Sleeping after surgery

T1ffanyz
T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41

Hi, my name is Tiffany and I had a partial nephrectomy 3 weeks ago.  I thought thinks were healing fine, I was able to sleep on my side with a pillow propping up my stomach.  The past few mornings I've been waking up on my stomach and it feels like its going to explode with I get up. I'm waking up 3-4 times per night propping myself up on pillows etc.  I havnt had a good nights sleep since a few days before my surgery.  How long before this pain goes away and the bulging from my side subsides? I start work next week and Iha experiencing massive brain fog and fatigue and severe pain after I'm slightly active for a few hours. 

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Comments

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    Sleeping and recovery from surgery

    Tiffany, others may have a different view but I have no doubt of mine. 

    I'm afraid it may not be music to your ears but to me it's clear that you're not in a fit state to start work next week and it's that simple.  Maybe you'll recover so fast, young as you are, that it will all be different  a week on but I think that's unlikely. 

    If you try to start too soon it will be bad for everyone.  You won't be productive, you'll feel rotten, people around you will be anxious about your capabilities and worried for you.  Probably most important of all, you will inevitably delay your recovery - set yourself back so much that you would have got much further by taking it carefully now and building on a sound basis.

    What you are going through is all going to get steadily better - so long as you give it a chance.  Plenty of water and regular walking or other exercise will help speed the healing up and trying to do too much too soon will be a sure fire way of slowing it down, as you're already discovering.  Give yourself a chance and the bulge will subside (over months, rather than days) and your sleep will improve, carrying everything else along with it, if you don't set yourself back.

    Brain fog, fatigue and a lot of pain are the clearest possible indication that you're pushing a bit too hard.  You won't be much use at 'work' in that condition.   Stop whatever you're doing that's causing the pain well in advance of the likely onset and please consult the necessary docs (whoever they are in your case) to keep the pain well under control - it's possible (I speak from very hard-won knowledge on this subject!) to  do so but only if you know what you're doing.

    Keep us posted on how you're getting along and we'll try to give further ideas as you come to need them.

     

  • MDCinSC
    MDCinSC Member Posts: 574
    Listen to Texas Wedge!

    I could not have possibly given any better advice!

    Your body has been assaulted in a horrific way! Your entire collection of organs has been jostled, rearranged, turned upside down, abused and misused.  It takes time to recover!  If you don't give it the time it needs, it will bite you back with aches, pains, discomfort, brain fog, and much, much more.

    I was not allowed back to work for 6 weeks, and that was strictly light duty!  I have only recvently been allowed full duty, with lots of time for naps as needed.

    The only thing worse than delaying a return to work would be to go back too early and get fired for not keeping up.

    Hang in there! It will get better, but it will get better faster if you cooperate with your body.

    Michael

     

  • T1ffanyz
    T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41

    Sleeping and recovery from surgery

    Tiffany, others may have a different view but I have no doubt of mine. 

    I'm afraid it may not be music to your ears but to me it's clear that you're not in a fit state to start work next week and it's that simple.  Maybe you'll recover so fast, young as you are, that it will all be different  a week on but I think that's unlikely. 

    If you try to start too soon it will be bad for everyone.  You won't be productive, you'll feel rotten, people around you will be anxious about your capabilities and worried for you.  Probably most important of all, you will inevitably delay your recovery - set yourself back so much that you would have got much further by taking it carefully now and building on a sound basis.

    What you are going through is all going to get steadily better - so long as you give it a chance.  Plenty of water and regular walking or other exercise will help speed the healing up and trying to do too much too soon will be a sure fire way of slowing it down, as you're already discovering.  Give yourself a chance and the bulge will subside (over months, rather than days) and your sleep will improve, carrying everything else along with it, if you don't set yourself back.

    Brain fog, fatigue and a lot of pain are the clearest possible indication that you're pushing a bit too hard.  You won't be much use at 'work' in that condition.   Stop whatever you're doing that's causing the pain well in advance of the likely onset and please consult the necessary docs (whoever they are in your case) to keep the pain well under control - it's possible (I speak from very hard-won knowledge on this subject!) to  do so but only if you know what you're doing.

    Keep us posted on how you're getting along and we'll try to give further ideas as you come to need them.

     

    Maybe you're right

    I'm a teacher and next week is just meetings, no student contact.  I was thinking I could use that as a stepping stone to dipping my feet in the water, that would mark my 5th week but you are absolutely right I feel like it may be too soon and I'm worried.  How can I be the productive star teacher they praised all last year (I worked the entire year with cancer) I feel like although they might be understanding I would be letting them down.  

