Any thoughts I had surgery June 29/05

I had a vaginal hysterectomy June 29/05. I felt so good the first two weeks postop I don't think, ok I know I didn't follow orders. The second week I lifted a box way to heavy (nobody was around to help and I wanted it done now). I suffered for the next two days. But after that the bleeding was always there when I went to the bathroom. By the end of that week I started to smell and the bleeding was worse when I went to the bathroom only. I also was having very black stools and my gut hurt. I went to the doctor he put me on two different antibiotics and something for my gut. This thoughts were that I had an infection and possbily a bleeding ulcer from the antiimatories. I started these immediately. The next day right up until today I have had diarrhea. I feel so drained I don't know. I hear other people getting on there bike at two-three weeks. I feel like a wimp. I said to my doctor I thought having a vaginal hysterectomy I was supposed to heal faster. He said it is actually the opposite. With an incision it is exposed to the air and can heal, with a vaginal it is always moist and will take longer to heal. They never said anything of the sort to me.

Anyway I guess I just needed to vent that out as I feel like I am being wimping and I should be back part time at work. I can't get into my clothes let a lone the thought of sitting at a desk for longer than it takes for me to check my e-mails and write this note.

Thanks so much for listening. Any advice, greatly appreciated.

LuLu

LuLu, I feel for you, you had some rough hills to get over. If it makes you feel better, even without the complications you had, I am still extremly tired. I read about some going for long walks, and I am feeling good if I make it around the block once, and I still feel like hunching over, rather than standing up straight. But I have learned from this sight that we all are different in our healing, and as long as we are improving - good for us!

Lu lU,
I can honestly say you are not a whimp. I am 6 weeks and find it shocking that a 35 yar old woman can still need to lay down in the afternoon fro a half an hour. It takes a long time to heal and every persons body reacts differently

Hi Lulu,

Comparing yourself to Sisters who seem to be doing more can be very self-defeating. While I rejoice for those who have shorter recoveries, I know that it is very difficult to make exact comparisons...even among TVH sisters. Our surgeries are not exactly the same, and the fact that you are being treated for an infection makes it unlikely that you'll feel up to doing the same level of activity as sisters who do not have complications.

Please try and be patient with yourself, with your own body. I don't believe you are a wimp. I truly understand the frustration of not progressing faster, I've felt the frustration but have never thought of myself as a wimp.

The way I have been coping has been to take things one day at a time. I refuse to worry about getting back into my pre-op clothes, I'm easing back into my work and taking time to rest and nap as much as I need to without guilt, I've gotten used to having to adjust my expectations about just how much I can really accomplish. These things were not easy for me to do, but I'm far happier and more relaxed since I stopped expecting things to improve on my 'timeline' and started taking things as they come.

Vent here whenever you need to, a good vent can be a relief. Be gentle and kind to yourself, your main duty right now is to give your body the time it needs to heal.

Hang in there!

I had my LAVH about the same time you did, and believe me, you are not alone..lol. I just woke up and had my 2nd cup of coffee and feel as if I could go take a nap!! If the bleeding, pain, and diarreaha (sp) keep up, i'd call the DR back and let him know. I know you can discharge for weeks, but it's a light reddish color, any bright red blood should be talked over with your DR. I still get tired out easy...I can be going full tilt and straighten up the house..play with the kids..whatever, and by 1pm i'm couchbound searching for the remote and I don't move until the next morning..lol. Thank goodness DH is the cook in the house!! You resting is you're body's way of healing because all of your energy is spent healing the insides.
Are you taking vitamins or ironpills? That could be why you're BM's are a dark color?? I know antibiotics make me go to the potty alot more too.
I hope you feel better soon!!
Hugz
Bernadette

I am only a couple of weeks ahead of you, and I still find myself suddenly tired if I overdo it (which is when I do about half of what I did pre-op!) I FEEL fine and then THINK I am pre-op superwoman, like you felt during your first 2 weeks. I did the same thing...I actually walked into the pharmacy from the parking lot on the day of my discharge...twice! Went to my mom's on day 2 discharge. Paid for it dearly...got trapped in Walmart on day 4. Somewhere in here I just read about NOT going to Walmart, and thank goodness my stomach doesn't hurt anymore because I was rotflmao!

