Maybe it is just me being feeble, but since the op I am exhausted! Mum went home Tuesday morning so I have had the house back to myself for 2 days and have only pottered around, but it really knocks the wind out of my sails, and if I sit down, I doze off! My wound is healing and is clean, but is still aching like bugger. The staples come out tomorrow and I am hoping that will ease the tugging sensation I have constantly. I know they said it was going to take 4 to 6 weeks to recover, but come on, I am an allotmenteer, I was hoping to be able to start pottering next week!
You've got to be joking - It WILL take 4-6 weeks. :(
Thats what worries me asbean. :'(
Cor, give yourself a chance woman! ::)
It takes quite a long time for anaesthetic to get completely out of your system, let alone heal well! Rest a plenty, sleep when you need to, eat an 'adequate nourishing diet' as a friend of mine says, and don't overdo things or you WILL take a step backwards and take longer to get back to full strength! Honestly....... ;D
EJ you must do what they say and rest and get yourself better, if you do too much too soon you will upset something and then take even longer to get better. I am not a bossy person but do care that you get yourself properly healed first!
Can you set yourself some tasks that can be done sitting down - plan borders for facing different directions or something that you can use when you go back to work, or next year's rotation or something - anything to do with gardens that will help you but take your mind off your frustration.
How about your family tree - this is the ideal time for that. You never know how far you might manage to go back with all the time you have at the moment. But as Deb P says, you must rest and get yourself healed at the now, you will be glad you did later on. I will stop lecturing now, I'm sorry!! :-[
Emma. You are going the right way to get a lecture!!!! :) You were told it would take 4/6weeks so you just have to take their advice and don't try doing anything you shouldn't.. I am sure it is really difficult for you especially this time of the year.
I hope things are a bit easier when those clips are removed but you must take things easy. Take care.
Lorna.
Yep sorry EJ, but no matter how tough you are after an op your body insists on healing time. Like deb says anaesthetic can take ages to leave your system so that may be why you're so sleepy. Get onto amazon and order all the books you've wanted to read, all the albums you've wanted to buy and lots of paper for drawing plans for plot and stuff!
TAKE IT EASY GIRLIE!
If you are not careful your mum will be back before you know it ... and then she'll get bored and start dusting 'all the bits you've missed dear' ::) ::)
Don't worry, it probably is the anaesthetic.
I know the feeling, I've had more than my fair share of ops. The after affects of anaesthesia I can only describe a bit like a slow release hangover. Hits harder than the immobility and the pain.
After the first couple of weeks you will begin to feel better, honest. Relax and enjoy the rest, never know when you'll get another chance.
Stop it you naughty girl, just you get yourself sat down, If you are dozing it is beacuse that is natures way of helping you heal, you will amazed how much better you feel in anothet week.
Anyway, it is all behind you now, you will be all systems go soon, do a bit stop a bit, you will soon be able to do more.Promise
XX Jeannine
Emma, you are right, having the staples out will really make a difference, you will no longer get that tight tugging around the wound, it will 'relax'. I remove them on a regular basis for patients and they always feel immediately better.
Shame you can't relax too!
It must be very frustrating for you but you will have to grin and bear it for a few weeks yet.
I have a pile of books on my bookshelf (I'm an avid collector of books as well as seeds). I love to read but don't seem to have enough time to get through all the books I want to read, so they gather there for 'when I break my leg'! In other words - when I can't do anything but sit - not something I find easy either.
Chin up :P
Sand
Like everyone else has said you need to take it easy. I had staples for Caesarian sections and it was so much better when they came out.
However you need to leave the time for the healing. If you are stressing about the lottie go with the kids and give them specific jobs to do. Meantime you sit in the sun (you what???? ;D) read a book and relax.
AW big hugs honey! You'll get there just go slow.
Aww Emma sorry your feeling so rubbish. Don't know what you have had done but if you've been told 6 weeks then you need to take 6 weeks... There is reason for it and you dont want to compromise your healing do you!
Anaesthetic can have a depressing affect too so that could be another reason why you are feeling low.
Do you not have any hobbies?
If i had to rest for 6 weeks this is what i would do:
Plan my plot for the next 3 years, sort my seeds out again!
Do a scrapbook
Make jewellery
Read books
Start a new hobby.
Go on ebay - selling and probably more buying LOL
I knew I would get a good telling off from you guys. ;D I know, my darling keeps on telling me that as soon as I am better I will be running around again, so whilst I have an excuse to lounge, lounge!
I had a hernia repair OO.
Had the 18 staples out this morning, felt like vigourous eye brow plucking! And yes, as soon as they came out I could feel the skin relax. The nurse was very pleased, all healing nicely and at last I can have a proper shower!
