Feeling down...but on the up...

[Mick]

After our holiday away in September, I came back feeling positive and well, but due to the poor weather and stuck inside I started to feel down, (didn`t see it myself, but my wife did). The trouble is at 58 I have always been active and not been one to sit and do nothing.

A combination of several things, not being able to get out and do things (poor weather), poor and restless nights sleep,getting up at in the early hours because i cant sleep, not enjoying eating and pains in the neck giving me headaches. A trip to the doctors.....`do neck exercises and take paracetamol` that wasnt much help.!!!! (as i`m still taking paracetamol and tramadol for the scar).

Towards the end of November a routine check-up appointment with my consultant came. During the appointment out came all my problems, feeling down, poor eating, slight loss of weight. pains in neck and medication etc etc. The result was to take me off the tramadol and take 1 tablet of Amitriptyline at night. NOW just over a week later, im coming off tramadol, sleeping a little better. now feeling hungry and feeling less down.

Next week the clinical nurse is doing a follow up phone call, hopefully I can give her the good news I`m on the up.

So if anybody is starting to feel as I have even 8-9 months after the op, it helps to talk to your surgeon or nurse, made me feel a lot better.

Best wishes to you all for Christmas and the New Year, take each day as it comes,

Regards Mick

[Demon]

Hi Mick

Glad you are starting to feel better. Many times progress is good, most other times it just flat lines, but sometimes it feels like you are going backwards. All the above is normal and the passing of time will fix many of the problems you are having, I know because I have had them all. Last weekend I was driving an Articulated Truck which is something I have not done for many years to earn a bit extra for Christmas. I am four and a half years post op and just a year ago I could not imagine myself getting behind the wheel or helping to load up a 40ft trailer. I must admit to hurting all over but it has been the best confidence booster I have had for such a long time, therefore the best early Christmas present I could wish for.

You will get there, I know because you have your sight fixed on the finishing line. Just remember this is not a sprint but a marathon that is run all uphill.

Steve

[geranium1111]

Hello Mick

I think tramadol would have had a lot to do with your problems - prior to my opp. for oesophagus/stomach cancer I had two hip replacements and felt awful after until I realised it coincided with the tramadol tablets - they changed to other pain relief and no further problems - thankfully aware of this after the stomach opp. so avoided that problem

good luck

Mick (another one)

[Hidden]

It is not compulsory, but many people do have a feeling of depression-like symptoms several months after the surgery, so it is quite normal to feel like you have done. I think it is something to do with adjustment to the new life and the mental side takings its time to catch up with all the physical stuff that has been going on. And perhaps the particular pills you were on did not help either.

I think it might be that we hit a period that seems very flat after the first few months, and we have to go through a period of adjustment to a new way of carrying on. People who know about these things say that it is all part of the transition process (grief is another example) where you just have to sit down and reflect a bit about moving forward. Talking to the nurse does indeed help, and it does go to show that our spouses know these things sometimes better than we do ourselves. They themselves go through a similar process, but do not tend to talk about it much because all the attention is on the patient.

[Mick]

Thanks for your comments Alan, I think the hardest adjustment is not being able to do as much as I did before the op, this is probably what got me down.

I`m slowly coming off the Tramadol and with the Amitriptyline I take in the evening before bed has made quite a big difference. I don`t feel as down, my appitite seems to be coming back, so much so I now start to feel hungry, and I seem to have the energy nowto get out and about. Just goes to show how much a chat with the consultant can be so constructive.

The final thing I totally agree is how much our spouses go through, sometimes I think I had the easy bit and my wife has had to put up with a lot more than me, a big thankyou to all our partners.

[Hidden]

That is good news. Moving forward!

[jay2908]

Hi Mick,

I too have seen a marvelous change with Amitriptyline, although I do sometimes find it harder to get up in the morning. My appetite is now great. Glad to see what you're seeing the same benefits too! Hope you're enjoying the festive season.

Regards,

Jay

[Mick in reply to jay2908]

Hi Jay,

Yes I seem to stay in bed longer in the mornings, I find taking it early evening better rather when I go to bed. My appetite has greatly improved now and I`m off tramadol and only have the odd paracetamol when the shoulder starts to ache a bit. Mainly trying to stay off the tablets. otherwise its still onwards and upwards, although I`m looking forward to warm weather and NO rain, tends to flood around the Evesham area.!!!!

The festive season was quiet, but enjoyable, 1st Christmas with the new plumbing so had to think carefully about the amount I ate........still hard to get used to smaller meals when looking at the other families plates.

Regards to all, and all the best for 2013.