My best advice? When you start feeling better, AND YOU WILL FEEL BETTER, don't overdo it again. Try to remember that feeling up to something and actually being able to do it are 2 entirely different things post op. Not wimpism...realism!
Hang in there...

OK, true confessions time.

Many sisters report being able to do almost anything just a few weeks after surgery. However, that does not mean that *you* should be able to do most anything. You can't force your body to heal faster, and infections and such are almost always due to something out of your control. So don't feel bad!

I had a TAH and panniculectomy, but at 4 weeks I was just really starting to have stretches of time where I felt pretty good. And then, just as suddenly as those times would come, they would pass and I would have to "take to the couch" so to speak.

The Wal-mart comment made me smile, too. I made an ill-fated shopping trip at about 3 weeks post-op ("just for a few things" of course) and found myself in the checkout lane at Target with two customer service people asking if I needed help getting to my car. They didn't mean my merchandise -- they meant *me*.

Most of us have done something (like my Target trip, or you lifting that box) which can be categorized as overdoing it. The key here is that we learn from those experiences! You did the right thing by going to the doctor, too.

Take it easy on yourself and resume the pampering you deserve.

I had the same surgery but with A&P on the same day as you. The only thing that I did different is that I did exactly what the doc said...NOTHING. Granted I had a catheter in until 2 1/2 weeks post op which helped keep me down. I truly think that most of us women think that we know better than the docs and do too much too soon. Only to pay for it later. I took what ppl said on here as gospel. When they said "you only get one chance to recover" I knew they were right. I also read lots of stories just like yours Lulu, where ppl did in fact do to much to soon only to inhibity there overall recovery.

I hope you get to feeling good soon and remember as you do to stay "inactive". Unless your house is burning down, what ever it is, it can and will wait! Keep reminding yourself of what has happened by your doing to much and ask yourself how long you want to feel badly, what ever it takes to keep you relaxing and letting your body heal.

We are 4 weeks post op today and I am back to work part time, I only sit at a desk (easy stuff) and only work from 8am til noon. I just started walking again. I just started loading the dishwasher and unloading it. I am not kidding, I didn't do anything until recently.

The good news is that I feel great!

You will too, give it time.

Hugs and prayers for a speedy recovery.

Tracy

Lulu -
You are not a wimp! I had a TVH & BSO on the same date you had your surgery. I am still fatigued - sm amt of discharge - left sided pain, etc - but am planning on going back to work on Monday (financial reasons) - I am dreading it - as I am not sure how I am going to be able to handle the 40+ hour work week - but will give it a try. I too marvel at the women who go back to work/activities 2 weeks post op - . Again - we all heal differently - and we can't compare ourselves to one another. Please see your doctor ASAP if your symptoms continue -
Hugs
Sara

Ladies, I am 5 mo. out, and I am here to tell you that this surgery (TAH, nothing left) and recovery has truly whipped my tail! I feel better than I have felt in years..but, I can't do *half* of what some of these ladies can do early in their recoveries! Jogging? Biking up a mountain? Running a marathon? I do good to make it to Curves 3x a week!

I have been "sent to the recliner" so many times that it is not even funny! And, many of those times was because I thought I *should* be able to do more, and if "so and so" can do it, why can't I? Well, the heck with that...I finally realized that I am unique in my own recovery. I have to take it one day at a time, and do what is comfortable for me...not what everyone else can do! Once you drill that in your mind and comprehend it, you will do so much better. You are not a wimp...and don't ever compare yourself to anyone else. It is only natural to get frustrated, but learn to be patient with your body. This recovery is a loooong journey, so relax and let your body heal. Don't worry about anything except *healing*. Everything else will fall into place somewhere!

Life is good! Trust me, it only gets better with time.