Home yesterday following UR surgery 2 weeks ago , just finding the utter exhaustion overwhelming , and my usual resolve difficult to muster . Anyone out there who has gone through the same could reassure me things will get better ?
Hi White lavender and welcome to the community and the ovarian group.
While you are waiting for answers, I thought I could reply as the community champion in the cervical group. I haven’t had ovarian cancer, but I have had very radical surgery-a total pelvic exenteration-for my cancer.
I’m not certain exactly what your surgery involved, but mine removed womb, cervix, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, urethra, bladder, bowel and vagina.
From my own experience, the overwhelming exhaustion after surgery is something I can very much identify with, especially in those early weeks after surgery-I was discharged 2 weeks after my surgery and needed a lot of help with every kind of task including showering and personal care (I have 2 stomas to deal with).
We have a lot of healing to be done inside which we can’t see, and this takes time-in my own case, a lot of time! So resting and sleeping are very important parts of that recovery process and are much needed.
I tried not to put too much pressure on myself to do too much too quickly, and accept that things would take time. For me, it was the right approach to ask for help when I needed it and not attempt to struggle on. I did very little as I recovered my strength, as this surgery was massive.
I hope you have support at home, and are taking things easy, although I understand it’s frustrating at first. Cut yourself some slack if you can, and appreciate that you have been through something very major.
There are other ladies in the group I know have had debulking surgery(if this is what you have had) and my reply to you will put your original post to the top of the thread again where hopefully others will see it.
Please take good care of yourself, and I wish you well in your recovery.
Sarah xx
Hi Ann
I’m so glad you have seen my reply and it’s helped. I have to say, I basically left my dignity at the door when I went into the theatre and it stayed there!
I literally could no nothing, not even move, in the high dependency unit, and then on the ward I needed multiple nurses to help get me to the shower and deal with my stomas. Luckily they were very kind but I was on a gynae ward where they had never encountered exenteration surgery so I had nurses even ask if they could come and have a look at me!
I felt a bit like a zoo exhibit!
But, if I can hopefully give you some encouragement, I had my surgery in March 2020 and have never had to be readmitted for anything in connection with it since, so I did have a very good result and I’m so glad I was able to have it done.
There is a LOT to adapt to after such major surgery-I know my life is very much changed now and very different but I’m just very glad my surgeons’ skills gave me another chance. We are a bit of a select bunch in the community here so it can be hard to find others in the same position, or indeed people who can understand what recovery looks like. There are many ups and downs in my experience!
However, we do have a stoma support group which you might find helpful, and the link is here-
We have a lovely group there where we share tips and advice and nothing is too much information! I’d encourage you to join there if you have any questions or need stoma related help. We have a range of different cancers and a range of stoma types, and some of us old timers can help from our many different experiences as you get used to your new way of life.
I’m also of course happy to help you here in the ovarian group if I can.
Hang in there, take good care, and things most definitely do get better!
Sarah xx
