Is it normal to feel severe fatigue when recovering from a back surgery?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother is 79 years old. She had major back surgery five weeks ago. She has been very fatigued. I ordered blood tests last week. She is on daily pills. She is on Aspirin 81 mg, Oxybutynin 5 mg, Docusate 200 mg Vitamin D3 at 2000 units, Estradiol 0.5 mg, Folic acid 1 mg, Centrum Silver daily tablet, Gabapentin 1200 mg, Lialda 2.4 g, Senna two tablets, Lorazepam 1.5 mg, and Oxycodone 10 mg three per day. Her albumin is 3.3, AST 46, ALT 90, hemoglobin 10.7, hematocrit 33.1, iron 19, and saturation percent is 7. Everything else is normal. She is scheduled to go see a doctor in two days. Is it fine for her to wait for two days? She has started on iron supplements. Are there any suggestions? Lab reports have been enclosed.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity), and I understand you are worried about your mother's health. She has got surgery, and due to that, too, there is also some weakness in this phase of convalescence. Her blood tests show a little lower than normal hemoglobin. But this is all that we can expect after major surgery. Iron supplements will cover up her deficiencies, but it will take some time to kick in. This is not something that needs urgent attention unless there are severe symptoms that warrant a blood transfusion. Some of them can be shortness of breath, extreme and debilitating weakness, unable to move around, etc.

Her liver enzymes AST (aspartate transaminase) and ALT (alanine transaminase) are on higher sides. This increase in liver enzymes can be due to any reason ranging from surgery, medications, or prior liver disease. Her physician can guide her better in this regard. To me, it is fine to wait for her next appointment and keep taking medications as prescribed. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her, and with their consent, continue the medicines.

Hope it helps.