scooby
New Hysterspotter
Posts: 3
|
Post by scooby on May 28, 2005 15:04:50 GMT -5
Hi, everyone and congrats on a great website. I've been searching the web for the answers to all those questions that pop up and you don't know who to ask and this forum is the best. ;D I had a total hysterectomy, uterus & cervix 3 weeks ago and obviously still feel a little tender and tired. I still have some fresh blood spotting daily but wonder whether it's because of my exercise. Before my hyst I used to jog 9 miles on alternate days and do pilates and a host of other different sports. So. when I felt a little better after the hyst I decided to start pilates again making sure that it was slow controlled and caused no pain, but, reading the forum I'm now wondering whether I've rushed back into exercise a little too soon. I also go shopping with the family, help hang out the washing (without stretching too high) and vacuum, clear up and do dishes. I don't lift heavy things and my husband nags me not to try anything silly. Do you all think this is too much, as to not do so much would drive me absolutely crazy When is the right time to start exercising? Will I ever get back to jogging or am I doomed to becoming a couch potato?
|
|
|
Post by Francina on May 29, 2005 0:57:23 GMT -5
Welcome to Hysterspot Scooby, 3weeks and exercising and laundry .... is my first reaction I would definitely consult your doctor about this but doing too much too fast can be the reason you are still bleeding. Did you have the surgery done laporscopically or abdominally? That also plays a role in your limitations. Remember that you may only have a few stitches externally but internally you can have over 100 stitches. And your body needs the time to heal. You will be able to go back to all of those things - jogging, pilates etc - but I would recommend some very NO IMPACT relaxation type yoga for the first 6 weeks and ONLY walks - and then after 6 weeks gradually go back to doing it all. No more laundry for you - My surgeon told me: no lifting anything heavier than a basic sized bag of frozen veggies for 6 weeks - no standing for long periods of times for the first 3-4 weeks, no laundry or housework AND no reaching for 4-6 weeks. We had a hysterspotter who decided her 6 weeks was up and she decided to rearrange her furniture - she spent the next week or so in pain - The 6 weeks sounds like a long time and it feels like a long time - but you had major surgery and your body needs time to heal - if you do too much too soon you can cause problems for yourself in the future and increase your healing time. Because you have done so much already - and are bleeding - please consult your doctor because you may have torn internal stitches! please keep us posted! And relax - take this time to read a few books
|
|
scooby
New Hysterspotter
Posts: 3
|
Post by scooby on May 29, 2005 8:35:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the advise. I have printed this off and stuck it on my fridge to remind me not to be so d**ned stupid! I did have a abdominal incision (this would be my fourth if you count the three previous C sections) and they also found things inside had stuck to each other so they prised them apart, stitched up some internal muscles and removed a cyst from my left ovary and scarring from the same ovary due to endometriosis. So I probably need a good slap into reality right now. I suppose because I felt better I started acting like it wasn't a big deal, but I DO NOT want to end up back in hospital so I shall ease off for now until the spotting stops and seek medical advise. Thanks. 1 more question: Above the incision there is a solid bit about 1cm wide that runs along the whole length of the incision and falls forward when I stand up pulling the stomach skin down with it. I never had this on any of my C sections and wonder if anyone else has had this or could tell me what this is. Will it soften and go away or will it only go away with plastice surgery? Any advise no matter how small would be appreciated. Thanks again
|
|
|
Post by blueangel1975 on May 29, 2005 20:12:55 GMT -5
Oh my gosh 3 weeks and you are doing all this? ?? i am sorry but at three weeks I was barly walking so I must comend you for your effort but at the same time warn you that over working yourself and doing to many things to soon can cause more damage than good.... as my online and personal friend Francinia said please and I stress please seek the advice of your doctor before doing anymore.. If at anytime you have any more wuestions and or coments please come back. that is what we here at the hysterspot are for. thank you for joining and May God Bless you!!!!
|
|
|
Post by Francina on May 31, 2005 13:14:45 GMT -5
The hard part is normal and goes away - If memory serves me correct it is just part of the incision.
Now - having had an ectopic pregnancy which was surgically repaired - I too had previous surgeries. C-sections are different because you only really have the external stitches and just a few internal - with ectopic I also had approx 20 intenal stitches and when I came home to my 5 yr old - I made the mistake of caring for him as I always do - it set my recupe time back and took me almost 6 months to heal enough that I felt WELL - so when I had my hyst I did have the previous experience to KNOW what my limitations were.
Because you have done so much I still think you should see your doctor and be honest with him/her and find out if you did tear any of the internal stitches -
Hang in there
|
|
scooby
New Hysterspotter
Posts: 3
|
Post by scooby on Jun 3, 2005 7:54:01 GMT -5
Hi everyone and thanks for the comments. It is hard to stop myself doing things as I've always been a very active person who tends to push myself. I was in the cinema on Monday watching Star Wars when blood suddenly came out. A lot of blood, I went to the Ladies a stuffed toilet roll down my pants but noticed a lot more had come out into the toilet. I went back and watched the end of the film! What was I thinking. More blood came out every time I went to the toilet, so I phoned the emergency doctor who told me to go to hospital. In hospital I had an internal and a scan to be advised that it was probably a large amount of post operative blood that had pooled in the cavity and had come through the stitches all at once. I stayed in hospital that night and they put me on strong antibiotics for a week in case there was an underlying infection. I'm at home now and still bleeding lightly which is still worrying as they said that everything had come out. They said the stitches at the top of the vaginal canal were healing nicely and that the blood was coming through them. I'm just worried that there is bleeding inside. It was a bit of a shock and has made me very cautious of any activity. I'll keep you posted as to what happens next. A few questions I thought of that you might be able to help with I get really bad hot flashes at night, they were bad before the op but even worse now. Is it because my ovaries are in shock? When will it settle down so that I can have a good night sleep? How long does it take the insides to heal properly? I've read between 6 months and 1 year. Is this right? Constipation is still a small problem but I found that drinking 2 - 3 liters of water a day really helps and eating a lot of whole grain foods. I suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) so I have to keep my fiber intake high and need to do exercise to control it. Obviously at the moment my exercise routine is practically extinct but I still move around a lot and I think this has helped with easing the constipation.
|
|
|
Post by Francina on Jun 5, 2005 0:32:05 GMT -5
Wow that is a lot of bleeding - and I am relieved you have slowed down. If it continues call your surgeon and let him/her know what has happened and that you are still bleeding - he is the surgeon and knows exactly what he did. As for hot flashes - ovaries usually 'sleep' after surgery but sometimes they don't wake up - if your doctor oks it - you can try an herbal HRT to help with the hot flashes - there are several on the market that do work. I still get the occasional hot flash - but never bad ones. And it takes up to a year to fully recuperate from a hysterectomy - however it only takes about 6-8 weeks for the stitches to heal enough to go back to normal activity - that being said - because you have over done it - It may take a little longer - Enjoy the time to relax and be pampered - it doesn't happen often and it doesnt' last as long as it feels it does
|
|