Am I Normal ?

I am 15 days post op from a TAH/BSO. The hormone thing seems to be going ok. I am trying different patches so I am not surprised that I am having some hot flashes, weepy moments and so on. I am taking Naproxen Sodium for pain and not really that much. But, I am not doing anything! I had grand plans of returning to school today for our first day back. The first week is just meetings so I was sure I could "just sit" through meetings. NOPE! I feel yucky still. I am uncomfortable, so I recline in the recliner a lot. I am exhausted when I do the simpliest things. (My friend picked me up yesterday and we went to dinner and a quick stop at the grocery store-it killed me and wiped me out!) Is this normal or am I big fat baby? I REALLY want to be at school on the first day and that is in 10 days. What do you gals think?
Thanks!!! Linda

I think, Linda, that you are about right on target. I came back to work half days after six weeks off and I was SOOOO tired when I got home at noon time that I slept for two or three hours. Now that I am back on full days, I am still very tired by the end of the day that it sometimes feels like I won't be able to walk up the front walkway to get in the house! It is getting better and I find that I am doing more each day but I don't think you will be back at school in 10 days. By the way, I also had a TAH/BSO and I am few years older than you..My birth year is 1960.

I had a TAH on July 16th....I feel great but no way near ready to go back to working. You had major surgery, yes you will feel bad and exhausted. Don't go back to early and jeopardize your recovery. You may think you can do it but your inners are telling you no!!

I am a teachers asst. in a special needs classroom. My LAVH was July 24. My doc has given me the OK to go to work next week for the 2 planning days and that's it, he even stipulated in the release that it was for very limited duty and that I should leave when I get tired. Then I'm off until Sept 4. I argued with him, because I want to be there for the first day with the students. He refused, wouldn't budge. I've decided to quit fighting it and take the time off.
I think I'll be better off in the long term. We have to let our bodies heal, even if the boredom drives us crazy.

I agree with you doc! My goodness, that must be very physical work being a teacher or teacher asst especially for little ones or special ed students. Please take care and let yourselves heal properly and well!

I appreciate your responses! I am a special needs prek teacher and I realize it is a pretty demanding job. I guess I just thought I would be feeling better by now. I had no idea it would be like this. I feel so good then I crash. Crazy. I guess I will talk to my doctor and my principal and see if I can return on the 20th for 1/2 days. I could leave when they go down for their naps maybe? What do you think about that idea?

I still think you will be pushing it if you go back to work for any length of time before the six week mark especially in light of the work that you do. I know myself that when my little grandson came over and just wanted me to pick him up or hold him, it was VERY hard to resist doing it without even knowing it! Listen to your doctor's advice and take it slow!

My doc told me that he would have considered letting me go back to work half days at 4 weeks post-op if I didn't work at an Elementary school. It's just not worth the risk. Your class will survive without you for a couple of weeks and you will feel better and stronger when you go back. You had major surgery. Give you body a chance to heal. I know I am going to be so sad when the first day of school comes and goes without me. I don't know why that is so hard for some of us. I guess we're just used to being the ones taking care of others or maybe we're just control freaks or a little of both.

Linda,

You are very normal! I had the same surgery on 7-30, and I was wiped out from a slow walk around the block and a quick trip to Target with my DH and DS doing all of the cart pushing and lifting. I just had to get the 20 cent crayons and glue sticks before they went off sale!

I was getting frustrated by reading about those who had similar surgery dates walking on treadmills, going to the mall, etc, but most of them didn't have TAH. I think those of us with TAH are healing slower and with different progress points and setbacks. Our bodies let us know when we are overdoing it, and we need to listen!

I had my first weepy breakdown yesterday. A private little pity-party for myself. I am also a teacher (kindergarten) and all my friends are back at school getting ready for the start of school. It was hard enough for me to "do nothing" when it was still summer vacation, but it's really hard to depend on my friends to set up my classroom and it breaks my heart to know that my students will start the year with a substitute teacher. In my heart I know it will be okay because I love my co-teachers and they love all the kids equally and will take care of my class, but it's still HARD! My goal is to rest up this weekend and have my DD take me up to school for a bit on Monday. I'll feel better if I see how my area is arranged, get some hugs from fellow teachers, and then I'll bring home stuff to make everyone's nametags, class lists, etc--the jobs I can do from my couch or recliner with my laptop and markers! It'll make me feel better about having my friends do so much for me if I can do a little something from home for them.

Good luck and take it easy. Don't be too hard on yourself. You are healing on the inside and outside and that's a lot for your body to do!

Take the six weeks if you can get them. This surgery is a pretty big deal even if you have no complications. Rest, let your body heal. Feeling good for a few hours and then crashing is very typical.