Just Don't Feel Like Myself After 10 Weeks

Women's health
1

Hi everyone. I had a total abdominal hysterectomy 10 weeks ago. Uterus, cervix, Fallopian tubes and non-cancerous large fibroid tumor was removed. I kept my ovaries.

I was nauseous since right after the surgery and lost 20 pounds within first three weeks. I have had all sorts or problems since then as well. I have no idea why I feel so terrible and neither do my dorctors.

I am having ear pressure and head pressure, pins and needles in my feet, and unexplained high blood sugar. I'm not diabetic. All of these symptoms are making it so hard for me to feel better.

I'm not on any meds at all. I've had tons of. Blood work done and dr found nothing.

Has anyone else just had such a hard time feeling better for months afterwards? Has anyone had any similar symptoms?

2

Hi I'm Amanda.

I had a partial hystorectomy (kept ovaries). To remove fibroids.

I had the surgery on 2nd June 2017.

Since then I haunt felt myself either.

Can't wear trousers my abdomen is swollen I've been sick my appetite has dropped.

I needed the surgery. But I just don't feel well.

3

Hi Jennifer, so sorry your gong through this. It's frustrating when your not making th progress you want and expect.  I'm only 5 weeks post surgery nd have had infections including ecoli, reaction to antibiotics, I'm still on painkillers, but I haven't had anny of the symptoms you mention. I can relate to what you sayabout it being a hard tiime in recovery as I am a bit that way, but we're all different and heal differently. So be kind to yourself, that's what I've been told, you will get there My best wishes to you.

4

Hi Jennifer.  You've had major surgery.  Though likely your fat is producing some estrogen, this surgery will throw you into full menopause.  Though your stitches might have healed, your whole body is in an uproar and it will take time to sort itself.  Most doctors, surgeons, especially think that once your stitches are "probably" healed you should start feeling well.  But for other women, it takes a long time to recover.  

Try not to over do and rest.  Eat a healthy diet.  Cut back on sugars and avoid "low fat" foods, which typically contain a lot of sugars.  Avoid synthetic sweeteners.  Drink 64 ounces of water a day, and start taking a probiotic.  Those things might help. 

Best of luck to you, and let me know how you get on!

5

Hi

I had the same operation in May 2015, like you I had a hard time feeling

better. Had 3 doses of antibiotics for urine infections,felt I would never feel

like me again. But with lots of rest and listening to my body I got there in

the end. It took me 4 months to get back to work and then only on a

part time basis was exhausted most days, it wasn't until after about

9 months I felt like me. Hang in there it does take time but I don't regret

having the op, it was a long road to recovery, longer than I ever thought

it would be.

Now 2 years on I feel great, no menopause as yet. Have my life back and

enjoying every minute.

Best wishes

6

Thank you everyone for the replies so far. I I'm feeling better knowing others are in same boat.

I am an avid exerciser, I eat right and watch my weight. I thought I would rebound from this much quicker.

It's been ten weeks and I'm feeling terrible overall. Just not myself. The hysterectomy area feels fine. It's just the rest of me!

I welcome more replies!!

7

It's early days unfortunately. It can take up to a year to come right. Some of your symptoms could be that you are stressing too much about not feeling better yet. Your body is going through massive upheaval and change. You're going to have to be patient and try and just get on with life. You will get there eventually, but slowly. Don't expect too much too soon. Are you eating proper food or at least pretty much the same diet you were having pre-op? It sounds like your hormones are all over the place. This surgery isn't a walk in the park for loads of girls.

8

Hi everyone. I'm interested in your responses as I'm considering hysterectomy. It is interesting reading the length of recovery times and ways of coping.

Have any of you been offered HRT to help with your recovery or have you considered asking for it? 

9

You sound as though they did take your ovaries, and or the surgery has shocked you so much your ovaries have shut down.

Are you having terrible sweating, I had some kind of reaction immediately, in the hospital 24 hours after surgery, told it is rare, started sweating like a waterfall, nurses had never seen anything like it, soaking bed clothes through and through, and I couldn't stop, I say to my friends my fingernails sweated, you could see the sweat rising through them, they could not keep drip lines in my arms open as my veins keep collapsing, came very close to really serious problems with dehydration, Dr's standing by to do cut down to realy big veins, when they got one drip to hold and stay open, put on computer pumps to push enough fluid.

Eventually they figured out I had some kind of hormanal shock, they did take my ovaries, as I had a endometiral cancer, diagnosed with D & C.

Put me on HRT, that I did not like, but it brought it under control, took me off after a souple of weeks and the sweating, shivers and shakes came back, so back on HRT, slowly slowly over the next two years I was able to wean myself off HRT.