     

    I can handle the pain, but the fog and lack of sleep are doing a number on me.  I will call the dr today to discuss better pain management, thanks so much for the advice 

  • T1ffanyz
    T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41
    MDCinSC said:

    Listen to Texas Wedge!

    I could not have possibly given any better advice!

    Your body has been assaulted in a horrific way! Your entire collection of organs has been jostled, rearranged, turned upside down, abused and misused.  It takes time to recover!  If you don't give it the time it needs, it will bite you back with aches, pains, discomfort, brain fog, and much, much more.

    I was not allowed back to work for 6 weeks, and that was strictly light duty!  I have only recvently been allowed full duty, with lots of time for naps as needed.

    The only thing worse than delaying a return to work would be to go back too early and get fired for not keeping up.

    Hang in there! It will get better, but it will get better faster if you cooperate with your body.

    Michael

     

    I agree

    Im under contract so I'm not worried about losing my job due to illness plus I belong to the union.  I am however worried about not being the best me for my students.  I think I might go in and see my boss today.  I think I might need a few more weeks.  I can't see myself functioning properly at this point. Thank you for the advice

  • MDCinSC
    MDCinSC Member Posts: 574
    T1ffanyz said:

    I agree

    Im under contract so I'm not worried about losing my job due to illness plus I belong to the union.  I am however worried about not being the best me for my students.  I think I might go in and see my boss today.  I think I might need a few more weeks.  I can't see myself functioning properly at this point. Thank you for the advice

    I get it!

    I too teach under contract.  My supervisors were most understanding.  While under light duty I made brief appearances to establish my presence with my students and for them to get a glimmer of who I am and what they could expect.   It helped when I finally got back into the classroom under full load.

    Are you in the public schools or post secondary?

    Public school hours and agendas can be grueling. Its a little easier for those of us teaching in college or university.  Thjere is usually a little more down time between classes to recuperate.

    Good luck!

  • I am alive
    I am alive Member Posts: 315
    T1ffanyz said:

    I agree

    Im under contract so I'm not worried about losing my job due to illness plus I belong to the union.  I am however worried about not being the best me for my students.  I think I might go in and see my boss today.  I think I might need a few more weeks.  I can't see myself functioning properly at this point. Thank you for the advice

    Snooze or you lose

    Tiffany,

       Glad to hear you are going to cut yourself some slack and head back  to work a couple of weeks later. A couple of weeks can make all the difference in the world.

    In reading about how poorly you've been sleeping I remembered that for a time post surgery I could only sleep comfortably on the living room sofa. Have you tried sleeping there? I don't know why it worked but sinking into the sofa cushions was definitey more comforting to my poor body than the bed. 

    And finally, I learned that using pain meds properly was a good thing. With zero experience in surgery I began the post-op process proudly eschewing the pain pills as prescribed, as if I'd get an award for only taking 4 pills a days instead of the 6 recommended.  So what I got was a lot of break through pain, which only made it take longer for the next pain pill to take effect. Are you taking your meds as prescribed so that you prevent break though pain? I had never even heard of "break through"  pain before but now I have hard-won respect for the concept.

    How lucky you are to be returning to the classroom. Those kids will keep you fully engaged in moving forward!

  • TillieSOK
    TillieSOK Member Posts: 252

    Snooze or you lose

    Tiffany,

       Glad to hear you are going to cut yourself some slack and head back  to work a couple of weeks later. A couple of weeks can make all the difference in the world.

    In reading about how poorly you've been sleeping I remembered that for a time post surgery I could only sleep comfortably on the living room sofa. Have you tried sleeping there? I don't know why it worked but sinking into the sofa cushions was definitey more comforting to my poor body than the bed. 

    And finally, I learned that using pain meds properly was a good thing. With zero experience in surgery I began the post-op process proudly eschewing the pain pills as prescribed, as if I'd get an award for only taking 4 pills a days instead of the 6 recommended.  So what I got was a lot of break through pain, which only made it take longer for the next pain pill to take effect. Are you taking your meds as prescribed so that you prevent break though pain? I had never even heard of "break through"  pain before but now I have hard-won respect for the concept.

    How lucky you are to be returning to the classroom. Those kids will keep you fully engaged in moving forward!

    My daughter, a RPT for mostly

    My daughter, a RPT for mostly geriatric patients, said do NOT let the pain get ahead of you, because you will never catch it if it does, and you will feel like crap trying to fight whatever you are in pain from AND the pain....so take those meds AS prescribed and let your body rest.  I think a partial is more debilitating that a radical, because there is more left in there that has to heal.  We're all here for you.

  • FiatDriver
    FiatDriver Member Posts: 11
    Sleep sitting up?

