Hi there. My age (71) might have something to do with the fact that it's taking me a while to recover from surgery: rectal tumor removal (also ovaries, lymph nodes in the area and tubes were taken out as well) and ileostomy. My surgery was on a Monday and I came home Thursday. I took pain medication at home. At the three-week mark, I'm still taking Tylenol and Advil PM at night to help me sleep. I feel a little discouraged by the discomfort lasting over 3 weeks, but from talking to the health care professionals, this isn't unusual. It was a long surgery, and it's going to take time to heal thoroughly. Meantime, I followed a pretty strict eating regimen for 3 weeks and am now slowly introducing new foods that aren't so boring. I walk every day but don't push it. I have two dogs and like to go out in this beautiful May weather and let them run.
Because I'm normally a pretty active person, maybe that's why I'm impatient. We live in a rural area. I was used to walking my dogs each day for 3 to 4 mile stretches. I garden. Vegetables and fruits. Do my own housework and cook. Read avidly. Care for animals. It exasperated me that I get so fatigued from simple tasks these days, and I couldn't sit down comfortably for long.
So we're delaying both my birthday and wedding anniversary celebrations. That's okay. But I do have to focus my mental energies on being more patient and acknowledging that I'll get better slowly and not to rush it.
I expect to have a reversal
exactly when I don't know, but I'm predicting that will happen certainly before the end of the year. My surgeon says I'm doing "great," so I savor that determination. My prognosis is excellent. I have a wonderful surgeon who basically saved my life, so I'm going to abide by doctor's orders and chalk up the ordeals of treatment over the past 6 months as the price I had to pay to guarantee a happy, healthy future. Good luck to all of you out there.
I meant to mention that I don't lift anything over 10 pounds if I can help it and I had robotic surgery which was minimally invasive. That doesn't mean I snapped back in a week, though, so I just want to assure those of you who don't return to normal as quickly as you'd like that you will heal at your own pace. Don't rush it. I message my surgeon's office on a portal quite often with questions and appeals for reassurance. The nurses have been extremely helpful.