Question
Hi Sharon,

I had a L THR Oct. 14th of this year. I am 56 years old. Because of a problem with the length, I had a revision 3 days later. (I had spinals for both procedures) post op my hematicrit was 21. I held off on a blood transfusion. After the revision, I had a drainage problem that persisted for 3 weeks. My sed tare was 80, WBC ok, but then I spiked a fever . The surgeon opted to go back in and open the incsion, clean things out and then close.  Everything looked good, he cultured it and now I am home. (I  had a general for this one). My problem is that I feel totally wiped out. My hematacrit is 33 now, but I feel liked I have nothing left emotionally or otherwise. I am faithful with my PT. I am on an antidepressant. I take pain meds to manage pain which I thought would not be needed at this point but if I do not take them the pain is bad. I have low energy,and don't feel I have much to give to my family now and feel trapped and hate feeling dependent. My attitude was more positive, but when the complications started I got through them ok, but now I just feel like I have to really push myself but too tired and drained to care. Is this normal?

Answer
Diane

Doctor's like to see the hematocrit at about 32, so you are fine on that end.  Your fatigue most likely is coming from all the surgery and trauma your body went through in such a short amount of time.  You had three invasive surgeries in about one month and it's taken a toll on your body.  

Don't push yourself to come off the pain meds, in my experience, if you come off pain meds to early, that can cause your body to heal more slowly.  The pain meds may be one of the reasons you are tired, but I don't think they are fully the cause of your fatigue.

Give yourself time to heal.  Once you begin to get your life back to normal, step by step, you will feel better.  Don't push yourself, give yourself time to heal, see what your physical therapist can recommend for you insofar as water therapy.  Pool walking is wonderful exercise and you can get out of the house to do it.  The water gives you freedom to move without pain and impact and it's always been soothing to me when I was recovering.  Just be very careful not to go alone to a pool if you get the OK to do it as you can slip.  Always wear pool shoes.

Stay on the antidepressant, in a few months as you return to normal you will be able to wean off of it, and that may also help your energy level.  I feel as if you are pushing yourself and asking too much of your body.  Don't do that.  Even though it's hard to do, give yourself a break, take things slowly so you can recover from all you went through.

Each day, try and do ONE more new thing, not six new things.  It can be as little as walking one more step than the day before.  It can be as little as making yourself lunch.  You will get better, you just have to give it some time.

Best of luck to you.

Sharon