The tortoise and the hare...

[Singer]

N ancy Joy,

I also appreciate your post. My hat's off to you and others who maintain an energetically positive attitude through all this. The importance of a positive attitude is sometimes drummed into us here and elsewhere, but the truth is, you can't force yourself to be someone you're not. I have always been a tightly-wound, high-strung person and I took this surgery very hard. I've also been determined and highly motivated to recover, and that has served me well.

When it's all said and done, there are as many different types of recoveries from this thing as there are people who have it done, and we all get there -- eventually!

Best wishes to you.

[Confusedmom]

Revisiting this thread

Hi all,
I wanted to "bump"'this thread, as Ed says. It's one that I have always remembered and try to think about when I am having bad days. I am six weeks post-op now and thought I would be off narcotics and driving by now. I'm not, so that bums me out. But I am trying to be like SusieBee and focus on the progress I Have made. I have decreased my pain meds a lot, I am capable of tagging along to important things like kindergarten registration for my daughter and doctor's appointments for both my kids, and I am taking fewer naps. I'm still sore, but that will take time. I am very grateful for no major complications, so far. Anyway, I thought others who are recovering might like to read this thread again.

Best,
Evelyn

[LindaRacine]

Hi Evelyn...

I had a goal of being back to work full time at 3M postop. I didn't make it, and looking back, I realize it was just a number. On average, I think most people get off of narcotics around 3 months, but there's a very wide range. Hang in there. Six weeks is still pretty early.

--Linda

[JenniferG]

I agree, we are all different. I didn't have any goals in mind, other than to eventually resume my life. I didn't start to reduce dosage until at least 6-7 weeks and spent several weeks getting off the medication. I relied on my instincts a lot. I just knew when it was time to do this or that. I was 3 months when I first drove. I was very fortunate in that I didn't have a job to get back to so I was able to take my time. I wish we all could simply "take our time."

Just an addition to my post...I think it helped that my surgeon told me it would take a year to recover, possibly 2. So I never felt rushed. I really think my surgeon did me a huge favour telling me that.