8 weeks and not feeling well - Need Advice

Hi. I just posted this message but I believe I put it into the wrong category - new to the site and there is much to learn! I am one day away from 8 weeks post-op and thought I would be feeling much better. Still have plenty of abdominal pain and using OTC meds which don't help too much. I am done with my MD visits (had 5 in total) and he has cleared me for everything. MD thought I might have adhesions which he said could take a while to resolve. I returned to work part-time 3 weeks ago - very tired all of the time - need to take Ambien otherwise I do not sleep. Even with the medication I only get about 4 hours per night. I am taking low dose Premarin for about 3 weeks now. Has helped with the hot flashes but not much else. I also have back problems so I go to a P/T 2x per week. I feel very depressed that I am healing so slowly. The discomfort from the surgery plus my back issues have overwhelmed me. Also seeing a Therapist 1x weekly. I use Xanax (very small dose) because I am so anxious and stressed over all of the physical pain. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Jane
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TAH 2/15/08/Ovarian Cyst/Laparatomy 7/1992

you posted in the right place!

sorry your having a rough time, just because they said 8 wks recovery thats just the tip of it...could take a yr for complete recovery...don't be so hard on yourself...we ALL would LOVE to be healed in a cpl wks....but in truth only very few heal quick...sorry we arent the lucky ones....but!
you are recovering all tho it maybe slowly... you have started to get back to your "real" life....and thats a BIG something!

cheer up sweety and smile.....give yourself a break...you won't regret it!

I'm amazed they let you go back to work already. Could be you are just plain exhausted. That would cause the pain to stick around a bit longer than originally anticipated. Would also cause the depression. Did you go back too early? Ask the Dr. That's why we have them, to keep us on balance physically. I am in a similar boat with some meds and symptoms. Just doing the best I can to get by for now and resting as much as possible.

Keep us posted...(hug)

	Quote:
Originally Posted by DezinerDiva I'm amazed they let you go back to work already. Could be you are just plain exhausted. That would cause the pain to stick around a bit longer than originally anticipated. Would also cause the depression. Did you go back too early? Ask the Dr. That's why we have them, to keep us on balance physically. I am in a similar boat with some meds and symptoms. Just doing the best I can to get by for now and resting as much as possible. Keep us posted...(hug)

Hi Lisa.

Thanks for the reply.

I live in an apt. building and work for a female dentist who has an office on the first floor. So I do not need to travel very far!!! and it is not a highly pressured job. We are a small office and I do only what I feel up to doing. So I don't think that work is the issue - everyone kept telling me that if I just sat home alone I would be more depressed. My husband has been great but he does need to go to work everyday.

I see that you are newly in recovery - it is great that you are doing well.

Thanks again.

Jane

Dear Zirconia-

Please don't fret- your recovery isn't so different than mine was at that point! Everyone's recovery is different, so please give yourself time to heal. I agree completely with the others who urged you to go back to your doctor. How can you be released for all duties if you can't perform all duties?? Tell him your pain and issues. Maybe he could refer you for some physical therapy to help the adhesions to soften and stretch, too.

Keep your chin up!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by sistersmitty Dear Zirconia- Please don't fret- your recovery isn't so different than mine was at that point! Everyone's recovery is different, so please give yourself time to heal. I agree completely with the others who urged you to go back to your doctor. How can you be released for all duties if you can't perform all duties?? Tell him your pain and issues. Maybe he could refer you for some physical therapy to help the adhesions to soften and stretch, too. Keep your chin up!

Hi.

I am going for physical therapy - 2x per week. I have been going for the last 3 weeks which my MD said was fine as long as it was not overdoing it. I really like the PT and he has assured me every visit that the stretching I am doing is not stressing my stomach - it could somewhat help the adhesions (as you mentioned) I also have back problems so I have more than one type of physical pain going on - it can be so overwhelming - sometimes I feel that I will never get through this! I have been back to my MD (surgeon) 5x since my surgery. He said if I have adhesions it will take time. He does not feel there is anything else wrong at this point.

Thank you for the reply and support.

Jane

I am so sorry you are having such a tough time indeed. I am only a week and 1/2 post op but I feel some days I am just not healing fast enough, I have heard some ladies say it can take up to 3 months to feel all the way normal

Hi there Zirconia!

My name's Irish Bridie - nice to meet you.

Don't worry......you are not alone.

I am 10 weeks post-op. I had a total abdominal hysterectomy in February. I'm 44 years old. The doc took my uterus and cervix and left my ovaries and tubes. I had a fibroid in the wall of my cervix the doc thought was the size of a baseball but ended up being the size of a grapefruit. My abdominal incision is about 6 inches long. This surgery has just wiped my energy out. It just takes time.

I was on a painkiller for only 1 week post-surgery. Since then, I've been taking Advil. I still have slight pain at the ends of the incision, so I take 2 Advil when I get up and 1 Advil before bed. I still have swelling and numbness above the incision. I saw my doc for my post-op appt at 6 weeks and she released me to do anything at 8 weeks. She said that the internal healing will take 6 months - 1 year for sure, so I need to still be careful with lifting. I am at 10 weeks and I still am only walking for exercise. My family and I go for walks every night and we increase the distance each time. I know I need to take it easy because I can feel the healing. I want to heal right. I'm a very active person. I like to ride my bike, play tennis, soccer, kickball, frisbee and baseball in the backyard with my family. But....that is all going to have to wait. The doc said you can be tall or short, big or small....it doesn't matter......it's the way your body heals. Sure my incision looks great...the steri-strips were off at my 6 week appt and the scar is so thin......but......internally I will be healing for quite some time. Let's just say I won't be doing cartwheels for a long time! LOL!

Isn't there a fable about a tortoise and a hare? They were in a race.......the hare went fast, took a nap and fell asleep. The tortoise went slow and steady and passed the hare on the trail and won. Moral of the story.....'Slow and steady wins the race!'

On that happy note, take it easy. You have the chance to heal right so do it now. There's no time like the present!

Have a sunny day! Take care.

Cheers, Irish Bridie

Hi Irish Bridie.

Thank you for the kind words. I also heard about the 6 months before really feeling better and 1 year being the time you can put your surgery behind you. I guess I was not prepared for how hard it would be so it has come as a bit of shock.

Take Care.

Jane

Zirconia, I so-o-o connect with you. I too was totally SHOCKED at how long recovery REALLY took. I innocently believed the doctor when he said 4-6 weeks. Unfortunately, his idea of recovered and my idea were two totally different things. I also got depressed and very discouraged...it was one of the hardest times of my life.

HOWEVER, it did get better. And then, 13 months later, it was REALLY better. I don't know what your time frame will be, but I urge you to be patient and kind to yourself. There will be a day, I PROMISE, where you won't believe how great you feel and how wonderful life is...you just don't know when, because everyone's "when" is different. So, don't fight it...work with it...rest when you need to, take care of yourself emotionally and physically, and know that there WILL be a day when you will be writing words of encouragement to someone who is frustrated beyond words because they are not healing as fast as they thought they would!!!

Take care!