What if I overdid it?

I am nearly 5 weeks post-op (TVH). I was feeling great and yesterday I dug some holes to plant flowers, and may have lifted more than I should have (ok, I DID lift more than I should have). I am pretty sore today, and hope that I did not do any damage. I have seen people discuss adhesions. What are they, and how would I know if I had them? What are the dangers or risks of having them? I am really trying not to overdo it, but I absolutely hate being a softy.

I can't answer your questions, but I do hope you/we get a reply. As Saturday I was planting flowers in baskets, which was some lifting, but all afternoon hunched over and bending down to the ground from sitting at picnic table putting in dirt, flowers etc... I am post op 4 1/2 wks after TAH. I was having some pains at the end of the day I admit. DH was NOT happy with me that I can't sit still and rest. It is really hard and you feel like a soft lazy mush when your feeling SO much better now.

It is good to hear that I am not the only one that is having problems with not doing too much. I am not quite 3 weeks post op & for the most part I feel really good so it is very hard to lay around & do nothing. I also have to kids-9 & 14- that both play ball & their games have just started. If I know that I want to go to a ball game in the evening I try to lay around most of the day & not do anything up until game time. Then I bring my lawn chair & sit for most of the game so I'm not on my feet too much. I have really had the urge to plant some flowers but after hearing you guys I think I will put it off a while longer!

Gardening is going to be the death of us, yet. It should be put on the list of restrictions. 1 1/2 wks ago, I pulled weeds for not even 5 mins when my daughter "caught" me. The pain started that night and continued for 3 days, 2 of which were spent down in bed. At the end of the 3rd day, I finally took a Vicodin and between that and the bed rest, I was okay the next day.

But I had to cancel my hair appt. You know, the first one since surgery. And so I had to go another week with DARK ROOTS! If that didn't teach me, nothing will.

If restrictions are for 6 wks, (or 12 wks, as mine are), then that's what we need to follow. I read here that this is our one chance to recover properly. That kinda struck me - "one chance". And if boredom or being antsy is our worse complaint, I for one consider myself lucky.

Besides, who wants to go with DARK ROOTS (okay, so with a little gray thrown in) any longer than is necessary?

I am 3 weeks today and really tired of not doing anything. I have done some things I know I shouldn't have, but feel good and only get a little sore after doing them. My DH inspects the house when he gets home every evening to find evidence that I've done something I wasn't allowed to. "How did these hampers get downstairs?" Luckily, my answer is always "the kids moved them". They have done all the lifting, vacuuming, etc. The only thing I've done bad is sweep the kitchen floor with a broom today because the dog is in full-shed and it drives me nuts.

Nickjack..you made me laugh...my husband checks out the house everyday returning home from work...I am 2 and a half weeks post op and stir crazy..I am a highschool biology teacher and the school will not be getting a science teacher to cover me.so I am writing lesson plans, grading papers, creating assignments....2 to 3 hours a day..I have overdone it by sitting..I am way sore on either side of my abdomen may be where the doctor took out my ovaries and reattached ligaments or whatever it is that they do...I am swollen on my sides every night more so on my left than right..my husband gets mad at me but how am I suppose to get my stuff done..cannot lay down when typing on the computer...BUT in lieu of some these other princesses I feel guilty complaining...

nature lover- Husbands must not trust us biology people. I worked in research for a while (went to Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa) and am now taking classes toward secondary certification in biology. ALSO, I grew up in McMurray Pa and have been to Brownsville on occasion. Is the bar called the Baggy Knee (I think that's the name) still there? Good luck in your recovery.

I will be 12 weeks tomorrow and am sore for the second day now. I have been doing yard work including mowing for a couple weeks now, its kind of funny that I am now having pain after doing stuff for awhile. I am also curious about adhesions and what they feel like....anyone??? The only restriction I had at my 6 week check up was no ab exercises for 2 more months...and I have followed it. I put up a post about my soreness, and most of the replies said it can take 6 months to a year to heal, and we will still deal with the soreness until then. Very frustrating to say the least, but I guess (hope) there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Good luck
chele.

i think someone needs to create a list of things we can do at 5 wks post-op.(i'm sure gardening is not on it) what would be on this list?
is grocery shopping?
is walking the mall?
what about going out for meals?

i can't watch another movie. i'm starting to look like siskel & ebert!
help.........

Beware the lure of the garden, ladies! I put in bedding plants at about 6 weeks after a previous abdominal surgery and ended up with an incisional hernia that required two later surgeries to fix. I didn't do ANY heavy lifting then-just the bending and digging with a small trowel for short periods of time. And there was NO PAIN so I wasn't even aware that I had done it until I noticed my tummy had developed strange lumps. At 6 weeks post TAH, I am feeling like I have more energy and am pain-free for most of the day unless I am up and on my feet or riding in a car for prolonged periods. Then I still have that crampy pain in addition to the swelly belly that starts in the morning as mild but ends up in the evening as rather pronounced. The plants are just not worth it this year. DH is in his busy season and can't even find the time to mow the lawn, so the grass is actually knee high!

As far as adhesions, I have a vast amount of personal experience there. My doc and I joke that I am the adhesion queen! You can't always feel adhesions. Just when they pull something together or block intestines or something. I wasn't aware that I had any after my first surgery until they obstructed my small intestine and I had to go back to surgery about 10 months post surgery. The surgeons are getting better about trying to avoid them, but there is no sure way to avoid them, and they are very common among surgical patients. Seems like not much can be done. If you have lots of questions, it is always a good idea to write them down to ask your doc, or in my case, I just call his nurse. She actually calls me back and is quite helpful.

Nan