Post surgery ovarian cancer question

How long does it take before the lower back pain and/or abdominal pain from surgery goes away?

I am 49, had four things removed during surgery (ovaries, lymph nodes, oomentum, and uterus). I had surgery 3 weeks ago, but I am still having lower back pain and my energy level has not come back.
Am I being impatient?

[Conquerer]

Relax I am sure you are doing just fine.  I too wanted to jump back but was amazed that I was tired after 3-4 weeks and then of course Chemo starts  amd I had IV and Ip chemo.  But one thing for sure no matter how tired I was I walked every day what ever distance I could.  Now I am four months off chemo and in 4 weeks will be doing my first Triantholon at the age of 54.  I set a goal and that helped.

But please give your body time to heal but help the healing by walking

Good luck

[Phlipper]

I can't wait to play softball. Good Luck with your triatholon. Wow!!!

[[e-mail]]

I've been having admoninal pains past seven days along with excruiating numbess, buring sensation, and sticking pins sensation in my right leg for mseven months, where one of ovaries was taken out be because  I had demtoid cyst removed in 1977.  I was taken to x-ray for back, where the ound 2 rows of ten staples near my spine.  The technician asked had I had surgery, I told her in 1977.  She did'nt respond but aroused my curiosity, do I suppose to have these staples in my stomach still.
Please anwer me I'm worried about what I should do.  over the the years I have been having problems with water pockets, back pains and adbominal pains along with other health problems.

[SimplyStar]

Take the xrays and get to an ob/gyn, I can think of no reason why those staples would be there unless they removed some thing else from you that you don't know about.  An ovary is a free floater usually and comes out clean, there would be no need that I know of to staple along the spine.  The staples might be the cause of all your distress.  Causing nerve damage is one possibilty.

[crecco]

You should probably be feeling pretty good by now, at least I hope so. The one thing I learned (the hard way) was when your Dr. says take it easy and do pretty much nothing for 6 weeks, he knows what he is talking about. I too got very impatient after about 3 weeks and the first time I felt half decent I started right in trying to do my usual everyday activities. WRONG! I hurt all over again. Thankfully I didn't cause myself any harm, just a lot of pain I probably could have avoided. It took me a couple of rounds of that to figure out that I was in too big of a hurry to get back to daily routines. I hope your recovery has gone well and you are able to do most of the things you want to do again.

[blinn]

Make sure you get enough fluids!  Being dehydrated can cause alot of pain.  My GP recommended Pedialyte - apparently it is the original electrolyte balancing product & much better than Gatorade, etc.  I had alot of symptoms after my surgery that the surgeon did not address at all - I went to my family GP who answered all my questions and actually gave me an IV in his office because I was so dehydrated.  

Hang in there!  And good luck!

[Casey06]

I am 3 weeks out from TAH/BSO/LND (uterus, ovaries, appendix, omentum and lymph nodes) and I was doing ok, but the past week and half have been getting worse. I too probably have done too much and am paying the price. Also, suspect dehydration. I saw my gyn/onc the other day, but he didn't offer much and really didn't give good instructions for what not to do, how much walking is good and how much is too much, what to eat and drink. I have developeed constipation and a very sore spot internally near belly button (like a needle on a string, pulling when I move). Again, doctor not very concerned, only said to go back on narcotic pain med. Maybe I should see my GP or GI doc who is very good.

Needless to say, I am very discouraged because of pain and fatigue.

Also, how about HRT. I have moderate mood and hot flashes, so doctor prescribed Prempro (0.3 mg/1.5 mg). He said I need progestererone because of my endometriosis. (Prempro leaflet says it should not be used if uterus was removed, so I have not taken any yet).

Any comments on HRT are also welcome.

Goog luck to all you ladies post surgery and with further treatment.
You are all my heroes!

Any suggestions are welocmed.

[crecco]

My gyn/onc didn't offer me much advice either,it was kind of a learn as you go experience. He did put me on an iron supplement after my surgery and suggested a stool softener as the extra iron could cause constipation. I also developed a very sore spot internally but a little lower than what you describe. I finally had to call and ask about it because it hurt so bad. It felt like something was on fire! All I was told was that it was probably a nerve trying to heal. After  about 2 weeks the pain quit and didn't come back. When I returned for my 6 week check-up my gyn/onc put me on premarinto try and ease hot flashes that were terrible. This all occured last June and thankfully everything is well except for the hot flashes which up to this point nothing has helped. I have noticed they have eased somewhat but I still have to sleep with a fan on at night and continue to wake up several times a night. Hang in there, it really does get better even though it seems to take forever.