Re: Tiredness past post-myo recovery

[Guest guest]

I think many women still feel more tired than usual 4-6 weeks after a

myomectomy. Since your myo was on January 19, you're just a little bit past

that point, so your body may just need a little more time to recover.

The tiredness is especially hard to take if you're normally a high-energy

sort of person. My husband think it's almost comical how much energy I

usually have and how much I try to fit into one day. As you can imagine, it

was frustrating for me when I had to slow down after my myomectomy. I

wanted to be back to my normal self, but I didn't have much control over

when that would happen, other than to eat well, get enough sleep, get

moderate exercise, and try not to push myself past my limit. One day, when

I thought I was fully recovered, I went shopping and felt full of pep. Then

I got to the checkout line and felt like I really needed to sit down and

take a break. I felt like I barely had enough energy to walk out to the

car. I took about 3-4 weeks for me to get back to my pre-myo energy level.

The recovery period can vary quite a bit from one woman to another.

Pain during your period (also known as dysmenorrhea) can be caused by

uterine contractions, which are the result of an increase in prostaglandin.

Prostaglandin causes contractions to start during labor, too. In fact, my

midwife administered a prostaglandin gel when my daughter was 16 days overdue.

Here are a few Web sites that discuss dysmenorrhea:

UC Health System Medical Conditions:

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/ucdhs/health/a-z/100Dysmenorrhea/doc100causes.html

University of Iowa College of Nursing:

http://www.nursing.uiowa.edu/sites/PedsPain/GenePain/Dysmett.htm

Genesis Health System:

http://www.genesishealth.com/micromedex/altmedgen/amm0069.aspx

Cheryl

At 12:33 PM 3/21/2004 +0000, you wrote:

Did any of the post-myo ladies experience such tiredness?

How long did it last?

Another question, totally unrelated to my tiredness, re periods please. When

>one has bad period cramps, is it wrong to say it’s because the uterus is

>contracting (as in a mini-labour) to get rid of the blood & sometimes

>bloodclots? Does the uterus not contract at all during periods then

[Guest guest]

Yes the uterus does contract. My physician (GYN) told me the reason I

was having such heavy bright red bleading is because my fibroids were

so large and numerous that my uterus was not able to contract as it

usually does during the menstrual cycle. I looked in a couple women's

health books , but could not find how the uterus functions during the

menstrual cycle. Hopefully, someone else of this group can shed some

light on the matter.

As far as your tiredness - remember you have been sedentary for quite

some time with all your body's resources focuses on healing. I am

only at week 2 so I can't speak to the matter too much. However, it

may take some time. Have you added some potential energy boosters to

your diet. Food loaded with vitamins. Possibly vitamin and mineral

supplements. I recommend Marilyn Glenville's The Nutritional Health

Handbook for Women for some good diet recommendations.

Also, I wouldn't give up on the gym yet. Exercise even if only for 10

minutes a day may help your energy level. I know there have been

times where I was so exhausted I wanted to die and a short time at

the gym was enough to get the blood flowing again. I empthize with

you re: your exhaustion. I have a thyroid issue and have been dealing

with exhaustion for a long time.

Also you might want to consult with your physician if you haven't

already.

Best wishes!!!

Debbie

- In uterinefibroids , " Chie Nakano " wrote:

> Did any of the post-myo ladies experience such tiredness? How long did it

last?

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much Debbie, Cheryl and Sue for your supportive words,

and also the clarification on uterine contractions during periods.

Thanks, particularly to Cheryl for the very useful links! They were

great -- I have checked them all, and there seems to be no doubt that

period pain is associated with those contractions (if you don't mind

I'd like to send those links to the friend who laughed at " my

ignorance " so that she can educate herself better before laughing at

others....!)

Sue is right when she says my schedule pre-myo was crazy, and I do

not intend to EVER go back to that life again. I'm going to work

less,sleep and rest more, and not go so crazy on the exercise front

(I was working out like mad as I thought the bulge on the stomach was

me getting fat!), but it is frustrating, as Cheryl and Debbie seem to

agree, when one's always been so active. The hardest bit is people

around you who see you looking well, doing your own (heavy) grocery

shopping, hoovering and ironing as before...it is so hard to explain

to them how tired " tired " means after an op. I once said at a meeting

at work, when someone asked me how I was coping,that " I am ok, but by

Friday night I was very tired. " One of the guys responded, " Well, we

are all tired on Fridays. " I really wished he is reincarnated in the

next life as a woman with terrible menstrual problems (heavy, painful)

and huge fibroids on top of that so that he can REALLY understand

what we go through...! LOL Seriously now, some people look at you

like, " How pathetic is that. You are well. How can you be so tired? "

I can't stand it.

On my first week at work, by Friday, everybody had forgotten I had

just had an op., and made me help with a mini-office move. I had to

move heavy desks and drawer units, carry files and more files across

the office, and guess what? only the ladies helped. ALL THE MEN

(incl. some really big, strong guys) in the office sat on their

behinds ignoring it all, not even offering assistance. Some of the

directors even shut the door to their offices, which they normally

keep open, to pretend that they were busy...I was so exhausted that

day, I thought I'd die in my sleep that night... Sorry, I'm going a

bit off topic, but thanks for letting me moan.

Sue & Debbie, and any other ladies about to have myos, when you get

back to work, take it reaaaaaally easy, and don't put up with a

situation like the above. I'd say exaggerate your symptoms if

necessary, play drama queen and pretend you're in pain, unwell etc

whatever, but put yourself and your health first. Some people have

never been ill in their lives, let alone had an op., so they won't

understand as they lack the experience. Happy recovery to all!

Chie

[Guest guest]

HI, I am new to this group. Have huge fibroids which I am told new removal

and looking for the best options. Can you tell me about your

procedure?...SP

[Guest guest]

I understand tired

I started to respond to your post earlier but it

sounded so depressed I cancelled it. But when you

described your moving furniture I had to post.

If they ask you to do anything that stupid (I mean

them for even asking) again tell them fine I'd love

time off with workman's comp. That was a huge risk

when it takes three to six months for full recovery.

At just over three months I too have a heavy lifting

and bending schedule at work but I have refused to do

what I cannot do with ease. They have tried to get me

to go to the store for work.but I have no urge to lift

into two carts 700 dollars in groceries or put it on

the checkout or in the car or away at the group home

so instead I say no. If the shelves get empty enough

someone else will go just as someone else would have

moved the furniture. If you feel guily go to the

bathroom and return after...you NEED to look after you

because no one else will at most jobs.

That easily said and much harder to do

hope this note finds you well

e

[Guest guest]

Men!! I can't believe they sat on their bums!!!

Remember to take of care of YOU!! Don't listen to other people! I had

people at work say " enjoy your vacation " or " what a way to get out of

budgets. " The urge to slap a few people senseless was overwhelming!

You just have to turn the noise off. Let them judge you and say what

they want - you have to take care of you because your health and well-

being is worth it!!!!!!!

> Thank you so much Debbie, Cheryl and Sue for your supportive words,

> and also the clarification on uterine contractions during periods.