What to expect one week post op

Well Hallzer I'll tell u pain wise pretty good...there's so much stuff I could do around here..IF I COULD ONLY LIFT!!!!!....plus I got to tell u I really need a **** cigarette...I took off the patch since it's interferring with my sleep...like an insomniac needs more screwed up sleep...LOL
NO believe me what you're saying dosen't sound babyish at all....If I knew then what I know now...I most definately would of taken care of this surgery stuff in warmer weather.....keep me posted

HI everyone!!! Today I am one week post op.. And I Still hurt .... My belly hurts heating pad a god send.. And my lower back feels broken... Starting to feel emotional, I feel like I could cry at any moment.. For the second time today already. I tried to wipe down the kitchen and bath counter tops,. and start a load of laundry.. BAD idea I guess.. pain in belly is terriable... I guess I dont grasp how major the surgery was.. I guess fell bad just sitting here... (strange I know).. Guess A little sad today... ADVICE Ladies?? It is so nice to talk to you all....

did you try the gum?? I had to have that and he patch in the hospital... Seemed to work ok... I just didnt follow through.. Good for you for doing it.. Thats awesome!!! I wimped out to much going on all at once..

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Hallzer How much activity are you doing? I wake up every night at least 4 5 times.. sometimes soaked in sweat , most times my belly just plain hurts. even hurts to breathe in.. my lower back pain just started and it feels like my back is breaking.. walking straight... LOL how do you do that.. I dont know if I should call dr and tell her about my pain or just try to suck it up with motrin.. which doesnt help at all.. What do you think i could be doing around the house at this point? anything? My body says NOTHINg but my head is frustrated with no picking up.. LOL

Definately call your Md if you have any question if what you are experiencing is normal. You will have pain for some time..it is a major surgery and every abdominal muscle and nerve have been cut. If you have trouble doing a task, ask for help. Don't push yourself. I am doing laundry, dishes, picking up light things around the house, making beds and preparing some meals.If I get tired, I rest. It is a gradual process. Just remember it will get back to normal eventually, even though it dosn't feel like it now.

Thank you....You advice means alot to me...

hang in there...I feel blue myself...cry when I'm overtired....going outside did help today...I think...LOL....I am just soooo **** bored of doing nothing already...probably because the pain is better....for now at least...keeping my fingers crossed......still want that cig....starting to think it's too much on me too

Wow! One week and you are antsy!? Hang in there. I didn't feel like doing squat for over 2 weeks, and that's not normally me - I'm a big hiker, skater, etc, Just had to go with the flow on this one, let my body call the shots. We have to give our bodies what they need to heal.

I am a chiropractor, so maybe have a unique take on the back pain and headaches? I am not giving medical advice, mind you, just speaking of my own experience. In my first week, I woke with the "migraine from hell" one night, a friend was trying to help me and I just about bit her head off! So yes, pain alone can make us quite irritable - headaches right now especially, because what else can we do but use our heads for awhile?!

My best headache remedy is lying with an ice pack on the base of my skull. Gel ice pack, not ice cubes! I also like a menthol-type topical aromatic on my temples and between the eyebrows (I use something called White Flower Oil that they sell at some health food stores, but it's similar to Tiger Balm, and in a pinch even Head-On from the pharmacy - tho' weaker - still helps) for headache relief. If you put it on, then open the door to outside, the cool air blast is heavenly! Just don't get it in your eyes.

The first week or so, I think we are heavily detoxing the anesthesia, and that can cause terrible headaches. Even the oral pain meds we take at home can cause a little headache. Check with your doc if it persists. Definitely drink enough water. Constipation can cause headaches, so if your doc recommended stool softeners, be sure to use them. Try to keep your blood sugar even, too, by not skipping meals (I did mini-meals every few hours). For me, getting some good nutrition every day seemed important to help my body thru this, too. And...do some deep breathing every day, the brain has the highest demand for oxygen of any tissue in the body.

People definitely mend at different rates. Today is 3 weeks for me, and I still take 1 to 3 Vicodin a day. It's not that my pain is severe, it's just bothersome and the Vicodin makes it go away. Pre-op I put up with a lot of pain w/ no meds for years, and I just figure that now I'm putting up with all the other limitations of healing, so why not give myself this? I have a slight complication = seroma, little hole in the incision line where fluid oozes out. Kinda sucks but I just wear a washcloth in the front of my panties and follow my doc's instruction to press around it in the shower so it drains (totally gross, sorry).

For me, low back pain can be triggered by so much time lying in bed, or sitting or half-lying down. Small frequent walks (driveway, even room to room) can help. I did some light stretches on my hamstrings and gluts to help my low back, BUT I know the body super-well, so I knew what was safe to do. Your doc might or might not know (different area than OBGYN's deal with!). Maybe ask around on that? But be very careful, don't risk pulling stitches or getting a hernia.

Low back pain can also be referred pain from the pelvic organs. It may be with you for awhile.

Lastly, I tell my low back patients not to use heat, because it feels good while it's on but can perpetuate pain thru inflammation. So maybe try ice on your low back, and let the heating pad rest on your shoulders or somewhere else to "fool your system" so the ice is bearable. (Again, gel ice pack with thin towel between pack and your skin, so you don't get frostbite.)

I went back to work today, very physical since I do some massage on all my patients. I only saw three people, will keep it pretty light for a couple more weeks, but so far so good. A week ago this sounded impossible! So hang in there.

