Feeling exhausted and out of breath :-(

[candycane86]

Hello :-)

I am exactly one week post-op and have noticed that I am feeling really tired, exhausted and out of breath all the time! I realise this is probably normal as I've had surgery, but was just wondering when I will start to get my energy back? As I'm going back to work next week and I am starting to get really worried that I won't be able to cope! It'll be 12 days post-op I'll be back, I suppose if I'm not coping I can call in sick, I guess I was just wondering when I will start to feel a bit better !
Thanks in advance!

[cake]

What have you been doing? I noticed I was a bit exhausted after doing simple things (preparing part of dinner) and was resting alot in the first week. I think part of the problem was also that I hadn't really been using my arms at all in the first few days (too painful), so I was exhausted when I was using them a little bit.

On my post-op care sheet it really emphasised that I needed to REST. So make you you're resting lots and not doing too much too soon.

[candycane86]

I'm not doing much :-( I had dinner with my family yesterday. Today I slept on and off til like 2 in the afternoon then watched dvd's.

[usredbird]

To be honest, I really didn't feel like myself until I was about 4 weeks post-op! Everyone is different, though. I went back to work about 13 days after my sugery and I was worn out at the end of the day! Just take it easy and you will gradually notice your energy returning. Good luck!

[cj555]

Hi hun x

I have to have a nap most afternoons...feel shattered xx

Are your boobies numb.....mine are !!

Going to the hospital now for a check up.........tummy looks as if i'm pregnant...but i'm sure with time it'll all work out x

don't worry about feeling tired.....it's your bodies way of healing.....xx

[Slinky]

Originally Posted by candycane86

I'm not doing much :-( I had dinner with my family yesterday. Today I slept on and off til like 2 in the afternoon then watched dvd's.

I'm actually going to suggest that you do not sit around and do nothing. Go out and go for a short walk a couple times a day. Rest is good, but so is some light activity, to get your body moving again. Its normal to be tired and you'll probably really notice when you first go back to work, but it only gets easier as the days go by. You'll be fine, I think.

Slinky

[cj555]

p.s my friend had hers done and said that around day 10 she felt great xx......only 3 more days !!!!

[Ginzing]

Surgery, physically and psychically, can take a big toll on your body. I don't know about the out of breath part. I have seen it dicussed here as something the other ladies have experienced after surgery and it seems to be just one of those parts of healing that you have to endure. As for being tired, I'd take a good look at your diet. Surgery stresses the body, so perhaps you could use some extra supplementation at this time. I notice that I'm low energy if I don't eat healthy and every 2 to 3 hours...that's 5 meals a day for me. Try eating some small meals spaced throughout the day...lots of lean protien and fresh fruits and vegies. Sometimes the only reason we're tired is because our blood sugar's out of wack. If you take care of your blood sugar levels you may find that your energy returns. Happy healing sweetie...best wishes to you and your new girls

[Horizon41]

Originally Posted by candycane86

Hello :-)

I am exactly one week post-op and have noticed that I am feeling really tired, exhausted and out of breath all the time! I realise this is probably normal as I've had surgery, but was just wondering when I will start to get my energy back? As I'm going back to work next week and I am starting to get really worried that I won't be able to cope! It'll be 12 days post-op I'll be back, I suppose if I'm not coping I can call in sick, I guess I was just wondering when I will start to feel a bit better !
Thanks in advance!

Yeah I am right there with you and sooo glad I am off 3 weeks this surgery also made me exhausted and tired and I have done nothing but rest the first week and back to some activities this week around the house. And the shortness of breath I also had all week one but its getting better now that I am almost at the end of week 2. I am of course not as young as some of the girls on here but I am a very active person but in comparing this surgery to my 4 orthopedic surgery's or even my sinus surgery I was never this tired.
I think its just going to take our bodies a lot of time to get back to normal.
What type of work do you do?? I am on my feet all day where I work so I hope my energy if back at the 3 week mark. I would let your body be your guide and go by that
I find it really hard to push myself if I am exhausted.

