My mum is to have a hysterectomy in eleven days, her womb and ovaries are a mess. Any experience please?

[MegSophandEmma]

I am so scared this is going to be something sinister.

She has kept her fears hidden from myself and my brother. I saw something this evening about ovarian cancer. It was laying out the symproms etc.. and I called my mother to ask exactly what the doctor had told her during her pre op appointment. She eventually said she is scared it's Ovarian cancer. My mother had thyroid cancer at the age of 32 and she said she never doubted that she would okay, but she just said this evening she has a bad feeling.

The tests she has had so far are; Blood test, scan (a mass in her womb and ovaries were found, as well as a swollen fallopian tube). She then had some key hole surgery where a camera was inserted to have a look about. Following this she was informed that she had a huge cyst on her ovary and polps and fibroids all over the inside and outside of her womb.

So she is having her hysterectomy in eleven days and I am so f**king scared I'm 29 fgs but I don't think I can be without my mum. Please tell me she could be ok someone please.

[lizandlulu]

i am sure she will be fine
my mum had a hysterectomy last year, she had massive fibriods and her bladder had fused to her womb, they operation should have took 3/4 of ohur and it was 2 and a half hour,s but she was fine after.
it took a long while for her to recover enough to feel normal, i am talking months before she felt good, but now wouldnt look back, she is so so glad she had it done.

have the docs said anything about cancer? it is probably best if they whip it all away and get it out

[MegSophandEmma]

Thankyou so much for your response L&L, tis much appreciated.

Ther is concern with regards to the ovary, as it is growing rapidly. The blood test she had was fine. I think this is a test to see if some levels of some kind of chemical has risen (which could indicate cancer)

She has been complaining of a swollon stomach and I have to say she now looks 4/5 months PG. She is unable to eat much due to stomach pain. It was these sypmtoms that caused something inside to stir, when I saw the symptoms of ovarian cancer mentioned this evening.

I can't belive how scared I am for her and selfishly myself too. She's not just my mum but my bestfriend The only person I have ever belived to have loved me completely, despite the horrendous life she has had. Oh friggin hell I can't stop cryin and dd keeps popping downstairs.

Sorry for wittering on, but thanks for reading.

Thankyou again for reading.

[MegSophandEmma]

Obviously very grateful for you reading lol

[lizandlulu]

dont be hard on yourself, it mus be very scary for you, my mums stomach was swollen, but she is a larger lady so it was only really noticable to her, this was down to the amount of fibroids she had.

i do hope she is ok

[JustKeepSwimming]

Well, my mum didn't have the same symptoms but did have a hysterectomy and swore it's the best thing she ever did.

She had a womb prolapse (i think) and had had heavy periods and stuff that she never really told me about.

she was fine and sodding driving/lifting roasts out of ovens/etc. when she shouldn't have been cos i was a sleepyhead teenager.

best of luck to your mum

[Marthasmama]

The symptoms of an ovarian cyst are very similar to those of ovarian cancer. The test you are referring to is probably a CA125 test and if the results were fine than that is good news. If it is any consolation, I am due to have an operation to remove a very large ovarian cyst in two weeks so I sort of know what you're going through. I am surprised they didn't take a biopsy when she had the laparoscopy as that would have told them so much more than the blood test. It's important to remember that most ovarian cysts are harmless. I know it's hard not to worry, but if the blood test was fine, then take comfort from that. I think that it is an accurate indicator in around 75% of cases of ovarian cancer, so those are good odds. I hope everything goes well for your mum.

[MegSophandEmma]

Thanks again for the replies

She kept saying JKS that she was concerned about the aftercare from the op, but now I think it was away of getting some of this fear of cancer that she's been hiding.

Could you tell me please how long was it before your mothers got back to normal after the op?

[lizandlulu]

MY MUM WAS HOLED UP IN THE BEDROOM FOR AROUND A WEEK sorry about caps, i had to help her get out of bed and sit her in a comfy chair just to get her out of the bed and feeling more normal.
she was about 3 weeks till she felt strong enough to walk around town and drive anywhere, but months til lshe could carry any shopping or anything heavy

[MegSophandEmma]

Marthasmama, I just blew out a huge sigh of relief although and am so sorry you have had/are going through this also.

I had a look earlier on the cancerbackup website and they too said that a biopsy should have been taken. I mentioned this to my mum and she said well they didn't and everything will be looked at once it's all removed. Was pretty angry when I read it to be honest.

I really hope all goes well with your op and you are up and about feeling great, ASAP.

Thanks again for your messages and support. Not usually the emotional type but blimey...

[MegSophandEmma]

Thanks Liz&lulu, Apparently after this op you have to learn to walk again?

