To worry I’ve made a huge mistake - hysterectomy

[TheQueensCorgi]

So, amongst other medical issues I have a weak pelvic floor as well as late onset ablation failure.

Consultant advised due to issues with ablation to have a hysterectomy, which I did a few days ago, including removal of cervix and a cuff made at the top of vagina (yuck).

When I woke up from surgery immediately I felt I needed to urinate, despite having a catheter, which was removed about 7pm that night. Problem is I still needed to urinate and now 4 days on I still have this pressure in my bladder and it’s quite frankly sending me crazy.

When I left hospital I had no infection, however now I do have a UTI, saw consultant today who said that the pressure feeling (and only tricking urine) was related to the said infection, despite the fact I told him it was present when I woke up.

My fear is this is my life now and i have developed some kind of overactive bladder issue.

Has anyone had a hysterectomy and the symptoms have gone after a period of time? I could cope with pain - take meds but nothing is relieving the feeling of needing to go - not even buscopan. I’m now on antibiotics which will clear the infection but maybe not the ‘pressure’. I’m actually crying writing this in frustration as I can’t sleep, concentrate or anything, spending my days sitting on the loo but the minute I leave the loo (bladder empty) the pressure is still there.

Hospital haven’t been overly helpful to be honest and say it’s the infection, and if I had only developed this a few days in I would agree but I woke up in pain with my bladder pressure so it’s clearly been there right after the op.

Any advice/ support/ suggestions welcomed - at the moment I wish I had never had it done as I can’t see how I can live like this if it doesn’t stop! Thank you!

OP, you are barely a few days past surgery - definitely don’t think that this is it!
I would imagine that it will take months to fully heal from such a major procedure, and that any symptoms you have now are in NO way indicative of the future. It might seem like the longest 5 days of your life, but a week is nothing in the recovery and rehab journey. Please don’t worry yourself with thinking that this is your life - you need to be kind to yourself and patient.

My mum is going through this as I type. She had a hysterectomy 2 weeks ago and had bladder and bowl problems since. But the dr said they would likely get better with time and to take it easy.

I had a total hysterectomy and ovary removal. It’s a long recovery. Mine was a lateral scar from above the belly button. I was told my type of major abdominal surgery takes longer to get over than heart surgery.

Even if you had smaller incisions or a horizontal c section type incision, it’s still major. Complications like Utis are to be expected. I didn’t have one recently from the catheter but have in the past. I get tongue thrush a lot, especially after the second surgery. I say second surgery as it burst 6 months later and had to have a massive mesh inserted along the entire length. That’s been the killer actually.

Too early to assess. Bless you. After vaginal surgery my friend took about 6 weeks to recover. Lie back watch Netflix drink tea and stop thinking. Xxx

I had that after an operation on an ovary. It was horrible, but cleared up in a week or so.

I cant help reading this thread and thinking why are so many women developing UTI's following catheter insertions , are these being done in theatre or pre op or post op on the wards ?

I second wearing incontinence pads or underwear, I do this with UTIs and it really helps let you get on with your day (and sleep at night!) because you can relax if you know your bladder's empty and let a couple of drops out here and there. Not a great feeling of course, but better than sitting on the loo all day and night!

I'm wondering whether all these UTIs that PPs mention are genuine infections or just bladder irritation from the surgery? The reason I ask is that we give a massive loading dose of two very potent antibiotics intravenously at the start of surgery for all major gynae procedures. It would be a pretty determined bug that could survive that lot!
On the other hand, maybe that was just the practice at my own hospital, and other units are not following best practice guidelines.

Same op, same problem. I'm 19 days in. That weird, upsetting pressure feeling us mostly gone, the first week was worst.
I now have a bloody internal infection but no UTI.
That pressure feeling started immediately after catheter removal and I was so upset and worried but it's improving daily.
I think you get so yanked about during the procedure when you're knocked out it's no wonder we have issues afterwards. I still have no idea what's going on with my pelvic floor. All very disquieting.
Keep telling myself to be patient

My bladder was snipped during the surgery. No infection and i cant remember been on antibiotics. I was in for five days though.and hone with catheter.

@Mummaofmytribe I’m sorry you have had same but it’s
Comforting to know I am
Not alone! Any thing you tried to release pressure worked? X

I felt the same after being catheterised for about six hours - it was the catheter that caused the sensation and it took a few days to go after I got home.