[candycane86]

Originally Posted by cj555

Hi hun x

I have to have a nap most afternoons...feel shattered xx

Are your boobies numb.....mine are !!

Going to the hospital now for a check up.........tummy looks as if i'm pregnant...but i'm sure with time it'll all work out x

don't worry about feeling tired.....it's your bodies way of healing.....xx

thanks, yeah I'm right with you with the nap taking! Feel like a granny lol!
I can feel my left nipple slightly but other than that.... numbness. I really hope I get at least some feeling back!! Don't worry I looked about 3 months preggo the first few days.... just bloating, it'll go away. Thanks for the kind words.

[candycane86]

Originally Posted by Ginzing

Surgery, physically and psychically, can take a big toll on your body. I don't know about the out of breath part. I have seen it dicussed here as something the other ladies have experienced after surgery and it seems to be just one of those parts of healing that you have to endure. As for being tired, I'd take a good look at your diet. Surgery stresses the body, so perhaps you could use some extra supplementation at this time. I notice that I'm low energy if I don't eat healthy and every 2 to 3 hours...that's 5 meals a day for me. Try eating some small meals spaced throughout the day...lots of lean protien and fresh fruits and vegies. Sometimes the only reason we're tired is because our blood sugar's out of wack. If you take care of your blood sugar levels you may find that your energy returns. Happy healing sweetie...best wishes to you and your new girls

Thankyou so much! I think it's easy to forget we've had surgery and need to heal. I will take a look at my diet as that's something I hadn't thought of. To be honest my diet is not very good atm, I'm just snacking and not eating nearly enough fruits and veggies.

[candycane86]

Originally Posted by VisionQuest

Yeah I am right there with you and sooo glad I am off 3 weeks this surgery also made me exhausted and tired and I have done nothing but rest the first week and back to some activities this week around the house. And the shortness of breath I also had all week one but its getting better now that I am almost at the end of week 2. I am of course not as young as some of the girls on here but I am a very active person but in comparing this surgery to my 4 orthopedic surgery's or even my sinus surgery I was never this tired.
I think its just going to take our bodies a lot of time to get back to normal.
What type of work do you do?? I am on my feet all day where I work so I hope my energy if back at the 3 week mark. I would let your body be your guide and go by that
I find it really hard to push myself if I am exhausted.

For my work I'll be pretty much on my feet most of the shift (I work in a nursery in a hospital..... midwifery student)..... but can have lots of breaks and sit down. I have 4 shifts next wk. I'm thinking if I am really not coping I will just have to call in sick. It's so true we have to listen to our bodies and not push ourselves.
I'm thinking the out of breathness may be to do with my asthma also....

[chooch]

Hi there sweetie. Try to hang in there. It took me 4-5 weeks to get back to normal and regain all my energy back. Of course we all heal at different times. I took 2 weeks off from work. When I got back I couldn't really handle being at work so I took a couple sick days here and there. I hope you get better fast

[Horizon41]

Originally Posted by candycane86

For my work I'll be pretty much on my feet most of the shift (I work in a nursery in a hospital..... midwifery student)..... but can have lots of breaks and sit down. I have 4 shifts next wk. I'm thinking if I am really not coping I will just have to call in sick. It's so true we have to listen to our bodies and not push ourselves.
I'm thinking the out of breathness may be to do with my asthma also....

Yeah if you have asthma I am sure that adds to the problem last week LOL every time I went to do my litter boxes I will get light headed and I have a friend who is a RN so I ws talking to her and she told me I was breathing really shallow after my surgery and when I get short of breath to do abdominal breathing and it would help and it really does. At least you have the option of breaks on your job that is good. Sounds like we are both in the tired boat.

[candycane86]

Thanks girls for all your advice, I am feeling A LOT better today for some reason. I guess it's just a day by day thing to recovery :-)

[Miss]

Don't forget all the meds your taking will make you groggy! As your doses lessen you'll prob feel like your getting more energy back