After surgery update

I did have the anterior/posterior 2 level lumbar fusion 11 days ago. I went home on day 4. Guess it doesn't matter how much you read up on it, or how well you think you understand the surgery. I don't know what I actually expected, but it sure isn't this!!!! The pain is horrible. At times I wonder what was I thinking... But it does seem to have helped w the hip and buttock pain. I can tell it isn't as bad as it was before. And I am glad. The pain seems to be surgical and not what was there before. I keep hoping it will get better. I didn't really get much detailed do's and don'ts when I was discharged. Just no bending, twisting of my body and not to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk.and no driving. So I battle with this. I don't want to do too much or too little. I have been walking through the house a good bit during the day, so I'm not in bed or on my recliner all the time. I have been walking outside. But I didn't yesterday bc the pain . Friday I walked 6 houses and back, with my walker of course. And I will walk today. It's just been so hot and humid.
The steri strips came off the incision in my stomach today. It has dissolvable stitches. Wednesday I go to get the staples out of my back. There are 2 incisions on my back, with a total of 17 staples. I'm not sure what hurts worse, stomach or back, but both are very very painful.
I've been a lot more fatigued than before. And I am napping almost every afternoon. I just feel so bad and am so very tired. Since I'm not sleeping good at night, I sleep when I can.
Severe constipation is not the best thing for me right now either. I'm taking Citrucel, Rx strength Miralax, stool softners and probiotics. I've also tried MOM. I've had 2 very small amounts of stool in a week. My stomach is already super sore from the surgery and now is swollen due to the constipation. Tomorrow I will drink that aweful Citrate of Magnesium.
It's just been me and the kids. We 're making it but this is not an easy journey. I'm proud of the kids. They are doing really good. Thanks for listening.

Well hopefully it's still just surgical pain and time should see improvement. Be patient, give yourself plenty of healing time as the surgery is complicated and difficult on your body. What failures we seem to see the most of come from rushing post-op recovery and jumping back in the saddle too soon.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you all for your support. It sure means a lot to me. I had a good long cry this am. It just all hurts so very bad. I almost regret doing the surgery period. I am just miserable. The severe buttock and hip pain is a good bit better. And that leaves me a little hopeful. But I don't understand why it all still hurts so bad. The steri strips came off my stomach yesterday. My stomach looks deformed now. Guess it's from the swelling and all, but it just doesn't look right. It isn't like I will be sporting a bikini any time soon. It just looks very strange. The Dr will see when I go Wednesday for my staples to come out of my back.

I am taking OxyContin 20 mg twice a day and Percocet 10 mg every 6 hours. I usually can't wait 6 hours. It's more like 5. I hate to complain to the dr, but none of this seems to be controlling my pain. I am hoping the surgeon will increase or change the pain meds. I've been on Percocet for years. That is prob why it isn't helping anymore. I've developed a tolerance to it. If he won't, and he may not, than I am hoping he will send a referral for a new pain management dr. I have already told him I'm not going back to my current PM dr anymore. I'm not trying to appear drug seeking. But I am just miserable....something really does need to be changed. This is really taking it's toll on me today. It was everything I could do to drag myself out of bed this am. It's just too much! I'm ok now. And I think my feelings are understandable. I'm going to keep on keeping on. I will recover. But I'm not sure I would do this again, if I had it to do over.
Anyway, again, thank you all for listening and caring.

Thank you, Abilene. My son did come visit me at the hospital. He was there everyday. He is 16. My daughter was with her dad. He promised to bring her up there. But my best friend sent him a text the day of surgery and said my daughter didn't need to come that day as I was in bad shape. She is 9. My ex picked her up that Tues pm. I had surgery Wednesday. Discharged Saturday. And she came home Sunday. It was super hard being away from her, especially since I didn't get to see her. My son is really doing good. He's really worried and doesn't like seeing me in this much pain. My daughter is tender hearted and I love her very much, but the child is very very messy. I went in her room today and was just amazed how much mess one child can make!! I just walked out. I'm too weak emotionally and physically to fight about her room right now. It isn't going anywhere. I'm going to ask her dad to come get her again ASAP. I hate being away from her, but I can barely take care of myself. I just need a few days... And she needs to have some fun for a chsnge.