Recovery time post-abdominal myo- Needing Reassurance

[Guest guest]

This message is for those of you who have had a Myo via abdominal

incision. I seem to be taking a lot longer to get back to anywhere

near normal, I wonder if I'm being impatient or if my recovery is

slower than others? My fibroid was 10cm located near the front of the

uterrus. I'm currently 4 weeks since discharge- 4 1/2 since surgery.

My Mum came to visit over the last 2 days and was surprised that I

was still walking so slowly. I have had some post-op problems ie/ a

very bad reaction to the anaesthetic, a uriniary infection and

feeling quite anxious which hasn't helped matters. Also I suffer from

IBS, so the pains I've been getting are probably due to that rather

than due to the op. I'm not sleeping briliantly either as I usually

get the pains at night & I find it very uncomfortable to sleep on my

back or my side- I usually sleep on my front- so I keep waking up in

the night- so the next morning I don't feel refreshed.

It's all vey frustrating as before I had the fibroid I used to be so

active and used to go to the gym twice a week and go out hillwaking

once a month and go salsa dancing regularly.

I'm eating very healthily and go for a walk every day even if I'm

feeling tired. I'm also taking a high dose of multivitamins for an

extra boost.

Probably I'm over-worrying, but I just wondered if anyone can give me

any tips as to how to progress a bit faster than I seem to be doing.

As my job is very demanding and involves a lot of standing, I'm

planning to not go back til after Easter now, so that I'll be really

strong when I return [hopefully].

Sue

[Guest guest]

You need to establish whether it's:

a) Because your expectations about the recovery time are wrong

Doing as well as can be expected bearing in mind other

factors

c) Not right at all and in need of sorting out

a) Although you should be getting better all the time some

phases like the first week (when every day is an obvious

improvement), show more distinct noticeable changes than

other weeks, such as week 7-week 8. The abdominal

myomectomy may demand a longer recover time than keyhole

surgery. Every woman's experiences will be different anyhow, as

we've had different numbers, sizes, types and positions of

fibroids for one thing.

It's a good idea to take 6 weeks off work with the myomectomy.

You should be able to do things like paperwork very soon after

hospital, but once you are back in a work environment people

will think you are fit for work and forget to be helpful and make

allowances. Yet in those first six weeks you may well tire easily,

feel more emotional and find some office tasks a strain on the

stomach, like carrying, moving and stretching out things that

wouldn't ordinarily seem heavy.

Even after those 6 weeks, you still should go easy on your

stomach muscles.

I wonder if I'm being impatient or if my recovery is

> slower than others? My fibroid was 10cm located near the front

of the uterrus. I'm currently 4 weeks since discharge- 4 1/2 since

surgery.

Remember you've had a major operation and want to avoid

set-backs. Be patient as the time off work main recovery period

isn't over yet.

Take things at the pace that feels right, rather than what other

people's recovery rate was. I was told at pre-op to take recovery

at my own pace.

Make an appointment with the GP (If you're able to access your

gynaecologist for an appointment, so much the better) and get a

check up. The NHS may not call you (They didn't call me), you

may have to call them. SInce you've had a major operation and

complications noone could say that such a check up with your

GP is unreasonable.

Are you sure the IBS isn't fibroid symptoms?

< a uriniary infection>

dilute cranberry juice might help

< I'm not sleeping briliantly either as I usually

get the pains at night & I find it very uncomfortable to sleep on my

back or my side- I usually sleep on my front- so I keep waking up

in the night- so the next morning I don't feel refreshed.>

Given time it will get easier. I know what you mean.

> I'm eating very healthily and go for a walk every day even if I'm

feeling tired. I'm also taking a high dose of multivitamins for an

extra boost.>

Make sure the vitains and dosage is approved by the GP in case

any of it aggravates symptoms.

< Probably I'm over-worrying, but I just wondered if anyone can

give me any tips as to how to progress a bit faster than I seem

to be doing. >

Resting to avoid set-backs, avoiding weight moving, drinking

enough water and avoiding foods that irritate or cause

constipation. Also try not to worry despite eveything and get into

de-stressing things.

> As my job is very demanding and involves a lot of standing, I'm

planning to not go back til after Easter now, so that I'll be really

strong when I return [hopefully].>

Good idea.

Aztek

[Guest guest]

You need to establish whether it's:

a) Because your expectations about the recovery time are wrong

Doing as well as can be expected bearing in mind other

factors

c) Not right at all and in need of sorting out

a) Although you should be getting better all the time some

phases like the first week (when every day is an obvious

improvement), show more distinct noticeable changes than

other weeks, such as week 7-week 8. The abdominal

myomectomy may demand a longer recover time than keyhole

surgery. Every woman's experiences will be different anyhow, as

we've had different numbers, sizes, types and positions of

fibroids for one thing.

It's a good idea to take 6 weeks off work with the myomectomy.

