Awful post op recovery UAE - when will it feel better?

[SpectacularSalt]

I had UAE five days ago to treat fibroids. I was expecting a couple of days pain and then to just be tired for a week or so.
I feel absolutely awful. I’m in constant pain and having to take lots of high strength pain killers to keep it in check. The worst thing is the nausea. It’s awful. Like morning sickness. Nothing tastes right, everything smells horrendous and I feel sick non stop. Even with anti sickness medication.
is this normal? How long do I have to suffer this for before I feel human again?

No experience but it sounds like you need to contact the surgical team to ask them for advice.

Thank you. They are only available 9-5pm so I will have to try them tomorrow.

Well, five days later and I still feel absolutely awful. I never thought it would be this bad. I can’t manage to be out of bed for more than half an hour or so. I feel constantly sick. The gynae team don’t seem to think it’s a problem and my GP just says ‘it will get better’. I’m a wreck of a person. Nothing I’ve read online seems to suggest this is normal. Everyone else seems to have a couple of days pain and then back to normal within a week. I’m 10 days post op now. I really regret having this done.

What pain medication are you taking?

Just paracetamol now. It controls the uterus pain for me. But I feel so broken. All my joints hurt, my head aches, I’m alternating between freezing and boiling. And I can barely move with the sickness

Temperature fluctuations don’t sound good. Have you told them that?

It sounds like an infection somewhere. I'd be looking for medical advice today.

When I take my temperature it’s fine although I’m sweating buckets. I can only think it’s hormones

This. As someone who had sepsis I'm probably too cautious about infections now but I really would get seen as soon as I could in your shoes.

But what might be infected? The very small vein entry site has all healed up.

I read the title as you had surgery in the United Arab Emirates 🤣

😂Every time I try to google the operation I get loads of information about healthcare in the UAE

I had a UAE 3 weeks ago and my experience was the total opposite, so I'd say that this is possibly normal but worth looking into to check for infection/sepsis. I had 2 days of paracetamol after I got home and very little pain. Nothing after day4 of the procedure. Weakness and fatigue but no pain/painkillers. All my discharge notes say to call in if I'm very uncomfortable. The difference between post UAE discomfort and infection/sepsis is quite small and the symptoms are similar. Best to get it checked than to assume.
Having said that I did have nausea after the procedure and it was bearable after day 4/5. I still get very occasional moments of nausea but not unbearable.

Please have this checked with an ultrasound to rule out anything sinister.

Get medical advice.

Have you checked that you haven't got covid? It is rife again at the moment. If not I would try and seek medical advice as it doesn't seem to be getting better for you.

See this was the kind of post op experience that I thought I would have. Not to be dragging myself out of bed 10 days later to lie on the sofa, hoping I don’t vomit. I really regret having this done 😥

Oh I hadn’t thought about Covid. I will test.

You could have an internal infection. Worth going in to get checked out by medical team, the temp fluctuations sound worrying.

I’m stuck on who I’m meant to contact. The only info I had on discharge was to ring 111 or my GP. I spoke to both over the last week and both were like ‘just keep taking the pain medication and you will be fine’. Won’t they just say the same now?

If you don't have severe stomach cramps/ stabbing pain along with fever & unpleasant discharge I think this is either a side effect of medication or something totally separate (bug) but not infection.

I didn't end up having this procedure but it was discussed and they mentioned post ablation syndrome, is there a gynae assessment unit that you can ring for advice in your hospitals trust? I've had to contact them after gynae surgery.

I read this as the op had taken place in the UAE.

Uterine Artery Embolisation if anyone is confused.

If the GP and 111 aren't any help and you can't reach the surgical team then I can't think of any alternative but A&E. The way you're feeling isn't right.

I had six weeks of recovery for each surgical fibroid removal surgery (I’ve had multiple) and I needed every minute. None were uae. (I also thought you traveled to the uae) I felt absolutely awful for the first week afterwards, one time developing severe vertigo from the medication they gave me.

however, I think you need to call. Your description just makes me worry about internal infection or something else going wrong.

I think something doesn't sound right. Did they give you a ward number to ring? Or do you have the medical secretaries details for the surgeon who did your operation. Hope you are feeling better but if not might be worth ringing 111 with a view to potentially going back into hospital.