four week post-op question

Hello:

I am new to this site and was hoping in obtaing some answers. I am 49 and had a hysterectomy on May 3rd, 2010. Things are going fairly well considering I had the Da Vinci hysterectomy and everything was removed. Was never in pain only mild discomfort. My main concerned now is that my naval area is making me feel sick to my stomach from time to time. Its not oozing and you can hardly tell where the stich was. Is this normal to feel that? My belly also looks like I'm carrying around a small six pack however, that is smaller than what it was prior to surgery. Prior to surgery it looked like I was four months pregnant. Will the belly issue subside after time?

Also was prescribed Estradoil which I took for about a week and decieded I didn't like the way it made me feel. Made the back of my calf (left leg only) feel like a charlie horse. I stopped taking it and changed to premarin. Just started taking premarin today thinking it might make me feel a tad better. How long does it take after a hysterectomy for your hormones to deplete?

Inspite of the belly being a little big still and the naval issue, overall I feel pretty good.

Thank you in advance!

Deltabreeze1, I've never liked having my naval bothered. Even cleaning it out with a cotton swab makes me feel a little sick. I'll be 5 weeks post op tomorrow. It took almost 2 weeks for the sensation in my naval to dissipate. But it did go away.

Due to something that the Dr found during surgery, he wanted me on a different combination of hormones. I had been taking estradial one mg once a day for two weeks after surgery. A week after changing hormones, I had the same type of migraine I'd had before surgery (started on day 4 of the new ones and lasted another 3 days). So, I didn't take any hormones for 24 hrs, the headache left, and I started back on the original hormones. For me, it seems that it takes anywhere between 24 hrs to 4 days. Everyone is a little different when it comes to how they respond.

Check with the Dr if you should have another charlie horse in your leg with the premarin, because it could indicate other issues.

Hello:

Thanks for replying to my message. For me I think there is some corolation between hormal replacement and my leg calf. I took Premarin for the first time today after not taking anything for nearly two weeks now and the same thing happened. Not going to take any tomorrow and see if it subsides. My second post-op is on June 16th so we'll see how I'm feeling by then.

I know I'm probably not giving myself enough time to really heal properly so when this new stuff keeps popping up, I get a little concerned.

Hope you are doing well!

Deltabreeze1, I'd mention to your dr that the premarin did the same thing as the estradial. Everyone is a little different when it comes to medications, which is why there are such a variety of medications out there! Several other sisters mention having creams compounded specially for their needs, which you might want to ask about too. At the same time, you might want to ask if you need any HRT at all.

Actually, unless you're having other difficulties, it sounds as if your healing is right close to on schedule. We all have different concerns because even though we have similar issues, we're all a little different too.

Hope you're doing better soon!

Do you still have the leg pain? If you do, its concerning since post op blood clots can cause pain. Just something to keep in mind.

Delta -

I had a swellybelly for around 3 months after my surgery. You aren't even 4 weeks, you are still in initial recovery.

I had the daVinci and my surgeon told me that daVinci patients seem to have an edge for the first 6 months after that things are equal for the last 6 months. Full recovery can take 6 months to a year.

As for depleting your hormones after a hysterectomy that is very personal. Some have issues while in the recovery room, others can be days, months or never. Mine was 5 days after my surgery.

and keep healing.

G.

Thank you so much for that info. I go for my last post op on the 16th. So far I'm hot flash free and hope to stay that way. My main concern though is that I am starting to put on the weight, is that normal too?

DeltaBreeze -

The weight thing comes down to amount of exercise and what you eat. The inactivity around your surgery can add to some weight gain.

When I was ultra-emotional and workedout extra becase of it I lost weight, now that I stopped that I've put on a few pounds so working on getting back to the exercise.



G.