Exhaustion After Surgery

[lambiepie]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone can share his or her experience regarding life after surgery. I had my first surgery, colon removal, at the end of February. Three months later, I had my "stump" removed and the j-pouch put in place. I'm going for my third surgery at the end of August, to close the stoma and let the pouch do all of the work. Aside from things like pain behind the stoma from muscles being cut, from pain around the stoma from major skin irritation, and from back pain from hunching forward a bit to protect my belly, I still feel just so tired. Walking my dog is a major outing for me. Does anyone else feel similarly or have major post-op fatigue? I know two major surgeries in three months, plus my body being a little confused at this point, have something to do with it, but I usually have more stamina than this. I guess "all in good time", but the fatigue gets me more down than any pain I've experienced since being diagnosed with UC in August, 2008. I know I'm still on this journey, what with the j-pouch having to be put to work in another couple of months, but when does one feel like oneself again?

[gingerboyreg]

Hey Lambiepie

I've had the first two ops and having my third in October. I had stage 2 about 2 and a 1/2 weeks ago. Im tired and nap more than i ever have before but I think thats just getting over the op. I I guess im the wrong person to ask as i have not had the right amount of time to recover yet but i spend the afternoon in town and dont feel much different then when i spend the day infront of the TV!
Has your diet changed? do you do anything different?

sorry im not much help!!

Gingerboyreg

[lambiepie]

Thanks for your reply, Gingerboyreg. I actually began to feel more like myself around week six. I walk at a normal pace now and stand nice and tall! It just took longer than it did after my first procedure and I guess I expected the same recovery time and was disappointed and concerned when that didn't happen. I was telling a friend that I know another surgery is around the corner when I begin to feel like a normal person.....hopefully I can put the emphasis on my "healthy" life when this is over. I know that the final procedure brings its own challenges, but I'll just be so grateful to get rid of this bag and stoma, which gave me some problems the second time around. Good luck to you!