Recovery frustrations

Hello sisters,

I'm certainly glad you're all here encouraging one another, knowing you're not alone in all this. Think of the gals that don't have the site to go to because they don't know about it, and everyone around them is thinking they should be "normal" by now. Thank God I found this at 3 weeks post, because I was wondering if I'd ever feel back to normal.

At nearly 5 months, I'm really feeling better than I have in years, and have resumed gardening and a good game of tennis. However, I still feel twinges once in awhile this far along, and there is still some tenderness. I'm not all the way there yet!

So please ladies, give yourselves permission to have the time you need to heal...you are not on your boss' timetable, or even your family's timetable here...you are on your body's timetable, and know that it's OK to lay around and rest even a few weeks post-op. It takes at least 6 MONTHS to heal totally!

I only wish that women were given more preparation by their Drs. about a realistic idea of what recovery is like. My Dr. gave very little restrictions so, until I found this site, I thought I was recovering abnormally slow!

Hugs to all,

Linda

I am so thankful to have the this message board...I am also 4 weeks post op (TAH/BSO) with my surgery on 10/31 and I tried to go back to work Monday and Tuesday...I worked 6 hours both days and now I am at home hurting. I have a doctor's appt at 2pm today....my boss also thinks I can come back to work because I have a sitting down job..right!!! I took my pillow to the office and actually layed on the couch Monday for 30 minutes and cried!!!! I am so sore and my tummy looks like I am going to give birth at any time!!!! To all you ladies out there that think you can get back at 4 weeks, think again!! I am crying as I sit here and type this..I get so frustrated that I can not do the things I want to but then I read this site and realize I am not alone in this. May God Bless each of you that contribute to this site..it has been such a help to me. Thanks.

Mary W.
TAH/BSO 10/31/00

Dear Mary W,

Sending you big gentle hugs {{{Mary}}}. Many women feel pressured to return to work before they have recovered enough because they have "sitting-down" jobs, only to have painful backlashes such as yours. What some of these bosses don't know is that prolonged sitting is an ACTIVITY for post-op hyst patients, and puts a lot of pressure and stress on the tender healing areas and countless internal stitches. Seems to them that if you look OK on the outside, your insides are OK, too!

There is SO much healing to be done...total healing takes at least 6 months. The soreness and "swelly belly" is our body's way of reminding us of this. These symptoms can take months to taper off, even with much rest.

I want to thank you for posting to warn other sisters of your experience...I've seen it posted about here many times and frankly, we can't hear about it too often, as there's always someone around to tell you "what you should be able to do"!

Again, many thanks...

Linda
[Edited by Music Lady Linda on 11-29-2000]

Hello princesses, this is the best, most supportive place I've ever been in my life. I've been to counsellors, psychiatrists, psychologists, etc... but unless someone has been through what you've been through, well, I think we all know what it means to be able to talk to each other and feel supported TOTALLY and not feel crazy or have anyone here think that we're feeling sorry for ourselves. I have been staying at my mother's house since my surgery on 11/8, and I haven't been able to get on a computer until now. I am sitting at my desk at work, I came in for a couple of hours today, but at 3 weeks post op, it still feels like it takes everything I have just to get up and take a shower, and then I feel like I need a nap! My mom has been great with taking care of my baby, he'll be one year old in a couple of weeks, and weighs about 23lbs, so I've picked him up a couple of times (which I'm sure I shouldn't have) but it's so hard, because even though I know he loves me, he goes to my mom now when he wants to be held. It's very hard. Also, I have a lot of pressure from my husband to come back home and to be at our office (we have our own business). I run the office and I feel like it's all gone to hell while I've been out. Problems with bills and our bank account are making my cry and feel depressed, or maybe I just feel depressed in general and don't know it. Anyway, my whole point of this is that I do not feel like myself again in any way. I'm still sore, and everyone is expecting me to be better by now. If anyone looks at me wrong, I cry. I too have insomnia, but then feel like sleeping late in the mornings, mostly just to avoid everything. I've had depression all my life, with a couple of major episodes, so I'm trying to avoid feeling too down, but it's hard. Anyway, thank God for this site, I don't know what I would do without it. Love to you all.

Welcome back, JenMom,

Sending you big, gentle hugs {{{Jen}}}

Try to keep getting as much rest as possible!

