Hi all,
I am new to this forum and this is my first post. It has been two weeks since the emergency surgery taking out my ovary and a big old fallopian cyst (5 inches, 1 liter!) and I have a lot of questions about recovery. Whenever I go for followup the doctor is in such a hurry that I don't get to ask much.
The surgery was a vertical incision starting below my belly button and going down into my pubic area. After 2 weeks I am almost off the Vicodin (2.5 mg) and not feeling too bad, but what I am really wondering about is the limits my doctors put on activity.
Can any of you tell me how you phased back in some physical activity / exercise over your recovery period? Before the surgery I usually did abdominal exercises, stretching, daily walks, and swimming. I figure the abdominal exercises are out for now, and so is the swimming. The doctor said I can go for some longer walks as more weeks go by, but didn't really say how long, so I am not sure.
The doctor said I can't have intercourse until the 6 weeks is over. That's fine, but the doctor also said I can't even have an orgasm for 6 weeks. I feel a little awkward talking to my (male) doctor about this, but I usually have orgasms in my sleep, about once every other week. Not since the surgery, but if it happens I really can't help it. Aside from that, I would sort of like to be able to masturbate since it relieves some of the tension and sadness about all this. It seems a little weird that this would be a restricted activity. Is that normal for this kind of surgery recovery? I can't help thinking that no doctor would ever try to tell a man he couldn't masturbate for six weeks.
Next question: They put me on 15 pound lifting limit. Still, I've been making my own meals. I don't really have someone who can be at my constant beck and call, and I like to eat a lot of fresh vegetables and whole grains so it takes a lot of chopping and steaming. It also involves lifting a couple pounds at a time and standing in the kitchen for 30-60 minutes. I don't lift heavy pans or cutting boards. Does this sound like okay activity? I am scared of not healing right, but part of healing is eating well too I think.
I would welcome any other advice about the recovery process too. Thanks for being here on this forum, I have so many questions and nobody to ask.