I am planning to have an ebay day tomorrow as I have a stack of stuff to sell. This morning I sorted all of our holiday paperwork and made sure we having insurance cover etc. So now I am going down to make a cup of tea and watch a little TV, then going to wander up to the greenhouse to check out how everything is doing. It is a lovely sunny day here, but already I am feeling sleepy. GGRR.
Glad you're feeling better minus staples. enjoy your chill time, hope the weather lasts. ;D
Brilliant that you are feeling better. OK to just have a peep in the greenhouse but no trying to do any work!!! All the best Emma you will soon be back to your old energetic self (only another 5 weeks ;D ;D) Glad to hear Mark is keeping you in line a bit.
Lorna xxx
This is a really good time to plan your next years garden and have good look through your seeds, see what you are missing and get ready for the year end sales. XX Jeannine
Hi EJ :)
After a general anaesthetic it kicks around in your liver for quite a while and makes you feel like pants.
Try taking milk thistle herbal supplements and eat plenty of carrots, dandelions (!) and any dark green vegetables (rocket, kale etc.) Add some fresh ginger for 'zing' and to support the blood.
Hope you're fighting/digging fit soon :)
Witchy Auntie Trixie!
EJ - Relax and accept your limitations, some days you will be able to do things and some days not. Your body is dictating this not your brain or your heart. You will only wind yourself up more if you feel guilty because you cant do things.
Your not being pathetic!!
I have started to learn this myself.
Good luck!
I didn't realise the anaesthetic could last so long. I figured once you were awake, it was pretty much over and done with. Much less pain now the staples are gone, so have been a little busy this afternoon.....will post a couple of snaps in recipes once I have done the kids tea. ;D
Awww Emm its great to see you raring to go... but its ok to feel pathetic when you need to... just don't burn out and try to do too much too soon = and if you do... don't feel guilty about having a rest and going to bed ok!!!
yep, i can say I know how you feel,ej, hope you get better quickly
I'm feeling much better, i think the vit c and e have really helped, also, started taking pre-biotics 3 days ago..I've heard the doctors are trying to get people to go on them for 2 weeks before surgery to help heal
trouble is, like you, I'm not allowed to pick anything up, ray's sorted the laptop for me to sit on the settee , I keep having to call him to take it off my lap ;D
don't worry, ej..another week, you'll be feeling so much better, I know whereof I speak ;D
When the wounds have healed, that new Bio-Oil, as advertised in mags, and on the telly I think, is brill for fading scars.
'available in all good chemists' :)
Don't do too much too soon, take it from one who ignored advice and put herself back a bit!
Saying that, had my op 2 and a half weeks ago and am nearly there! Though it wasn't as invasive as yours, I even managed to do a bit of sneaky digging yesterday! ;D
Try to catch up on all the paperwork and stuff and don't get too brain dead on daytime TV!
Day time TV sucks! What a load of rubbish. Thanks goodness for my mags and computer. Seems like a lot of us have stayed at the Grand Hotel NHS.
Its not 2 bad if you loook
You have quincy, lovejoy, Mapp and lucia, cagney and lacy, and House!!
Aww!! Emma, it was always going to be difficult for you as it is just not in your nature to be lolling around the house. But, as everyone says even just the anaesthetic is going to have taken its toll on your system never mind the op and having had all those stables in there. You will heal and be back as good as new before too long but it will just take a little time.
Everything sounds good and you seem to be healing great, so just you reign yourself in girl! You will get there with a little patience. They say life teaches you a lesson with every experience, so you think of how you can use this time wisely. Big hugs and sympathy, and you will get there! love busy_lizzie :-*
I can only echo what everyone else has said, abdominal surgery really takes it out of you, my friends Dad recovered faster from a triple heart bypass than I did from having my appendix out!
Take it easy while you can and use the time to catch up, it will all be a distant memory very quickly:)
Try arnica for the bruising, it really helps to ease the swelling and help the area heal.
Esre
And don't forget that even when the surface looks healed over there's still mending going on inside.
I tried to lay on my tummy in bed last night but YOUCH! Amazed at how swollen I suddenly am. Looked in the mirror and am quite lopsided. Plenty of bruising to. However, I did have a better nights sleep and am off the painkillers altogether now. It was lovely to have a proper long shower this morning - the kids thought I was crazy. Am spending today listing things on ebay, dull, but productive and means I am resting. Off out to see my sister tomorrow as it is their school summer fete (in the rain) so I anticipate a lot of walking so am taking advantage of doing little today.
Bear in mind that it's just a temporary setback. A few weeks down the road you'll only enjoy the advantages. Bit of a bummer while you're going through it though.
Glad to hear you're off the painkillers. Thing is painkillers cover up the pain you were in so coming off them you often feel worse even though you are actually better.