Surgery and now i don't feel like me

[Threecheersforsweetrevenge]

I had surgery in June for a herniated lumbar disc causing sciatica.

For 2 weeks afterwards I felt ok but then felt I wasn't using the toilet right. Anyway, after multiple GP visits, A&E trips and a CBT course i just miss who i was. I attended A&E as i felt i wasn't going to the bathroom as I used to, had laxido for 3 weeks (this didn't work and made me feel so unwell). I ended up with many nerve issues from partial facial numbness, to weird flank pain (still there) and achy joints none of which I had before. I also had insomnia for a good few weeks but got that under control, my sleep has always been a bit crap though. My memory and cognition is crap and I just feel so so different. I don't feel depressed but don't want to really do anything.

I've spent months trying to feel ok and like my old self but I don't know. I feel like surgery triggered something in me, and maybe the nerve issues wasn't the disc since I've had nerve problems since with no real reason following a clear MRI.

Has anyone else felt like this? How long did it take you to feel normal again? I know back surgery isn't known for being great but I feel like I'm watching life pass by. For context i have PCOS and IBS, I've since done a lot of research and apparently inflammation post surgery can cause cognitive decline, I also have chronic inflammation due to these conditions.

Please tell me it gets better.

Did you have a general anaesthetic? I’ve heard they can affect you a lot and for a long time. This could be adding to the issues.

Sorry to hear you’re feeling so awful…

Thank you, i did which i now regret deeply, i massively regret the surgery as it was improving just very slowly. The whole thing is bizarre. The only way to describe it is i felt like I had a virus or illness but my bloods and temp was always fine (oddly low temp like 34.8). I have chronic pain on one side of my body literally from head (headaches on one side) to rib pain, muscular pain etc), breast pain. It is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me. The pupil in that eye dilates more too now in low light but my eye test was fine.

I've spent so much time trying to figure this out, my hubby has a weirdly low temp though and my children do too. He always runs at 35 degrees so he says just don't worry but for me this is not normal. I honestly feel like something in my nervous system has messed me up but nobody seems to be bothered.

I've read about old viruses becoming active, covid, meningitis, nerve damage the works and I'm not a dr so have zero clue.

I had a major surgery under GA and it took a good year to get back to feeling okay again. Sympathy.

Sorry to hear you went through that! Do you mind me asking if you had similar symptoms? I also flit between extreme lethargy and an abundance of energy. It's so weird.