Saw the surgeon yesterday.

[Realfoodieclub]

It is four weeks since my op and have had the follow up appointment to see how i am getting on.

He is pleased with the healing process and says the next two weeks I should come on leaps and bounds. Well, not literally of course, but progress will speed up.

As most of you know I'm not a competitive person, I'm happy at the back of the pack and really happy for anyone who is doing better than me. But this recovery is bringing out a strange sort of competitiveness in me. I want to be first in the pack of healing stories so to speak.

I have been reading blogs of people who ran after 5 weeks and we're back doing ultras within months and things like that. Well ok, the stories I'm basing my recovery on were in running magazines and I couldn't run an ultra before the op so logically I know I'm being unfair to myself.

I was trying to work out why the change in personality and the only conclusion I have come to is I'm not competitive but everything I do, I do it to the best of my ability and if I feel like I haven't done my best then I pit myself mentally against others.

It has all come about because I was told to slow down last week by my Donor co-ordinator and the fact I'm still on low doses of painkillers, when I wanted to be off them by now. I asked yesterday if most people are off painkillers by now and his answer was yes BUT for me he is not surprised I'm still on them as my surgery was "challenging " and I will still have inflammation. It is because I had an extra bit of spleen attached to the kidney hence the extra three hours of surgery. He does expect the inflammation to subside In the next two weeks. Also I've been just stopping the paracetamol and seeing how I get on but your supposed to bring the dosage down slowly, doh! Makes sense so I will be doing that this week.

So I need to get my head round that I'm still on schedule and slow the walks down but do them daily now. I asked him if I would be ready to run by first week June and he said you'll be ready before that, also I can swim again after another 4 weeks, of recovery, so not long to keep hanging on now.

Wishing you all a happy healthy weekend.

Rfcx.

[secksy34 Graduate]

please don't be in a hurry to get back to it and take all the time your body needs to heal x after surgery it has been traumatised and needs to recover at its own pace and rushing to do things will only set you back in the long run xx take care 😊

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to secksy34]

Thank you, I promise to be good. I am only doing the recovery lark once 😀.

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Hi Rfc☺I think it is only natural to want to recover and get back to normal life - BUT you have had major surgery! Sounds as though you are doing amazingly well, especially as your surgery was so complex. Your body is now heaing and however healthy or determined we are, I guess it takes as long as it takes! Definitely not worth comparing yourself to others, although I know we all do this at times! Follow the advise you have been given and remind yourself of how far you have already come in your recovery and that whatever date it is, you are getting nearer to when you can run again. All the care and time you take now (and that means not doing too much!) is one step closer to where you want to be.Take care.☺x

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you. I know, it is strange in other things in life I have so out grown the comparing myself to others. Your right I'm getting closer every day. 😀.

[Irishprincess Graduate]

It's great news that your surgeon is happy with your progress but us runners always want things to move on quicker 😏 You've been through a huge operation RFC but your body is getting stronger a little every single day, just what we tell new runners about running 🙂 Just think of all those healing things happening inside where you can't see but it's busy all the time 🙂

Take care of yourself and don't push things. Gently, gently is the way to go x

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you. You know, I was talking about here with the surgeon, he was going to have a look about starting, and he said well I don't need to tell you how to recover 😀. I promise to go slow.

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate]

The surgeon is pleased, you're on track, he explained why things seem to be taking longer for you. Emphasis on "seem". And your prognosis is really good. Everybody wants to be fit and get back to normal, I don't think that's ambitious or competitive. The main thing is you're doing really well and things should now improve really quickly. What's a couple of weeks/months in the great scheme of things? This summer you will be able to get out with your husband and do things together - how cool is that😎

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thank you, you are so right, it brings a tear to my eyes thinking about our hikes we are going to do in the summer, this time last year when we were waiting to see if I could be a donor it was a distant dream, so on that front you will hear no complaints from me at all.

[Millsie-J Graduate]

I will say what you already know rfc 'Slow and steady'!

You are doing so brilliantly! Do not hinder further progress by doing too much too soon!

