recovering from radical trachelectomy

• By marsha123
• Posted September 5, 2009 at 10:15 am
• Report post

I'm post-op from a hysterectomy, and I know what you mean about swelling and bloating. I just wore loose clothing to keep comfortable. It will go away. I think it's just your body's response to the trauma it has been through. Good luck with everything, M

• Reply

• By BAR32
• Posted September 5, 2009 at 7:22 pm
• Report post

Christie- I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better. I had a trachelectomy this past year as well. I don't have much advise regarding the swelling except to just let it run its course and get outside and walk, walk, walk. go slow if you have to, but get your body up and moving. I had an abdominal incision with mine, so I had to go pretty slow and steady at first. start with just going around the block. But I think that is really the only thing that helps. It will help your digestion too. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

• Reply

• By nomorecancer
• Posted September 9, 2009 at 5:36 pm
• Report post

Hi,
I am glad you are feeling better. I was very constipated after my radical hysterectomy. I took some milk of magnesia and it worked wonders. I had surgery in January and I still have a wierd feeling where the lymph nodes were removed. The doctor told me I have a fluid pocket and hopefully it will clear on it own. I think you should treat yourself to a full body massage. I did this three weeks post op. I did not feel very well the first couple days after the massage, and then it was like magic. I really started to feel much better. I also did some walking and sitting in the sunshine. I really think getting out helped the most. How has your appetite been? I had very little desire for food for the first two weeks. Good luck. I hope you are OK and think postive

• Reply

• By Allibun
• Posted September 10, 2009 at 9:59 am
• Report post

Hi there. This is my first post. :)

I am 5 years post trachelectomy and am doing great. After the surgery I was very bloated and constipated as well - it's from the narcotics they give you after the surgery. My doc said drink tons of water as that will flush the drugs out of your system faster and that meant less constipation and bloating.
I also did a lot of walking - short distances a few times a day and that seemed to help - also putting a small heating pad on my belly and groin made me feel better.
To this day I still have a sore inner thigh - it feels like a lymph node is still there but my doc said it's just scar tissue from my lymph node biopsy. It flares up with hard exercise and the best way to alleviate that is with a massage (which I have never done).
I hope you feel better soon! I can empathize with how you are feeling!

• Reply

• By tkmd
• Posted October 6, 2009 at 8:38 pm
• Report post

Christie,
I wish I had some advice for you on exercises; my third post-op is at the end of this month and I will harrass my oncologist then for better information on that subject. I'm 28 years old and seven weeks post-op. I was diagnosed with Stage 1b1 cervical cancer and also had a radical trachelectomy and lymphandectomy. (I am now cancer-free, with no lymph node involvement and feel very very blessed about that.) As for post-surgery issues, I have numbness in my legs (fronts of my thighs), my lower abdomen is still very swollen (I had the abdominal RT, not the vaginal) and it is still painful and uncomfortable. I'm also having trouble with my bowels (constipation) and with urinating (painful). Where was your surgery performed, if you don't mind sharing? If you need anyone to chat with, as a support/friend, I'd be more than happy to be there for you. I cannot tell you how comforting it is for me to find other women like you, and women like those who have replied to you before me. It really does give me hope that life will return to some version of normal sometime soon.
All the best,
Tessa

• Reply

• By christiecsr
• Posted October 6, 2009 at 9:36 pm
• Report post

tkmd-
I am 6 weeks post op. It was abdominal, done with robotics. I am still a little bloated. My bowel movements have slowed down but are much better. I am no longer getting the urge to pee which is really weird. I forget for hours and then feel sore and bloated. Today was my first day back at work and I couldn't do the full ten hours, had to leave an hour early. I am very sore in my groin area-Dr says this is recovering lymph nodes. Also, when I do pee I have to push the entire time, which is painful.
We are very much alike. That's so cool. I can't find much literature on this but its so comforting to be able to talk with women who are and have gone through this.
My doc says I can walk and try yoga again. Went for a short walk today and it felt good. Sitting for long periods of time hurts. I just want to feel normal again!
Anyways, great to hear your story, we should keep in touch.

