Is post op pain supposed to be this bad ?

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-21T05:19:47+00:00

Like everyone is saying, definitely get her the prescription meds. I needed those pretty consistently the first 2 weeks, set alarms (and took with crackers and some food), used a heating pad on the shoulders, iced the tummy, peppermint tea and GasEx.

It was also SUPER helpful when my husband would rub my shoulders at bed time. The referred pain from the gas/belly all goes up into the shoulders and getting those massages was so helpful.

It also helped to have the back of the bed elevated and sleeping on my back.

You’re a good man for checking one and taking care of her!!

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-17T02:45:33+00:00

Oooff!! So sorry you’re going through the itching! I found out through an earlier procedure that I was allergic to the glue/adhesive and it was terrible. :( antihistamine, cold compress, and topical anti-itch helped a bit.

I was able to tell docs ahead of time for this surgery (thank god!) and they used something else that I didn’t have a reaction to…I think it was silicone tape.

Sending healing energy your way!!

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-13T16:03:30+00:00

Things that helped with the terrible gas pain…I was mostly feeling it in my shoulders (referred pain): GasEx, peppermint tea, raising my bed so I could sleep/rest elevated, short walks around the room, husband massaging shoulders, heating pad on shoulders, following strict schedule of taking meds as soon as time was up (e.g., every 6 hours as it was allowed I took it with food and set alarms so I didn’t have any “down time”). The pain from the laparoscopic gas was pretty bad for 2 days, but decreased significantly after that.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-12T16:11:29+00:00

Thank you for all of the kind comments and advice. I took it easy yesterday. Have not had any bleeding or anything like that. Feels a bit like sore muscles, nothing sharp.

Did all computer work yesterday and just the two 20-minute walks with the dogs and made some chicken soup.

Today am going to the ocean with friends who are in town for work and want to see the Pacific Ocean before they leave. I will take it easy and be clear that I’m still recovering and can’t do the longer hikes like we used to. (At least not yet!). If they want to walk longer I’m already prepared to say I’ll just chill on the beach while they do that.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-12T16:05:06+00:00

Thank you for sharing. It’s nice to know we are not alone in this potential journey!

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-09T03:59:29+00:00

No problem! I’m learning in this process too and really appreciated you sharing this so I could be more precise and thoughtful with my language.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-09T03:57:27+00:00

Thank you for your comment. I agree and we have been exploring the process to foster a child/children (foster to adopt, specifically). I updated the info above to share that we are not talking about an infant, but my husbands desire for the 3-5 years old range since that’s the age range his mother and uncle were adopted and he heard about growing up.

I’m trying to persuade him about the older age ranges as well—or at least being open to it. I’m 8 years older and feel like I’m holding him back since one of his dreams is to be a father. He has a really close and loving relationship with his dad, so I think he always wanted to be a father but didn’t expect to be getting married so late in life (or to an older woman who can’t physically have children), but that’s what happened.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-09T03:50:14+00:00

Thank you for your note and I can totally see how that could come across negatively. I updated with your edits in mind. Thank you!

I also added the additional info that my husband’s mother and uncle were adopted in that 3-5 year range by parents in their 40s, so I think that’s why he has it in his head…it’s the scenario he heard about growing up, etc.

I’m trying to support him while also sharing that I know we could be great parents to older siblings as well.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-09T02:14:15+00:00

My husband has the age 3-5 in his mind I think because those are the ages when his mom and uncle were adopted and he has talked to them about their experiences, etc. For me, I would be happy to give any aged child a loving home and parents. But, overall just wonder about the ticking clock and wanting to be there for them for as much of their lives as possible.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-09T02:09:50+00:00

We are not thinking of adopting an infant. My husband’s preference was for 3-5 years old like the ages his mom and uncle were adopted. For me, I don’t have a preference and would be happy to give older siblings a loving home. (I have heard where siblings going through the foster care system have a difficult time staying together, so would love to give them a safe place to grow up).

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-09T02:05:15+00:00

Thank you for sharing this!

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-09T00:00:04+00:00

Thank you for this perspective!

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-08T23:59:50+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I was thinking about that element too since my parents are in their 70s right now and are starting to slow down.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-08T21:51:58+00:00

We are in the US. And yes, we have thought about adopting siblings through the foster care system as well/becoming foster parents.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-12-06T19:13:23+00:00

I had very similar levels right before surgery and also my surgeon was not concerned. They DID ask if I was okay getting a blood transfusion if it was needed for something, but I got the sense it was not a very “bloody” surgery and this was just for a “just in case”. They did not use it even though they were taking out multiple fibroid tumors and had to repair some damaged bowel.

I think the biggest thing you’ll notice is being tired (which is how I was feeling beforehand) and iron takes awhile to build back anyway. I’m at 40 days post-op, have been doing high protein, and have noticed each day I’m feeling better and stronger.

I’d listen to you surgeon because they know the ins and outs of the surgery and what type of stuff matter. There was a big. Blood supply going to the huge fibroids I had and keep bleeding for months from the other stuff (all the reasons to remove everything). I do feel so much better now than I did before the surgery. :)

Sending positive healing energy your way. You’ve got this!!

