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When should I start feeling normal?



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Hello I had my surgery on Monday the 6th of April and I was wondering about how long will it take for me to feel normal? It seems to me that I am recovering well, but I still don't feel "normal"! How long do the incisions take to heal? How long should I feel like just sitting around the house? So the main question is when does it stop hurting?? (not that I'm in extreme pain) it's just that I have school this coming monday and I'm wondering if I will feel like going?

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Hi Steph, you'll feel a little better by Monday. I took about a week off. Just be gentle with yourself. Each day will get better. Do you have steri-strips on your incisions? If you do, be sure to let them fall off on their own. Don't help them. Mine were on for about 3 1/2 weeks. And my incisions looked pretty good. After about a month you will feel almost completely normal. Take care and good luck!

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Well I had my surgery on a Wed and went back to work on the following Monday. I was walking a mile everyday by then so my pain was not all that bad by then. The tape on my insisions did not come off after two weeks (my Dr. said they could come off after 10 days so I waited an extra 4 days) and at that I used baby oil to soften the glue to get them off. I still have some pain where the port is but that is mostly because of the port being attached to the muscle wall and it needs to adjust to the attachment.

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We're all different. You just had surgery on Monday. Give yourself a break!

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You will start to feel like your old self about a week after your surgery.

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i really think it differs for everyone. I had my surg 3 weeks ago, and i don't feel like im 100% yet. I still get sore when i try to lift my 20month son. my energy level is getting much better now that i am on mushies. and i finally was able to sleep in my bed last night. before that i was sleeping in my recliner bc it hurt to lay flat or on my sides. it gets better everyday. I wish u lots of luck!!

amy

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I had surgery on April 03 and took off work on the 6th. I teach so I thought I would be ok to go to school on Tuesday but I had to end up leaving the last period of the day , so I took off 2 more days. I also had a hernia repaied or removed and I'm sorer than i thought that I would be. These 2 extra days at home has paid off. I haven't taken my pain meds since Tue. Give yourself a week.

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I have taken 2 weeks off, but didn't need it at all. Could have physically gone back after 4 days, but I sit at a desk.

Can tell you I am bored out of my mind at home - but I go back on Friday (is Monday PM here now) so I bet I will be regretting wishing this time away when I wake up at 6am on Friday morning!!!

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Just wanted to update everyone. I am officially one week out of surgery and I am starting to feel somewhat normal lol! I didn't go back to school today, although I am under orders from the surgeon not to go back to work or school until our 2weeks post-op meeting. However, I will be going back on Wednesday.

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I had my surgery on April 2nd. I took 9 days off. My surgery and recovery were pretty non-significant. I will say that I took many naps the first 5 days. I did not feel hungry at all. I felt like I had the flu. Tired. No appetite. I could only tolerate moderate amounts of liquids. Knowing that I should become more active, I started walking and even got on my bike and cruised up and down the beach. During this time I was still not taking in enough fluids.... and so I believe that I became dehydrated from activity without proper fluids. The other thing that happened, is not having a BM for nearly 6 days... and when I finally did, constipated. Although I've healed quite well from my surgery... I feel that I've CAUSED my own troubles by not taking in enough fluids. I'm trying to correct this with a light laxative and insuring that I am constantly sipping. I may need to go the the doctor to check out a possible kidney infection (that I caused). My energy is returning and my appetite is coming back to the normal level. My advice... everyone is different... allow yourself plenty of time to recoup. Keep hydrated even if you do NOT want to drink... and get a gentle laxative whether or not you think you need it. Don't wait until it's too late. :smile:

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