• Reply

• By tkmd
• Posted October 11, 2009 at 1:29 am
• Report post

Hi there! I am super frustrated with my bowels and the bloating; what have you found that helps with the constipation?! I feel like I've tried everything (from Milk of Mag to enemas!! The enemas work, but COME ON!!! Enemas!! Ugh.) The urge to pee has returned for me, but it is still accompanied by pain (the positive news here for you is that the urge WILL return!). When I didn't have the urge, I would try to void every four hours at least (that schedule helped me to remember, maybe it will work for you too?). I have plenty of primary literature resources (scientific journal articles) that I can email to you if you'd like. Try not to overdo it at work (people tell me the same thing, but I'm kindof stubborn). You will KNOW when you've done too much!! Sitting for long periods hurts me too (deep pain!!!). I have a theory on normal. There's the "new normal" and the "old normal". I think part of our feeling normal again is just getting used to the "new normal". Stinks a bit, because I'm still in mourning for the old me, but we're alive and we definitely have the potential to be great!! I think it's all about attitude. Finding people like you makes me feel so much better (less scared, less alone (even though I'm never alone, sometimes I feel that way. I guess cancer does that, huh?). So thanks back at ya and I'd love to keep in touch. That goes for anyone else out there reading this too. Wishing you all the best!

• Reply

• By Newbie09
• Posted October 11, 2009 at 10:06 am
• Report post

Hi Christiec sr,

I am almost 5 mo. post RT done robitically as well. For the constipation, as long as you are taking pain meds, make sure you take a stool softener (colace) once or twice a day. I haven't taken pain meds in a while, but I still occasionally get constipated, I find it has alot to do with my diet. Occasionally I still have those crazy pains that come from gas and bowel movements. Those were the worst. But now they are few and far between. As far as bloating, I talked to several people after my surgery that said they were still puffy for about 2 mo. but it does go away. What they forget to tell you is to buy some bigger clothes;) I went up 2 pant sizes after my surgery which was horrible. It is very mentally taxing. I thought, Ok, I'm gonna have this procedure then everything will be fine and back to normal. The pubic mound swelling is something I'm still dealing with. One thing that really helps, is wearing some kind of compression garment. I went to walmart and go some undergarments that look kindof like bicycle shorts but they come all the way up to just below the breasts area. What a pain I know, but it really works. I don't have any numbess in my legs, but have some sort of pinched nerve in my hip (I'm thinking Sciatica) which sucks. For that reason I'm traveling back to my Dr. who did the surgery (Several states away) to see what the deal is. If you have any questions please let me know. I had so much support from everyone on this website, I really want to return the favor. Hope all is well! Newbie

• Reply

• By christiecsr
• Posted October 11, 2009 at 11:55 am
• Report post

I have something like compression stockings. It's actually a thing I got from Giaim.com and it suppossed to be for cellulite (sorry about the spelling). I worried that I shouldn't do that for some reason but I will try it now! I know what you mean about the pubic mound swelling., I hate that the most!!!! I did go by some clothes but I got all sweat type clothes that I could maybe shrink after. Now I love them but I am really sick of being limited to the same two pairs of pants!!!

Once I quit taking the heavy pain meds my constipation got much better. I am a coffee drinker though which helped a lot. I think I'm about normal as far as bowel movements go. I also did Miralax which seemed to help. I haven't had to do enemas- I feel exactly the same way.

Some days I feel like I can handle all of this and that a "new normal" is okay and some I don't do as well. I get so angry that I have to do this. I want my "old normal" back!!

I remember in my psychology graduate program they talked about rape and compared it with a broken knee that needed to be replaced. Once you have it replaced you feel better but you never get your old knee back. I thought it was very profound and beautiful. It really relates here though. We don't get to go back to our old selves. We have to make new ones and move on. I also feel very alone at times and this discussion baord helps so much.

• Reply

• By tkmd
• Posted October 18, 2009 at 1:19 am
• Report post

I feel exactly the same way.

New news on me: Finally convinced my doc that at 9 weeks post-op, I should not be this swollen/in pain/bleeding (again!). I had a vaginal exam under general anesthesia and he cauterized (burned) a few lesions (scar tissue) that were weeping blood, so please pray for me that the bleeding doesn't return (except once per month!). Still no word on the swelling. I suppose I just need time (dirty four letter word that's turned out to be! time...).

I don't feel like I can do compression anything because my entire stomach, from the belly button down, is still very painful to touch. Even my normal underpants are uncomfortable. I cannot bring myself to buy new clothes. I'm currently using a safety pin to hold together my one pair of hole-filled fat jeans, where the button should be, and wear them unzipped with long shirts. Feel free to laugh at that mental image ;-) I certainly feel like a rag-a-muffin these days! I think I may take your cue with the sweatpants.

Hope this finds you feeling better (the anger is normal, I say USE IT! Send it into a new project, a driving force to do something for someone else or for yourself. Even just giving yourself a facial once a week or taking liberties that you wouldn't have before-- be free with yourself; for instance, I'm determined to make my own facial products out of kitchen goods. lol-- it's certainly proven to be interesting and has evoked some strange facial expressions from my hubs. I definitely feel like the new me is a long term work in progress, but we are worth it. Look at how far we've already come :-)

• Reply

Add to the discussion