    I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulty sleeping.  I experienced something similar.  It took me about 2 weeks to sleep pain free in my bed.  I slept sitting up in the recliner in my living room which is very unusual for me but it worked then I gradually started sleeping in my bed.  At first I sat up in bed propped up on pillows and eventually made my way down to sleeping like I normally sleep.

    I also want to mirror what others are saying.  You should stay home and take it easy as long as you need.  You need to make yourself strong for next year's students.  

     

     

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    Back to Work

    Tiff,

    There is a big difference between  3 weeks after surgery and 6 weeks after surgery. You will feel much better in 3 weeks. Unless you have compictions you should fell wee enough to go back to work at 6 weeks. The only problem the first few weeksback to work is that you may be a little fatiged before the 8 hours are up each day. You deserve a little vacation. Going thru our little initiation is not the Summer Vacation a teacher needs.

     

    Icemantoo

  • Dawndedoe
    Dawndedoe Member Posts: 6
    Sleeping after surgery

    Hi there, 

     

    I had a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy on May 16th.  It took me a good 4-5 weeks of sleeping on the couch with a mattress wedge.  That was the most comfortable I could get.  I was not allowed to go back to work for 6-8 weeks.  I did return after 7 weeks but only part-time for the first week and then as I felt fine I returned full-time at 8 weeks.  Here is the thing, my job is not labour intensive and I sit at a desk in front a computer all day long.  

    You are looking after and working with kids all day long.  I do have 4 kids and my surgeon had requested that someone else look after them for 5 weeks post-op.  I did have my mother looking after them. 

    I would advise to take more time, especially if you are a teacher.  Your days are going to be tough at first even if you feel fine now.  

    Dawn McKay

  • T1ffanyz
    T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41
    MDCinSC said:

    I get it!

    I too teach under contract.  My supervisors were most understanding.  While under light duty I made brief appearances to establish my presence with my students and for them to get a glimmer of who I am and what they could expect.   It helped when I finally got back into the classroom under full load.

    Are you in the public schools or post secondary?

    Public school hours and agendas can be grueling. Its a little easier for those of us teaching in college or university.  Thjere is usually a little more down time between classes to recuperate.

    Good luck!

    I'm my admin will be understanding, bomut I teach middle school and I'm concerned with not connecting with the kids if I take time off. i had an ilcoworker in my position and she never really was able to connect after being out so long.  :( time will tell I'm going to listen to my body. 

  • T1ffanyz
    T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41

    Snooze or you lose

    Tiffany,

       Glad to hear you are going to cut yourself some slack and head back  to work a couple of weeks later. A couple of weeks can make all the difference in the world.

    In reading about how poorly you've been sleeping I remembered that for a time post surgery I could only sleep comfortably on the living room sofa. Have you tried sleeping there? I don't know why it worked but sinking into the sofa cushions was definitey more comforting to my poor body than the bed. 

    And finally, I learned that using pain meds properly was a good thing. With zero experience in surgery I began the post-op process proudly eschewing the pain pills as prescribed, as if I'd get an award for only taking 4 pills a days instead of the 6 recommended.  So what I got was a lot of break through pain, which only made it take longer for the next pain pill to take effect. Are you taking your meds as prescribed so that you prevent break though pain? I had never even heard of "break through"  pain before but now I have hard-won respect for the concept.

    How lucky you are to be returning to the classroom. Those kids will keep you fully engaged in moving forward!

    Couch used to be my friend

    Funny you recommend the couch it was my saving grace when I returned home, now I can't even get comfortable on there.  It really sucks.  As for work I'm going to take my time but part of me welcomes the distraction but fears the all that cancer sympathy stares.  

  • T1ffanyz
    T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41
    TillieSOK said:

    My daughter, a RPT for mostly

    My daughter, a RPT for mostly geriatric patients, said do NOT let the pain get ahead of you, because you will never catch it if it does, and you will feel like crap trying to fight whatever you are in pain from AND the pain....so take those meds AS prescribed and let your body rest.  I think a partial is more debilitating that a radical, because there is more left in there that has to heal.  We're all here for you.

    I understand great advice the only problem is I have no meds and the dr says take Advil oTylenol that's it and neither work for me. So I suffer

  • T1ffanyz
    T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41

    Sleep sitting up?

    I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulty sleeping.  I experienced something similar.  It took me about 2 weeks to sleep pain free in my bed.  I slept sitting up in the recliner in my living room which is very unusual for me but it worked then I gradually started sleeping in my bed.  At first I sat up in bed propped up on pillows and eventually made my way down to sleeping like I normally sleep.

    I also want to mirror what others are saying.  You should stay home and take it easy as long as you need.  You need to make yourself strong for next year's students.  