Sounds like you are walking daily so enjoy that and the weather! In the great scheme of things a few extra weeks is nothing. But those weeks are to be enjoyed 😎⭐️

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Thank you, I will, the last week Was walking every other day, but I'm going to take the pace down and walk every day now but just take my time. I think I've been trying to do faster pace and distance at the same time and we all know that's not the way to go. Funny how I can help anybody else with that aspect of training but it goes right out my brain when it comes to me 😀

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

My daughter did daily walks, slowly, a little further each time if possible. Slowly! Then once she hit 3k she stuck with the distance but very gently increased pace! BUT she is mid twenties so there is a huge difference, also she was a recipient so her body felt better than it had for years. You are a donar so not just the surgery to deal with but a huge change for your body to get used to.

What I do know is every journey is different. For my girlie the team had to go with what she was telling them. As they said, they do not routinely deal with a young gymnastics recovery so very different to usual.

Be very kind to yourself and embrace the down time away from the rat race 😎

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

I like the idea of building up to 3km slowly. I'm about 2.2km realistically at the moment. That makes a lot of sense. Hehe you say down time, I am designing a new web site for hubbys bowls club. Keeps me quiet and indoors but still feeling productive. I have a feeling I'm not good at down time 😀.

[pollyp1 Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

" Funny how I can help anybody else with that aspect of training but it goes right out my brain when it comes to me ": it was ever thus! Certainly for me, and I suspect many others. Slow but steady Realfoodieclub . And lots and lot of self-care - you've done a great thing.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to pollyp1]

Thank you, and yes so true. 😀.

[Irish-John Graduate]

Glad the Surgeon is pleased with your healing, that's a great sign

As for "hurry up and heal" - LOL, take it like the programme "slow and steady is long term faster than quick and knackered now"

Seriously, do take good care of yourself RFC and very best wishes to you

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Thank you. I promise to be good, went out for a slower potter in the sunshine today.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

☺

[AncientMum Graduate]

It so good to know you're making a good recovery, although I can completely relate to your wish that it would speed up. All we can do is send you patience vibes and healing thoughts. As Pops says, this too will pass, and then you can resume your life and enjoy what the future has in store for you. Hang on in there, lovely lady, it won't be long. xx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to AncientMum]

Thank,you. I'm taking it steady. I promise to be good 😀.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

But, you are achieving to the best of your ability...

And...you are in the leader pack, because you have had major surgery..with an extra bit... but you are listening to your body and your Drs and your Donor support coordinator and doing what is right.. so that makes you a winner in my book

You are right on course and you will get there, just by being who you are... awesome

I used this quote in another post..it suits you...because you are doing it...

“If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.”

Gentle Hug x

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Aww thank you Floss. I like this new path it's full of hubby cooking, cleaning and bringing me tea in bed in the morning. . I don't think he has suspected how used to it I'm getting 😀.

[giddyaunts Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

What a lovely thing to say Oldfloss you are always full of wonderful words of wisdom. x

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Glad you are doing well - and agree with all of the above!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to ancientrunner]

Thank you very much.

[poppypug Graduate]

Hi RFC, I cant really add anything to the above, but just want to say you are doing brilliantly after such a major op !

You are on way back and that is such great news ! All the very best to you and Hubby on your continued recovery xxx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Thanks Pops. I keep reminding myself it's only four weeks. I'm sure the time will pass quickly. Xxx

[RunningGeek Graduate]

Glad to hear it's all going well. Try to be patient although I know recuperating can seem irritatingly slow xx

[useitorloseit Graduate]

Being patient is awfully boring isn't it? I'm terrible at it! Just listen to your body. A bit of patience now will pay dividends later and you'll wonder why it bothered you so much. We'd rather have you back safely in a few months than overdoing it now and having setbacks. Take care xx

[giddyaunts Graduate]

Slow and steady Realfoodieclub you are doing really well so no need to rush it and undo all your good work so far.

Believe me I am sharing your frustration right now. As I keep being told, you have to be a patient, patient and all will come good in no time. I think it's hard to not do too much when you are very used to doing lots, however, I always remember a very dear friend of mine saying to me, 'you know we are human beings not human doings'

Lots of quick and positive healing vibes coming your way, you will get there, probably sooner than you think and as JaySeeSkinny says above, whats a few weeks/months in the grand scheme of things.