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3.5 weeks post surgery--having problems.
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Aug 19, 2012 - 10:17 am
I breezed through my surgery with flying colors, and now reality has sunk in. I'm having problems with digestion, sometimes I am regurgitating my food, my heart rate is well over 100, hot and cold feelings, my incision site is killing me. I have no energy whatsoever. Mayo said that the heart rate has something to do with my system being out of "whack" from the surgery. I ran the vacuum cleaner Friday, and have suffered since. I am worried that I wont be able to handle the chemo in a month--Thank goodness for the J-tube, because I would be wasting away. I need some advice from one of the "pros" on here. Thanks so much. Jan |
Joined: Dec 2011
My Mom had her surgery in early April. The surgeon said "You're going to feel like you've been hit by a 2 ton truck"... and he was right. Recovery for her was a long and difficult process. She just started going back to work part-time (after 5 months off). She truly didn't have her energy back until at least 8 weeks postop. Mom was 65 at the time of surgery (THE).
Digestion is an issue and she lost an additional 15 lbs. after the surgery. She never had a feeding tube but she did have a PICC line and TPN line for food.
It does get better, your energy will come back. Mom's top incision site had to be packed twice a day with gauze, now we can barely see it. She also had problems with food getting stuck. She had an endoscopy about 2 weeks after surgery and it showed that there was a small tear, so she had to stop having food and drink by mouth for 5 days while it healed. The second endoscopy showed that the tear was closed. It was smoother sailing after that. She has had one dialation (about 4 months post-op) due to stricture, but otherwise she is mostly eating what she wants in small portions.
I hope things improve for you soon.
Joined: Jun 2012
Hi Jan,
What type of surgery did you have? I know that there is no way I would have been able to vacuum 4 weeks after surgery, I don't think you are supposed to vacuum actually. If you had the Ivor Lewis as I did, the recoup time does not occur in weeks , but rather in months. Many months. Try not to rush , I know its hard but healing will occur it just takes time. Give yourself a break.
Joined: Jul 2012
Laparoscopic mobilization of the stomach
Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy
Right thoracotomy
end to side stapled esophagogastrostomy
I went to doctor today and after a chest X-ray I have pneumonia...no wonder I feel so lousy.
Joined: Apr 2010
Jan,
I had Ivor Lewis surgery. It was at least two months before I could do anything physical. For the first month it was from my bed to my recliner with a few short walks outside for exercise.
I had digestive issues, and I had dumping syndrome, on a regular basis for the first three months. My large incisio