With hind site, the shock of diagnoses, the surgery, Dr's taking my ovaries, pain killers, and urine infection, body over reacted to everything, incl flash addicting to pain killers, had to step down off those as well as recover from surgery, re-admitted in agony and vomiting, same day as discharged, until young Dr figured out what was going on, replaced pain killers and agony & vomiting stopped, that confirmed his worst fears that I was addicted, not suggesting you may be of course.  At ten weeks I would think your heavy pain killers would be to a minimum now if not gone.

5 years later have had double hip replacement, no problems with pain killers, other than being very sick, vomiting on morphine, they replaced with different drug, no problems with addiction.

The hospital did raise the issue, as they had it on my file, big interview about what I was going to do if I found myself in the same situation, very matter of fact answer from me was I would have to go through the step down process again as I had previously with success.

10

I had full hysterectomy and the old way - big scar.  I had everything removed due to possibility of cancer - was only precancerous thank goodness.  It was 5/24 and I still feel like crap!  I have 0 energy, I ended up with 2 complications - rectocele and bladder issue - awaiting to see a Urogynecologist.  I have the ear issue like you said, thought it was just me.  I had to go back to work last week and I have spent all weekend sleeping as I'm 51 and it wore me out.  Keep in mind worked since 16, never had any time off other than vacation week at a time.  Dreading the week starting again!

11

Omgoodness, Lisa. Can you tell me more about your ear issues. I'm going crazy. I feel like I have constant pressure in my ears, and some ringing. Plus pressure in my head like a headache. Nothing helping my ears and head. What is your ear issue?

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I have had a headache all wknd and thought it was just the stress of having to go back to work and the hoops work is making me jump through and the complications I am having with the bladder and rectocele .  My right ear feels like there is water in there and just constant pressure.  I haven't went to see the doctor as I just went back to work and already have to take time off for the specialist and I'm sure tests.  I am crazy over this crap!  I am thankful it was not cancer, but OMG this has worn me out and still is!

13

Lisa- I've gone to an ENT and a neurologist to help me with the ear and headaches. They put me through 2 hour hearing/ear/balance test and a cat scan and MRI of head/brain/inner ears. Everything THANKFULLY came back normal, but no doctor can figure out what is causing the ear and head pain/pressure.

I still have my ovaries so it's probably not hormonal. But it's really upsetting!

14

Did they have you start on hormone replacement treatment?  I had been on them for about 10 years, they had me start mine back up around week 5.

15

My dr doesn't do hormone replacement unless ovaries are removed. So I'm not on anything for hormones. I have no idea if this is something I really do need but he only does that if ovaries are removed!

By the way, I'm 44.

16

Hi Robyn.  Almost a year since my surgery, and it has taken me a year to start to feel better.  How are you getting on?

17

I had no choice in the matter. My dr found a giant fibroid tumor during annual exam and it was pressing on bladder and causing me to retain urine in kidneys. I had the hysterectomy 5 days later.

This was 10 weeks ago. I personally think the shock to my system is what is making my recovery so awful.

I had no notice of this surgery. The dr sent me right to hospital and they put a catheter in place for the five days leading up to surgery since the urine retention was occurring.

I have had the worst 10 weeks of my life following the surgery. I experienced the worst nausea I could ever imagine and lost over 20 pounds in first 3 weeks. I was faint, shaking, heart palpitations, weak legs, ear pressure, head pain, and high blood sugar. I could not sleep at night AT ALL. I was sent to cardiologist, endocrin, ENT, GI dr, neurologist, internist all since surgery to figure out why I had these symptoms.

I kept my ovaries so all this was NOT expected. I've had blood work taken 6 times, cat scans and MRI. Everything came back normal thank goodness.

Dr thinks my body was in trauma over surgery, anesthesia, shock, etc.

My road has been very difficult. I'm still having ear and head pain, but most other issues have resolved. I'm praying ear and head return to normal very soon.

I would not elect to have this surgery unless you are experiencing a very good reason to do so.

This has been my experience and it has been a horrible one.

Good luck to you!

18

Hi Lynda. I'm great thanks. But always worrying a little about the rectocoele not having been repaired at same time as cystocoele, which was the plan till literally 10mins before heading into theatre. I find it annoying that the Grade of prolapse is judged while lying flat, but it's way more pronounced when upright. I have read in here that some girls did say their Specialist did have a look at it in upright position. It's great that you are doing ok too

19

I have the rectocele problem and go to a Urogynocologist on 8/8.  I agree with you the grade should be when standing up because it feels like a baby crowning standing up!  I have that and a bladder issue - complications after hysterectomy.

20

Maisie,

Many women have hysterectomies and cannot have HRT, such as those diagnosed with cancer or other conditions.  Some women can retain their ovaries, but others have them taken with the hysterectomy.  

It all depends on their situation.  Also, how they recover is tied to how their body reacts to the surgery, their age and relative physical condition.  It's a complex situation, more complex, actually, than the physicians and surgeons typically tell their patients.