Re: Post surgical exhaustion

March 27, 2011

Normal, Normal Normal!I found I had strength and energy boosts every 4 months or so. They are very gradual. As I approach my second year post op, I'm finally feeling almost normal energy. Although I still need a nap everyday to relax my back muscles. Sometimes, I found a break from exercise sometimes actually helps with more energy.-DyannFrom: KATHYINBK <kathyinbk@...>Subject: [ ] Post surgical exhaustion Date: Sunday, March 27, 2011, 3:21 PMHi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very

well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal...should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a bettermulti-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect

this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it.Thank you.........................Kathy------------------------------------scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

March 27, 2011

Kathy,I think for me this was the hardest part of the surgery, the energy returning part, I didn't feel like myself for a long time. You must listen to your body, and obtain the rest you need, it's hard work to build back from all the anesthesia, blood loss, the trauma to your body, and as you say building another fusion mass. One of these would knock most for a loop, but all three, it's exhausting. Truly, even if your surgeries are staged, the hugeness of what was done, has no other surgery to compare it to, so you can't say, hey, I should be back to myself because A or B person was, that had far less done. Cam coined the term Spinal reconstruction, and when you say that, you can see, just why you feel the way you do. So do get your rest, allow your body time to heal, and know energy does return, but for me, I wasn't completely back to the old for about a year.

I'm personally a big fan of Ginseng, for energy when I'm down in that area. Also and I'm not sure what your age is, but Peri-menopause was zapping me too after surgery. Make sure your iron levels are good too, I needed some iron for awhile after surgery. Take your Calcium, with Vitamin D. Also make sure to get some sunshine, walking on treadmills doesn't give you the fresh air or sunshine on your face, that does really help.

Nap, build it into your schedule, I had to have a rest mid morning, and mid afternoon. You are making bone and securing the life you want after all you have been through, so don't beat yourself up, and know it's normal to need rest.

Do keep a watchful eye for depression, can hit more than once, especially if your surgeries are staged a bit apart.Keep a journal, it will show you progress is being made, and give you a boost to read it, and see how far you have come.

It takes time, but so worth the effort!Colorado SpringsOn Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 1:21 PM, KATHYINBK <kathyinbk@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal

....should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a better

multi-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it.

Thank you.........................Kathy

March 27, 2011

Thank you Dyann & for the reassurance & advice. This is the first time I've ever had the opportunity to ask others about their experences with our back problems & surgeries. I think my self-motivation motor just stalled. I never really noticed before about the peaks & valleys of recovery. I guess it's easy to remember the progress & easy to forget about the set-backs of past surgeries. I think keeping a journal would be an excellent idea. I also think that I should get more educated on post-menopausal women's health. I'm only 48, but have been past menopaus for a little over 3 years now. Thank you both again for responding. Time for my afternoon nap = ) .....................Kathy

Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal...should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a bettermulti-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is

exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it.Thank you.........................Kathy

March 27, 2011

I actually was menopausal during my recovery and finally went to my Dr. about the tiredness at the one year point. I was low on thyroid. After he put me on some replacement medication, I have so much more energy. Something to check later. Right now just concentrate on getting better.-Dyann

Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal...should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a bettermulti-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is

exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it.Thank you.........................Kathy

March 27, 2011

Kathy,I'm almost four weeks out from my surgery, and feel exhausted ALL THE TIME! But I can't seem to get on a regular sleeping schedule. So while I sleep a lot, it's in several disjointed chunks throughout the day/night. I know that's not ideal, but I'm trying to improve. Some of this is due to waking up in pain (needing more breakthrough medications [rare]), to use the potty, or to shift positions due to pain (happens 2-3 times per night).

During the day I'm exhausted constantly. I assume some of this is due to my body allocating most of its energy on healing my spine and surrounding tissues. Some is also due to the side effects of the medications. And otherwise it is poor sleeping patterns. While you say that you're not twenty-something, I am know 31, so I would expect to heal/recover relatively quickly. I haven't added in a multivitamin yet, which I know is extremely important.

