Is it normal to feel so tired after surgery?

[Tvrainbow]

I had kidney surgery about 8 days ago, it was robotic so my incisions aren’t painful but I was in hospital for a few days. The operation was a few hours long.

I spent a lot of last week in bed as I felt quite ill from the anaesthetic. I still feel completely wiped out is this normal? Today I’ve done some washing, changed the bedsheets, looked after DCs for a couple of hours and then walked 100m down the road to the pub and back with the pram and now I’m absolutely exhausted and feel physically unable to move from the sofa. Would you expect to still feel like this? I have a ureteric stent which is so uncomfortable I’m not sleeping very well either.

Yes, of course it’s normal. Your body is healing which takes a huge amount of energy - painkillers could likely be affecting you as well

Of course it's normal, you've had a fairly major op! Keyhole doesn't mean it was insignificant.

You did all that 8 days in on the hottest day of the year so far?!?!?

Look after yourself op. Who do you have to help you?

I was told it takes 3 weeks to start recovering from an operation with a general,anaesthetic. I would rest up and only do the essentials especially in this heat

Things are healing inside. Even though it was keyhole, think of that big implement rooting around and sorting your kidney out. You had a general anaesthetic, pain relief, might not have been eating properly, and so on.

It is perfectly normal to be wiped out after all that, it's a process of recovery. Add on your exertions today and that would have knocked anyone out surgery or not!

Be your own best friend. Listen to your body, it's telling you to rest. So do that.

Perfectly normal. I had open-heart surgery about 12 years ago, and after 8 days I could barely totter as far as the front gate! I think you're doing really well, but as others have said, listen to your body.

Your body can only heal while you sleep. For at least 2 to 3 weeks you should be having an afternoon nap, drinking plenty of fluids and eating a light, nutritious diet.
This is known as convalescence and is very important. We used to say 6 weeks post op for big operations, but nobody has time to recover properly these days.

Yes,

I’ve had several surgeries and they make you very tired.

the general on it’s own is quite an impact

My DH was pretty good last week but says he’s worn himself out looking after me so has come down with something himself now and I think can’t understand why I’m still feeling so exhausted!

I'm amazed you managed to leave the house 8 days after major abdominal surgery. Even taking wet and heavy clothes out of the washing machine can be too much after that.

Your DH needs to give his head a wobble.

Yes! I had endo surgery last May, 8.5hrs in theatre and 7 incisions so keyhole but was napping for a good few weeks
day 10 I felt ok to drive and do some light cleaning
it took 3 weeks until I was ready to go back to work and everyone said lap surgery would be way quicker recovery than mine was

I think some people are more affected by a GA than others. I’m always absolutely knackered after any surgery. Add in the healing (and the inability to relax fully in hospital) and I’d say a couple of weeks of frequent lie downs!

I had minor surgery on my foot a couple of years ago and I was shocked by how much I slept in the first 3-4 days. Healing takes a lot of energy.

I’ve had five or six operations with general anaesthetic over the last year (all on my eyes, so not major surgery) and every time it takes a few weeks to feel ok again. The tiredness and napping are totally normal - it’s your body healing. Just listen to it and do what you have to. Tell your husband to get a grip and support you.

Good to know I’m not being dramatic - it’s been a long journey to get to this point of surgery - I’ve been very ill on and off in the last 6 months and I think everyone is just about fed up of looking after me! Although DH has a month off work to help so really he is only doing the jobs I would normally do (I’m on maternity leave). It drives me mad not being able to do things though!

Definitely that. Healing takes time and nutrients and rest