In Severe Pain and Losing it Post Op 5 days

	Quote:
Originally Posted by hystersister23 Ok so I had a TAH Davinci on April 8, 2009 The The doctor kept my overies in and everything else besides uterus and cervix. he said after surgery I may experience a hot flash or two. Temporarily though. I have had 4 hot flashes or more a day every day since surgery. He didnt put me on Temp HRT. I dont know If I should myself. My pains have all gotten worse. My last BM was the day after surgery and Ive been taking stool softners but no BM yet and it feels like my rectum is pusing out a baby and I get shooting PAINS in my bottom. I didnt move out of bed today at all! I felt like my whole body was in pain!!!!! Almost dehydrated. I walk a little around the house but my pain pills just arent cutting it and my doc wont be in til tomm. I called to talk to him and the nurse there doesnt understand why he hasnt put me on HRT;s yet. Any advice for all the pain im in! I go back to work in 5 days whether I like it or not!! So I need tips . You all have been very supportive to me!

First, I've heard on this site that it can take over a week for the ovaries to kick back in and pain/pain pills can make that hot flashy feeling worse. I was about in the same spot as you at 5 days and according to the posts I've read in the last 5 months, it's not that unusual at 5 days. The pain pills just took the top edge off the pain. It got better the more I rested. But slight walking around the house is actually good for your healing in many ways. You may have more issues with gas than youknow too. That can really make it worse. Let us know what happens with the doc.

Oh, forgot, vicious cycle with the pain pills. They make you very consitipated, which causes more pain, which makes you take more pain pills. See if you doc. is interested in giving you a strong anti-inflammatory that is stronger than regular motrin.

dulcolax suppositories. Really. They were necessary for me for the first three weeks after my TAH. You can get them at walgreens or groc store.

And you can NOT go back to work. you will run the risk of damaging your healing!! There has got to be some other way. Does your employer offer disability pay?

I really feel for you. The work issue must be putting a huge added stress to your life. I agree with all of the posts - you really won't be able to work for AT LEAST another week and even then, won't be able to stand for more than a couple of hours. I strongly urge you to speak with your employer and your doctor to see what could be worked out. When you do go back - would it be possible for you to have a stool to sit on?

The pain pills do make the constipation worse. I went 7 days post op without a BM. I know how painful it can be. Milk of Magnesia combined with stool softeners did the trick for me without any painful cramping. I'm currently almost 5 wks post and now only rely on a daily stool softener. Also, drink water until you feel like your drowning!! I found that I drank more water if it wasn't ice cold. Everytime I'd walk through the kitchen I would stand at the sink and force myself to drink an entire glass and also had my hospital sippy cup at my side all day.

Pants that are too tight are only going to make your pain worse. Try to get to a thrift store and buy at least one pair of kahki pants with an elastic waist or drawstring. You could probably return them to the thrift store afterwards for some reimbursement.

Hang in there! I found I felt much better (though far from recovered) after about 10 days and a few BM's. Since it is pretty obvious that you'll have to return to work sooner than anyone would recommend - make sure that you are getting plenty of rest and keep the ice on your belly to help the swelling.

Thank you everyone. I know I cant work! I called my doctor and had them fax a paper saying no work til further notice. If my boss decided to cut my hours to be a butthead so be it. I dont deserve to suffer anymore than i am. Well just have to pray my husband makes enough money for me and my kids to survive. Im sure gods on our side. Thank you everyone truly!! Ill keep yall posted i have a post op on the 20th and well see how im feeling then. I am going to rest today! I went and did minimal food shopping cause i cant cook because standing time is limited. So i got lots of easy macs and such. I bought crackl ol bran to help soften stools. Thanks again

How smart are you to take care of yourself about work and even preparing meals! And what a great attitude you have about God taking care of you. Prayers are coming from me too.

Take care,

I had my TVH and A&P repairs on Jan 14, 2009....I was also constipated and was suggested from the ladies on this site that I take Senna, from Walgreens...it is a natural laxative...and it worked really well.... especially while taking the pain killers....I agree with others, that if you go back to work too soon, you could only hurt your healing insides and then the outcome can be much worse that this hysterectomy! When I was initially healing, I called my dr every day with a new complaint.... Talk to your doctor immediately!! He/she and their office can only comfort you....as this website can....heal completely and safely!!

first of all, i feel that you are not ready to go back to work! you just had a major surgery and there is NO way you are ready to be back at work! your doctor may not clear you to work yet, and you are concerned with your job, doesn't your company have FMLA coverage? it's a federal law. you have a right to return to your job so you can care for yourself, especially if you are the sole breadwinner in your family. you only have one chance to recover and by going back to work too soon can jeapordize your recovery and even harm yourself even further. contact your walgreens HR office and see what they can do to extend your leave so that you can recover. surely they would not want one fo their own employee collpases on their watch and you can sue them. look into FMLA entitlement. i used to work FMLA cases and got many of the employees their jobs back or extended.
i hope you heed all advice here from the hystersisters, to make you pain free and comfortable as possible.
good luck!

I don't think you should have to go back to work so soon either. You only have one chance to heal well. you do not want to cause adhesions by doing too much too soon. You have a lot of healing to do. Best wishes!

If you go with treating the bowels, use stool softeners only, and at last resort a glycerin suppository. Otherwise you can cause some serious cramping.