I noticed your mention of the treadmill. I had been considering that option as well, but my physical therapist looked at me like I was crazy. He considers it very dangerous for fusion patients, but I can't remember the reason why. Are any other members of this group using a treadmill or any kind of large fitness equipment to aid in their recovery?

I apologize for the rambling, but I hope you find something useful here.Best wishes,Anterior surgery on 3/1/11

Posterior surgery on 3/2/11Surgeon: Dr. GlazerBeth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston, MAOn Mar 27, 2011, at 3:21 PM, <kathyinbk@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal

....should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a better

multi-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it.

Thank you.........................Kathy

March 27, 2011

Dear , Kathy, and all,THANK YOU! I'm about 3 1/2 months out from the double whammy, and the fatigue is a bummer. I'm sleeping until 10 many mornings, and am still tired. I can do a lot of things I could before, and am excited about that, but it wears me out. I can't exercise on days I work--and I've limited my work day to 4 hours. I can swim 40 minutes, or hike for an hour which feels really good, then I'm wiped out. I've been having hot flashes!!! and I'm 67. I used to use an Estrogen/Progesterone cream, DHEA, and an adrenal polymorphogen (supports adrenal without increasing or decreasing the hormone). I've just started adding that back in, and that seems to be helping to boost my energy.It makes a lot of sense that the body is using a lot of energy to "reconstruct". Another of my issues is that nothing tastes good to me. So I suppose I may not be eating enough, or the right things as it's too tiring to stand and cook! Your experience is so helpful, , my fellow Kumar patient!Again thanks, and thanks, Kathy, for raising the issue. I'm going to stop feeling guilty about sleeping so much, and lying on the couch with a book. I asked Dr. Kumar at my 3 month visit how much is normal to be needing to lie down. He just kind of looked at me quizzicly, so I thought maybe it wasn't usual....On Mar 27, 2011, at 3:10 PM, Kirkaldie wrote: Kathy,I think for me this was the hardest part of the surgery, the energy returning part, I didn't feel like myself for a long time. You must listen to your body, and obtain the rest you need, it's hard work to build back from all the anesthesia, blood loss, the trauma to your body, and as you say building another fusion mass. One of these would knock most for a loop, but all three, it's exhausting. Truly, even if your surgeries are staged, the hugeness of what was done, has no other surgery to compare it to, so you can't say, hey, I should be back to myself because A or B person was, that had far less done. Cam coined the term Spinal reconstruction, and when you say that, you can see, just why you feel the way you do. So do get your rest, allow your body time to heal, and know energy does return, but for me, I wasn't completely back to the old for about a year. I'm personally a big fan of Ginseng, for energy when I'm down in that area. Also and I'm not sure what your age is, but Peri-menopause was zapping me too after surgery. Make sure your iron levels are good too, I needed some iron for awhile after surgery. Take your Calcium, with Vitamin D. Also make sure to get some sunshine, walking on treadmills doesn't give you the fresh air or sunshine on your face, that does really help. Nap, build it into your schedule, I had to have a rest mid morning, and mid afternoon. You are making bone and securing the life you want after all you have been through, so don't beat yourself up, and know it's normal to need rest. Do keep a watchful eye for depression, can hit more than once, especially if your surgeries are staged a bit apart.Keep a journal, it will show you progress is being made, and give you a boost to read it, and see how far you have come. It takes time, but so worth the effort!Colorado SpringsOn Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 1:21 PM, KATHYINBK <kathyinbk@...> wrote: Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal ...should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a better multi-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it. Thank you.........................Kathy

