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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is an ok post hysterectomy plan?

56 replies

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 08:28

I found out yesterday that I have a date for a hysterectomy in a couple of weeks and I really do need it done.

Op on Wednesday and out on Friday all being well.

DS2 has an open day at Livepool uni on the Saturday and DH will need to take him up on the Friday (DS2 had ASD and we do need to attend with him).

AIBU to think I'll be ok at home with DS3 who is 12 while DH is away till late on Saturday? I'm opting for an epidural rather than a general anaesthetic.

No horror stories please - for obvious reasons Smile

OP posts:
YellowDinosaur · 21/09/2013 08:57

And there is no reason why you can't have this under spinal (surgeon in rl although not gynae)

Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 09:00

Thanks Yellow I didn't know about that re discharge but now you say it, it sounds common sense Smile

We are currently working through all possible scenarios so we'll have back ups for DS3.

BTW you lot are brilliant. So much help in such a short time. Thank you. Flowers

OP posts:
YellowDinosaur · 21/09/2013 09:02

Pleasure. And good luck.

Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 09:03

Thanks. It will all be fine. Smile

OP posts:
cocolepew · 21/09/2013 09:08

I had mine on a wednesday night and was discharged on the fridayafternoon. You should have no problem getting up for the loo.

cocolepew · 21/09/2013 09:09

Sorry meant to add good luck!

happystory · 21/09/2013 09:09

Good luck, 5 years on and I have never regretted mine for a minute x

Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 09:11

Thanks carol How's your phone? Have you managed to winkle it out yet or does it still sound a bit muffled? Grin

(explanation - According to autocorrect, Carol keeps her lovely new phone in her vag)

OP posts:
Meglet · 21/09/2013 09:13

I was in better shape 4 days after my hysterectomy than 4 days after my EMCS. But I rested after my hysterectomy, no making tea, no pottering. I sat in bed on Mumsnet and read magazines for days.

It doesn't sound like a crazy plan. As long as you have back up and your 12yo can make you snacks then you should be ok.

Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 09:27

I've just spoken to DS3 and he's very much up for it.

I think he's keen to have a use for his cooking and first aid scout badge skills Smile

Thanks for all your reassurance.

OP posts:
Merrylegs · 21/09/2013 09:28

I am 3 weeks post surgery for exactly the same op for the same reason.

I wasn't offered the option of an epidural though. I have a vertical abdominal cut. I was discharged after three days but was still in a lot of pain and could barely walk. I certainly didn't want to eat.

I wouldn't have wanted my 12 year old to have sole responsbility for me. I just wasn't much fun and I think it might have worried her a bit.

Perhaps my recovery was slower as I had a ga. I was v fit and healthy before the operation but that first week was pretty grim.

You are having an organ removed so please remember to take it really easy! I would see how you feel.

There are open days later in the year too. (Ds1 found the offer days more useful tbh). Good luck. You will feel v glad you had the op!

SockQueen · 21/09/2013 09:39

It may well be absolutely fine, but there's very little margin for error. All sorts of minor reasons can mean you'd not be ready for discharge on the Friday, which would leave you in a bit of a pickle. As long as your DS can pretty much fend for himself and you just need to be around, you might be ok at home - but what would he do if you suddenly became unwell or something?

As for the anaesthetic, it is sometimes possible to do a hysterectomy under a spinal (more likely than epidural) though not if they're doing it laparoscopically, but it will depend on your anaesthetist's assessment of you on the day. GA is very safe so don't be afraid if that is what they suggest!

Whereisegg · 21/09/2013 09:44

Is there a toilet on the same floor?
Stairs will be a problem.

Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 09:51

DS3 wouldn't be responsible for me. That's my job. He would be helping with drinks and food and if I needed medical attention for some reason, he would be able to phone a taxi/ambuance/call a neighbour on my instruction. I can't think of a situation where I would be unable to tell him to do that but please shout up if I'm wrong.
I hope you're feeling good now Merry and you're on the mend.

Backup plans include taking DS3 on the open day or to my sister's if i'm not out in time - he'd love both.

OP posts:
Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 09:54

Thanks for the reassurance about the GA Where but I'm really hoping not to have to have one. Also, I'm rubbish with morphine. After my embolisation I had to ask DH to watch me breathing as I was convinced I would stop breathing if I slept.

OP posts:
Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 09:56

Toilet is next to my bedroom and once I'm upstairs (with DH'shelp) I don't intend to come down. Or I could have a bed downstairs but it's a longer walk to the downstairs bathroom than from my bed to the loo upstairs iyswim. Hmm so much to think of.....

