Very tired after minor op

[DogAgilityObsessed]

I had a very minor op on Thursday for Dupuytren's. No GA but they blocked my whole arm. I’m currently on week three of DSNS taper from 8mg to 7mg.

Now I keep falling asleep. Do you think it’s the op or the reduced pred or both?

And in plaster so using left hand for everything isn’t easy.

[SheffieldJane]

Definitely! It doesn’t sound that minor either and you have the additional stress of only having one useful arm that will affect everything you do. Also you are getting close to the dose where your Adrenal system has to wake up and start producing its own Cortisol. I wouldn’t have even attempted a taper and may have even taken extra Pred to support myself through this. Take all the rest your body is craving. I hope you feel much better soon and the operation is a complete success.

[Coffeebeans]

Oh both, listen to your body and sleep 🙂. Hope the op is successful too.

[SnazzyD]

Language, words can be a pain in that it can affect people’s expectations and “minor op” is one of them. Healing, feeling anxious are a drain and even though you have an anaesthetic, your body still knows what happened. Imagine if you had that done on the kitchen table! A nice clinical setting and some numbing juice and we expect it to not be a thing. I use to have to forever remind patients as a practice nurse why they were not shrugging off trauma to their body however small. Also, 8/7mg can also be courting adrenal cortisol lack but the body hasn’t really realised it needs to get those glands out of mothballs. Therefore, small events can seem a bit harder going than they should normally. Rest up and if you don’t rally, feel sick, shakey or just plain empty, if it were me, I’d take an extra mg today.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It's a fair insult to the body even if their description is "minor" so the fatigue is understandable. I remember my husband having the same op and being very unimpressed by the shoulder block!!!

I really don't think that continuing a reduction after surgery is a very good idea - the adrenal supply may be pretty limited and normally your body would be creating more to help the recovery.

[DogAgilityObsessed]

Thanks all. I shall stop the current reduction. The op was quite sudden (it was a rearranged repeat from last year) so I’d already started the taper. The good news is that the surgeon is hopeful it’s worked this time!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DogAgilityObsessed]

My husband's didn't but refuses to have anything else done. I think it stopped getting worse though.

[DogAgilityObsessed in reply to PMRpro]

Mmmm my father’s had his done three or four times and he’s given up now. But I think he only ever has the needle one. I can see my hand will be straighter already so I’m keeping things crossed!

[CarolF1312]

Hi there, sorry to hear you've had a "minor" op. Doesn't sound so minor to me if your hand is in plaster.I'm no expert, but going on my own limited experience I'd suggest you delay your taper and sleep as often and as long as you need.

Sleep is the best medicine in helping your body recover from trauma.

Wish you a speedy recovery.

[whitefishbay]

Anaesthetic makes you sleepy. Get well soon.

[Hidden]

Sending you my best wishes, hopefully you will be up and running (literally) when the agility season starts which can't be that far away with all the positive reports we are getting re Covid. x

[Suet3942]

Hope it ms a success. I've got the same problem but it's not severe yet. Good luck.