Comments on: What I Learned…

By: Julie Leto

Julie Leto — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:07:00 +0000

You know, perspective is a fabulous thing. When I complain about a little discomfort tomorrow, I’m going to think about PJ getting shot in the chest, Michelle’s brain tumor, Cher’s RA, etc. Seriously! It’s a testament to the strength of the women who comment here to read these amazing stories of recovery!

It’s funny…I had a c-section ten years ago (12 hours labor, but thankfully, no pushing before my daughter “distressed” and we had to rush into surgery.) I do NOT remember having trouble with pain, feeling like I couldn’t do anything, etc. Of course, all my concentration was on trying to pump enough breast milk to keep my child from starving. I guess when you have a baby, you focus on the baby and not yourself and I honestly did sleep when she slept as often as possible. Now that I’m older and really cannot nap during the day, that might hurt my ability to rejuvenate. I wish I could nap! It takes me forever to fall asleep, and once I do, if I don’t sleep for X amount of time (which changes) then I get horrible headaches. So I don’t nap. I’m the only plotmonkey who never naps!

But honestly, thank you all for the commiseration and well wishes. I am doing quite well for it only being 4 weeks. I’m taking it as easy as I can, but to be frank, writing again has made life tolerable again. I didn’t realize how much I missed it and I love this new story I’m working on! Watch the sidebar to see my progress!

By: Donna M

Donna M — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:53:21 +0000

Hi Julie,
I am so glad you are getting back to normal.
I seem to be able to tolerate pain pretty well. My recoveries have been from an appendectomy, 2 D & C’s (one in my early 20′s & the other about 8 years ago) and a breast biopsy. When I had the appendecotmy I was off work for about 6 weeks as that is the way it was then but I could easily have gone back to work earlier. Even when I went back I couldn’t lift anything heavy! I felt silly asking someone to lift some of the things that were no no’s from the doctor. However that might be one reason I did so well. Now they don’t seem to let people really recover from major surgeries & I think that it causes problems later down the line! Just my humble opinion. Keep taking it easy & do what the doctor says. You will appreciate your good health when you are fully recovered. :pray:

Cher, you have been through a lot. Can’t wait to meet you in SF.

By: Fedora

Fedora — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:37:02 +0000

I’m thankful not to have any lengthy recoveries yet (*knocking on wood*)–glad to hear you’re back on your feet and on the go!

By: Michele

Michele — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:36:41 +0000

Hi Julie glad to hear you are doing better
I have had two surgeries in my life both c-sections but both took me time to recover I took for granted the ability to sit and stand I never realized the muscles in the stomach that you use to do that. With my son I tried to hard to recover and do things to fast because he was 4 weeks early and taken to another hospital I made myself do what I needed to to get released so I could go to the other hospital then I would walk from the emergency room to the nicu not fast. I ended up in the emergency room myself with an infection. I’m a huge baby when it comes to pain so I hopr to never have to have surgery again

By: ev

ev — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:24:32 +0000

vicki- i gave all my stuff to my daughter. She gave me the finger!! I love walking by the aisle and saying, Don’t need those. I get the finger again.

I think she has a problem with that finger.

By: Karen Lingefelt

Karen Lingefelt — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:43:10 +0000

Hugs, Julie! I had the same surgery only two days after Ronald Reagan died, so my recovery was spent watching a week of all Reagan on TV.

The surgery itself took 3 hours because of scar tissue left over from my 3 C-sections, which meant the uterus was stuck to the bladder so they had to be very carefully pried apart. They warned me beforehand that if the worst happened, I’d have to go home with a catheter and bag attached to me. Fortunately that didn’t happen!

:hug2:

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:36:37 +0000

Julie, so glad your recovery is coming along.

My longest recovery was 3 months in the hospital followed by 9 months in a rehab center after being in a car accident. I am luck to have a high threshold for pain! I watched soap operas while in bed and read books when I was able to sit in a wheelchair.

By: Estella

Estella — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:29:14 +0000

I heal very fast and have a high pain tolerence–hence no long recoveries from 3 Caesareans, a hysterectomy, an a fusion of 2 vertebrae in my neck.

By: Cas

Cas — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:58:18 +0000

I’m so glad you’re feeling better! Channel your inner turtle…slow and steady wins the race. :-)

By: Vicki

Vicki — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:52:22 +0000

It’s good to see you back online Julie. You’ve been missed bunches!! It’s still going to take you a while to totally have your normal strenght and energy back, but each day it will be a bit better.

As far as SF goes, trust me on this one, don’t plan much of anything the first night, unless it’s much later and you’ve had time to take a nap. I know you’ll be sitting in a plane, but you will be tired when you arrive.

If you guys do get out to do any sightseeing, plan on taking cabs because you still won’t be able to walk for long distances without becoming very very tired.

The one thing I can promise you is in about six months (yes 6 of them) you will have a totally new lease on life and if you aren’t already, you will love it when you see a commerical for woman’s products, knowing you no longer need them.