on how much better I feel.

Don't feal guilty about your recovery - you need to take it one day at a time, rest when you need to, and don't worry about what other people think. Even though we can return to work at 4 - 8 wks, our bodies are still healing inside and will continue to heal for 6 mo to a year. Take care!

I am also six weeks (5/17) and feeling a bit frustrated. I was recovering very well and thought I would feel great by six weeks. But I guess I hit a plateau. I am not much better than I was at week four. I feel pretty good, but still limited. The most annoying thing is that I cant tell when Im overdoing until I start paying for it later! My intestines are still a bit grumbly - with hemorrrhoids that is not a good thing. Even with the stool softener it is like passing broken glass.
Such lovely problems...