Journal

HEY CHERYL,

sorry you had a bad time... I am post op 6weeks... and I hate to say I had an easier time the 1st 4 weeks... the last 2 have been very painful and my dr is not very understanding. I feel like I have done something wrong cause I felt better 2 days after surgery than I do now? pain and mentally but I do not have anything left they took all of it... so I am on a estrogen patch. not sure if that is enough for the mental part I think I need more... but I know what you mean about the weight gain I had the same thing I came home 20 lbs heavier and did not eat at the hosp. but I have lost 10 of it.. but I am still swollen.. but it take a few weeks to lose it... so be patience with that..... I have read on the web site http://www.hystersisters.com that you can rent a tray for your bed like the hosp had and a walker for not much $ and it might help you for the 1st few weeks. I wish I would have had both of them.... If you have not been on that web site is great...try it... wish I would have know about it before my TAH.

take care

michelle

Um... it sounds like you're doing great! I think it's awesome to be here where we are after having suffered for so many years! Talking about suffering... You may have lost weight, but I gained about 5 pounds! LOL! It'll be 6 weeks on Friday, and I'm still bloated and swollen and my tummy feels like I have a bad sunburn. You know, when you touch it, it just feels burnt and super sensitive. It's not red or anything, just majorly tender.
The abdominal binder is good, but I never got one because I read somewhere that it actually can hinder your abdominal muscles from repairing fast. I do not know if this is true. My gut still sticks out pretty good, but the abs feel like they're repairing. Zipper or bikini cut for you? I had a zipper cut.
I'm seeing my doctor for the first time since surgery tomorrow and then I'll be able to ask her exactly what she found without being under the haze of morphine.
I feel a lot of fatigue, and I'm such an overachiever, I've been pushing myself to do stuff. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the first 2 weeks in bed being treated like a princess. I just went a little crazy after that and wanted to GET OUT!!!
I guess I wish I hadn't showed my family that I could do things, because they all kind of lost interest in me and the pain I was in (except for my husband Peter). They all just figured, well, she's up and around, I guess she's good to go!
I blame myself for not paying more attention to my body and for becoming angry with myself for feeling this physical weakness. I don't like weakness. I regret not giving myself permission to be weak. If you say you're going to lie down and listen to your body, please make sure you do it for the full 6 weeks they recommend. btw: I went off all pain killers after about 2 weeks, I just took 1 a day for the 3rd week, then the 4th-6th weeks, I haven't really had to take them.
BUT, now that I've pushed myself so far so fast, I find I took one a day for the last 3 days.
Part of the reason I wanted this operation was so I would not need to be dependent on pain killers to make my life livable. Now, I took them just to keep going. I'm so tired, but I can't rest. It makes me feel so lazy!
Anyway, I am looking forward to hearing my doctor's opinion about how to proceed from this point. My husband is upset and wants me to tell her everything I've been doing: aka: cleaning, laundry, shopping, etc.
I just don't want to have started to build scar tissue inside. My main problem was all the excessive scar adhesions that form very well inside my body. That's the other reason I needed the Total Hysterectomy.
Keep in mind, the body heals in 12 day cycles. From the day of your operation, start counting days... it's really interesting how you can actually tell when the cycle is over, you start itching like crazy at the incision site, and there is a little more pain than usual. I'm sure I'm at that point in my healing cycle, but I just wish I hadn't been pushing myself. Then I could tell for sure.
I think I'm rambling now.
Oh yeah: a friend of mine said that the night sweats I had this one night was my body getting rid of excess hormones. I felt like I was swimming in my bed. It was like someone had taken a glass of water and spilled it on my bed, but it all came from me! This has only happened once, and you may experience it too, and if you do, don't freak out like I did, cause it's just your body getting rid of stuff it doesn't need anymore.

Peace out, and no worries now,
Elisheba

Yes it sounds like you are doing good and yes you will feel all kinds of hormonal things for a while but it won't be too too bad i am glad you have 1 ovary left that is all i have too and it works alright the emotional stuff happens especially right after surgery and like you i came home with a cold although not as bad because they gave me a shot of steroids before i went in to surgery. I was bloated for a while after and did i gain weight oh boy did i gain but thankfully things have straightened out and i have lost the weight not all but most and you musty give yourself at least 6 weeks even 2 months before you feel like getting out and going any where yes you will sewat at night and like the other lady has said it only happens once or twice and you may feel like you ar eswimming but that is okay it will pass i am now 4 years over mine and i am starting to go into the change of life I am (45) but all in all i am glad i had the surgery but if i had to do it again i would say no thanks but i am glad still i had it done took care of all the daily/ monthly pain i had you will start to feel better soon just give yourself a chance okay you have just gotten home and the stitches just came out trust me you will start to feel beeter soon. Take Care Donna

Hope all goes well with your recovery. Take care.

Hang in there. It is going to be so much better very soon. Just lots of rest and walking. You will not feel like doing anything for weeks. I felt that way for 8 weeks and then I started to feel a few inches better every day. The pain in my abdomen was making my whole body hurt. Surgery while rough the recovery was not as bad as all the pain from before because of the endo. I was so scared and upset about having an hyste. but afterwards you will look back and go oh man it is good not to hurt anymore. I really hope it goes well for you. Do you have any questions? take care lots of hugs and caring.

Just hi. Hang in there. I pray that all goes well for you.