6 weeks post-op is this normal?

HI Ladies, I had a follow up radical laparotomy to remove my ovaries 6 weeks ago. I am still having "swelly belly" and the minute I start doing things I get pretty bad incisional pain. I had a partial LAVH and was feeling fine by this point in recovery. My doc says it's all post-surgical pain, I am getting discouraged. I will feel good and be up for a few hours then pay for it the following day or two. Sorry to sound so weepy-thanks-Donna

Hi Donna,

s I'm sorry you're so discouraged. You really have been through a lot, and your incision is a long one, so feeling like yourself again may take some time. Please listen to your body...it is telling you to slow down some. Are you getting plenty of rest OFF your feet? You will want to do that in order to get the pressure off your incision. Even at 6 weeks, there is still healing going on, and pain is your body's way of letting you know that. Keep staying in touch with your Dr., and continue to tell him of anything that concerns you.

Since you are not even one year out from your hysterectomy, it's conceivable that there's still healing going on inside from that, as well. A GYN says that it takes from 6 months to a year to heal totally.

My very best to you...

Donna,
I am 10 weeks out from a TVH, and still get swelly belly and I hurt when I over do it. We all heal at a different rate and I seem to be one of the slow ones. I wasn't able to sit for longer than abour 20 minutes at a time at 6 weeks. Walking and lying down were okay, but sitting, let alone driving was very painful.
I know what you mean by being discouraged. Please hang in there... in time you will start feeling better! I promise!

I ended up needing 8 weeks off work and have just started back on the 2nd of Jan. I can tell when I have over done it... I feel that someone has blown my middrift up and is stabbing my insides with a hot knife! Needless to say I have had to continue to pamper myself and take it easy. No lifting, no bending, no pushing things if I can avoid it. And when I start to hurt I take myself home from work, put my feet up and let the family pick up the slack.

My Dr. refered me to physical therapy and I have been going for 4 weeks. It has made a world of difference to help me turn the corner from "recovering from surgery" to the beginning of "resuming normal activities". A combination of abdominal massage, ultrasound, and electrical impulse/hot steam therapy has allowed me to reach the point of being able to exercise. (let me tell you how good it felt to do 10 minutes on the bicycle and 5 minutes on the stair stepper the first time!!)

I wish you the best of luck in your recovery. I know that the road looks really long... and can be discouraging...but keep strong and vent to us when you need to! And remember you have completed the hard part.

Thankyou both for the input and encouraging words. I really feel like the only other people who can truly understand our suffering are other women who have undergone the knife. Thank God for this website-Good Luck to you both-Donna