TAH TAH and Lupus Pain and Swelling

I had a TAH one week ago. Aside from the pain at the surgical site, I am having really bad pain and swelling in my hips, back, thighs and going down my legs. At first I thought this was normal but now I am starting to worry. I have lupus and had just gotten over a 2-month flare up before the surgery. I was pain free and had no swelling. I think the pain I have now is related to the lupus. I thought it could be a bladder infection because I had one two months ago for which I had to be hospitalized. I checked my temp and it is normal. So maybe that's not the cause. The pain and swelling is so bad in my hips I can barely stand up straight. I also have this similar swelling when I have a lupus flare up. I called my OB/GYN and the nurse will call me back once she speaks to the doctor. I am really worried. I continued to take my lupus meds after surgery but stopped the prednisone because I thought it would hinder my healing. Thinking I need to get back on the steroids. Is this pain and swelling normal for a TAH? Any advice would be helpful.

If u stopped taking the steroids abruptly without tapering off or tapered off too quickly, u can have what is called a rebound efect. That is where everything can get inflamed just as bad or worse (berry quickly) than it was before u started taking the steroids. I don't have lupus but I have psoriatic arthritis, was in the middle of a flare up when I had surgery. The Dr said I could not take the steroids before my surgery so I had to get injections of toradol to try to keep it at bay. I am so sorry u are going through this and if u are like me, no one said that the surgery itself could cause a major flare up with autoimmune disorders. Praying for u. Please post an update after u talk to your Dr.

Thank you so much for your reply. I think you have made it clear for me. Yes I sure did stop the steroids abruptly and no I was not told I could have a flare due to the surgery. I can see how this would cause a rebound of my symptoms. My doctor did say, however, that I needed to be out of the flare before she could do the surgery, and my rheumatologist confirmed that my flare up had subsided. The doctor's office has not called back yet but I have a feeling they will tell me to get back on the steroids immediately. I'll post an update once I talk to them.