OP posts:
littlewhitebag · 21/09/2013 09:59

I think I was kept in until the Saturday as I am also rubbish with morphine so when they put me on the morphine drip post op I just could not wake up. I had to be taken off it so I could communicate. Then they had to fiddle about with pain relief. I kept saying i could only tolerate paracetamol and ibuprofen. I ended up being discharged ..... With paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 10:04

I've heard that stuff they give as a pessary is good.

OP posts:
Merrylegs · 21/09/2013 10:07

I do get what you mean and absolutely helping with drinks and food in the week following is perfectly feasible for a 12 year old. But just factor into your plan how you might feel immediately post discharge. The first 24 hours at home for me were tough - but I had also had a ga so I was v sleepy.I mean you might not even feel up to being in charge of yourself. It does get so much better though but the key is to really do nothing for those first couple of weeks - think of the long game. I feel fab now. You will too!

ShowOfHands · 21/09/2013 10:14

My Mum had a hysterectomy for the same reasons (massive fibroids) and carried out in the same way. Spinal block and awake throughout. Her surgeon said it is very similar to a cs (I've had 2) in terms of recovery. They actually recommend being mobile as soon as you're ready and lying in bed for prolonged periods can introduce problems where previously you had none. They also say that having it done with an epidural means recovery is much faster.

My Mum had hers done on the Wednesday and sadly, her Dad had died a few days beforehand. She was discharged on the Thursday morning and she caught a taxi and then a train to his funeral a few hundred miles away. I met her there (I don't drive and had I known she was going to do what she did, would have found another way to get her there. She swore she'd arranged a lift). Anyway, she was fine. Moving maybe a little bit gingerly but she didn't need pain relief really and actually she felt better after surgery. The fibroids were causing quite a bit of discomfort and she was ending up anaemic due to the issues they were creating. Anyway, we went out for lunch together and then went and sat by the river before walking a short distance back to the train station. I wasn't necessarily happy with her level of activity but it was her choice and she was fine.

I found the same with my sections. I was up and about within a couple of hours both time, on medical advice, discharged v quickly and needed no pain relief. Only discomfort came from the trapped air from the surgery. Have peppermint capsules ready. You can dissolve them in warm water and drink it. It's brilliant stuff and works quickly. If you get shoulder pain or pain under your diaphragm, feels a bit like you've slept funny, it's the trapped gas. If it all goes well, you're having it done in the optimum way for recovery outcomes. No GA recovery and you're thinking ahead. Just make sure you have backup plans in place but I think realistically, you'd be fine. I thought you were going to say 'will I be well enough to go to the open day still?' and was going to say that given my Mum's escapades post-hysterectomy, yes it's possible as long as you don't walk far and sit in a café while they do the wandering.

Good luck.

FrigginRexManningDay · 21/09/2013 10:21

When my mum had hers it was the shoulder pain from the gas that she found the worst bit,but get in some peppermint tea it really helps. Also maybe get in lots of deli type foods so you are not cooking or in the kitchen cause the heat can make you feel woozy.

TiredDog · 21/09/2013 10:25

Now you see I was thinking you were going to ask if you'd be fit enough to attend the open day... Staying at home with a 12yr old I really don't see as a problem. I'm a single mum about to have a hysterectomy and would get an adult to drive me home and be on the end of a phone but then I'm on my own.

If you stayed in hosp you wouldn't have nursing one to one. You will be fine if someone can get you tea/toast and a microwaved meal :)

Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 10:27

Show that made me smile. Your mum sounds amazing.

I'm going to follow whatever medical advice I'm given re rest/mobility. I'm really keen to get back to work as soon as possible so I'll be following instructions Smile

Merry DH will be away for 30 hours - it's only till about 10pm on the Saturdy night and everything will be planned and prepared for him. He's quite keen to have 'quality time' with the x-box between cups of tea without me nagging him to go out Smile

Good tip about the peppermint capsules thanks Show

Must get up now and help DS1 with his packing. He's off to uni tomorrow. It's strange - the fibroid is the reason he was born in th first place (you probably can't have children - oh yes? well we'll soon see about that!). Now DS1 and the fibroid will be gone within a couple of weeks of each other. Weird.

Thanks again for all your help.

OP posts:
Original poster
LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 21/09/2013 10:30

That's DS3 on the x-box, and having everything prepared for him - not DH Smile

OP posts:
KvassInTheNight · 21/09/2013 10:42

I had my hysterectomy on Monday, discharged on weds. It was abdominal surgery for large fibroid. I think you will be ok, just make sure you take peppermint tea because the gas pains are horrendous. Can't imagine not being knocked out for it but you know yourself best. Bear in mind you may not get that quick a discharge, two women I was in with were much worse off than me, nausea, drains, catheters still in etc. There's not a lot of leeway in your plan. It's major surgery, you'll need time to recover.

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