Exhausted.....5 wks on?

[Samhaydock]

Hi ladies,

I had a laparoscopy and mirena coil fitted 5 weeks ago. I have some cramps from the mirena and pain in my bladder when I wee (not infection...been checked), but apart from that I am largely back to normal....apart from absolute exhaustion. I have been out for the day today with my son and had to nap when we got in. This is also he case most days after work. I became tired with endo before my lap, but this is really draining and worse than before. Has this happened to anyone else? Would be so interested to know.

Thanks lovelies.

[Starry]

This is completely identical to my first diagnostic lap with a small cyst removal back in December. I struggled to get back to work with extreme chronic post op fatigue. The bladder mostly settled after a few more weeks except frequency from my bowel distortion. I got pelvic pain from the coil too. The horme flood may be part of the first month's exhaustion as it mucks up your hormones initially plus try an iron supplement like floradix if you are bleeding a lot as low iron contributes to fatigue.

My pelvic pain from the coil sadly didn't settle and after 5 months I had it out which I was sad about as it had stopped my menstruation.

I have no idea why and for me the fatigue never really got better. I tried everything. Eventually I had to cut my working days to a 4 day week and ended up going off sick with exhaustion 3 weeks before my major excision op 3 and a half weeks ago.

I am praying to every god under the sun that this major op which has removed a large RV nodule, some of my vagina and all remaining Endo on my bladder and peritoneum gives me my life back!

[Samhaydock in reply to Starry]

Thanks for this Starry.

I saw my surgeon again last week as my GP still didn't have the post op report and felt that my bladder issue and cramps was beyond her scope of expertise.

Surgeon was good. Showed me pics of over 20 patches of endo that were all zapped off. He suggested Buscopan for cramps so have been trying that for a couple of days. Not sure yet but going to persevere. Going to try another month but of not, I will get it removed. Surgeon checked it was in the right place and was excruciatingly painful. I'm continuing to taking the pill too to stop ovulating and all periods

I've been on a phased return to work for the last two weeks. Week one, three days 10-2. Last week I did 5 days at 9-2 and I'm due to be full time next week. I will be able to make it through (I hope) but the second I get in, I just flop. Every day this week I've had an hours nap in the afternoon. Just feel so tired. Very unlike me and hugely different from before the lap.

Your recent op sounds really tough and so I do hope you are recovering well and taking the time you need to get better. I also so hope that this gives you your life back.

Thank you again.

[Fabbird in reply to Samhaydock]

Hi, given how much you had done, five weeks doesn't seem very long. Perhaps your body is still recovering? I hope you can find ways to take things gently for a while longer.

[Samhaydock in reply to Fabbird]

Thank you Fabbird. Until last week I just had no idea what had been done and when I saw all the images, it did make sense why things were still a bit sore. Could well be things still healing. Surgeon put it down to pain being tiring, but we are all used to that so I'm not so sure. Thank you for taking time to respond. Big hug.

[Starry]

Thanks Samhaydock xx

Good that your surgeon was so communicative. That must be reassuring.

Apparently it can take 12 weeks to heal fully inside despite the small incisions so your body is still busy healing which itself causes fatige and it sounds like you had a lot of areas treated so that's a lot of healing work alongside handling the after effects of anaesthesia plus hormone disruption from a new treatment. Sounds pretty knackering all together. Do keep napping and resting . X

I found this pdf useful when I struggled with the pace of my healing. It describes the body's internal healing process and factors that explain why recovery times vary so much by individuals.

centerforendo.com/is-my-end...

[Catmum]

Hi Starry

Thanks for posting the link. It's really helpful x

[Wolvesfan87]

yes, hi there. i read your story and we are at the same stage i think. I had the mirena coil fitted on 17th july so i've had it about 4 weeks now. i started getting discharge but now i'm bleeding again (not flooding like pre-mirena thank heavens) and not in sync with my period dats but still very sore, cramping most mornings followed by a bowel movement for at least 3 hours a day. aggravated by walking and yes, like yourself, fatigued and sore legs for no apparent reason. just as bad as before I had the mirena fitted. are you getting similar symptoms to myself? bar the tiredness? ive been to the doctors but as usual, useless. they offer ibuprofen and it doesn't even stave the pain really... Sorry to hear you're going through this too

[Samhaydock in reply to Wolvesfan87]

Hi Wolvesfan87,

Sorry to hear you are in all this too. I am still bleeding too. I was on the pill before the coil, that luckily stopped all my periods at and still taking it. This has been a godsend as I don't ovulate and have to go through that monthly cycle of hell. Do have cramping in the morning and night. I get niggles in the day and was so worried that this would affect my job. I have definitely had pain when I need to go to the loo and my tummy hurts more with a full bladder so I have to visit little and often. The longest cramp I had was over 3 hours and I was climbing the walls. My tummy also feels bruised to the touch but as has been kindly pointed, think this could be everything still healing. I would def go back to your GP. I have been giving Naproxen that did ease things a little. (Big bro of ibuprofen). I have also been prescribed Mefenamic Acid, that did work really well, but made me feel sick and aggravated my stomach. There are options out there so keep pushing. Blood loss wise there is a ebb and flow (pardon the pun). Some days are worse than others. I have not been used to losing for over three years, but it is not a torrent and I can keep at bay with a panty liner.

I saw the surgeon last week and he said to try Buscopan for cramps. It is an IBS over the counter med, but I'm giving that a whirl too.

So yes, I am getting the same as you. Not sure if things are improving or I am just getting used to it all, but wish I could shake this tiredness! Good luck to you xxx