Witherbark
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2010
- Messages
- 125
Best of luck with your surgery!
I had a robot-assisted surgery two years ago to remove the uterus, cervix, and tubes due to massive fibroids. I didn't have any real symptoms prior to surgery (no heavy bleeding, pain, or other issues), although by the time of surgery the fibroid was so large it could be felt by just pressing on my stomach. My three hour surgery ended up at six hours due to the dense nature of the tumors. I had to spend one night in the hospital because of severe dizziness of all things. I had no trouble going to the bathroom or eating, so I was released in about 24 hours. My husband was TDY, so my mother came up to help me. She drove me home and I immediately walked upstairs by myself and took a shower and washed my hair. The only pain pill I took was in the hospital (they made me to be sure I could swallow it and wouldn't have a reaction). I did take the motrin 800 at night to help me relax enough to sleep.
By day 3 I could walk around the neighborhood. By day 5 I was walking a mile or more. At my two week follow-up appointment I was wearing my regular jeans and begging my doctor to remove restrictions (he refused). I spent 5 weeks on short-term disability and another week on half-days. At week 6 my doctor lifted all restrictions and I was able to go back to crossfit, although for another two weeks or so I restricted lifting to 50 pounds. At week 7 I ran a 5k (not my best time!). I never experienced pain that I would classify above a "2" on the 10-point scale.
I'm not bragging. Everyone's recovery is different. I was young and healthy and had not had excessive blood loss or exhaustion from symptoms prior to surgery. I worked with the trainers at my gym on a series of core-strengthening movements for two months before surgery. My mother, a nurse, kept me in bed for almost three whole days. I will say that after week 3 my husband came home and was almost, completely, zero help. If he had been my primary caregiver for the first week, I'm not sure how I would have fared.
Listen to your medical team and to your own body. If something feels "off", by all means call your doctor! Getting plenty of rest and not stressing out about what isn't getting done is key!
I had a robot-assisted surgery two years ago to remove the uterus, cervix, and tubes due to massive fibroids. I didn't have any real symptoms prior to surgery (no heavy bleeding, pain, or other issues), although by the time of surgery the fibroid was so large it could be felt by just pressing on my stomach. My three hour surgery ended up at six hours due to the dense nature of the tumors. I had to spend one night in the hospital because of severe dizziness of all things. I had no trouble going to the bathroom or eating, so I was released in about 24 hours. My husband was TDY, so my mother came up to help me. She drove me home and I immediately walked upstairs by myself and took a shower and washed my hair. The only pain pill I took was in the hospital (they made me to be sure I could swallow it and wouldn't have a reaction). I did take the motrin 800 at night to help me relax enough to sleep.
By day 3 I could walk around the neighborhood. By day 5 I was walking a mile or more. At my two week follow-up appointment I was wearing my regular jeans and begging my doctor to remove restrictions (he refused). I spent 5 weeks on short-term disability and another week on half-days. At week 6 my doctor lifted all restrictions and I was able to go back to crossfit, although for another two weeks or so I restricted lifting to 50 pounds. At week 7 I ran a 5k (not my best time!). I never experienced pain that I would classify above a "2" on the 10-point scale.
I'm not bragging. Everyone's recovery is different. I was young and healthy and had not had excessive blood loss or exhaustion from symptoms prior to surgery. I worked with the trainers at my gym on a series of core-strengthening movements for two months before surgery. My mother, a nurse, kept me in bed for almost three whole days. I will say that after week 3 my husband came home and was almost, completely, zero help. If he had been my primary caregiver for the first week, I'm not sure how I would have fared.
Listen to your medical team and to your own body. If something feels "off", by all means call your doctor! Getting plenty of rest and not stressing out about what isn't getting done is key!