One week post-op/thanks for help/questions

ricksgirl

Hi All. I am here! Here being home after the hospital stay (which was a bit longer than intended due to cath issues). One week out and I feel not-so-great. Maybe this is because I am very, very active normally?! Also refusing pain meds, so that's my own fault. Anyway, thanks for all the advice. So glad I have my body pillow and help with meals, etc.

Really not doing too much yet - walking slowly around the house (thanks, mother nature for dumping 5 inches of snow in Bosotn YESTERDAY!!). Is this not enough?? How far were you guys walking at one week? When did you drive?

Going for path results Thursday but have decided that I would like a second opinion no matter what. My family has a history of misdiagnosed cancer/missed pathology, so I figure it's reasonable, right?? What's up with the stains they talk about in the lining around the tumor? 

Really looking forward to feeling in less pain and more normal. Still very little appetite, etc.

APny

A week is not nearly enough

A week is not nearly enough to expect to feel great. My surgery was in winter so I too walked around the house because of ice and snow outside. I did 5 - 6 minutes every hour for about two weeks. Then when walkways were cleared I walked around my block, woo hoo! I was told no treadmill for several weeks. Don't remember exactly how long before I got back on it. Maybe a month or five weeks. I did take the prescribed pain killers for the first week but if you don't want to take them, try Tylenol. If you're in pain you're not too motivated to be active and walking. I also did not have much of an appetitie so ate small meals throughout the day. Toast, yogurt, soft boiled eggs, chicken noodle soup, chicken breast. Nothing elaborate. Drink lots of water, and resist the temptation to overdo things.

icemantoo

APny said:

A week is not nearly enough

A week is not nearly enough to expect to feel great. My surgery was in winter so I too walked around the house because of ice and snow outside. I did 5 - 6 minutes every hour for about two weeks. Then when walkways were cleared I walked around my block, woo hoo! I was told no treadmill for several weeks. Don't remember exactly how long before I got back on it. Maybe a month or five weeks. I did take the prescribed pain killers for the first week but if you don't want to take them, try Tylenol. If you're in pain you're not too motivated to be active and walking. I also did not have much of an appetitie so ate small meals throughout the day. Toast, yogurt, soft boiled eggs, chicken noodle soup, chicken breast. Nothing elaborate. Drink lots of water, and resist the temptation to overdo things.

The worst is over

richsgirl,

 

Well you made it thru the first week. No pain, no gain. Everyday forward will get a little better with maybe a bad day in between.

 

 

Icemantoo

 

 

hardo718

icemantoo said:

The worst is over

richsgirl,

 

Well you made it thru the first week. No pain, no gain. Everyday forward will get a little better with maybe a bad day in between.

 

 

Icemantoo

 

 

Congrats Ricksgirl!

So happy this is behind you.  I didn't walk but a few houses down the block, in that first week or so, but then we lived in a house that was on a good sized hill, so getting up that made me a little leary of going too far.  My first drive was to the doctors office at 2-1/2 weeks post-op.  I really didn't feel ready for that, but he said I could, so I took it slow.  I didn't take pain meds once I was home, just took it fairly easy.  I over did it at 2 weeks cause I felt so good.  Big mistake.....ended up in the ER that night cause it felt like I tore something, severe pain.  Everyone was pissed at me, including my doc. 

As far as the appetite, I think it was a few weeks or so before I felt like eating more than a few mouthfuls at any sitting.

Donna~

Jan4you

hardo718 said:

Congrats Ricksgirl!

So happy this is behind you.  I didn't walk but a few houses down the block, in that first week or so, but then we lived in a house that was on a good sized hill, so getting up that made me a little leary of going too far.  My first drive was to the doctors office at 2-1/2 weeks post-op.  I really didn't feel ready for that, but he said I could, so I took it slow.  I didn't take pain meds once I was home, just took it fairly easy.  I over did it at 2 weeks cause I felt so good.  Big mistake.....ended up in the ER that night cause it felt like I tore something, severe pain.  Everyone was pissed at me, including my doc. 

As far as the appetite, I think it was a few weeks or so before I felt like eating more than a few mouthfuls at any sitting.

Donna~

Glad you are home and now on

Glad you are home and now on your way for full recovery!

I understand your skepticism about your final path report.

Don't forget ice for pain. Like those wraps you can keep in your freezer or warm up in your microwave type. And I used a lumbar wrap, placing dry ice packs inside near incisions and that really helped get the swelling down. NSAIDS, like ibroprofin UNLESS you only have 1 kidney then you cannot use, ever again.

Glad you are keeping us posted. I was told NO exercising or stretching for 30 days NONE< EVER!!! I could walk and that was all. Remember your body is still getting rid of those heavy duty medications used in general anesthesia, and your insides need to heal. You do not want adhesions or ruptures, ok?

We're here for you!

Gentle hugs, Jan 

Jan4you

Jan4you said:

Glad you are home and now on

Glad you are home and now on your way for full recovery!

I understand your skepticism about your final path report.

Don't forget ice for pain. Like those wraps you can keep in your freezer or warm up in your microwave type. And I used a lumbar wrap, placing dry ice packs inside near incisions and that really helped get the swelling down. NSAIDS, like ibroprofin UNLESS you only have 1 kidney then you cannot use, ever again.

Glad you are keeping us posted. I was told NO exercising or stretching for 30 days NONE< EVER!!! I could walk and that was all. Remember your body is still getting rid of those heavy duty medications used in general anesthesia, and your insides need to heal. You do not want adhesions or ruptures, ok?

We're here for you!

Gentle hugs, Jan 

P.S.

OH, ask them to test your iron level for anemia. My surgeon said he wasn't concerned, so I had to ASK for the test.

Turns out, yes, I was anemic. Took OTC, SLOW FE so you don't get constipated. It really helps healing and feeling better sooner.

Jan

foxhd

Jan4you said:

P.S.

OH, ask them to test your iron level for anemia. My surgeon said he wasn't concerned, so I had to ASK for the test.

Turns out, yes, I was anemic. Took OTC, SLOW FE so you don't get constipated. It really helps healing and feeling better sooner.

Jan

Patience

grasshopper.

foroughsh

Happy it's behind you, don't

Happy it's behind you, don't push yourself to do something your body isn't still ready for. You've just had a major surgery and many parts of your body are still in shock, they need time to set a new normal way to do their jobs. I could do my simple routine works and walk around the apparent and it was fine with me. I didn't use painkillers but multi vitamin, iron and antibiotics were on my list to use for first weeks.I couldn't walk straight as in this case I had more pain in the incision so I walked while my hand was supporting the incision and a little bending to the front for three weeks but it came better and better daily and on the fourth week I was pretty normal and went to a semi-adventur trip,, I felt fine walking hours and hours a day for six days but on one day I had terrible pain and dizziness and needed to use painkiller and rest for some hours to feel fine again, so I think it was a little soon to do it,maybe I should have waited one or two more weeks.

Wishing you uneventful quick recovery

Forough