March 27, 2011

Dear & - First for ...I don't know what causes it, but I don't have hot flashes per say...I have a difficult time regulating my body temp. I've used my heater WAY higher than usual this winter. As soon as I get warm, I'm too hot...and vice versa. Also I tend to lose weight after my back surgeries. This time it's 24 lbs so far. In addition to having less of an appetite from the pain killers, my body is working over-time to heal and burns calories constantly. The only way I can explain it is that walking a mile for me is like running 2 miles to average folks. I just make sure what I do eat is healthy. I got a ton of grapefruits & oranges from my neighbors trees this year. Next for ... different docs have different opinions about treadmills. After my surgery in

2007, it was the only therapy I was allowed. Two weeks ago I took my walking schedule with me to my 6 week post-op appointment, & my surgeon was THRILLED with my walking. I would rather do it outside, but the weather won't permit. My surgeon didn't say whether or not she preferred natural walking to treamill walking...her opinion was that ANY walking is good. But like I said...each doc & therapist have different opinions. Thank you both for responding.

.............................Kathy

Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal...should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a bettermulti-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is

exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it.Thank you.........................Kathy

March 27, 2011

Thanks, Kathy.Actually your description is better. It's not really a flash, it is being cold, and then being roasting hot. Exactly. Great to compare notes. My guess on the treadmill is that if one loses concentration it is easy to slip off the back and fall. Not too likely, especially if you use the hand rails. On Mar 27, 2011, at 9:14 PM, KATHY MIXON wrote: Dear & - First for ...I don't know what causes it, but I don't have hot flashes per say...I have a difficult time regulating my body temp. I've used my heater WAY higher than usual this winter. As soon as I get warm, I'm too hot...and vice versa. Also I tend to lose weight after my back surgeries. This time it's 24 lbs so far. In addition to having less of an appetite from the pain killers, my body is working over-time to heal and burns calories constantly. The only way I can explain it is that walking a mile for me is like running 2 miles to average folks. I just make sure what I do eat is healthy. I got a ton of grapefruits & oranges from my neighbors trees this year. Next for ... different docs have different opinions about treadmills. After my surgery in 2007, it was the only therapy I was allowed. Two weeks ago I took my walking schedule with me to my 6 week post-op appointment, & my surgeon was THRILLED with my walking. I would rather do it outside, but the weather won't permit. My surgeon didn't say whether or not she preferred natural walking to treamill walking...her opinion was that ANY walking is good. But like I said...each doc & therapist have different opinions. Thank you both for responding. ............................Kathy Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal...should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a bettermulti-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it.Thank you.........................Kathy

March 28, 2011

,I wish I could patent that look of Kumar's, but I've gotten that one from him more than once when I've said something, you got to remember these guys do these surgeries, and the only experience they have with what it FEELS like is what people tell them, so that is why it's great to be in a group like this, you get to hear what it's like to LIVE after surgery. Kumar has lived in the states for ages, but, sometimes he has a bit of a clinical kinda British/Indian doctory , (yup I just made up a word) just the facts way about him, and he gets that perplexed look about him, and I loved to mess with him when he got that way. He also doesn't get slang, or slang inferences, I remember saying to him after surgery I didn't like a certain med because the pill was big and I told him " that pill gets stuck in my neck " , meaning it felt as if I couldn't swallow it properly, and it sat in my neck, and that threw him for a loop. So when you get that look, write it off, as a lost in translation moment, or funny it up and go back at your description.

Kumar is also as a person, a get back to it quickly guy. He doesn't get pacing ones self. He broke his knee cap after my last surgery, and he and I recovered from surgeries at the same time, and he told me he didn't use pain meds after the first couple of days, and i was at my two month post op appointment, weaning down off the meds, but told him I still needed them for awhile more, I said you had your knee done, I had my almost entire spine done, no comparing Bud!

