Post Lap question

I just had a Lap done on 3/10/06 and am still very sore.  I have two incisions on each side (I had both tubes removed and a cyst) and my right side is severly bruised.  No bruising at all on the left side.  The bruise seems to be getting bigger and spreading and I'm experiencing more discomfort on this side then on the left.  Is this a sign of internal bleeding?  It may sound stupid but I don't know!  Should I be worried?

[MickeyVicki]

It is quite possible that the bruise only appears to be "spreading" or getting larger as a part of the normal healing process.  However, it never hurts to consult with your doctor.  When is your post-op appointment?  I suggest calling the doctor's office and speaking to a nurse at the office.

Also,  you should still be somewhat sore since it has not yet been one full week since  your surgery of 3/10.  You can expect to be sore for two full weeks, and possibly longer if you over-exert yourself while healing.

[J.J]

Thank you, they actually didn't give me a post-op appt but I will call tomorrow.  Everything I read says I should be feeling better 3-4 days after the surgery but I seem to be getting more and more drained.  Thanks for your quick response....it is hard when you don't have another woman around to ask these questions to or get reassurance from.

[MickeyVicki]

Often the information that people are given after surgery is a little too "bright and cheerful."  I know a woman who had surgery (not ovarian related) who was afterwards bedridden for two whole weeks.  She had not prepared for this situation at all. Her doctor  had told her before the surgery that his last patient with the same surgery had gone on a vacation (or something like that) the very next day after her surgery.  Very misleading.

Depending on what procedure you had during your surgery, you can also be suffering from hormonal disturbances that can make you feel tired and depressed.  I  myself had surgery a year and a half ago.  I only had one ovary removed, but for some time afterwards, I had the hot flashes and moodiness of a woman who'd lost both ovaries!  It took my body some time to adjust.

[willowfly]

HI, I had lap 3+ weeks ago and I'm still not 100%, I didn't have any bruises at first they showed up after about a week and now are gone. Otherwise, a full day of work completely drains me, I have occasional pain which is irritating b/c I had no pain before surgery and I have yet to stop bleeding, which I called about and was told that it wasn't enough to be concerned with and that I'm probably being too active....why did they write return to normal activities in 48hrs on my discharge papers?  So when feeling fine, I kind of would forget that I just had surgery and am missing a few parts now and went back to my spastic self and then would feel wiped out later or just gave my body more reason to bleed.  Post-op appointment is still another 3 weeks away.

[Gatsby]

The 48 hrs is just the time it takes for the anestesia(sp) to leave your body.  It takes time for you to completely heal.  Your body will tell you when you have done too much (pain & fatigue will set in!).  Just take it step by step and build back up to your normal activities.  Godspeed
~Tascha

[J.J]

Thank you all so much for your responses.  It is very reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one that is taking so long to recover!  I tried going to work and spend three hours there, came home and slept for seven!  Again, thank you all!

[JGMom]

I had the spreading bruise thing too.  I think it finally stablized on the Monday after surgery (I had mine on a Thursday).  Then it seemed to go down pretty quickly.  I kept relating it to all the pressure I had from gas and bowels not quite kicking in properly at first.  Once that stuff sorted out, the bruising and pain started going down considerably.  I thought I was better than new about a week out from surgery, but now in the 2nd week post-surgery, I find I'm so tired out.  I guess we all want to be better so quickly and put it behind us and move on and it may make us not slow down a bit to heal?  I also agree w/ others that the advertised recovery times are rather optimistic and may do more harm than good since we worry if we're not feeling well so quickly.