You should be able to do things like paperwork very soon after

hospital, but once you are back in a work environment people

will think you are fit for work and forget to be helpful and make

allowances. Yet in those first six weeks you may well tire easily,

feel more emotional and find some office tasks a strain on the

stomach, like carrying, moving and stretching out things that

wouldn't ordinarily seem heavy.

Even after those 6 weeks, you still should go easy on your

stomach muscles.

I wonder if I'm being impatient or if my recovery is

> slower than others? My fibroid was 10cm located near the front

of the uterrus. I'm currently 4 weeks since discharge- 4 1/2 since

surgery.

Remember you've had a major operation and want to avoid

set-backs. Be patient as the time off work main recovery period

isn't over yet.

Take things at the pace that feels right, rather than what other

people's recovery rate was. I was told at pre-op to take recovery

at my own pace.

Make an appointment with the GP (If you're able to access your

gynaecologist for an appointment, so much the better) and get a

check up. The NHS may not call you (They didn't call me), you

may have to call them. SInce you've had a major operation and

complications noone could say that such a check up with your

GP is unreasonable.

Are you sure the IBS isn't fibroid symptoms?

< a uriniary infection>

dilute cranberry juice might help

< I'm not sleeping briliantly either as I usually

get the pains at night & I find it very uncomfortable to sleep on my

back or my side- I usually sleep on my front- so I keep waking up

in the night- so the next morning I don't feel refreshed.>

Given time it will get easier. I know what you mean.

> I'm eating very healthily and go for a walk every day even if I'm

feeling tired. I'm also taking a high dose of multivitamins for an

extra boost.>

Make sure the vitains and dosage is approved by the GP in case

any of it aggravates symptoms.

< Probably I'm over-worrying, but I just wondered if anyone can

give me any tips as to how to progress a bit faster than I seem

to be doing. >

Resting to avoid set-backs, avoiding weight moving, drinking

enough water and avoiding foods that irritate or cause

constipation. Also try not to worry despite eveything and get into

de-stressing things.

> As my job is very demanding and involves a lot of standing, I'm

planning to not go back til after Easter now, so that I'll be really

strong when I return [hopefully].>

Good idea.

Aztek

[Guest guest]

You need to establish whether it's:

a) Because your expectations about the recovery time are wrong

Doing as well as can be expected bearing in mind other

factors

c) Not right at all and in need of sorting out

a) Although you should be getting better all the time some

phases like the first week (when every day is an obvious

improvement), show more distinct noticeable changes than

other weeks, such as week 7-week 8. The abdominal

myomectomy may demand a longer recover time than keyhole

surgery. Every woman's experiences will be different anyhow, as

we've had different numbers, sizes, types and positions of

fibroids for one thing.

It's a good idea to take 6 weeks off work with the myomectomy.

You should be able to do things like paperwork very soon after

hospital, but once you are back in a work environment people

will think you are fit for work and forget to be helpful and make

allowances. Yet in those first six weeks you may well tire easily,

feel more emotional and find some office tasks a strain on the

stomach, like carrying, moving and stretching out things that

wouldn't ordinarily seem heavy.

Even after those 6 weeks, you still should go easy on your

stomach muscles.

I wonder if I'm being impatient or if my recovery is

> slower than others? My fibroid was 10cm located near the front

of the uterrus. I'm currently 4 weeks since discharge- 4 1/2 since

surgery.

Remember you've had a major operation and want to avoid

set-backs. Be patient as the time off work main recovery period

isn't over yet.

Take things at the pace that feels right, rather than what other

people's recovery rate was. I was told at pre-op to take recovery

at my own pace.

Make an appointment with the GP (If you're able to access your

gynaecologist for an appointment, so much the better) and get a

check up. The NHS may not call you (They didn't call me), you

may have to call them. SInce you've had a major operation and

complications noone could say that such a check up with your

GP is unreasonable.

Are you sure the IBS isn't fibroid symptoms?

< a uriniary infection>

dilute cranberry juice might help

< I'm not sleeping briliantly either as I usually

get the pains at night & I find it very uncomfortable to sleep on my

back or my side- I usually sleep on my front- so I keep waking up

in the night- so the next morning I don't feel refreshed.>

Given time it will get easier. I know what you mean.

> I'm eating very healthily and go for a walk every day even if I'm

feeling tired. I'm also taking a high dose of multivitamins for an

extra boost.>

Make sure the vitains and dosage is approved by the GP in case

any of it aggravates symptoms.

< Probably I'm over-worrying, but I just wondered if anyone can

give me any tips as to how to progress a bit faster than I seem

to be doing. >

Resting to avoid set-backs, avoiding weight moving, drinking

enough water and avoiding foods that irritate or cause

constipation. Also try not to worry despite eveything and get into

de-stressing things.

> As my job is very demanding and involves a lot of standing, I'm

planning to not go back til after Easter now, so that I'll be really

strong when I return [hopefully].>

Good idea.

Aztek