Try to find ways to enjoy the leisure aspect. I normally don't sit still much, but managed to let go of my need to do things and embrace the sloth, and that made it easier. After six weeks, tho' - different story!

NEVER hesitate to call the doc with questions. Better ten silly calls than one serious issue you should have called about but didn't, right? This is a major surgery, and they give you precious little info on what to expect. You are ENTITLED to those phone calls!

Good luck, and know that your boys will have a new appreciation for all you do when this is over. So will you!

I am feeling much better most days after my TAH, but the pain in my belly is, well...a pain. I also have numbness just below my navel and can't even feel when I scratch there. The pain is like a burning pain under the skin, in my tissue. I have a little pooch in my belly so it feels like someone went inside the "pooch" and dug around. The Dr. said thats kinda what they do to get to a large uterus,(mine was 430g) HUGE! But should I have so much numbness? My incision is nowhere near as painful.

Hey Im almost 2 weeks out and have learned that we are all different and to take it easy as long as your body tells you too. Ive been disappointed a few times already not being able to drive..go to the store etc and have embraced that I am different and I will heal at my own pace and Stop Rushing It!!! any twinge of pain or discomfort, I lay down and rest when I get back to life thats not an option so Im trying to get it right and relax..even tho I want out of the house most of the time..

Thanks what you wrote gave so much info...I use the icepack for my headaches all the time...seems to help..been doing alot of reading so they seem to be a bit more often now...I try not to take the pain meds to often because for me personally they add to the ache....I am not a good sleeper at all so lack of sleep, inactivity, boredom and of course worrying about things I can do nothing about always leads me to anxiety issues...seems winter time is the worse for me and it worsens as I get older...seasonal depression you could say but have not responded well at all to any anti-depressant I've tried so far....my biggest problem is just letting go...big big character defect of mine..but I'll keep working at it....don't do too much at work and take care

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Newin2010 Wow! One week and you are antsy!? Hang in there. I didn't feel like doing squat for over 2 weeks, and that's not normally me - I'm a big hiker, skater, etc, Just had to go with the flow on this one, let my body call the shots. We have to give our bodies what they need to heal. I am a chiropractor, so maybe have a unique take on the back pain and headaches? I am not giving medical advice, mind you, just speaking of my own experience. In my first week, I woke with the "migraine from hell" one night, a friend was trying to help me and I just about bit her head off! So yes, pain alone can make us quite irritable - headaches right now especially, because what else can we do but use our heads for awhile?! My best headache remedy is lying with an ice pack on the base of my skull. Gel ice pack, not ice cubes! I also like a menthol-type topical aromatic on my temples and between the eyebrows (I use something called White Flower Oil that they sell at some health food stores, but it's similar to Tiger Balm, and in a pinch even Head-On from the pharmacy - tho' weaker - still helps) for headache relief. If you put it on, then open the door to outside, the cool air blast is heavenly! Just don't get it in your eyes. The first week or so, I think we are heavily detoxing the anesthesia, and that can cause terrible headaches. Even the oral pain meds we take at home can cause a little headache. Check with your doc if it persists. Definitely drink enough water. Constipation can cause headaches, so if your doc recommended stool softeners, be sure to use them. Try to keep your blood sugar even, too, by not skipping meals (I did mini-meals every few hours). For me, getting some good nutrition every day seemed important to help my body thru this, too. And...do some deep breathing every day, the brain has the highest demand for oxygen of any tissue in the body. People definitely mend at different rates. Today is 3 weeks for me, and I still take 1 to 3 Vicodin a day. It's not that my pain is severe, it's just bothersome and the Vicodin makes it go away. Pre-op I put up with a lot of pain w/ no meds for years, and I just figure that now I'm putting up with all the other limitations of healing, so why not give myself this? I have a slight complication = seroma, little hole in the incision line where fluid oozes out. Kinda sucks but I just wear a washcloth in the front of my panties and follow my doc's instruction to press around it in the shower so it drains (totally gross, sorry). For me, low back pain can be triggered by so much time lying in bed, or sitting or half-lying down. Small frequent walks (driveway, even room to room) can help. I did some light stretches on my hamstrings and gluts to help my low back, BUT I know the body super-well, so I knew what was safe to do. Your doc might or might not know (different area than OBGYN's deal with!). Maybe ask around on that? But be very careful, don't risk pulling stitches or getting a hernia. Low back pain can also be referred pain from the pelvic organs. It may be with you for awhile. Lastly, I tell my low back patients not to use heat, because it feels good while it's on but can perpetuate pain thru inflammation. So maybe try ice on your low back, and let the heating pad rest on your shoulders or somewhere else to "fool your system" so the ice is bearable. (Again, gel ice pack with thin towel between pack and your skin, so you don't get frostbite.) I went back to work today, very physical since I do some massage on all my patients. I only saw three people, will keep it pretty light for a couple more weeks, but so far so good. A week ago this sounded impossible! So hang in there. Try to find ways to enjoy the leisure aspect. I normally don't sit still much, but managed to let go of my need to do things and embrace the sloth, and that made it easier. After six weeks, tho' - different story! NEVER hesitate to call the doc with questions. Better ten silly calls than one serious issue you should have called about but didn't, right? This is a major surgery, and they give you precious little info on what to expect. You are ENTITLED to those phone calls! Good luck, and know that your boys will have a new appreciation for all you do when this is over. So will you!