Hi, welcome to OCF. Im glad you have found OCF to help guide you. This is a huge surgery and takes a long time to bounce back from. Since your mothers surgery was only 3 weeks ago, it will still be several more weeks before she begins to feel better.

I have had the same operation except for the leg bone. My doctors kept me asleep for 3 weeks after the surgery. I was in a medically induced coma and slowly woken up. I had some complications and ended up staying in the hospital for 2 months. This is important to remember, while someone has had a similar experience/procedure, everyone is different and reacts differently.

At the 2 month point, I came home very weak from the hospital. It was still difficult to manage all the feedings, meds and pain levels. I had a great caregiver who was with me for 3 weeks then I had a visiting nurse come 3x per week and lots of friends and come by daily to help me. I would say it was about 4 months post surgery that I was able to have the strength to walk around the block. I was 46 when I had the surgery, your mother may be younger or stronger than I was and could be on her feet in less time.

The feeding tube is a whole seperate thing. Most OC patients end up having the tube. While its uncomfortable and unnatural, it is necessary.

Now I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary of the surgery. While I still have my medical problems, overall I am doing very well. My situation is different also because I had already battled OC twice before with radiation/chemo and surgery. If I had to give a number, I would say I am 85% of my old self and thats ok with me

Your mom will get there, it just takes a long time. If she is struggling mentally with this, many take antidepressants. I probably should have but didnt take them, mainly cuz I didnt want to take any more meds or admit I struggled. There are several others here who have had this same operation. Hopefully they will respond and give more insight.