Hi there
I am 5 weeks post op for anterior/posterior repair and had both ovaries/tubes removed by laparoscopy.
I think it would be fair to say I had focused more on the laparoscopy and had just agreed to have the prolapse repair done whilst I was there so to speak. This lead to me not being prepared at all for the last 5 weeks ! Laparoscopy !? What laparoscopy !? All I have been aware of has been the aftermath of the repair surgery which I now understand to be counted as 'major' surgery !!!
So how is everyone else after 5 weeks !? I did see my consultant last week who says everything is absolutely how it should be but I am still sooooo sore !! If my husband takes me out for a coffee I have to choose the place based on their chairs !! Can't sit normally for too long but equally can't stand for too long and find my walking capacit is about 20-30 minutes before it gets too uncomfortable or I get a dragging feeling. Also still getting very tired ! And bowels - still don't feel in control ! On movicol and lactulose just to keep everything moving but still think I have a bit to go with that side of things ! Just hoping it's because of the soreness and swelling !!
Going to try and drive this week - consultant said to leave it another week when I saw him because of how swollen I still was but can't see me doing any harm with the repair driving more a comfort thing.
I know we all have restrictions on lifting and certain housework chores but how about walking a dog !? He is a 7 month old puppy who does pull on the lead but would that cause me any damage !?
Any advice would be fantastic.
Hello Bunky. Me and many other ladies know just how you feel and I can assure you at 5 weeks I felt exactly the same and thought I would never get better even though I had nursed hundreds of ladies after the same surgery! All you can do is rest, that is the very best advice anyone can give you. You're right about your bowels, the swelling and soreness doesn't help but as for puppy walking, I think another 3-4 weeks at the earliest before you'll be able to keep up with him/her.
Hi Bunky, Firstly I wouldn't dream of walking the dog yet! I had a hysterectomy and anterior repair done on 20th November 2014, and can remember waiting for Aldi to open 5 days before Christmas because I wanted one of their turkeys and we had to wait for about 10 minutes in the queue until they opened, and I was aware of slight discomfort standing waiting but only just slight and I did walk around a bit while I waited. I'm pretty sure I wasn't walking for 20-30 minutes at that point though and was very careful not to lift much at all. I found travelling by car a little uncomfortable because everything seemed to bounce around inside a bit and do remember there was quite considerable air inside me still - I was a bit worried at being so bloated quite a while after and a GP checked my stomach and told me it was full of air LOL! But from what I've read, I think it's the posterior repair that causes the most discomfort, which I didn't have. I hope you're better soon and I'd try to amuse the puppy in a less strenuous way for a few weeks yet.
Thank you for your reply. I think I am guilty of thinking i should be up to way more than I need to be.
I am just so surprised by how slow the healing process is but that's when I got the lecture from the consultant - just desperate to get back to normal :-(
Thanks for your reply.
I know what you mean about travelling in the car - I'm a bit better on that score now but it did feel like things had come unattached and we're just bouncing around !! Lol !
How long do you think it took you Chris to recover fully ?
It's difficult to put a time on it but I'd guess about 3 months. But 'recovery' affects different aspects. I think I was still a bit bloated after three months, although I felt fine but it took me longer to get fit again. I actually imagined the whole thing was going to be MUCH worse than it was, because I'd read so much online where people had talked of bad pain etc. either from 'just' a hysterectomy or 'just' a prolapse repair, and having both, I expected it to be bad, but it was much easier than I expected, but I did do exactly as I was told and rested a lot etc. although never felt the need to sleep during the day as I'd been told I would.
Bunky you wouldn't be the first lady to think that way. Convalescence is slow with this surgery but as I always say, listen to your body.
Hi I also thought it would be a lot worse,I had a posterior repair Dec 22nd I'm getting there..I don't sleep very well tossing and turning and having hot flushes 😡 But I do go for a walk every day..got no interest in driving. yet ..
Hi Debra
I think I was ill prepared as far as the repairs were concerned and on hindsight really should have done a bit of research but hey ho !!
I am too not sleeping very well but that is a combination of comfort and needing to go for a wee all the time which the consultant has assured me will settle down !! I am on HRT with having my ovaries removed so thankfully seem to be avoiding the hot flushes !
I am trying to get out for a walk everyday but really struggling for energy so haven't been today - prob not the right thing to do really but was so down this morning really didn't care !!
Just takes time I guess x
How strict where you all on wearing the surgical stockings !? I was told to wear them for 6 weeks !!!
Well, I had a full hysterectomy, vaginal suspension and rectocele repair I dreaded having this surgery for 28 years. I am 62 yrs old. and very active. I live in the US and had it all done robotically. It's sad to hear how hard it has been for many of you. I was very lucky as I had not one issue. No pain but a little tenderness in the 5 incisions in my belly. All sealed with glue, no stitches. I had no constipation, I took one pain pill for cramps on day 2. I am having a hard time not doing too much. I can walk a mile right now and could do more but it's frigid cold outside and a bit icy. I don't want to fall. I have no trouble sitting,walking or sleeping. I felt as though I hadn't even had surgery at week 2.
I suggest you do not walk the dog. Take this time to relax. Everyone of us is different. I'm lucky as I was born with an incredible pain tolerance apparently.
I had foot surgery 2 weeks before female surgery, no pain pills needed then either.
I'm posting my recovery for that one person that may be scared to have this surgery. We are all different.
I'm glad I had it done. Now will I have the courage this summer to start running again? I'm
Not sure I want to risk having my rectocele come back. Doc was worried my bladder may need to be fixed. I have had a little leakage, so it could be next. They wouldn't fix it as they would need to use mesh and I'm on 5mg of Prednizone for POLYMYALGIA. Prednizone causes my tissues to heal slowly. Perhaps that helped me get thru the pain a bit too.
Hi when did you have surgery and what did you have done x
6 Weeks! That sounds an awfully long time! I can't remember how long I was told to wear them but mine kept rolling down into a tight band around the calf, despite trying to stretch the tops, or even snipping the tops so in the end I thought they might do more harm than good so ditched them anyway after a few days but I'm guessing you've had the anti clotting injections?
Guidance in most hospitals state 6 weeks for any pelvic floor surgery is advisable
Hi Pam
Sounds like you have done fantastic in your recovery. And even though I'm moaning like mad I'm have faith that it will completely worth it and won't have any regrets having had the surgery.
As for walking the dog - it seems I should wait from everyone's advice !! Weather is helping out with that at the moment haha !!
I would love to start running again ! I actually had to stop because of pain either from pro lapse or endo - who knows ! I have read a big article on it recently though and it made it very clear that high impact sport/exercise was a risk to the pro lapse returning - I'm not decided yet whether I want to take that risk :-(
Had a feeling you would say that !! I guess it's only 7 more days but then I'm burning them lol
Had the injections daily whilst in hospital !! 6 weeks is a very long time - thank goodness it's winter !!
I am 5 weeks post op tomorrow so it has been a challenging Christmas lol but hubby and 2 teenage lads have been amazing ! I had a laparoscopy to remove both ovaries and tubes due to endometriosis and they removed some endo and adhesions aswell. At same time I had posterior/anterior and whatever the top one is called repair !! When I saw the consultant last week I was in there for about 20 minutes before he asked if I would like to now discuss the oophorectomy !! I swear I keep forgetting I've had one - that's how hard I seem to have been hit by this particular surgery !! Madness !!
I kept mine and wear them if I go on a long haul flight
Hi they was never mentioned after my opp..???