Push thru the pain???...what to do????6 week post op

Hi gals...<<<hugs>>> to all...
I've read thru previous posts and still I am wondering...is there a time when we just push thru the cramping/light bleeding to "make" ourselves build stamina after our surgeries...somehow I'm hearing my mother say "Just get up and get moving, you'll feel better." OR are the physical signals the red lights of our bodies saying STOP! and don't move until I say so!!!

I feel like I've benn on a roller coaster for 6 WEEKS...feeling well 1-2 days, start doing some light "regular" activities and then BAM! cramping/pain...exhausted feeling.

Yesterday I felt pretty good and thought I'd make dinner for my family that has been taking care of me so well...no obvious problems at that time, but 2 hours later I was in bed, curled up by cramping/pain!! and then a bathroom trip revealed light tinges of bright red blood...aaaaggghhh!

So I'm back in bed (DH orders ), waiting for a return call from the doc...feeling very defeated...scared because I'm due to go back to work Monday...wondering if I should just push thru or what to do...I've cried so much, I don't even have the will to cry thru this anymore...

Help sisters! anyone else...just tell me what to do...

I'm glad that you've put in a call to your dr. It just doesn't seem right that you're having so much pain at this point in recovery. Quite honestly, I never ended up curled up in pain but I know everyone is different. Still, at the 6 week point it seems odd that you'd have that much pain. The light bleeding might be nothing. I was still having that at the 6 week point but it completely stopped shortly after that. I'm so sorry that you've had such a rough time and things aren't better but I think it's time for a serious chat with your dr. (((HUGS))) - I hope you feel better soon.

I would agree that one of the most frustrating parts of this recovery process is the "unknown". It is really hard to know what to do sometimes and I think you just have to trust what your body is telling you.
My thoughts are that if you are in this much discomfort from making dinner, not to mention the emotional exhaustion I suspect you're suffering from, that you might want to consider extending your leave from work. I know this is a difficult decision to make but you must do whatever you need to do to be well.....long term.
Take care and best of luck

I am going through the exact same thing as you. I'm 9 weeks out from a TAH and still having pain, swelling, fatigue, soreness. My surgeon did an internal and external exam at 6 weeks and said that I was all healed up...no more restrictions go back to work the next day. I told him that I was still having pain, swelling, nausea and weight loss. In fact I was still having trouble walking and wore pajama pants to that appt. I also said I really didn't feel well enough to go back to work. After I told him all of the above and he examined me, he told me that he didn't see any reason why I couldn't go back to work (not a desk job either). He also said if I was having pain issues I should see my family Dr. and then he officially "released" me from his care. Okay that was 2 weeks ago. So I decided to go back to "normal" living IE doing more and more of what I regularly do. It is not working at all!!! In fact the more I do the more pain and swelling I have. I have tried for 2 weeks and it's just not working. I don't have the strength or stamina to do it. I have had to really cut back on activities and s-l-o-w right down. Do 1 job and then sit and rest. If I feel any pain or fatigue I need to rest. Personally I would say it doesn't work to push through...it has only made my pain and swelling worse. I see my damly Dr. and will be discussing all of this with her. She has aleady told me that I am healing slower than expected and that I really need to go s-l-o-w. Listen to your body. If you start to have pain.swelling stop and go rest. I know it's really hard to do!!! Remember that your body is still healing and (if you listen) it's telling you that you are doing too much. Hope this helps!!

In this case I don't think it is a good idea to push through the pain. It sounds like your body is still telling you to slow down. I know that is hard at 6 weeks but I was a slow healer & I had to take it easy for over 2 months. It is not fun but I am So glad that I listened to my body. The pushing through the pain is for times when you can't do permanent damage. I am glad you called the doctor because you shouldn't be in a "lot" of pain at 6 weeks. I would ask the doctor if you can be off work a little longer. You need to take care of yourself at this time. Hang in there. You will feel better!

Thanks sisters!! I'm still waiting for the doc to return my call (why does that seem to take FOREVER!!!)
I'm going to tell her how I'm doing and ask for a couple more weeks...super woman is going to stay in retirement for awhile longer

I really hadn't factored in the emotional exhaustion...thanks for the insight!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by glorywarrior I am going through the exact same thing as you. I'm 9 weeks out from a TAH and still having pain, swelling, fatigue, soreness. My surgeon did an internal and external exam at 6 weeks and said that I was all healed up...no more restrictions go back to work the next day. I told him that I was still having pain, swelling, nausea and weight loss. In fact I was still having trouble walking and wore pajama pants to that appt. I also said I really didn't feel well enough to go back to work. After I told him all of the above and he examined me, he told me that he didn't see any reason why I couldn't go back to work (not a desk job either). He also said if I was having pain issues I should see my family Dr. and then he officially "released" me from his care. Okay that was 2 weeks ago. So I decided to go back to "normal" living IE doing more and more of what I regularly do. It is not working at all!!! In fact the more I do the more pain and swelling I have. I have tried for 2 weeks and it's just not working. I don't have the strength or stamina to do it. I have had to really cut back on activities and s-l-o-w right down. Do 1 job and then sit and rest. If I feel any pain or fatigue I need to rest. Personally I would say it doesn't work to push through...it has only made my pain and swelling worse. I see my damly Dr. and will be discussing all of this with her. She has aleady told me that I am healing slower than expected and that I really need to go s-l-o-w. Listen to your body. If you start to have pain.swelling stop and go rest. I know it's really hard to do!!! Remember that your body is still healing and (if you listen) it's telling you that you are doing too much. Hope this helps!!

I read your posts while you were trying to get this resolved and wondered how it worked out for you...I'm sorry to hear you got pushed into going back before you were ready, but it sounds like you knew when to call time-out! That's what I need to do too! Thanks for posting...I can see pushing myself isn't going to help me in the long run...