You sound like a fab daughter L&L. Glad college as finished for the summer, I will be with her as much as she needs as I know my dad and brother will be also. She will be getting spoilt, as she deserves for a change lol.

[Wonderstuff]

My mum had a cyst on her ovaries, she had awful menopause symptoms and huge amounts of bleeding. They monitored it for a few months and when it started growing they did a full hysterectomy.

It took a long time for her to feel well again, about a year until she felt herself, she was off work for about 2 months and was tired alot when she returned. Be prepared for your mum to look awful when she comes round from the operation.

I would try not to worry about the possiblity of cancer if I was you. I know how terribly difficult that is but until you have a diagnosis you don't know what you're up against. There is every chance she will be ok. They told my mum they would remove everything as soon as the cyst grew to be safe. She didn't have cancer but they chose to operate because there was a risk that it could develop.

I hope that all goes well. Will be thinking of you

[Marthasmama]

No worries Meg. It is my second cyst but this time I am having a laparotomy with a midline incision. Booooo! The incision is through your stomach muscles, so your back and stomach are very weak after the op. It's like a c-section x 10 I think. Having had two c-sections I can honestly say I am not looking forward to it! Again, best of luck for your mum.

[ABetaDad]

My Mum had an hysterectomy about 2 years ago after a prolapse. She was tired for a while but now much better. I would say 2 months to make 90% recovery.

DW has had ovarian cancer. Had one ovary removed and was schedule for an hysterectomy but cancelleled with 24 hours to go, then chemotherapy. Then we had 2 DSs. DW has been in remission 10 years but still CA125 tested and ultrasound every 6 months.

I agree with marthasmama - CA125 is the blood test, but biopsy is crucial. Do remember that endometriosis, benign ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease can also all produce higher levels of the CA-125 antigen. CA125 is not a reliable test on its own though. The symptoms of pain and bloating etc can occur due to all of the above conditions plus fibroids.

I am very sorry you and your Mum are going through this. Hysterectomy (removal uterus plus ovaries) is the standard medical 'belt and braces' response to any risk of ovarian cancer but is equally applicable to other conditions too in women who are past child bearing age.

Hope this helps and if you have other questions please ask.

[Guadalupe]

Hi Meg - you must be really scared, it is horrible news but try not to worry yourself with thinking the worst. I know it's hard.

I had a hysterectomy a year ago aged 30. It was a stage 1 cervical cancer and luckily my surgery was curative. The majority of the women on my ward were much older and having routine operations for fibroids and cysts etc and iirc I think their symptoms were very similar to your mums. Not much else to talk about while lined up in your beds except why we were there!

I was home after two days, was moving around well and felt much better by six weeks and by six months completely back to normal.

Hopefully your mums op will be straightforward and like others have said, there's every chance she will be fine. If you want to ask anything about the op then do.

[mummylin2495]

i had a hysterectomy and also had ovaries removed owing to fibroids.I was fine after the op although i did find it difficult to walk for a few days owing to the clips.i was only in hospital from tues [ op wednesday] and they let me home on sunday.I was very tearful but i had been warned about this and this soon pased,i had to stay off work for 12 weeks and my cut was across my stomach on the bikini line.I was in no pain at all.And after a few weeks i felt as good as new. I also had my cervix removed.The actual op is nothing to be scared about,no-one could of been more scared than me ! But it honestly was fine.Good luck to your mum.

[ABetaDad]

shineon - I too am gobsmacked.

Your Mum should be getting ultrasound. DW has lived in 3 different places since she was diagosed and every single area has done CA125 and ultrasound as standard. CA125 tests are just not accurate enough on their own.

It is very true, ovarian cancer is not the death sentence it once was. Glad your Mum came through it well but, like you, it hangs over us every single day.

[ABetaDad]

That is bonkers!

Maybe you should send your Mum's consultant this link onultrasound.

"Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays).

[MegSophandEmma]

Your all absolute angels and have calmed me somewhat. Sorry it has taken ages to respond, my mum popped round for a cuppa and chat. I mentioned someof the things that have been mentioned on the thread and I'm hoping she is reasured slightly, like I have been.

ShineOn so sorry this post brought back the awful memories of what happened with your mother I am glad she and you got through that rough period. It really has helped to ease my mind somewhat, if that is any consilation. Vey grateful and I am sure I will be looking to talk more as the time for my mums op draws nearer, if the offer still stands. Cheers.

Martha Will the hospital provide to with strong painkillers after? maybe a morphine drip for a week or something? I do wish you the speediest of recoveries. Aswell as loveones around to spoil you rotten whilst you are recovering

Off to my bed now.

[Wonderstuff]

Remembered last night my mum had this book which she found reasurring.