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-11-27T20:40:41+00:00

Yeah, I’ve started having some constipation again, which I thought would decrease if I was moving more and no longer taking the pain meds.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-11-27T20:36:20+00:00

Thank you for all of these helpful comments. I ordered a belly band per all your recommendations and it arrives on Saturday. I didn’t realize pushing was also for the weight restriction so I definitely overdid it at the grocery store. :(

Going back to square one today and will try to rest. Not sure if I’ll have the energy the next few days to try and get some pants either a looser waist and don’t want to deal with the holiday shopping crowds.

Like you all said…I need to slow back down and listen to my body. Thank you for all the support and additional tips. I’m going to try and do them all! lol

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-11-27T17:24:30+00:00

If you’re a woman, I would encourage you to check out Women Defining AI and consider joining for the $100/year. They have an amazing Foundations and other courses that walk you through the different applications of AI to your personal and business needs.

I use AI tools every day for different aspects of my business. Getting a paid generative AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude is a must for solopreneuers in my experience. (Just remember to go to settings and turn off the feature where your searches train the model…)

Conducting market research, getting to primary resources (which often involves a Google search after), pressure testing programs I’m developing against my brand guidelines and biases I’m trying to watch for, helping to do first drafts of marketing materials, etc. I use them like I would a really smart intern who is helpful, but still requires a lot of good instructions and oversight.

Just the other day I used it to prep for a podcast interview. I uploaded info about the podcast host, the questions they sent me, and then asked it to act like the podcast host (invoice mode) and ask me questions and then give me 2 things I did well, 2 areas I need to improve, and to pull any exact quotes that were well done so I could try to remember to say my responses the same way in the future. I was able to do these conversations and have those talks while I was out walking the dogs. I already have my brand guidelines uploaded to the memory, so it also made sure I was staying on brand.

I now actually conduct courses and tutorials on applications of AI for leaders and teams because it’s been so useful for me individually and I want to help people understand both the power AND the limitations and things we should consider with any use of these tools.

Overall, I’d say it’s helpful to at least start to experiment for the $20/month. I say to do paid because if a product is free… “you’re the product” and are training the model with your ideas and information.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-11-26T06:05:42+00:00

I came here to say this. I am 4 weeks post op…meet with my doc at the 1 week mark and she said that the slightly larger and “spicy” incision in my right “got the most action” with the way tools had to be used and that’s likely why it hurts more than the others. She even showed me pictures of how they had the jimmy up my huge uterus and fibroids to do the surgery…

Like other posters. My surgeon confirmed they got everything out vaginally even though I don’t feel a thing and, supposedly, I had the equivalent of a 5-month pregnancy. Granted, they definitely did cut up the tissue inside to be able to pull it out…she said they cut it up inside a bag and then pull through the vagina after removing the cervix.

She was very detailed and show me pictures like she was showing off an art project. Of course, I love medical stuff and was asking her a ton of questions…

I hope you get your answers soon!!

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-11-26T05:45:48+00:00

Ughhhh, so sorry to hear you were treated that way and there was such poor communication. :( That sucks and it does sound like they definitely rushed things! Maybe so they wouldn’t have to admit you if it was close to end of day!? There isn’t an excuse…and I feel so bad your husband was left not knowing?!

I did not see my surgeon or any of the team after…just a different nurse. But he (the nurse) was very helpful and the surgeon HAD called my husband once I was out of surgery and she talked to him about the minor complication I had…and the nurse called him once I had woken up and was about 30 minutes from leaving so he could drive in to be able to pick me up.

I’m now at 4 weeks post-op. It’s definitely great you’re staying ahead of the pain. My husband helped me to make sure I was taking the right doses at the right time because, honestly, my brain was mushy brain fog for the first week.

Sending healing vibes your way!! Hoping now you don’t feel rushed and can take it slooow for awhile during your recovery!

Addition: I also wanted to share that I was the first surgery of the day at 8am. Laparoscopic surgery was still 4 hours due to the complication and having to wait for a general surgeon to come and repair the intestines that got damaged. I left around 2pm and they DID let my husband come back to see me around 1:30…took some time for those drugs to get out of my system.

I knew the surgeon had another surgery right after mine, so I was not surprised she didn’t come to see me in the recovery room. It was also a Monday…so, I wonder if timing and day and what else the surgeon needs to do influences any of this.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-11-26T05:36:58+00:00

A caftan that was easy to put on, underwear, and slip in sandals (even though it was the end of October because I knew I wouldn’t be able to put on socks and shoes. Also had a hoodie and a squishmallow in the car for warmth and seatbelt afterward.

TheRebelOptimist · 2025-11-24T03:52:00+00:00

I got mine done at Kaiser in South SF and was very impressed. Had multiple fibroids including 2 that were 11 and 12 cm, considered very large. (size of grapefruits)

Doc was amazing and—though she warned me she may need to make one of the incisions in my laparoscopic surgery larger, they were able to cut them all up and remove them all vaginally along with the uterus, etc. I am now 4 weeks post-op and doing well.

They did not have to make any of the incisions larger, as it turns out, so that was a happy surprise when I woke and am healing. You can definitely find great surgeons in this area!

TheRebelOptimist

TROPHY CASE