Recovery Progress Reports for Hysterectomy dates Feb 20-Feb 26,2012

Hello Sisters,

Many of you are either going back to work or thinking about it. Understand that if you do decide to go to work, it may not be as easy as you think. Treat it like a workout. Start off slowly and build up to it. Take it easy and remember you only get this one chance to heal.

mnpackerfan,

Many prayers headed your way sweetie! Stay strong - this too shall pass! HUGS HUGS HUGS

Good Evening Sisters! My update for day 16 post op...

I felt ok this morning, so I decided to get out of the house, move around, and have different scenery. It felt good and picked up my spirits! I was actually able to eat 1 fish filet, 1 hush puppy, and 2 spoonfulls of coleslaw (as GREAT improvement in appetite).

However, once I got home (after being out for 3 hours), I took my shower and laid down to rest - the pain hit me like a ton of bricks! I started having severe sharp pains in my abdomen and it hurt to even move. I called my dr and she instructed me to take a pain pill & 800mg Motrin and come into the office tomorrow at 830am.

I hope I didn't overdo it and set myself back. Trying to be positive....

Hoping this is swelly belly-so far, recovery has been manageable/minimal pain managed with ibufroprin, some sleeplessness & very minimal "swelling"- working 1/2 days week but belly seems to be noticeably bigger as today has progressed! Was hoping to go into work tomorrow for a couple of hours tomorrow before being able to go back to resting mode for another week due to spring break - now I worried-hoping I can get in to a pair of pants in the morning!

Hello Sisters!
I am 17 days post op LAVH, Cystocele repair and TOT sling. I had my post op follow ups with both my OBGYN and UOBGYN yesterday! It was my first outing, as I have been a very good patient taking things real slow to heal WELL before I return to work.
I work in a hospital doing long term monitoring and care for epileptic patients. Eight patients are on the floor in my dept., for the week to monitor, who can and do seize in a moments notice. Sometimes more than one at a time which causes us to be running into action. So, I need to be well healed when I return as some of them (adults, large men... or women) can become violent without knowing it and I don't want to get hurt while trying to protect my patient from a fall.
Thankfully, My OBGYN gave me 8 weeks to recover. I'll probably be really ready to get back! But until then, Im following the seasoned hystersisters and my Dr. M.'s advice to take the time to let myself heal properly! Especially since listening to my Dr. explain and further reading in the hystersysters booklet as to WHY we should do just that! For example; Torn stitches can cause "internal bleeding!" Any bleeding can cause organs to "stick to" other organs known as "adhesion's." Excessive bleeding known as "Hemmoraging" can also occur. I personally really could not do another surgery anytime soon! I'm so ill from anesthesia and opiate drugs that I cant even bear the thought of it!!!
So, at this check point, my cystocele stitches are healing well with no signs of mesh protrusion from the bladder sling, and the vaginal cuff stitches look good!!! My son drove to the appt. and we went out for lunch afterward and took a nice walk around a car dealership, wish looking and trying out the feel in the seats of different vehicles! And I was sore in the evening after that trip. I suppose probably by all the getting in and out of cars and being examinined vaginally by both Dr.'s too.
Today I have had swelly belly and gas! What the heck? Where the heck did the gas come from??? LOL! So I rested today with some light walking about the house. Tomorrow...is another trip outside. Taking my puppy for a bath and clip at the groomer while my dear friend and I pamper the princesses with a pedicure!
You may have noticed it is in the wee hours I am writing. Yes... I have had insomnia and difficulty with comfortable sleeping without the lortabs. They constipate me and make me feel so ill I cant take them. I'll let you know how it goes after tonight because I ordered a tummy binder and it arrived today! I am a side sleeper! so we'll see how tonights slumber goes!
GOD BLESS all of you women who have gone back to work already! I know it can be about finances. I dont have enough time in my extended sick bank either for 8 weeks off, so I will be using the little in my savings account to bide me over. Tax return will come soon to help. Its the first time I have not gone back after a surgery because of the money issue. This is my choice this time. And I wish every woman could stay out later to do the healing needed. We all deserve it!!! Thanks for all the lovely progress reports and encouragements ladies! Lots of love your way! Be good to yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!! You deserve it!!!!!!

