LSH - am I recovering more slowly than others?

I had LSH on 6/23, so it's been twelve days since my surgery. The fact is, I am having more discomfort now than I did the first week! I've read other recovery stories and yes, I know we are all different and recover at different rates. But, I thought I'd be doing much better than I am. I am quite uncomfortable on my left side where the morcellator was inserted. My incisions look okay although the right one is a teensy bit ooky today.

DH and I just made a quick trip to Ross because I had to get out for a few minutes and I had to find something to wear. I have such a swelly belly that I can't wear most of my clothes without feeling uncomfortable and I am sick of wearing jammies. I could only walk around about a half an hour before I was so crampy feeling that I had to come home. Once I sat down in the car, the discomfort subsided.

I read where some LSH ladies were kick boxing, dancing, etc., after a week to ten days. REALLY? Why am I still feeling like a decrepit old lady?

My follow up with the doctor is Tuesday. I don't really think there is any wrong with me, I just feel blech and I'm disappointed that I'm not kicking up my heels a little better.

Any other LSH ladies experience a slower than expected recovery?

Although I am only a few days out, I know what you mean.

originally I only felt discomfort at my left incision. It is a little larger then the right one, ad severely bruised. i wouldn't even have known about the other 2 if I hadn't seen the bandage.

But as the days go on, i am feeling more pain in the left incision, and the belly button. All pants hurt my belly button, no matter what kind they are or how lose.

I had more energy 2 days ago, then since.
I got really dizzy int he shower this morning, and actually sat on the side of the tub for a few minutes to get my bearings.

When you get other illnesses, such as the flu or a cold. Does it take longer for you to recover then other people you know, or the doctor predicted time? Do you get sick easily?
These could be signs it will take you longer to heal then others who rarely get sick and bounce back quickly.
I know it is frustrating seeing and hearing of people doing better then you, and you not being able to "catch up". We want the best for our sisters, but also for ourselves. Right?

Take it easy. Go at whatever pace your body will accept. I try to find the silver lining in everything, eternal optimist. It could always be worse.

everyone recovers at different rates..dont feel bad about it. you'll probably turn the cornor very soon and notice a huge difference. tell your dr exactly how you feel at your appt and he might have some suggestions. try going for short walks a couple times a day and make sure youre eating well and sleeping okay.

Hi!
I took longer to recover than I expected. It was frustrating because my doctor had said that at 2 weeks I would be doing everything I wanted. I thought there must be something wrong with me but there wasn't.

I guess I just heal a bit slowly.

We had a trip planned one month after the surgery and I was still no where near normal which made me mad because I ended up resting and missing out on some of the activities I had looked forward to.

I know everyone heals differently, I just didn't want to be the slow one and I was. I remember being so jealous of everyone else that just snapped back so quickly.

Hopefully you still will be faster with your recovery than I was.

Lizzy

Hi Honeybeez,

I also had a LSH.

Please do not beat yourself up. We *do* all heal at a different rates. I remember my first (6) weeks post-op...and I had some great days..and then I would have a two steps back-wards type of day and no energy. It can be part of the healing process. So just give yourself time.

Sending best wishes~

Mary

I know it is difficult but try to be patient. I keep having people say, "Hey, you DID have major surgery!" But, I know it is frustrating to feel like others are bouncing back quicker. The key is not so much that we get well on a certain day, but that we allow time to heal well. I am at 4 weeks from a DaVinci Robotic surgery and I really thought I would be fine now. I just came home from Bike shopping with my daughter and I am beat. I have not driven my car yet, my posture is still hunched over a bit and I must rest after a few hours. I can't wear regular clothes, just dresses or loose pants like sweats. This is frustrating to me but at least I am moving a bit more easily. I am hopeful that next week will be pretty normal...maybe. Every day or two will probably get better unless you get over ambitious. I think week two is the hardest because you expect to feel lousy the first week but by the second you want to see faster improvement. Hang in there!!

My LSH was on 6/17 and I expected to feel a lot better by now. The incision at my belly button opened up shortly after surgery and grew to 3x the original size. It is finally starting to heal from the inside out, but still very sore.

I too went shopping on Thursday and after walking around for 1 1/2 hours, had to go home. I felt very achy in the area of the uterine ligaments and had terrible bladder spasms.

I am still experiencing pulling pain on the left side as well. The first time it happened was rolling over in my sleep and I woke up and almost went into orbit! It happens now if I move a certain way and although the pain doesn't last long, it is intense.

My Dr. said I would be cleared to go back to work in 7 days, but I am feeling more like it will take 7 weeks to really feel like I can put in a full day. Very frustrating!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by allymac I felt very achy in the area of the uterine ligaments and had terrible bladder spasms. I am still experiencing pulling pain on the left side as well.

Uterine ligaments! I didn't think of that but that's what it feels like.

I too had a few unexpected bladder spasms the other night when I was trying to go to sleep.

It's reassuring to know that while LSH is a great option, it's not exactly easy. I guess I had read so many great things about it that I was expecting it to be a minor inconvenience.

I thought I may go back to work at two weeks but I have decided to take three. At the end of the three I will decide if I need the fourth, since the doctor wrote my note for four weeks off work. He said he would make it more if necessary but hopefully four will do.

My surgery was June 6 and I still have a swelly belly and tire easily. A hysterectomy is a major surgery and you have to give yourself LOTS of time to recover. By the 3rd week I saw a great improvement in how I felt but then I began to overdo it. Now I take one day at a time and alllow rest times. We only have one time to recover so we might as well do it right.

Hang in there, it really will get better! I had my LSH and BSO on May 14th. I took longer to heal as well, and I developed some hematomas which slowed down the healing process. Yes, we are all very different, please don't worry if you are healing slower than you think you should. In a few weeks you really will feel so much better. I still have soreness and a huge swelly belly, but I am back at work (I took 6 weeks off andd needed every day) and feeling like I am on the road to recovery finally! I was also shocked to read about the women that went out doing things and working, and I could barely get out of bed! I am sending you lots of positive thoughts and hugs! Take your time healing!