5 wks post-op and feel horrible-long

I had my TAH/BSO on Nov. 2nd. I am 52 years old, and post menapousal;my last period was over 3 years ago. I had endometrial thickening of the utreus lining. I had a D&C for this 3 years ago and I began to have problems again in June 2009.

My recovery has been fairly normal; having good days as well as bad days. I have been having insomnia like so many others and have not been able to sleep on my sides even with pillows. On good nights I sleep maybe 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs, many nights I go to bed around 11 or 12 and wake-up around 2 or 3 and watch TV.

I have had drainage from my incision since my staples were removed. I was going to the doctor weekly for a check-up but was cleared over a week ago that things were looking better and I would return for my post-op check up on Dec. 11th. I still have drainage but am now able to place gauze pads in my incision and not have to cover it with a wash cloth.

Today when I got up I felt pretty okay, but felt like something was not right. I do have swelly-belly; and my tummy feels sore just to touch it. I am not running fever. I am extremely exhausted; have a headache and have been a little weepy.

I spoke with a co-worker on Friday and things are terrible there. My co-worker told me that our supervisor will be gone the last two weeks of Dec. and she will be gone the last week and if I come back I will have to handle it all. My supervisor is a woman, but in the get well card they sent she signed it "hope you are enjoying your time off".

I don't know if I'm feeling bad due to the news I received on Friday; and I have no idea when I will be released to go back to work; or if this is just a normal feeling.

I thought by now I would be feeling much better.
Thank you for listening.
Teri

I would not take it personally. It could go either way, maybe give he benefit of the doubt. Sorry your still not feeling well.

At 5 weeks, you are still really early in recovery. I thought the same thing at that stage, like I should have been much better. At times I even thought I was only to wake up feeling tired, achy, weepy, etc.

I know everyone says this and I was too hard-headed to get it but it takes much longer to feel balanced again. I am almost 4 months post-op and just beginning to really feel like myself again.

My job situation was really bad too and I really had a hard time with it. I tried going back at 4 weeks, then 5, then 6. Even at 6 I was not strong physically or emotionally but I convinced myself I was ready and my boss expected the same. It was a bad decision and I wish I had taken 8 weeks.

The recovery period is long and hard but you will eventually have your energy and clear-head back. Just don't push yourself. Trust me, 5 weeks is not very long in the big picture of things.


If you don't HAVE to go back to work during that stressful time you mentioned, don't go. It will be overwhelming, to say the least.

Best wishes and take it easy on yourself. You will notice more and more improvement as time goes by. There are just days in between that are harder than others. Measure your improvement on a weekly basis and you will likely find that each week is a little better.

Take care.

Hi Teri,
I'm 55 and post-menopausal, too. I had my surgery two years ago, and I am feeling much better now than I did right after surgery. I agree with Peppermint Peggy that 5 weeks is still early in your recovery. I still felt exhausted at that point too - I remember telling my doctor how tired I was two months after my surgery, and she said it can take up to a year to fully recover from a hysterectomy. And then there may be hormonal issues and problems with anxiety and depression - the hormonal changes of menopause affect every woman a bit differently. I needed a low-dose estrogen patch and an antidepressant to help with my physical and emotional problems and really start feeling good.
So first, give yourself several more months to recover - eat healthy food, slowly increase your daily exercise time (walking is good), and don't let anyone, including yourself, guilt you out of resting whenever you get a chance. If you don't start feeling good and enjoying your life, don't be afraid to get help from your doctor with any physical or emotional problems that are standing in your way.
I hope you are feeling better very soon!

Take care,
Linda
LAVH/BSO 10-22-07

Thank you all for the words of encouragement!
Just knowing that I'm not experiencing anything out of the norm makes me feel so much better.

Thanks again!!