Slipped and fell on the ice...good grief

Am at the beginning of my 6-week post op and started back to work this week. Slipped and fell on the ice before I even got into my car and out of my drive way on the way in. Geez....was so mad at myself because I'd been so careful all this time about not lifting too much, keeping my feet up, resting, etc. (no pillow police for me)! Anyway, I tightened up my muscles in trying to protect myself and wound up going down on my knee and skidded along the concrete and then kind of rolled back on my butt (what we sisters will do to protect our well-earned incisions!) Its funny remembering what went through my mind as I was slipping and starting to fall - "What?? - oh, no, I can't actually be falling down NOW, after I've never even been out of the house much for a month and half!" But the worst of it was just skinning up my knee, and my entirely sore body today; oh ya, and the new pair of nylons. (So BE CAREFUL!) I was so mad that I drove on into work for the morning (with the big ol' bloody hole in the hose and all). Then went on to my Dr's. for my 6 week check up. I didn't really know what to expect with fragile abdominal muscles, but after the pelvic and exam, she said everything checked out just fine and dandy and all looked great. Needless to say, I limped out of her office very happy. Today, my body is stiff and sore, but after hearing good news at my 6 week check up, I feel like dancing! (well, in my mind, anyway) A note of thanks to the ladies on this site for all of the support, and especially for reminders to ask for pathology and doctor's reports. They're very enlightening and give more information than my Dr. remembered to tell me. I'm glad I decided to have a TAH now instead of waiting; I would have only gotten much worse.
PS - a note about going back to work and wearing panty hose (if you have to!) I have support panty hose, but the top put a lot of pressure on my stomach. So I got the "brilliant" idea to slit the panty part down the front a little ways and pinned each side over to my unders. Am proud so say that it actually took the pressure off, I didn't get any runs (except for the hole, and I was lucky the pins never poked me)! Well, it got me through the first 2 days of work, and I'd do about any thing to make that part better!

My best to all,

It's been snowing out here and I had the idea to go with my friend to a Sundance film festival showing , but now I've changed my mind. Why embarass myself in front of the "Beautiful people".
I've fallen like that before and let myself helplessly roll while protecting a pitcher I bought at a Fitz & Floyd outlet and feeling dumb doing it. Clever move with redesigning the panty hose. You rule!

Peggyann 1st week post-op

Peggyann, how are you doing? I remember it wasn't snowing here when I went into the hospital but it started to snow right afterward. So I got to miss some of the snow storms we have had, and remember getting home from the hospital and thinking that all of my co-workers were out in it every day, and there I was snug in my bed (of course, sort of out of it at that point, anyway). So, as you recuperate and begin to get up and around - ya, be very careful out there; snow can "slip you up."

And I know what you mean about falling; at least I didn't have anyone to see me throwing my purse in the air and trying to "catch myself"; it was just me, my incision, and my pride. Hey - at least you tried to protect your Fitz and Floyd pitcher back then - and I hope it stayed in tact!

Take it Easy, and my best for a great recovery!

Yikes, Robin! I'm glad you're ok after that tumble on the ice. I'm also glad you had a great 6 week check-up. I like your pantyhose solution very much. I tried a pair on, promptly said OUCH and took them right back off! I got through the week instead wearing overalls to work on the days I didn't teach and wearing long "waist-less" dresses with knee socks on the days I had to see students. It worked pretty well (except it's too cold here to be really comfortable wearing dresses).

I really appreciated your post in response to my 6 week check-up story. You're right; we seem to be on similar recovery paths. You asked me about testosterone. If I understood my doctor correctly, the ovaries also produce small amounts of testosterone (in addition to large amounts of estrogen and progesterone). Testosterone contributes to feelings of sexual desire. For some women who experience low sex drive after menopause, adding testosterone to their hormone replacement therapy may help. For now, I'm just on Premarin and so far everything (including sex drive ) seems to be fine.

You're right that the hormone stuff is really confusing. My doctor is very good about volunteering information and answering questions. I've also found that there are some very thorough books out there on hormone replacement therapy.

Keep taking care of yourself and resting when you can. Watch that ice!

I am so glad that you are okay after the fall! And great news re: your 6 week check up!

Great idea with the pantyhose. I may try your idea since I will be wearing pantyhose and didn't think about the pressure on the stomach. Also I may try thigh highs.

Take it easy!

Glad you're ok, after that tumble

I'm a little over 5 weeks post op and there is a lot of snow here too (this is Canada, after all - they Great White North and all ) and, on Wednesday, I walked my daughter to her friend's house. In doing so, we had to over-step a small snow band (it was either that or take a long, long detour around the street). I mis-judged and stepped into soft snow instead of the packed snow that I expected and stretched a muscle right where my stitches must be: in the lower abdominals. This meant stabbing pains for two days. However, I had the same stabbing pains on the other side the next two days, therefore it was also par for the course.

These little misadventures ARE scary