5 weeks post surgery, very sleepy, is this normal?

[emacx]

Hi,
I am five weeks post op for an open sigmoid colon removal
The incision is from just under the breast bone to the pubic
bone. Recovery is going slowly but well. Still quite a bit of left
sided discomfort. Bowel movements are relatively normal now
as compared to pre surgery, diarrhea, bleeding and mucus up
To thirty times a day.
I am just wondering if at this point, if it is normal to be falling
Asleep all the time? I am 56 and up until the last couple of years
Have been healthy and active. Even when my hemoglobin was
Very low, I wasn't falling asleep.
The last two weeks if I sit down with a book or in front of the TV
I fall asleep within minutes and I sleep for an hour or more.
This can happen two to three times a day.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is it normal or should I
Mention it to my doc?

Diagnosed crohns, severe UC, diverticulitis ++ bleeding: 2011
Salofak enemas.. Failed
Salofak oral.. Failed
Entocort.. Failed
Prednisone.. Failed
Fatty chain acid enemas.. Failed
Humira injections.. Failed
Iron infusions
Iron tabs
Vitamin D
Sigmoid Colon removal April 4, 2013

 

[Traumanurse]

Are you taking any medication? Pain pills can certainly do that. Also some messed up labs can do that. Looks like you've had low hemoglobin in the past. Is it under control? When is your follow up appointment with the Doc? It can be a lot of things depending how you're feeling otherwise.

 

[emacx]

Hi
I am not taking any meds at all. I only used Tylenol after day four when they removed the epidural, because I don't tolerate narcotics well. I hate the way they make me feel.
My hemoglobin was down to 6.5 but was back up to 10 when I had surgery and I have had no bleeding since surgery. I saw the surgeon last week and he was happy with my progress. He says any follow up now should be through my GI or GP Doc. Other than being sleepy and the what I assume is normal discomfort in my left side and a few twinges in the incision site. I feel pretty good. Maybe I will have some labs done
Could be low iron, b12, or hemoglobin but I haven't been passing any blood at all since the surgery.

 

[GutlessWonder86]

If you had open abdominal surgery, then yes, it's normal to feel tired still. It's MAJOR surgery and your body needs time to heal by resting. I was told by my GI surgeon that for the body to completely heal it's takes up to a year but the incision will heal sooner than that but you still need to be careful of heavy lifting and exercise for several weeks.

Once the surgeon checks the wound and surgical area and things look fine, he may decide to give you the ok to start walking for exercise or whatever it is you like to do.

feel better.

 

[emacx]

Thanks,
I have been doing a bit of walking and light housekeeping.

 

[2thFairy]

I've had 3 open abdominal surgeries with a similar type incision as yours. With each one, I got tired out very quickly for about 3 months after surgery. For me, this is normal.

 

[Traumanurse]

emacx: At 56 (same as me), we do take a longer time and to get back to normal than those in their 20s and 30s. That was a major surgery you had. Sounds like everything else is going well, and the Docs checked you out. They tell me increasing activity every day also helps the healing process for us OLDER folks. ha-ha. Keep it up, and good luck!