On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 8:27 PM, J. Rucker <ejrucker@...> wrote:

Dear , Kathy, and all,THANK YOU! I'm about 3 1/2 months out from the double whammy, and the fatigue is a bummer. I'm sleeping until 10 many mornings, and am still tired. I can do a lot of things I could before, and am excited about that, but it wears me out. I can't exercise on days I work--and I've limited my work day to 4 hours. I can swim 40 minutes, or hike for an hour which feels really good, then I'm wiped out. I've been having hot flashes!!! and I'm 67. I used to use an Estrogen/Progesterone cream, DHEA, and an adrenal polymorphogen (supports adrenal without increasing or decreasing the hormone). I've just started adding that back in, and that seems to be helping to boost my energy.

It makes a lot of sense that the body is using a lot of energy to " reconstruct " . Another of my issues is that nothing tastes good to me. So I suppose I may not be eating enough, or the right things as it's too tiring to stand and cook!

Your experience is so helpful, , my fellow Kumar patient!Again thanks, and thanks, Kathy, for raising the issue. I'm going to stop feeling guilty about sleeping so much, and lying on the couch with a book. I asked Dr. Kumar at my 3 month visit how much is normal to be needing to lie down. He just kind of looked at me quizzicly, so I thought maybe it wasn't usual....

On Mar 27, 2011, at 3:10 PM, Kirkaldie wrote: Kathy,

I think for me this was the hardest part of the surgery, the energy returning part, I didn't feel like myself for a long time. You must listen to your body, and obtain the rest you need, it's hard work to build back from all the anesthesia, blood loss, the trauma to your body, and as you say building another fusion mass. One of these would knock most for a loop, but all three, it's exhausting. Truly, even if your surgeries are staged, the hugeness of what was done, has no other surgery to compare it to, so you can't say, hey, I should be back to myself because A or B person was, that had far less done. Cam coined the term Spinal reconstruction, and when you say that, you can see, just why you feel the way you do. So do get your rest, allow your body time to heal, and know energy does return, but for me, I wasn't completely back to the old for about a year.

I'm personally a big fan of Ginseng, for energy when I'm down in that area. Also and I'm not sure what your age is, but Peri-menopause was zapping me too after surgery. Make sure your iron levels are good too, I needed some iron for awhile after surgery. Take your Calcium, with Vitamin D. Also make sure to get some sunshine, walking on treadmills doesn't give you the fresh air or sunshine on your face, that does really help.

Nap, build it into your schedule, I had to have a rest mid morning, and mid afternoon. You are making bone and securing the life you want after all you have been through, so don't beat yourself up, and know it's normal to need rest.

Do keep a watchful eye for depression, can hit more than once, especially if your surgeries are staged a bit apart.Keep a journal, it will show you progress is being made, and give you a boost to read it, and see how far you have come.

It takes time, but so worth the effort!Colorado SpringsOn Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 1:21 PM, KATHYINBK <kathyinbk@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal

....should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a better multi-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it.