     

     

    In the hospital I slept more

    In the hospital I slept more in the chair then at home I slept on the couch. The funny thing is after being up for 24 hours, I ended up falling asleep I sitting straight up in the recliner.  Maybe ill try that tonight.  Right now I'm laying on my stomach and it kills!

  • T1ffanyz
    T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41
    icemantoo said:

    Back to Work

    Tiff,

    There is a big difference between  3 weeks after surgery and 6 weeks after surgery. You will feel much better in 3 weeks. Unless you have compictions you should fell wee enough to go back to work at 6 weeks. The only problem the first few weeksback to work is that you may be a little fatiged before the 8 hours are up each day. You deserve a little vacation. Going thru our little initiation is not the Summer Vacation a teacher needs.

     

    Icemantoo

    Agreed I need a vacation away

    Agreed I need a vacation away from all the cancer healing. I need a few more weeks bc I know I'm useless right now.  I'm a star teacher and want to remain so

  • T1ffanyz
    T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41
    Dawndedoe said:

    Sleeping after surgery

    Hi there, 

     

    I had a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy on May 16th.  It took me a good 4-5 weeks of sleeping on the couch with a mattress wedge.  That was the most comfortable I could get.  I was not allowed to go back to work for 6-8 weeks.  I did return after 7 weeks but only part-time for the first week and then as I felt fine I returned full-time at 8 weeks.  Here is the thing, my job is not labour intensive and I sit at a desk in front a computer all day long.  

    You are looking after and working with kids all day long.  I do have 4 kids and my surgeon had requested that someone else look after them for 5 weeks post-op.  I did have my mother looking after them. 

    I would advise to take more time, especially if you are a teacher.  Your days are going to be tough at first even if you feel fine now.  

    Dawn McKay

    hi dawn thanks for the

    hi dawn thanks for the advice.  I keep telling my mom I wish I had something to wedge under me so I don't move. I teach middle school so the kids are a bit more responsible and less needy but I hear ya even with permission to stay at my desk it will be hard.  So I'm taking my time on the return will go speak to my boss tomorrow.  

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    T1ffanyz said:

    I'm my admin will be understanding, bomut I teach middle school and I'm concerned with not connecting with the kids if I take time off. i had an ilcoworker in my position and she never really was able to connect after being out so long.  :( time will tell I'm going to listen to my body. 

    I nailed my colours firmly to the mast at the top of this thread and it seems I was not alone in my reaction - we all think you should give yourself a bit more time.  

    I thought Michael's comment was valuable - he dealt with the problem you foresee by making a limited contact and it worked out 

    "I made brief appearances to establish my presence with my students and for them to get a glimmer of who I am and what they could expect."  

    Maybe you could find a way to do something similar?  Anyway, I'm very glad you're going to cut yourself more slack, and good luck!

  • T1ffanyz
    T1ffanyz Member Posts: 41

    I nailed my colours firmly to the mast at the top of this thread and it seems I was not alone in my reaction - we all think you should give yourself a bit more time.  

    I thought Michael's comment was valuable - he dealt with the problem you foresee by making a limited contact and it worked out 

    "I made brief appearances to establish my presence with my students and for them to get a glimmer of who I am and what they could expect."  

    Maybe you could find a way to do something similar?  Anyway, I'm very glad you're going to cut yourself more slack, and good luck!

    Thank you, I agree his

    Thank you, I agree his statement made a lot of sense.  

  • MDCinSC
    MDCinSC Member Posts: 574
    T1ffanyz said:

    I understand great advice the only problem is I have no meds and the dr says take Advil oTylenol that's it and neither work for me. So I suffer

    Advil?

    All my docs told me I couldn't take anything but tylenol any longer.  Maybe one of the wiser heads can weigh in on this! I was told Advil was too hard on the remaining kidney.

    I use athritis strength Tylenol  Frown  It's not great,but it does offer a little relief.

     

  • MDCinSC
    MDCinSC Member Posts: 574
    T1ffanyz said:

    hi dawn thanks for the

    hi dawn thanks for the advice.  I keep telling my mom I wish I had something to wedge under me so I don't move. I teach middle school so the kids are a bit more responsible and less needy but I hear ya even with permission to stay at my desk it will be hard.  So I'm taking my time on the return will go speak to my boss tomorrow.  

    Good move!

    Think in terms of you being a teacher's aide, if you will, for a couple weeks til you're a little stronger!  Hopefully your sub you'll be "aiding" will be sure to defer to you as the permanent teacher!  It will likely help that person too, if you establish a presence. You know how kids love to make a substitute squirm! Laughing