A warm bath helped the muscles to actually relax and work as intended - I realised then that I had been retaining a fair bit each time. All sorted after that.

I’m dreaming of a bath but can’t have one for at least 2 weeks as my cervix was removed and a cuff created. Having a bath could cause infection so off the cards, it would feel wonderful to do so!!!!

What about lots of warm water in a jug poured over yourself whilst sitting on the toilet? Maybe with a hot water bottle against your lower tummy (don't know whether you had a tah or a tvh procedure) to help your muscles relax? Or sort of 'dunking' yourself in a jug of water?

I was kneeling in the (shallow) bath when sorting out my post-catheter retention, rather than laying back. I would have sworn I was just a bit sore and my bladder was empty, but over a couple of days, it had became clear that the pressure building up wasn't right and by the time I did that, I was beginning to feel pain but still no great urge to go.

The warmth and gentle encouragement with my clean fingers stopped the problem becoming a medical emergency. And yes, despite not 'needing to go', I'd obviously had a very full bladder.

Of course, the sensible thing would be to call 111 and describe your inability to urinate post catheterisation - as, to be honest, this really, really reminds me of acute urinary retention. Which is what I would have done had my first attempt not worked immediately.

Thank you, I had a total laparoscopic, and a cervical cuff (cervix removed). I’ve had my bladder scanned twice (day 2 and day 5) no retention at all, I do now have the infection tho. I can ‘go’ but can’t get rid of the feeling my bladder is full (my brain telling me that). I have thought it may be possible where cuff was stitched they have stitches too close to bladder and it’s sending wrong signal or something!

One thing I would recommend is asking if you can go choose & book to a private hospital on the NHS. It is normally used to keep waiting lists down, but for any gynae op is brilliant, you get more privacy, pain relief is quicker, no waiting ages, you need it, you get it straight away, having a private room is great, I'm hyper after a GA & was able to spend all night listening to music, reading & watching films without disturbing anyone as well as having my partner stay over with me to be able to do all the non nursing stuff like getting me drinks & snacks, helping me change from theatre gown to night wear, reassure me that I was ok & help me get dressed the morning after. It was worth the small charge for him to be there for me.

I had a full on UTI and also developed a hematoma where the womb had been and developed sepsis due to this ( that’s a full other story) but the UTI is what was first picked up on when I was taken back into hospital and they where not shocked or surprised with it consultant just said oh a UTI that’s been the Cather. It must happen quick a lot @Babdoc

Sorry *quite

My bladder was definitely twitchy after my surgery earlier this year but is fine now. My bowels took a it longer to settle but I am prone to IBS.

Give it time, your insides have been proded and poked in a way nature never intended. Once your infection has cleared up, things will hopefully improve.
I sort of felt that my bladder/brain needed retraining as sensations are slightly different. Pelvic floor exercises helped.

After my csections it was like my bladder had gone to sleep. Took my ages to wee! Gets better after a few days

Can anyone give me encouragement re bladder issues post keyhole hysterectomy. Feeling like I constantly want to go. Catheter removed 48 hours ago. Hospital discharging me today and say if I still have issues, I will have to go to a&e?! Hoping it will calm by itself as the idea of a 4 hour wait there post-op is so grim, but it is debilitating when you are trying to heal and get things back together and your bladder irritates like mad.

I had this twice after giving birth and very brief insertion of a catheter.
If you have a urine infection, your bladder and urethra will be inflamed in addition to trauma from the catheter and op.
Antibiotics can have an anti inflammatory effect and make some of the uti symptoms feel like they're settling down.
The advice about timing your visits to the loo is a good one as more dilute urine and less frequent passing of urine will help to settle down. .
In addition, I would suggest boiling up some organic barley with lots of water and making lemon barley water from it through the day. You can add hot water to some of the cooled barley water and a squeeze of lemon, plus small amount of honey to sweeten. This will make your urine more alkaline, so bacteria won't be able to thrive in it. It will also be more comfortable. Drinking small amounts of sodium bicarbonate in water would be a quick alternative, but the home made lemon, barley water option is much more pleasant.

@neverenoughcoffee

Poor you ! I hope you feel better soon ,we go through so much us girls! Keep eating your DHs lovely soup, and rest as much as you can .I think this is a fairly common op so its easy to underestimate the effect it has on the body.