Thank you.........................Kathy

March 28, 2011

Thanks, ,This does help put things in perspective. He seemed disappointed that I was still on the meds. I still take some Norco, weaning down, but my back aches. A funny symptom that I started to tell him about, but gave up, is that just before I need to move my bowels, my whole back end, which is numb as can be, breaks out in a sweat. Weird, huh?Come to think of it, you told me to tell him from to kick ass, and I did, and he didn't really respond. Maybe he just didn't get it. & :-)Someday we will meet!emilyOn Mar 28, 2011, at 8:26 AM, Kirkaldie wrote: ,I wish I could patent that look of Kumar's, but I've gotten that one from him more than once when I've said something, you got to remember these guys do these surgeries, and the only experience they have with what it FEELS like is what people tell them, so that is why it's great to be in a group like this, you get to hear what it's like to LIVE after surgery. Kumar has lived in the states for ages, but, sometimes he has a bit of a clinical kinda British/Indian doctory , (yup I just made up a word) just the facts way about him, and he gets that perplexed look about him, and I loved to mess with him when he got that way. He also doesn't get slang, or slang inferences, I remember saying to him after surgery I didn't like a certain med because the pill was big and I told him " that pill gets stuck in my neck", meaning it felt as if I couldn't swallow it properly, and it sat in my neck, and that threw him for a loop. So when you get that look, write it off, as a lost in translation moment, or funny it up and go back at your description. Kumar is also as a person, a get back to it quickly guy. He doesn't get pacing ones self. He broke his knee cap after my last surgery, and he and I recovered from surgeries at the same time, and he told me he didn't use pain meds after the first couple of days, and i was at my two month post op appointment, weaning down off the meds, but told him I still needed them for awhile more, I said you had your knee done, I had my almost entire spine done, no comparing Bud! On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 8:27 PM, J. Rucker <ejrucker@...> wrote: Dear , Kathy, and all,THANK YOU! I'm about 3 1/2 months out from the double whammy, and the fatigue is a bummer. I'm sleeping until 10 many mornings, and am still tired. I can do a lot of things I could before, and am excited about that, but it wears me out. I can't exercise on days I work--and I've limited my work day to 4 hours. I can swim 40 minutes, or hike for an hour which feels really good, then I'm wiped out. I've been having hot flashes!!! and I'm 67. I used to use an Estrogen/Progesterone cream, DHEA, and an adrenal polymorphogen (supports adrenal without increasing or decreasing the hormone). I've just started adding that back in, and that seems to be helping to boost my energy. It makes a lot of sense that the body is using a lot of energy to "reconstruct". Another of my issues is that nothing tastes good to me. So I suppose I may not be eating enough, or the right things as it's too tiring to stand and cook! Your experience is so helpful, , my fellow Kumar patient!Again thanks, and thanks, Kathy, for raising the issue. I'm going to stop feeling guilty about sleeping so much, and lying on the couch with a book. I asked Dr. Kumar at my 3 month visit how much is normal to be needing to lie down. He just kind of looked at me quizzicly, so I thought maybe it wasn't usual.... On Mar 27, 2011, at 3:10 PM, Kirkaldie wrote: Kathy, I think for me this was the hardest part of the surgery, the energy returning part, I didn't feel like myself for a long time. You must listen to your body, and obtain the rest you need, it's hard work to build back from all the anesthesia, blood loss, the trauma to your body, and as you say building another fusion mass. One of these would knock most for a loop, but all three, it's exhausting. Truly, even if your surgeries are staged, the hugeness of what was done, has no other surgery to compare it to, so you can't say, hey, I should be back to myself because A or B person was, that had far less done. Cam coined the term Spinal reconstruction, and when you say that, you can see, just why you feel the way you do. So do get your rest, allow your body time to heal, and know energy does return, but for me, I wasn't completely back to the old for about a year. I'm personally a big fan of Ginseng, for energy when I'm down in that area. Also and I'm not sure what your age is, but Peri-menopause was zapping me too after surgery. Make sure your iron levels are good too, I needed some iron for awhile after surgery. Take your Calcium, with Vitamin D. Also make sure to get some sunshine, walking on treadmills doesn't give you the fresh air or sunshine on your face, that does really help. Nap, build it into your schedule, I had to have a rest mid morning, and mid afternoon. You are making bone and securing the life you want after all you have been through, so don't beat yourself up, and know it's normal to need rest. Do keep a watchful eye for depression, can hit more than once, especially if your surgeries are staged a bit apart.Keep a journal, it will show you progress is being made, and give you a boost to read it, and see how far you have come. It takes time, but so worth the effort!Colorado SpringsOn Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 1:21 PM, KATHYINBK <kathyinbk@...> wrote: Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal ...should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a better multi-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it. Thank you.........................Kathy

March 28, 2011

Hi Kathy...

I'm right there with you. Even though I was more than aware of the post

surgical exhaustion issue, the amount of exhaustion has still surprised me.

My only suggestion about exercise would be to try to motivate yourself to add

another session of walking so that you're gradually working up to more

endurance.

