3 weeks post-op and feel like today is different :)

Today it feel's like I have turned a corner. It's not a dramatic change, I still get tired very easily, I just feel that I am beginning to head into the feeling better stretch. I still sleep not so great comfort wise, but it's enough because I am up every morning with my almost 3yo. like clockwork at 7:30am everyday. I'm sure I could sleep longer, but I do usually take an afternoon nap too
I would like to hear from other post-op Sisters around 3-6 weeks so that we can share what's happening at this point in our recovery. I have a hard swelly belly and am curious if other's have this or is your's soft? gone? I did bleed internally (had two blood transfusions) so I am pretty sure it's a big hematoma because I am very bruised. The doctor's office said that the body usually reabsorbs them but that it can take months
Although I did have some complications along the way, I am so happy and grateful to be home with my family and feeling pretty well. As each day passes I do feel like I am getting my life back, emotionally as well as physically! It truly is a transformation after living in chronic pain for so long! Staying positive seems to be helping me also. I have been doing mini-meditation telling myself that I am going to heal well, quickly, and that each day I will feel better.
Best wishes for all of us during our recovery
alicia

TLH 2/18/10

Hi Luvee ~~

It's great to see you here and feeling better. I've been worried about you!

I went to the doctor's yesterday and had my stitches out. It was my first time outside. Think I will grab hubby and have him take me for alittle stroll outside now so I can get some more fresh air.

Take care of yourself ~~ StarryNite

Hi StarryNite,
That's great that you got your stitches out, you sound good! I have the kind that desolve, but I decided to be brave today and take the steri-strips off. It;s not that big of a deal, but when I had my c-section I wouldn't take them off and my doctor just laughed and said they are "window dressing". My scar looks really great for 3 weeks. I am just so itchy!!! Good sign though that I am on the mend
I'm glad you are doing good too! I am so happy to be on the other side!! My low back pain is a thing of the past!
~HUGS~
alicia

hi,
i was 3 weeks post op yesterday and im exactly the same....feel great!!
i mean i couldnt go clubbing or anything haha bit i feel much better at last
glad to hear your on the mend

I'm 19 days post- op and wondering when this swelly belly will go down some?? I came back to work and since I have a desk job it hasn't been too bad. The pain from my surgery (lapro subtotal hyst) is gone other than extreme tenderness in my stomach that has my doctor "stumped." I'm ignoring it for now and trying to move on with a normal life again for the rest of my family who are kind of worn out with my hysterectomy as well.

I remember the 3-6 week stage as being a real mix of feelings. Some days I actually felt OK for stretches of time (OK, maybe only an hour or so at a time, but it still felt good!) and then I felt like I took many steps backward.

I needed my bandages changed twice a day for six weeks, and my incision took even longer to close all the way. As each day wore on the swelling would get worse, reminding me that I had just had major surgery.

I think the one part of recovery I wasn't prepared for was the fatigue. I was so tired -- sometimes it manifested itself as sleepiness, and other times I just didn't feel like moving.

Tomorrow will be five weeks for me. Started HRT last week, it's helping a lot!

My doc is like a genius or something, he hides incisions in belly buttons and somehow never seems to bruise me up the way my first doc did. I do more damage to myself working out in the yard than when he's operating on me. I had no bruising, and he glued the outer layer of skin, but there were stitches inside that are dissolving.

My swelly belly feels like that gel insole material. It's low in the morning and gets worse as the days goes on... the Bali firm support briefs help a lot. They sell them at Kohl's.

Hi! I'm sorry to hear that you had complications, I'm afraid that I will be looking at bladder repair and rectocele down the road...my SAH was Feb. 2nd. This is really the first week I have felt "good", but good is so much better than the intense back and lower front quadrant pain I had with the numerous fibroids. Yes, I do have a hard? swelly belly, actually a pouch which is something Ive never had even with delivering 7 babies...I am still numb in some of the area as well and this is 4 wks post op. I do have a very hard "lump" on the right side of incision and doc thinks it may be a knot from the stitches. To the women who have been able to return to work and such , "Wow"! I can't even imagine that right now. I'ts difficult to just keep up with household things and kids activities. Be well, keep in touch, everyone is different. I have friends who have had C sections who can't understand why I'm not myself yet...oh well, they are not me!

I've tried to describe what my tummy feels like and that is perfect! Gel insole material! Great description Kirsten!