I had bladder, anterior and posterior repair on 13.6.16. I've taken myself off the painkillers because I was paranoid I was doing too much and potentially not feeling it hurt.
I am still really worried all the time that I've damaged the repair 😕 I'm taking it easy, resting on the sofa for a good chunk of every day, leaving heavy tasks to family but I am doing some cooking, washing up and laundry (it's me and my primary aged girls at home, partner is a chef who works til late most nights)
I am worrying myself sick that I've damaged the repair...how can you tell? X
At this stage the key is to do as little as you can and rest all times you do not need to be doing things.
I understand you obviously will need to look after your kids to some extent but where they can help let them do so. My 8 year old has been doing all the carrying washing up and down stairs for example and any heavy pots and pans they have been lifting. Try and plan meals that don't require you to do things like straining veg. It is summer so you can give them salad for example which won't require anything heavy lifting.
Get all your shopping delivered and get the delivery guy to unpack onto the table for you. Cold stuff you can put away, the rest can wait for someone else to do it.
House work leave for now. Think back to when you had newborns at home, the house work is always the thing to go, it is like that again now for a while. It isn't for ever but your recovery will benefit in the long term.
At this stage some pain and discomcort is normal. I think I am now about 10 weeks post op. I have no pain but still have an uncomfortable feeling now and again.
As to whether you have done any damage it is hard to say. If you have been leaving the lifting then I doubt it but your recovery will be all the quicker the less you are able to do now. It is the most frustrating thing in the world and I really did not appreciate how long it would take but rest now will help you have a speedier recovery overall.
Good luck!
It's unlikely you've damaged the repair so soon.
But it is way too soon to be doing things like laundry, it's only a week, and ideally you should be doing nothing at thi stage apart from putting your feet up and resting.
Lift nothing heavier than a cup of tea for the first two weeks, you will be very swollen and it takes weeks for the healing process.
Is it possible that your partner could cook the meals during the time he's at home, then you can just reheat them, and can you leave the washing up for him to do.
It's really important to rest at this stage, you really don't want to have the repair done again.
Take your painkillers, you need them. if you are in pain you won't recover as quickly.
Look at the pinned post at the top of the forum page, especially the Teeside advice on what you should do and at what stage.
It is very informative, and you can keep referring to it as the weeks go by.
please look after yourself, you are the important person at home at this stage.x.
Hi Amana, I am nearly 8 weeks onnow and I still worry all the time if I have done damage, I went to the ward last week to get checked and she isn't sure at the moment if I have or not but has told me to still be careful and will check me at 3 months.You are very early stages at the moment and should be doing virtually nothing other than resting.Try not to worry, it seems we all have done that on here, if you are really worried, gives the ward nurses a ring. If Matron was still here (hopefully she may come back) she would say it is very unlikely that you have done any damage. No Lifting, hoovering, ironong etc etc rest and take pain killers if you need them, because pain hampers recovery. If you follow the rules about no lifting, trying not to get constipated and lots of rest, you will be fine. Good luck, hugs xxxx
After my anterior repair I did nothing for 4 weeks..just shower, toiket and back on the sofa. I did do walks around the garden.
I think you are doing way to much at this stage.the first 6weeks are crucial. You don't fully heal until at least 12weeks..
Please rest more otherwise you will be thinking omg have I done something I shouldn't of.. Only know at 9 weeks am I carrying very light laundry, and I mean light.
Take it easy and good luck.☺
Hi I had an anterior repair on the 25/5 and had bowel/bladder issues didn't get out till the 31/5 and like you had been doing light household chores. Am also worried as I can still feel a slight bulge. Have been told am not due to see the consultant again till the three month mark!! My problem is incontinence am off to see continence nurse today. Like the ladies on this forum are telling you it's early days and you body will in no uncertain terms let you know when enough is enough. I had no idea how long this op took to recover from because you cannot see a scar you feel as though you are ok to push on but we need to just learn to cut ourselves some slack rest often keep mobile and let time do the rest. Best wishes for a speedy recovery this site is great lots of practical advise which we all crave
Hi Welshgirl,
Hope you are doing well and making progress. Your almost there now, hope you have been enjoying the warmer weather.
I am so sad that Matron has gone, but still hoping she will come back, maybe after a short break she will miss the forum as much as the rest of us miss her!
