anyone here have an immunologic or rheumatologic disease?

I'm having a hard time healing up from my LAVH 6 weeks ago. My doctor says it's because I already had systemwide inflammation from mixed connective tissue disease. This is a disorder in the same family as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, although not the same thing exactly. I also have fibromyalgia as well.

I am wondering if there's anything I can do but I think I'm just stuck with taking longer to heal up than most. I'm having so much swelling and pain and I am SO STIR CRAZY, yet if I do anything much, it lays me up for an entire day afterwards!

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I have autoimmune inflammatory arthritis. It took me what seemed forever to feel better. The thing is that we have pain daily so adding the pain from this just kinda puts you over the edge. I often had worse pain from my arthritis than I had from the lavh. A couple of weeks ago.. Boom all of a sudden the pain from the lavh had gotten so much better and I just had to deal with my arthritis pain. You will get there. Keep taking your meds. Keep your mind busy. I played on my iPad a lot. Went shopping with my mom. Lunch with friends. Kept moving when I could and rested when I should. You will get through this.

Hi there. I have fibro and rheumatoid arthritis also. Its called Sjogrens and it is an autoimmune disorder. Swelling, pain and delayed healing were all part of my recovery. I am currently taking diclofenac NSAID anti inflammatory and hydro chlorine for my arthritis. I wish there was a faster way to heal but the more we push ourselves, the worse it gets. Just remember that you only get one chance to heal properly. I had my surgery on 11-15-10 and I am still on the mend from lower back issues. Have you talked to your rhuemy about this? I thought that the gyne who did the surgery was aware and in charge of all of my current ailments but I have to see my specialist. I hope this helped you a bit. Gentle hugs to you. You are not alone!

I know how you feel. I just had a laparo on March 6 th to remove endo and adhesions and ended up losing my tubes and ovaries. I have lupus. Healing is going at dinosaur speed. But you have to be patient I suppose. I made the mistake of thinking I was feeling a bit better and did way too much. And yesterday I came down with a fever and hurt everywhere. So back to bed I went. It will take longer to recover. We just have to take it super easy and have hope that we will get back to somewhat normal. I will say a prayer for you. :-)

I also have mixed connective tissue disorder and for me it presents a lot like Lupus. I was worried about my recovery because everything seems to cause me pain. I had a root canal 3 years ago and just very recently that tooth has stopped hurting each day. I don't know how it can hurt because the nerve is dead. And I know the nerve is dead because he did the root canal 3 times in the same tooth because it kept hurting. Now it just hurts 2 -3 days a week. When I'm driving if someone almost hits me I and I get an adrenaline rush its so painful and I feel it go all through my body. I often have to pull over for a few minutes until it passes.

I am 8 months post op and still in terrible pain. I expected slow healing and maybe more pain than most but this is bad. I'm still taking T3 and Percocet. It wakes me up at night. My bladder hurts, it hurts to poo, and sitting is the worst. Sex is ok as long as he's very gentle otherwise it hurts too. But mostly we don't do it because I'm too much pain to try.

I've tried high dose prednisone, diclofenac, baclofen, tramadol, ketorolac and gabupentin. I'm barely able to function. I figure it hurts so much something has to be wrong in there. But CT, 2 ultrasounds, bloodwork and urine are all normal. Physiotherapy made it worse and acupuncture didn't work.

I have an appt in the Pain Clinic late April. My last resort. I really regret this surgery. The pain of adenomyosis as so much better than this.

If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them.

Sugarandspice, I am so sorry to hear you're having such problems. I worry that I will also have problems that never go away! I am just trying to keep faith. I have had 2 other major surgeries and it seems like I never got back to normal after them. It seems each one is just such a trauma to my system.

Have you been on the road less traveled forum? I think those ladies may have some words of comfort for you over there.

Take care,
Rach

My MCTD presents more like rheumatoid arthritis. I have an elevated ANA and an elevated dsDNA, however I do not have rheumatoid factor in the blood YET. My mother's did not show up until she was in her 50s. Unfortunately, my sister is also showing signs of RA.

I am still working full time, from home, as a medical transcriptionist. I really need to return TODAY as it is my 6 week mark and I cannot risk losing this job as I am fairly unable to work outside the home because of the unpredictable nature of this disease. I tried to go back a few days ago, though, and I was laid up the whole next day. That was after 3.15 hours at the computer working! I am scared to say the least. I have to keep my insurance!!!

Wish me luck, ladies...

ergilley,
Yes, every procedure is a big trauma to the system. I feel like a bell that's been rung and is still reverberating. Like these are aftershocks. Does that make sense? I sincerely hope that you don't have similar issues.

It's good that you are able to work from home and I hope you are soon recovered enough to return to work. I find sitting at the computer one of the most difficult things. Maybe if you take frequent, short breaks throughout your day it will help?

I have not been on the road less travelled forum. Thank you, I will check it out.

It makes me feel so much better that I am not alone in this. Although this pain is way better than before the surgery.. I still have pelvic floor pain.. Most of the time I just overlook it and keep on moving. Sometimes it stops me in my tracks and I feel like a big whiner. Luckily right now my arthritis pain seems to be controlled with my medications which is nice, but as we all know that changes with the wind.

I just love this forum - I mean, how likely is it you will ever meet another woman with an immune disease and also had the same surgery as you? Not likely without the internet! I love hyster sisters!!!