Having PNE release surgery in 4 days

[konedog4]

Please continue to post your post-surgical results. I believe I speak for everyone here on this board in wishing and hoping you get great results and get your life back. It is helpful for all of us to know how you are doing.

kone

[bindy15]

Hi there
I can't speak highly enough of Prof Vancaillie ... I am in a great space almost 5 years down the track. I was one of the first and I am a success story, I have my life back.
Good luck, believe and hope : )

Jude

[Sydney150]

Thanks for asking and caring

14 days after surgery. Pretty rough week painwise, but if I take endone and nurofen (sometimes tramadol, sometimes panadol) regularly every 4 or 5 hrs, and have it as soon as I wake up pain doesn't get a chance to build up. It is not the regular pain, but where the two ligaments were cut. Regular pain is less, that may be because of all the endone - I'm using less xylocaine. I am pretty frustrated at not being able to exercise, I'm used to being quite active...I know, obviously, that I need to be patient, but just saying what is on my mind today. I was able to go to chiro (upper body clicks only) and shop for myself and get bus back today and didn't feel too bad. Sitting is uncomfortable on bus though, I am mostly in a lounging position at home, in bed.
I spent 2 days at home midweek as I think I was overdoing it, all I was doing was going to the shops for necessities, but I think I had walked too much. I'd recommend having someone take care of you for the first week, I had someone mind me for 3 days. Can't pass a motion still, went to ER after a week severely backed up, they gave me an enema. I could have saved that 6 hrs in ER if I had known about enemas. All the constipation meds don't seem to do a thing . I should have been prescribed them when I left hospital. But even taking them now they do nothing, no movement, so it wouldn't have made a difference for me. I do a home enema every 2 or 3 days, it's pretty easy and not uncomfortable, they only cost me $6. I did 2, one 10 mins after the other a few days ago, so I could pass more. I'm not getting pain from the build up if I do one every 2 or 3 days.
Watching a lot of good quality tv online and reading a lot of news. Scanning old pics, put my scanner next to me in bed the other day!
So that's how things are!

[Violet M]

Sydney, did you have the TG or TIR approach? (TIR is an internal vaginal incision, TG would be incisions on the buttocks.)

Sorry the pain is rough right now but that's pretty typical after PNE surgery because the nerve can be pretty irritated afterward and it takes time for the nerve to heal. Taking it easy is a good thing. Avoiding constipation is good too.

Once you get backed up from constipation it can be difficult to get going with just meds. If you can get cleaned out, and then take something for constipation regularly, that might help. If you take magnesium citrate tablets daily or twice daily, you can adjust the amount to how much you need to keep stools the consistency of applesauce and that should keep you pretty regular.

Please take it easy. It takes TIME to recover from PNE surgery.

Violet

[helenlegs 11]

Thanks for posting Sydney. Got to say that being constipated has got to add to the pain. Always does for me anyway. If that can be sorted out at least then you will have a better idea how the old pain is in comparison to the new post surgery pain. Glad you are managing to get out and about. have you had any post op exercise programme suggested? I know some say rest and some say exercise . . . . .My own thought would be that because the nerve is supposed to glide through soft tissue in the pelvis some nerve gliding 'exercise' would always be beneficial as long as it is not over done.
Good luck with your recovery.
take care,
Helen

[Sydney150]

I had TG approach.
Not being able to pass a motion isn't causing discomfort, I just do the enema every few days.
I just now tried to get by on only nurofen for post op pain, that did not work.
Exercise: I am shuffling round the house, can bend down OK, I take my dog to the park and use a ball thrower thing to chuck a tennis ball, that is fantastic with helping keep her exercised. It chucks the ball twice as far I as can! I just bought it a few days ago, now I want a slingshot one I have seen online!, I have a 2 year old dog with a lot of energy and loves retrieving
Thanks x

[Jackson]

Hi Sydney,

First, thanks so much for keeping us updated so soon after your surgery with Prof. Vancaille. I've also visited your surgeon and as you can see, asked would you post your progress. So thanks for that.

I'm just amazed that your'e up and about so soon.

You're sounding very positive!

There's probably not much more that I can add to what's been said.

I'd be interested to hear how you're going once you wean off the Endone and further down the track.


Cheers Jackson.

[catherine a]

Hi Sydney,

Good to see you're getting out to the shops and also walking the dog. The pain will be on a roller coaster for some time but getting out of the house is such a positive step. I also found the ball thrower to be beneficial.
I didn't have a dog at the onset of my PNE symptoms. It was while I was away in Sydney having treatment that my husband and my son bought a puppy. At first I was upset about having to look after a dog, but in hindsight it has been the best thing to get me out and walking again. I don't live withing walking distance of shops etc. so walking the dog definitely helped me to recover.

Keep us posted on your progress. All the very best for a speedy recovery.

Catherine