Have you had and recovered from a major operation? Cheer me up!

[Blackcatsatnight]

Am feeling a bit fed up today and could use a pep talk.

I had a serious operation a few weeks ago (not my first). I was warned that recovery was going to be tough, and it is. I mostly feel pretty much ok but right now I’m fed up and could use a reminder that things will get better.

At the moment I can’t do anything much, need to rest, and can’t even walk far. I’m also in pretty constant low-level pain.

Have you ever had something similar? Remind me that this too shall pass and I just need to be patient.

It will pass and this will all be a distant memory. It's still early days. Keep taking paracetamol every 4hrs and try and do a little walking and slowly build up.

I bought myself some nice shower gel, bubble bath, face mask etc to give myself a nice pamper when I showered. Little things like that will perk you up when you do simple activities. Hope you feel better soon.

Oh poor you.
I had emergency abdominal surgery a couple of years ago and was totally traumatised after. I thought I'd never be better.
I was in low level pain for ages, it didn't feel like enough to take painkillers but then eventually I'd regret not taking them as the dull ache really got me down.

I also found that things got better and then worse again, and that would really deflate me.
After a while though, things were getting better and not getting worse and then at some point I was fine.
I'd second the shower gel, nice moisturiser thing. DH got me a lovely bag of little samples and I was using foot creams and hand creams while lying in bed with an audiobook.
All the best, OP.

Not me but my 23yo daughter, had planned open heart surgery.

She is improving well but ended up in local hospital after a faint last weekend and having an iron infusion this week. A further stress added to initial trauma.

She is not supposed to stretch arms above head or bend whilst sternum is mending, meaning she needs help with some basics, including showering and dressing, not easy for an independent young adult.

I don’t think any of us really thought about the emotional impact of the Operation, both on her and ourselves, it’s hard to keep positive at times but we are chatting about treats, hols to favourite places etc that we will do in late spring/summer.

This too shall pass, and we remind each other that the timing of the Op was great, with her continued recovery coinciding with spring, warmer weather, lighter nights etc.

One thing I have noticed, is that after her discharge, most of our friends haven’t bothered to ask about her. A major Op does truly show who cares about you and is important in your life.

DD was gym’ing/running up until 2 days before the Op - the Op was something needed but they planned it in advance of her being desperate for it, so she was still very healthy.

She now can only do short walks, she has managed a couple of 30min potters this weekend and says she is dreaming of being able to run again.

Renewed fitness will come, for you and her.

Happy for you to PM me if you wish.