Phyl x☺
You are unlikely to have damaged the repair this soon but do need to do as little as you can. I managed my laundry from the beginning by using a large supermarket "bag for life" as a laundry bag. I lifted each dirty item individually and put it in the bag then waited until someone else was around to carry it to the machine, then loaded and unloaded the same way. Again, wait for someone else to carry it to where you will be drying it (unless you have a tumble drier). After about 3 weeks I carried it downstairs bit by bit and carried it (wet) to the airer in very small amounts. Your girls could help carry some items. For cooking, I filled a saucepan bit by bit with a mug and drained pasta and veg with a slotted spoon, waiting for someone else to empty the pan later. Are your girls old enough to do a bit in the kitchen like washing up a few items or putting them away?
Hi Amanda I'm 5 week post op. In the first 2 weeks I wondered if I'd done damage was on the phone to the Dr just for reassurance. She explained how swollen I would be and line everyone on this forum she told me to rest and listen to my body. It's hard when you see jobs that need doing, but it is the answer. I'm having to reinstall back on my own exercise (which was only walking) because I was suffering with back ache. The ladies on this forum gave me some excellent common sense advice, which I'm following and feeling better.
Listen to your bodies needs.
Thanks everyone! I am finding it hard to not do things...there seem to be lots of offers of help but not many actually materialise...I'm rubbish at asking...
On a slightly different note...I haven't been given a follow up appmt, in fact it wasn't mentioned. Should I expect one?
Thank you so much to everyone - I don't like talking about this at home and it's so reassuring to have people on here!
x
I was told I would have a follow up appointment and was getting a little worried after hearing nothing for 4 weeks. But I had the appoint through this week it's for 6 the July which will be week 8. So don't worry.
I had exactly same op on same date and am doing roughly the same as you. I've too reduced the pain killers but have to say it's discomfort rather than pain I feel. My consultant said the main thing to remember is not to lift over a kilo for first six weeks. I'm also cooking and pushed a wash basket of clothes up to the line with my foot! ( but didn't lift it) I think everyone recovers at different paces, I know I overdid things on Sunday so slept on sofa for afternoon. If you are like me you feel mentally better for doing some bits. I think taking rests throughout the day and leaving the heavy stuff to others is the key. We get very little info on what to do/ not do but the consultant really emphised the no lifting bit as that can undo all the good work. Take care Xx
Hi Elaine,
It sounds very similar...my consultant wasn't in on my discharge day, and the nurse said nothing above 5kg...there seems to be such different advice! When I asked if I could walk to collect my girls from school (about 4 mins walk) the Gynae nurse said yes, I can't imagine being able to do that at the moment though!
I'm really worried about damaging it...after a day in the car on Saturday (a big family do that I was under pressure to attend) I had a small amount of fresh bleeding after first BM and since then I've been paranoid!
I didn't imagine for a second that my main problem after this op would be the worry 😕
Amanda x
Are you using stool softener? I too had fresh bleeding on bowel movements up until Sunday. The different advice is frustrating! Mine said 1 kg for six weeks then up to 5 kg for following 6 and never anything over 15 kg for ever! General advice on here seems to be listen to your body. Try not to worry and take care , X x
I hadn't had an appt through - was told to chase it up with the consultant's secretary. When I did she said I should have had one through and sent me one for the following week. Good job I did chase it up else I could have been waiting a long time. On our howpital website if I click on the consultants name it comes up with his secretary's details to contact. Maybe yours would be the same or similar? Worht just checking if you're worried
Thanks trizwhizz...I'll give it a week and if I'm still worried I'll see if I can get a check up. Buying it's fine I'll give them a ring at week3 or 4 to see if I get a formal follow up x
Hi Elaine,
I think I overdid the Laxido as I hadn't been since Sunday, finally went on Saturday evening and that was when I had the bleed. It's v reassuring you had the same - I assume all was ok?
I will start taking just one a day again though to keep it moving...
I've since decided to have a look and a light feel of outside...and I'm sure I can feel some of the muscle wall still/again outside - and so have convinced myself that it happened since the op.
I'm taking it v easy now...it's my daughters' sports day tomorrow which I'm determined to go to...lift to the gate and taking my camping chair then lift home again! It's only 4 minutes walk away but I think it would be far too much at the mo!
Feel rather ridiculous because there's no outward signs of any ill health/need for recovery!
Hi Amanda, don't forget everything is very swollen down there so am sure the end result will be much tidier feeling! You're brave having a feel, I was tempted to have a little look but bottled out! I have found the lactulose a great help, zero effort needed for bowel movements, actually it was advice from someone on here that got me on a workable dose.
Am sure we're both going to be just fine. Enjoy the sports day X