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4 weeks post op today

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tracey_30250
tracey_30250

Hi

I am 4 week post op from anterior/posterior repair and perineum repair. First 2 weeks were rough. Pain in back passage. Got an infection in the perineum stitches and they were agony!  High temperature and felt so unwell but antibiotics kicked in. Started to feel better, got out the house, gentle walking, no driving yet and no heavy house work, just pottering about with lots of rest. BM settled down too after about 10 days do stopped using the stool softener as ended up with Diarrhoea. Yesterday had a bit of a tummy ache and had 3 BM , not loose though, yesterday evening the pain and pressure in my back passage has returned, been again this morning, still very uncomfortable feeling in the back passage , anybody else had this 4 weeks on? 

I have pelvic physiology on Thursday and GP appointment next week. Due back to work 30/4 and don’t see consultant until 3/5 for 6 week check up. 

The way I’m now feeling with the return of this pain and discomfort I’m worried about returning to work 

Many thanks 

Tracey xx 

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Laura3333
    Laura3333 tracey_30250

    Posted

    Hi Tracey,

    I don’t know what type of work you do, but I think that the 30th is far too soon, even on a phased return.

    This is a major operation and patients aren’t given enough information about recovery times. If you think it’s going to take a year before you’re fully recovered, that’s near the mark.

    it takes a lot of getting over, and no lifting or housework apart from light dusting etc. Standing to make meals will drag everything down and make you ache more.

    Just take it very easy, the deep stitches take several months to heal.

    You want this surgery to work.

    • tracey_30250
      tracey_30250 Laura3333

      Posted

      Hi Laura

      Thank you for the reply. I was so worried about the pain this morning that I contacted my consultant secretary who has managed to bring my appointment forward to this Thursday which I’m relieved about. 

      She wants to rule out another infection ☹️  I will ask about returning to work. I don’t feel ready yet. I am a team leader on a call centre at my local NHS hospital so although it’s office based you can imagine how busy and stressful it is. I live in Kent and it’s the largest hospital in the county. 

      I had abdominal hysterectomy only 10 months ago and I know I went back too soon - 5 1/2 weeks after surgery. I don’t want to make the same mistake again

      Thank you my lovely 

      Tracey xx 

    • Laura3333
      Laura3333 tracey_30250

      Posted

      i don't think you will be anywhere near ready for a while, can you delay return? Either walking about or sitting for long in a busy call centre is going to be too much at this stage.

      have you looked at the pinned post at the top of this forum? The South Tees information will give you more advice about healing times etc.

    • tracey_30250
      tracey_30250 Laura3333

      Posted

      Hi Laura

      I don’t feel ready do I’m going to discuss with the consultant on Thursday, ask for him to extend my sick certificate. 

      It’s a very long road xx 

      Tracey x

  • ED2018
    ED2018 tracey_30250

    Posted

    Hi Tracey - I am 24 days post A&P repair with TOT today.  I am actually headed in to see my surgeon today due to awful bouts of pain that begin with pain across my pubic bone and then builds and travels down my inner thighs to my inner knee - it is excruciating and takes resting completely off my feet for 3+ hours before I can get it to ease off...it hurts enough that it makes me nauseous.  This is a new development in the last week - maybe it is a normal part of healing...Or maybe it is a consequence of trying to do too much (which would only be something like making dinner).  My surgeon had indicated I would return to work at 4 weeks - but I cannot see how in the world I would be ready for that at this point (six days from now).

    Last PM when it happened again - I also had significant pain in my rectum...and even without straining - painfully passed a small amount of stool (sorry if TMI).  It was very strange as I also noted that I was spotting again from my vaginal area which I had not been for at least 3-4 days.  Still get that grapefruit b/t my legs feeling when up for more than 30 minutes and not comfortable at all to sit normally as I would need to do at work.  When up for any length of time - starts to become difficult to walk.  I feel like I am complaining - and I don’t mean to at all.  I am normally very tough...post DVTHyst., I went back to work at 3.5 weeks and recent kidney stone obstruction and two ops in 6 days - I only missed 2 days of work.  This go round - I am not ready at all at this point.