Are you in physical therapy yet?

--

>

> Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying

that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my

anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my

finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired !!! I get a full

8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up

tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my

stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal

> ...should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a better

> multi-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the

rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression

earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not

twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard

members say that it is exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing

it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some

input, I sure would appreciate it.

> Thank you.........................Kathy

>

March 28, 2011

Hi - No physical therapy for me...it's not covered. I walked my way through recovery once before...I'll do it again. .............................Kathy

From: <linda.racine@...>Subject: [ ] Re: Post surgical exhaustion Date: Monday, March 28, 2011, 10:22 AM

Hi Kathy...I'm right there with you. Even though I was more than aware of the post surgical exhaustion issue, the amount of exhaustion has still surprised me.My only suggestion about exercise would be to try to motivate yourself to add another session of walking so that you're gradually working up to more endurance. Are you in physical therapy yet?-->> Hi Everyone - I was posting with another member a few days ago & was saying that I am doing very well physically, but I still feel like crap after my anterior surgery 8 weeks ago. When asked to explain, I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It just dawned on me...I just always feel tired

!!! I get a full 8-9 hours sleep at night, & take a nap every afternon... and I still wake up tired. I make sure I get on my treadmill everyday for a mile to try and build my stamina, but it seems to be getting worse. I'm just curious if this is normal> ...should I push through the tired feeling...should I get a better> multi-vitamin...should I just keep with my program because my body needs the rest...or a little bit of all the above? I went through my post-op depression earlier on at about 4 weeks. So I don't think it's that. I realize I'm not twenty-something anymore... & shouldn't expect to heal like one. I've heard members say that it is exhausting growing bone. I guess I'm just now realizing it. So anyway, how long should I expect this to last... if anyone has some input, I sure would appreciate it.> Thank you.........................Kathy>

March 29, 2011

I think this question has been well answered, but just wanted to add that I

agree that the " dissconnect " between what I expected to be able to do at 3

months post-op and what I was doing, were a big part of why I wanted to create

our group. It is here, or course, to help people on the front side of

surgery...but selfishly...I really needed the help on the back side...no pun

intended!

My surgeon did say that recovery was going to be about a year...and I knew that

other people reported the same thing, but I couldnt really reconcile that with

the timelines that related to going back to work or stepping down off meds until

I really understood that, for me anyway, there were other parts of the healing

that were at work.

My guess is that it is a little bit of everything. There is the physical

healing, there is stamina, there is learning to move in a new way, which is

physically and mentally tiring. There is also nutrition and weight gain, or loss

for your body to adjust to. Then, we are asking it to deal with all this

miraculous healing while loading up on medications and usually a very

interrupted or unusual sleep pattern. Yes...it takes awhile!

Kathy, on your particular situation...is there anyway you could get your PCP to

arrange a consult with a nutritionist? If you have lost 24 lbs then there would

possible be the guess that there are underlying nutritional losses that could be

adding to your tiredness. At a minimum, I would encourage you to do a little

research on some of the medical grade liquid supplements. I did use them post

op...and I believe the Boost line is an over the counter version.

Walking is great...but does seem to yield those uneven results...it makes you

more tired at first...then you gain stamina...so you walk more...then you are

tired again. Eventually it evens out. For the record , DrRand also did

not want any use of a treadmill. I recall that he was fearful of both the fall

aspect and the way walking on a treadmill could cause the patient to " dig in " at

the heal and torque the iliac bolts while they were setting. He was quite firm

in the " No power walking " stride lecture.

Anyway....my best advice is my standard...expect a year of recovery and be

pleasantly surprised with anything that comes sooner. And that really means

everything.

Take Care, Cam

March 29, 2011

Hi Kathy...

I'm having the same issue with body temp.

I'm not sure what the issue is with treadmills, but as far as I know, Dr. Hu has

no problem with them.

Regards,

>

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