My very best to you...

LInda

HI ,
This is my first post-op post. I am almost at 4weeks post op. I had a Tah/Bso on Nov.2nd I was so glad to read this thread. I too am having a hard time with recovery taking so long. I think i should be able to walk more than I can, but i know when my body tells me enough usually with pain. I have had a lot of complications starting right after surgery . I had a Illis(sp?) a blockage in my intestins so I could eat b/c when i did I threw up. so I was in the castle for 8days. Now i have developed a fissure which may require surgery to fix.

I am so tired of not feeling well I try and remeber that this n the end will be worth it b/c when they biospied everything they found the begginning of uterine cancer which they were not even looking for. I just want to feel good. I have been experiencing major mood swings and hot flashe slike alot of you . I see my DR. on Friday and hopefully she will adjust the Estrogen doseage.

I do have a question or two where can i find a site to lok up medical terminology. I got my pathology report and I have 4 different Dx'd on it.
How can I change the nick I write under here at the site?
Kerrie
Tah/Bso 11-2-00

Thank you to all of the sisters who posted. I know I am not the only one frustrated with slow recovery time. This web site is so good to read to help you know it is okay to rest, even though we look fine from the outside to everyone. I need to listen to my body more. Thank you to all who wrote. I am headed for my lounge chair to put my feet up. Thank you and hugs and prayers to all!
to terfemme, thanks for the nice post. Music Lady, thanks for watching out for us!

After reading all these posts. I'm am very thankful that my surgery was able to be vag/hys (due to 12wk fibroids, heavy bleeding, and pain for 8 mos). I'm am 1 week 3 days post-op today(surg. 11/20). At 1 week I have resumed my responsibilities as mother to 4 children(against doctor's orders). One of them 1 yr (13,11,9) which is a big job now. I also started keeping my good friends baby 8wks on monday. Today, I got up at 6:00am (after a night with little sleep) got my 2 older girls off to school, took my son(11) to the doctor at 9:00, along with the two babies( my husband did help with this trip). Then home about 11:00. Took care of babies. Then back to town husbandless this time to pick up the girls at school and take to ortho appt. Home again at 4:30 fed babies. Sent one home at 6:00. Cooked supper about 7:30, helped with homework,got them ready for bed. It is now 11:45pm. The little one is still up fighting sleep. I feel like I'm running on empty. But, The Good Lord knows that these babies need me, so I guess he is helping alot. And tomorrow it starts all over again. Good luck to all, I wish everyone's recovery could go as smoothly as mine. And now it is time for Christmas, with no shopping done but, I guess I will make it through it. You know you have to keep telling yourself that this too will pass.
I am very glad to have found Hyster Sisters, it has been given me a lot of comfort before surgery and answered a lot of questions after.
Big hugs to all (I do know a little of your pain I had a c-section with last baby). It does take time but it will get better. Just when you think you can't stand it anymore it will get better.

[Edited by PEGASUS34 on 11-30-2000]

I made it to the 2 pm dr. appt yesterday and dr did an ultrasound to check for hematoma...said things were fine. Dr. proceeded to chew me out for going back to work at 4 wks. post op. I did get a copy of my pathology report and I also have questions regarding the terminology. Is there a place to look up these things? Well, my office called me and asked if I was coming in today and I said NO WAY!! This is progress for me. lol. I am back on the pain pills and resting....Thanks hyster sisters!!!

Mary W.
Louisiana
TAH?BSO
with Cervix removed

Kerrie-

For medical terminolgy try http://medical-dictionary.com/. I know there are others but I have them bookmarked on my computer at work. Also, I work in medical research so maybe I could help - e-mail me if you want.

I logged onto this thread this morning because I am so frustrated that at 12 days (LAVH/BSO)I still spend most of time hanging out in bed. I have little, teeny outings and they do me in. It's because there's nothing visible! No one around me is expecting much, though, and my doctor said return to work in 3 or 4 weeks. I guess she knew what she was talking about, but I figured I'd be back by next Monday. No chance. Anyway, it helps to know that not only am I not alone, I think I'm better off than a lot of you. No colds or flu or bronchitis or small babies. Except for Pegasus who I fear will pay later for this. I think you should slow down.