Re: help, concerns

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry I don't know about the doctors.

If you have an abdominal myomectomy (or a hysterectomy) you

should take 6 weeks off work, and longer if your job involves

hauling heavy boxes around or anything that really strains the

abdomen.

>

During recovery you may well tire more easily. Activities that don't

normally tire you out may do so, you may want early nights

Some people can even feel emotionally low on the odd occasion

or for a more prolonged period. Hysterectomy is more likely to

make people feel down. Suddenly all that big build up is over, but

you still have questions. It also can be frustrating on occasions,

because someone is telling you to take it easy whilst not actually

helping you to do whatever it is, you're sick and tired of having to

get out of bed slowly like an old woman, or because the doctor

hasn't been in touch and you're worried about what is normal in

recovery.

You'll also feel amazed and delighted at how normal you

feel...almost guilty. You can be spoiled rotten. It's a lot like a

pulled muscle in your stomach and th rest of you feels fine. So

as long as you avoid pulling that muscle, causing pain and don't

over-do it, and eat and drink things that will avoid constipation,

you'll feel fine. In those 6 weeks you can do most things.Use the

old woman template as a guide of what you can and can't do.

What would or wouldn't you allow an 80 year old woman to do?

You can do paperwork at a desk or on your lap at home, watch

TV and walking to the end of the road and back. Showers are

easier to get in and out of than baths...less worry about slipping

and hurting yourself. Getting heavy boxes off the tops of

cupboards is out of the question.

If your childen are old enough to do useful things around the

home get them to help out and explain to them that you can't do

certain things while you recover. It doesn't really matter if they live

off easy to cook things like ready-meals, school meals and

sandwiches for 6 weeks. Let your man iron his own shirts whilst

he watches the TV. In fact, if the housework falls behind it'll just

go to show how much you usually do and you have the perfect

excuse! Don't set back your recovery for the sake of some stupid

housework task that doesn't even matter.

You could always strike a deal with friends, relatives about

things like lifts into work.

Men mean well, but they may not actually know where you keep

the tea cloths, why it matters that the living room is tidy before the

mother in law visits, or that you even have a pink nightie. Expect

them to do as they would if you had visitors over for the

weekend...no less and no more.

All the best

Aztek