My 79 year old mother had a complete
hysterectomy along with removal of
ovaries, lymph nodes, etc. Due to
endometrial cancer. She had the surgery
almost 4 weeks ago.
She seems to be recovering very slowly.
You have to understand that mom really
enjoys being waited on and having
attention, so I am unsure how much to push
her to do things. I don't want to push
her beyond a reasonable expectation, but
also know that she will not do for herself
in many cases unless pushed to do so.
She's also still experiencing pain, though
this might also be from a bladder
infection.
Thank you for any help and insight you can
give! I don't want to be less than
compassionate towards her, but she's
wearing me out!
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mirene
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Colorado
Complete Hysterectomy Posted: 09-08-04 17:22pm
I am no expert but it kind of sounds like
she might be depressed. I know how that
feels as I 57 years only and just had a
hysterectomy on june 29th and was not
allowed to do anything at first. I also
have a bladder problem now due to a
complication in surgery which is going to
be (hopefully) fixed later this month.
As of right now there are quite a few
things I can't do and foods I can't eat
because they would cause spasims.
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jf
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Maine
Posted: 10-08-04 08:51am
I had a hysterectomy in late july. 4
weeks post op at 79!! I am a very in
shape 50 yr. Old. At 10 wks. I still
get tired ,very swollen and am sore. For
common post op.Issues go to
hystersisters.Com. Your mom might enjoy
the support from the message boards and
rely on you less.She probably has a 6 week
check-up scheduled. The doctor will be
able to tell you how well she is healing.
But I am here to say recovery can be long.
Check-out hystersisters to get a
realistic idea. Call in the troops too.
You don't want to get too burnt out or
resentful(completely normal tho. My teens
and husband get resentful sometimes
because I am not at full functioning yet).
Http://www.Hysters
isters.Com/vb2/index.Php?S=
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juniper
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 65 Location: Southern California
Posted: 10-08-04 18:11pm
Like the previous poster said, check out
hystersisters, they've heard it all over
there and can give you all the first hand
info you'd ever want.
Typical recovery is 6 to 8 weeks for an
abdominal procedure for a woman around 40.
If her lymph nodes went with it and the
fact that she had cancer, i'd give her 10
weeks. Lymph nodes help a great deal in
healing and of course fighting infection.
Also, even though she went through
menopause before the procedure, ovaries
still continue to put out low levels of
hormones in most women well into their
seventies and eighties - she may be going
through second, but less severe menopause
(technically a hormone withdrawl).
I'm not quite forty yet and at four weeks
I started walking the dog regularly but
was not allowed to have sex, pick up
anything heavier than 10 pounds or even
contemplate going back to work. My brain
was a little foggy at times, I still had
pain and of course my body was recovering
from the emotional trauma of losing an
organ.
Please try to be understanding. You
shouldn't even think of calling her
spoiled until her doctor releases her for
normal activities (probably at 6 or 8
weeks.).
As for what she can do? I was doing the
dishes at 2 weeks. I sorted the laundry
at 2 and actually did the loads (if
someone carried them for me) at 4. I made
my own meals, except for dinner because I
was usually tired in the evening. I was
able to drive at 2 weeks but really didn't
like it until about 4. Started grocery
shopping for myself at 6 (but didn't carry
my own bags ... Still don't at 9 weeks).
You might want to accompany her to the
next doctor's appt. (typically at 6
weeks) and be in the room with the doctor
to talk about what she can and can't do.
You're wonderful to take good care of her.
So many women have to go through this on
their own. I know I didn't say thank you
enough, so consider this my thank you for
her.
