10 days post-op, have a few questions...

I'm 10 days post-op and feeling so much better than before. I now only look four months pregnant, as opposed to the gigantic swelly belly I had. My incision doesn't burn- just pulls every now and then. Internally, I have twinges and throbs and little feelings every now and then, but nothing worrisome. There are two big things still bothering me though. One is that after 7 days of constipation I finally started going to the bathroom. I have a bm twice a day now (not my usual pattern, but I'm eating lots of fiber) and get very bad, sharp cramps right before and while I'm going. It immediately stops when I'm done, but they take my breath away. Does that sound normal? The other thing is the incredible fatigue I feel. I can't sleep at night, even with tylenol PM, so I know that's part of it. It's just that anything I do, like going to the bathroom, or taking a shower, or sitting up for an hour, make me need to rest in bed afterwards. I haven't been outside yet- it's going to be 50 and sunny in NYC today- and I'm dying to feel the fresh air. I think I'll try to stand outside my building with my DH, but I'm so afraid of that overwhelming fatigue afterwards. I still think I'll give it a try. I guess I thought I'd feel a bit stronger by now...
LSN
SAH 2/26/03

IBS. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome.) This is a very common ailment (which I hope you don't have because it's chronic). Please consult your doctor. I have IBS, and my hysterectomy caused it to flare up. What I did: when I began to experience cramping, multiple bm's, etc., I temporarily put myself on the "brat" diet (bananas, applesauce, rice, chicken). When my stomach calmed down, I slowly began to build up my fiber again: strawberries, peas, etc.

Whenever I have a flare-up, my doctor tells me to stay away from orange juice (too much acid) and milk (too much lactose), which can aggravate a sensitive stomach.

I'm not saying you have IBS! But when your stomach is moving a lot and cramping, it's trying to tell you something. Listen to it, treat it gently, and it'll calm down. Please consult your doctor for more details.

Laura
4/10/02 - breast biopsy (removal of non-malignant duct ectasia)
8/1/02 - TAH/BSO (on an emergency basis - fibroids, menorrhagia, severe anemia)
2/3/03 - bilateral inguinal hernia repairs
Premarin .625

All your twinges and little pains sound perfectly normal to me. Mine peaked at about 3 weeks then quickly began to lessen. Now at 10 weeks there's nothing happening unless I do way too much, then just a little tightness. The pain before and during BMs sounds very familiar - it seems to grow like a labour contraction and I used to hang on to the radiator in the bathroom and breathe through it!! Any movement in your intestines and bowels is felt by the newly tender wounds inside you, inch by inch as 'things' travel along their way! This too will gradually ease.
Ten days is still very early in your recovery, but its beneficial to have some short walks in the fresh air as well as indoors each day. I was told to walk outdoors for 5 mins per day at one week post-op, and add another 5 mins with each week that passed.
It feels great and helps you heal, gives bowels a gentle workout and you can measure your progress and see yourself getting stronger and fitter.
Best wishes,
love
Lizzie

HI I am also around 10 days post op, I too am out of my norm with bms and experienced pain with them. Doctor still has me taking Colace(stool softner) and they told me that due to them having to mess with the bowel alot during the surgery i could experience things like this for the first month or so after surgery.
But if the pain gets that bad, please contact ur doctor. Also i too still get very worn out easily, just taking a shower wears me out, I have not wandered outside yet either but I will try to do that some time next week, right now I am just being a good princess and taking it as easy as I can.
Susan

2/24/03 TAH/BSO for severe endometriosis and ovarian cancer

All your pains and twinges sound perfectly normal to me. Mine peaked around 3 weeks then quickly began to lessen.
Now at 10 weeks there's nothing but a bit of tightness if I do too much. The awful pains before and during BMs sounds very familiar... it sort of grows, making you think 'oh no, here it comes again' (like a labour contraction). I used to hang on the the bathroom radiator and breathe through it - the worst pain I had throughout the whole recovery! It began to decrease in the 2nd to 3rd week then went away. Just the odd twinge now.
Ten days is very early in your recovery and every little thing will tire you out for a while yet. Try to enjoy a bit of pampering, cos it doesnt last long!! Short walks during the day, indoors and out are beneficial. My DR told me to walk outside for 5 minutes after one week post-op, and add 5 minutes to that each week.
It really helps you get better and feels good to be in the fresh air, as you said. Also its an easy measure of your progress... I used to long for the day when I could walk at normal speed for an hour and that was about a week ago.
Relax, it sounds like everything you describe is perfectly normal.
Love
Lizzie

Hi!
I am 23 days post op with a TAH/BSO. Enlarge uterus was squashing my bowel and huge fibroid was flattening my bladder. So I guess a lot of manipulation was going on in there too.

I have had bladder spasms since surgery and the painful bms as you have described. I'm on stool softeners, fiber etc. as you all are. I've noticed in the last several days that both are starting to improve. So hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel so to speak for you, too!!!!!!!!!! LOL.

The fatigue continues for me though. I had to take a three hour nap yesterday afternoon--couldn't keep my eyes open. All I did was take a shower, walk downstairs to the couch, rinsed off my lunch dishes, and read the local paper, and watched some T.V. I think all the sisters mean it when they say to , , .

So, be good 's,

Julie

TAH/BSO, large fibroids, enlarged uterus, heavy, prolonged periods, etc, etc,

LSN,

Judging by my experience, everything you're feeling is totally normal. I could be feeling pretty darn good, and then all of a sudden, the extreme pain started and I was headed for the bathroom, only to literally be trapped in there! That pain was the worst part of my recovery, and now, at about 5 weeks post-op, it's all but disappeared. It does take your breath away..what an apt description.
Also, I believe you should be taking short walks at this time. Check with your though if you're unsure. I do know this much...the walks I took helped to alleviate my gas problem. I avoided uphill/downhill at first - Actually, I started out by walking to the end of my driveway and back...then went a bit farther every day.
Yes, you will tire easily. That's so normal, and will lessen as time passes. At first, the end of my driveway seemed to be about 10 miles away !! Normal things will tire you ( and I don't mean housecleaning, because you shouldn't even be going there! ) I'm saying I could get tired just from the walk to the bathroom!! That didn't last long, though...
Day by day, Sister....Heal at your own pace!!
s
HollyG

HI LSN!

The ladies have given good advice here. Try to stick to an easily digestible diet for awhile, and do remember to take frequent walks and drink lots of water. The bowel does tend to act up in most of us in the first weeks post op, it is pretty normal. I remember getting the sharp pains, and I also had trouble passing a bm in the first week or so. It's no wonder as our bowel is moved around during surgery, it is still settling down. If pain increases or continues, you should let your doctor know. Also, the fatigue is something we all get, you are early in your recovery. Take care of yourself, take walks, and slowly you will see an increase in your energy! Hugs to you sweetie,

Marta

I wanted to say thanks to everyone who answered me while I had an oz. of energy left today (it's only 4:30ish in the aft., but it feels like I've run a marathon -I wish!) I actually had my DH put my sneakers on for me and I went outside-hooray!! The sun felt wonderful. I walked to the corner of my block, around 50 feet, crossed the street, stood in the sun for 2 minutes and had to turn around and come right back home. Not much, but more than I've done for 10 days. I'm going to try the other corner tomorrow; there's nothing like thinking big! I had one outdoor walk and two bm's---a pretty exciting day for me...
LSN

Well done, LSN... bet you feel better already. Keep up your little walks, big rests, lots of water. Congratulations on the BMs!!
You'll soon be further down the recovery road and laughing at your exciting 'milestones'. Little things mean a lot, dont they?
Best wishes
Lizzie