Made it through almost a whole day without any pain meds yesterday which was awesome. But sat on my bed for too long without proper support in the evening and I started spotting for the first time since surgery 15 days ago. I found myself so frustrated that sitting could result in so much discomfort and visible evidence of the internal healing still to be done. I fully recognized it was normal but I just got so emotional over it that I cried for a good hour, unable to stop. I have my first follow op next week and am only on medical leave through the 14th but plan to ask for another week as I so don't feel ready. While technically I have a "desk" job, I am constantly back and forth between offices and buildings and up and down stairs. I work on a college campus which is on a hill, the treks between buildings are exhausting on a good day. Plus there is no parking near my building so everyday is a hike uphill to get back to my car. If sitting on my bed for two hours pushed me back to narcotics for relief what will work be like? I really thought I would be one of those back in five days people. This has been frustrating, yes, but more humbling than anything. I have to accept that I currently have limitations and that goes against everything I have spent the last ten years convincing myself of. Humbling to accept that pushing harder is not the solution to my current situation. Humbling that I need help... and I do. Humbling that the best thing I can do for myself is to be okay doing nothing instead of more and more. Super achiever control freak over here and as ridiculous as it sounds to all my friends, laying around and watching movies sucks at the moment.

I made it through the day with one dose of 600 mg ibuprofen. First time with no heavy pain meds. Yay! I hope I have more days like this.

I haven't done a whole lot lately, but I am driving a bit again now and I have cooked dinner and done dishes. I had DH help with the heavy pots and pans. He said he'd move laundry piles for me tomorrow. I need to wash all my yoga pants. Thankfully, I live in a very casual area so no one even notices.

Day 16 of recovery (LAVH)..continue to do well. No pain but have been a bit achey around ovary area but am ovulating. Dr post op went great...I've had no spotting since day 5 and haven't had to take Ibu or pain meds since March 1st.
Dr cleared me for my desk job and will start part days next week....I sit at a desk in my own office so can manage my activity and since the Dr says I am healing so well he was impressed with recovery. However just because I'm cleared for this do not assume I'm not taking time to heal...we all had slightly different procedures with different body responses to how we heal. I had LAVH and they left ovaries and no bladder sling was needed. I had more pain and ER visits due to monthly menstral pain and endometreosis, fibroids, cysts, cancer cells, and perimenopause then I have now.I have swelly belly some days and gas issues of bloating which causes discomfort but the worst issue for me is being tired or getting tired without cause.
So encouragement should be for all as well as understanding and compassion. I don't want to feel alone in this but do...

For you ladies who went back to work, what are you wearing? I can't seem to fit into any of my work clothes. I wish I had kept my larger clothes when I lost weight but I donated all of them. I am even considering a trip to the Salvation Army store to buy some cheap "fat" pants (which will probably be the ones I donated lol)

Today my daughter is taking me to the Mall of America. It is only 20 minutes away and they rent wheelchairs. While I can probably do some walking, I doubt I could walk the entire mall. I may start out walking and see how it goes. I need to find hats and headcoverings since I will be starting chemo soon and I need to be ready for when my hair falls out. (still not ok with this but what do you do)

Have a great day sisters.

Hi I'm two weeks today since my laps optic/vaginal hysterectomy. I feel good, never had any major plan, except for cramping and feeling weak. Just light discharge -minipad.

Had operation at u of pa - everyone was fabulous - had morphine button, catheter, massaging boots for first 24 hrs. When I was able to take pills, IV and catheter were removed. I was able to just rest and be comfortable for first 24 hrs.

I'm going back to work in five days ( 19 days after surgery). I drove yesterday which was great - no pain driving.

Good luck to all - I'm glad it's over.

Shoes71