calling older hystersisters for support...

Hello everyone,

I am 4 days post-op now. My surgery went fine. I had difficulty breathing after and it very much scared me and my sister who was with me. I was on O2 until the next morning. Now I am breathing fine
Except for when I cry. Cry at the drop of a hat I do!
My hospital stay was terrible except for the first night when I truly had an "angel" for a nurse. After that it was fend for yourself and my roommate even ripped oepn her stitches. I thought she was doing too much based on what I had read on this site or I thought Iwas being a big baby. My husband was my knight in shing armour when he arrived to drive me home from that castle which was more like a prison!
WEll, everyone heals differently I know from a thread I read first day home. But I hope some of you can offer me some personal understanding
Talking to others or my doctor I feel not understood.
How am I doing? I have hot flashes that are not too bad. Nothing compared to old period pain... but to me they confirm the hormone factor in my emotional changes for it takes little to set me off crying and feeling worthless to all. I started vit E and black cohash today..hoping they will help. My obgyn says no hrt (i have read this too and was in agreement) or it can cause the endo to come back.
I need to have a BM. It is hurting not to at this point. My pain level is less but it really hurts sometimes and especially if I pull on the left side gettingup and down at all. I did pull it really bad once in the hospital and the docotor told me it is normal to have burning searing pain like that sometimes from how they tie off the stitches inside. (I wish the nurses would have told me this) I have Lortab to take and it works but I keep wakingup at night so I asked for something else stronger for night time only today and the doc said take some tyneol. I'm sorry but this is more than tyneol pain...anyone withme on this or am I a baby for sure? MaybeI just needed to ask for a sleep aid but was afraid too after their tone and response to my request. I am hoping my pain level will drop so much this will not be an issure soon. How long for your pain to stop?
WEll, my family and friends are being great. I hate crying so much on them and depending so much on them. I was wondering if it would be better for me to be alone or should I continue to let them come and help?
WEll, I better get up..it's hurting more and more to sit here! Sure you know what that is like.
Happy I could get on and type.
I would not have faired so well so far had it not been for the tips and advice I read on this site.
keep up the good work...
PRaying for healing in His time for us all...
lil sis juliane

It gets better. My crying has passed and now that my doctor prescribed Miralax for my constipation, I can say that that has passed now too. Try and make your time between walking around and resting the same. Both are important but one should no get more time than the other. Good Luck.

oh...and I would still be letting people help you. It's good for the body and soul.

One more thing. I was on Percocet and they work great. I'm off pain meds now but still have some mild pain and aches. Motrin was also another thing they told me to take.
At night I prop myself up with tons of pillows so that I sleep on my back in a more upright position and some under my knees.
Nightime sleeping is harder the daytime though.

I also slept sitting up for quite a while after my surgery.

If your docs aren't giving you any more prescription pain stuff, I would ask them if what they suggest. If you have any of the prescription meds left (sounds like you're taking them during the day?), I would take the Tylenol and ibuprofen during the day and save the prescription stuff for nighttime when you need to be more comfortable to sleep. Also, sometimes they will allow you to take combinations of meds (or they will recommend a staggered schedule so that nothing "wears off" at once). It's worth a call for sure.

I'm sorry you're still in pain. You're still very new to recovery and I'm not surprised that you still need something for pain. The trick is to get comfortable but not be so comfortable that you do too much. I hope you can find that balance!

I am sorry that you are having so many problems. SOmething that you wrote in your post concerned me...you mentioned taking black coshash. I have heard from more than one person that this is estrogen based or similar enough to estrogen that it can cause endo to regrow just as much as HRT would. Please talk to your doctor about this. I would hate for you to have endo pains again.

Dear sisters,

here i am. slept good 9:30pm until 1am. Was thinking of trying to just take tylenol but will use the Lortab for now. It is night time I do need more sleep. I have plenty of lortab to last me awhile but I don't want to depend on them espec. if they are going to constipate me. Well, right now pain relief if more important i think so i can heal.
I am standing to type
I go back and forth just wanting to use the painkiller, thinking it is ok to and then thinking I should not(ie i should be tougher and they are not good for you)
i did do too much today. i felt so stressed.
Yes, i will stop the black cohash. Today I had read it did not have estrogen effect...but before i thought i HAD read it did. Better safe than sorry!!! This pain is in no wise as bad as period pain. i want no chance of it's return! //thanks for the warning.
back to sleep for me.
hugs,
lil sis juliane

believe me is does get better I had my op 11 years ago and things just kept getting better and better until of cause menopause, which i start about 3 months ago. So keep your chin up and think of the future
Cheers

Rather than the Tylenol, I would take Ibuprofen. It's better for inflamation and pain. My doctor gave me Tylox (Tylenol & Codiene) and a prescription for Ibuprofen 800 mg every 6 - 8 hours. I took all of the Ibuprofen but still have some of the pain killers. When I ran out of the Ibuprofen I bought some 200 mg at Walmart and I'll take 2-3 if I need them. My doctor said that was okay and was a whole lot less than I was taking before my surgery. I am allergic to aspirin but my doctor said a bad reaction was very rare. Drink lots of water; it helps with the constipation. Also, I ate melon (watermelon, canteloupe, honeydew) that helped with some of the constipation. I still battle with the constipation because I'm taking iron pills. My doctor also prescribed a stool softener (Colace) for me to take for about a week. It gets better; I promise.

I was thinking i wanted to take motrin. it is my painkiller of choice but u are not allowed to take it pre-surgery for bleeding risks so i was unsure if it was safe to take now. I will try it now. I was/am very healthy other than this surgery...no high risk of bleeding.
Your message confirms it for me. thanks!