Recovery from debulking

Hi I had debulking last October and made good recovery from the operation but had what felt like a couple of tender sore spots deep inside, also where a drain tube had been felt very tender where I imagine the tube had been inside,like you even my pants seemed as if they were pressing on an open wound when there was nothing there to see,I was reassured by my consultant this would get better over time and there was probably some nerve damage and also it was just the body healing,I think as we can't see what's going on inside us or if we saw all the pulling about we've been through we'd probably understand what a lot of healing is going on,over time it did get better,I still have one area on my stomach that still feels a bit weird when I touch it,but again I've been reassured it's all ok,I had 4 months between operation and starting chemotherapy so luckily I was well recovered although even though I was marked up for a stoma I ended up not having one so I can imagine your going to have a lot more internal healing to be done.Hopefully this might help and good luck on your recovery 

Thank you so much for responding. I’ve been looking at a Facebook site for women who’ve had a hysterectomy and comparing my recovery to theirs .. probably foolish ! I think I’m impatient to get better and get back to “ normal “ because I feel I  haven’t got long to live so I need to make the most of time left !! It’s a bit like being in prison , watching others getting out and about whilst I’m in too much discomfort to do much. I find myself full of envy of people able to just walk normally or driving to the shops. I’ve been driven out for coffee 3 times in the last few weeks … car journey was awful and I needed a lie down afterwards. 
    I suppose I have to be very , very patient but it’s hard when I feel life is slipping away . 

Hi Gingerwinger 

I had a different gynaecological surgery but there are similarities to the debulking surgery, and I have 2 stomas. 

Please don’t compare yourself to others who have had a hysterectomy-there are different types of hysterectomy, some more complex than others, but you cannot compare recovery from a hysterectomy with what you’ve been through, so please don’t beat yourself up or expect too much from yourself.

You need to remember that you have a LOT of healing to do inside, and you do need to give that time. How YOU are getting on is the important thing here, not anyone else, and we all do that at our own rate. I think you’re being too hard on yourself-these are early post surgery days, especially with having a stoma to deal with too. 

I you need any support or have questions about managing your stoma, we have a dedicated group for that here

Stoma Support Group

Sarah xx

Thank you Sarah. I’ve been looking at the Stoma Support group you suggested and already feel a bit more positive about my recovery. I am also so shocked at what other people have had to contend with as a result of various conditions/ surgeries.When we are living in our “ normal “ , healthy bubbles we aren’t aware of what others are having to contend with. X

I could never have imagined, say 10 years ago, where I would have ended up now-we really don’t know what others are going through. If you click on my name I’ve told my story there.

I was told that recovery from my surgery would take around a year, and I literally thought no way! But those I spoke to that had it done before me were telling the truth and recovery was long and difficult. However, I came through that, and although my life is very different now at least I’m still here! 

Sometimes it can be hard in recovery to think positively if you feel things are not going as quickly as you’d like, or you feel you’re taking a step back at times. I know I felt like that often, as recovery for me wasn’t always straightforward. But it was a marathon and not a sprint and trying to keep positive thoughts going and trying to see the silver linings in those dark clouds helped me to keep my eye on the prize of better days ahead. 

Sarah xx

I know I tried to pushed myself to soon and over did it at times and looking back I think why? I should have given myself "permission" to take it easy, I found sitting quite uncomfortable so again that meant I be up cooking or walking the dog!I think also there was an element of if I can do stuff I must be ok!

Just reading the forums on here helped get my head straight about quality of life and time scales etc and how being positive is the main thing we can do to help ourselves, I'm quite an upbeat person but I'll admit to at times when recovering from the operation sitting on the side of the bed and having a good cry! But then that would pass and life went on!

Things will get better and life may be different but I'd reach out to all the wonderful groups out there if things do get to much at times for you.