What is normal?

I am so confused on this recovery. I am 3 weeks post op - total abdominal hysterectomy and bladder. My doctor said I could drive at 2 weeks and should be back to normal at 4 weeks. Well my 4th week is on Wed and I can't imagine feeling normal. I read that moving helps the healing process but it feels like the opposite. It hurts still. I am very swollen, tired, and feel like my insides are mush from my belly button down. I just want to lie down and rest. I can't imagine driving and doing my regular daily things. The most movement I feel like I can do is walking around the house. I know everyone heals differently but honestly where do they get the "normal" guidelines?

Hi Ellcee! I had a TAH on Aug 10th and "normal" for my doc is 6-8 weeks recovery time and then a few months before I feel like I can completely put it behind me. I'm 4 1/2 weeks post op and I'm driving a (very) little and walking around as much as I can. My instructions for walking were to walk until I felt uncomfortable and then try to walk a little further the next day. I got off to a rough start but I am walking further every day and definitely feeling better because of it.

I've learned that laying around too much makes me feel worse than moving around. I get headaches, I get body aches, and I get depressed. Even sitting on the patio helps me feel better than staying inside. It gives me a change or scenery which helps me feel better and lifts my mood.

Hang in there. Take your time but do try to move around a little. We have to ease our way back into our normal routine. Going directly from bedrest to work is never a good idea.

Take care!

Thanks! That is good to hear. I am out of the bed for sure and have been since week 2 and am moving around as much as I can but I am wiped out after performing the simplest of tasks. Everything still hurts. Getting the little ones ready for school and out the door renders me useless. When they are not home I am pretty much trying to rest on the couch to have some energy for afterschool time. My husband and family have been great helpers but from what I have been able to manage at home I am still not too sure I can get out of the house to resume normal activities.

I don't know about you, but if I don't get up and move then I have no energy. You may want to try walking around the house maybe for 5-10 minutes at a time every hour or so. See if you can gradually work up to adding more time, or at least be able to walk that period of time easier.

Hang in there!!

Hang in there! I am a lot farther along the recovery road then you and to be honest, I am not back to "normal" yet! My doctor told me 6 weeks of nothing then slowly ease back into normal life. I still cannot lift anything very heavy without feeling it. I am back to work the past few weeks but come home very tired. I am still getting the odd twinge and some back pain. But, I feel 100% better then I did before surgery! I think we all heal at different rates and also it depends on what caused you to have the surgery. I had so much pelvic pain, at the end it was almost 24/7 and T3's around the clock for me. So this feels so much better.
One clue you gave to why you might be so tired is "little ones"! Kids tire us out! You need to be patient and take care of yourself so will be able to be there for your kids sooner!
I agree, slowly get moving and add a bit more each time to build up your energy level. I have read that some women take 6 months to a year til they feel 100% again! Others seem to bounce back a lot sooner!
We have to focus on the positive here, this might be a long recovery, but once we get there it is SO worth it!
Best of luck to you!

It took me almost 6 weeks to feel anywhere near normal, and that was not really all that normal. In face, at 11 weeks I still don't feel normal. I mean I feel much better, but I still have days like today where I am swollen and sore, and just blah.

I don't know who your doctor has been talking too, but honestly, everyone i have talked to who has had this done has said minimum of 6 weeks to feel any semblance of normal, 6 months to feel good, and a year to feel completely healed.