Tired and very emotional

I had my surgery 4 weeks ago and I went back to work fulltime this past Tuesday. At the end of the day I am really tired and in pain especially in my low back and left side. I had to shut my office door yesterday because I had crying spells. Should I call my doctor he checked me on Tuesday and said everything was fine? I still have stitches. I also have internal stitches where he repaired a hernia in my rectum. Guess I thought by now I would be running again feeling really good physically and emotionally.

Hi (((lifeafter40)))
Welcome to post op! I see you kept your cervix so you can probably plan on healing a little more quickly than some of us, but four wks is still very early to think about being back to very much. It sounds like your body is sending you a message that it's just too soon to be doing all you're trying to do.

I wonder if you can step back a little and try to find that place where you can be doing just enough to be a little tired, but not in pain and so exhausted you can't cope emotionally. What you are describing sounds pretty normal for someone who is trying to do too much too soon. As we begin to try to get back into our lives it's always a journey in finding just the right combination of activities we can handle without doing too much and then adding a little bit at a time until our bodies are ready for the full load.

Have you read through the Checkpoints? I think they can be very helpful in giving us a guide and often a reality check for evaluating our own progress and where we should expect to be at each stage of our recoveries. We're all different in how we heal, but the general timeline is pretty true for most.

I hope you can cut back some and start again at a pace your body can handle. Let us know how it goes.
's, Rita

PreciousPearl, thank you for the advice. I went to check points and it was very helpful. I think I do need to slow it down a little.

Terri

It sounds like you're doing a LOT for just 4 weeks. This surgery is difficult physically and emotionally. Please try to lessen your load!

Thanks! I know that I need to learn to be patient too. :-)

Ah, yes! This IS a lesson in patience, isn't it?

I agree with everyone. I think you are trying to do too much. And, yes I would call the Dr. I am 6 weeks and 3 days post op and I am just now feeling like doing things, like 2 days ago. Keep your chin up and remember, we are here for you always. It also helps me a lot to know how many of my sisters are going through the exact same things. Hang in there!!!
God Bless

So, the tears will slow?????????? I broke down 4 times at work yesterday. I know I went back too soon and it's my own fault--I should have stayed home. I felt guilty, my boss depends on me and I knew the person doing my job was messing it up and I also knew the longer I was gone, the bigger the mess I would have to fix--so I went back 3 days before my 3rd week anniversary, only half days. The 2nd week I went to full days and yesterday was my first 11 hour day and I was exhausted. We have an employee who is not capable of multi-tasking, not even capable of finishing a task she starts and she is casuing so much office stress--she is SO adding to my "back to work" stress.

I was to my PCP on Wednesday evening and he really doesn't want me on HRT, he wants me to just give myself time and try to get through this. The tears are the worst. The mini hot flashes I can handle. I was already through menopause before surgery, I will be 52 in 3 weeks, and the doc didn't think a surgical menopause would be to difficult for me!

It is difficult getting back into the work routine. My surgeon gyn told me no lifting at work until the 10th week, just for safety. Yesterday I decided I would try to file some charts in the bottom drawers by sitting on my legs on the floor and I can't believe how shaky I became, so I stopped. It's really not my job anyways, yet the person I mentioned before just can't seem to ever get the job done, and it so needs done--but, it's still waiting for someone else.

's to all!

You sound almost exactly like me! I bugged my GYN until he let me go back for 1/2 days 3 weeks after my surgery because I was afraid that there was going to be a disaster in my office if I did not go back he gave me the ok. Then after my 4 week exam gave me the ok to resume my normal activites. Friday I was exausted and saturday and sunday I had a lot of pain in my low back and my side now I have pain when I urinate. At my GYN's advice I have been taking ibuprofin but it is not helping now. I think that I am going to go to my GP instead. I feel like I am bothering my GYN when I do call. I have only called twice since the surgery. Just for a little back ground I also had a hernia repaired and a sling for my bladder put in. In addition to my Partial Hysterectomy. I don't know maybe this is all normal and I am making to big a deal out of it. Who knows anymore! I hate this!

No you are not making a big deal out of it..you had a lot done ...you stop and think ...take care of yourself who ever this is at work she is not going to be there..shoot she isn't there for you now...my advice...you listen to your body stop what you are doing and take care of you.