    I am still grateful I had the operation as at least when I need to have a BM - it typically “happens (with help of Mirilax and colace) now as opposed to the awful situation I was dealing with prior to the op. 

    I hope you find some relief and that both of us are able to get the approval we need from our surgeons to allow us time to recover fully.

    • tracey_30250
      tracey_30250 ED2018

      Posted

      Hello there. 

      I know what you mean about the BM , prior to surgery I struggled for ages, having to strain and splint my fingers in order to go and then still didn’t feel empty.  Although bigger surgery,  I felt much better 4 weeks after the hysterectomy. 

      You are not complaining at all. I have found this an extremely challenging surgery and am constantly worrying as we can’t see what’s going on inside. 

      Fingers crossed all is ok at your appointment lovely xx 

      Tracey 😘

    • Laura3333
      Laura3333 ED2018

      Posted

      Hi Ed, try magnesium citrate tablets,you can get from Amazon,if having problems going, it's safe and makes it so easy. The last thing you want to do is strain.

      A rectocele is the hardest repair of them all, painful, and very slow recovery. My gynae told me that my pain at two years post op is not unusual.

    • tracey_30250
      tracey_30250 Laura3333

      Posted

      Hi All

      Quick update. Gut instinct, I knew something thing was not right. Went to GP as was worried about waiting 4 days to see consultant, sent to hospital to the emergency gynae clinic and admitted for IV antibiotic for infection.  Starting to feel better and being moved over to Oral antibiotic as temperature gone down. Scan tomorrow to check all is ok then should be going home. I was worried about wasting the NHS time and overreacting buried trusted my gut and am glad I did. Sick leave been extended to fully recover xx

      If you are worried or feel something isn’t right please get it checked. Better to be safe than sorry 

      Here’s to a speedy recovery 

      Tracey xx 

    • Laura3333
      Laura3333 tracey_30250

      Posted

      Oh you poor thing! An infection is something we don’t need, it’s such a painful surgery anyway.

      Hope you feel a lot better tomorrow, and get home. You said that you felt better after your hysterectomy, that’s not classed as major surgery now, but a prolapse is. Shows you it’s not a minor procedure.

      Glad you got the sick leave prolonged, honestly you would have been pushing it too much if you had gone back early.It really shocked me, the amount of pain I was in, and I’m no stranger to surgery, had spinal ops, and two knees replaced. But this type of op is so painful and needs a lot of rest.

      I just got lots of UTI’s, that were hard to shift.

      We women don’t have it easy.

    • tracey_30250
      tracey_30250 Laura3333

      Posted

      Hi Laura

      Thank you for the lovely support xx

      After 24 hours of IV antibiotics and fluids temperature is down and so is pulse. I’m now on oral antibiotics so fingers crossed it sorts out the infection. Should be going home tomorrow after a pelvic scan where I will be resting!! 

      I really underestimated this surgery and have definitely found it harder than the hysterectomy. 

      Thank you to all who have posted and offered support 

      Happy healing and successful recovery xx

      Tracey xx 

  • ED2018
    ED2018 tracey_30250

    Posted

    Hi Tracey- so glad you listened to your body!  I also went to my surgeon on Monday and apparently have learned that the obdurate nerves that run along inside of thighs are royally teed off from TOT sling placement. They did do an internal...all stitches still there and for 24 days post op, surgeon pleased. Agreed that I needed more time to heal so am off now until six week mark at least. Told to stay on round the clock anti inflammatory meds, LISTEN to my body and if the nerve pain flares that I shouldn’t feel  bad if I need a pain pill. We are hoping that pain will be transient and short lived. So for now- more rest so I can recover!  I hope the abx work quickly for you and that you are back at home and feeling better soon!
    • tracey_30250
      tracey_30250 ED2018

      Posted

      Hi Ed

      This has definitely been a challenge. I hope your recovery goes well. Take it easy xx. 

       Thank you for the support 😊x

      Tracey 

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