The pre and post-op thread

[JiminyCricket]

Just starting a new thread for Demolitionduo, Slinky, almostfifty, pilates brightness falls, squashed squirrel and all the other kind mumsnetters on our other thread, pasting my last post again and will link from the other thread -

Slinky I hope that you are OK, do you have much to prepare before you go in, or can you start to concentrate on you? I was so emotional, I couldn't even speak to anyone without welling up, think some of the school run mums will be very wary of me now!

This is me so far -

Emotions - I have had one bout of tears, from feeling overwhelmed from trying to do too much. A nurse told me that some days I would feel up to anything, and that i should 'potter' rather than stay in bed, but that other days I would feel not able to do anything. Its really true, except that I didn't really imagine what 'too much'meant. e.g. I can make a cup of tea, open the curtains, fetch the post - but if I do all three at once that's me exhausted for an hour. So iyswim I can DO more things than I thought I could, but manage LESS things than I thought I could.

Scar - took my dressing off today and put on a new one they gave me, scar seems fine, hiding underneath my belly overhang . Sometimes it feels like its getting loads better, then sometimes feels sore, I guess when I am moving around more.

Sleep - apart from the first night in hospital I have slept really well, especially last two nights - I think stress and fibroids have been affecting my sleep for a while. And I am positively luxuriating in not having to get out of bed in the morning (even to go for a wee, good riddance fibroids). Having an hours sleep in the day too. I recommend a V cushion, I got my old one out and its so comfy.

Pain - not too bad, taking pain killers less frequently now, haven't had too much wind (sorry tmi), although I understand this can get bad

Occupation - sadly have developed an aversion to daytime tv already, but watching some good taped things (The Mentalist today), and reading a bit. But happy not doing too much at all so far (OK AlmostFifty?? )

Dd's - I am hating not being on top of school trips/book bags/etc, but am learning to step back otherwise everyone turns to me to find things and I get stressed and emotional, if I leave them to it it all goes fine. DH is fab, despite still trying to get the kitchen fitted and go to work as well (he's had some days off and time off since I came out though). I am doing homework with them though, and card games and some other nice bits. And lots of tv. And trying not to be grumpy.

All in all not bad for week 1 - thanks for the support, it means a lot

Hi Jiminy. I've felt brighter the last 2 days so have hopefully turned a corner.
I'm still getting migraines but less frequent/severe.

I've also managed some very light tidying up duties & a bit more cooking than I was doing.

I am surprised at how emotionally stable I feel! Previously after GA I've had 'the blues' quite badly, but I feel OK- no tears, not feeling low- quite normal in fact! Although I have had a nap each day, I already feel much more 'lively' than before the op, so that's a positive step too.

I'm not doing exercises other than leg ones. I wasn't told to do any and I'm still a bit worried my wound might ping open! Not sure why because it does look to be healing OK but I'm conscious of it pulling a little.

I think the weather is going to be better the next few days so I'm planning on a short wander up the road as I've not stepped outside in over a week. I'll build on distance from there depending on how I feel.

I hope you are doing OK & that Slinky posts soon to confirm all went well with her too.

Hello! Finally I make it back here to update :)

Well....a very bumpy few days so will start at the beginning.

As you know, my vaginal hysterectomy was booked for Sat 18th. Arrived at the hospital at 7.15am, and was told I was second on the list. Consultant/Anaesthetist came round and got consents all signed etc.

Had a few tears with the Consultant who was lovely. He said I could cancel if I wanted. He asked me what I thought the uterus did....I said "house my babies". He said "are you having any more more babies?" No I said...would actually be gutted if I got pregnant. He said "well why are you wanting to keep a defunct organ that will never be used again, but it is making you very ill?". Had a little cuddle with the nurse who accompanied me to theatre.

The op itself went well. Woke up in recovery with minimal pain and thought oh this ok. Was taken upstairs after a while to meet up with DH who had been waiting.

Consultant came back in about hour later to say that the uterus was much, much larger than he anticipated from scans and that he almost reverted to "open". He said it was very diseased with severe adenomyosis and polyps and that it had had to come out as I would have become far more ill over the next few years.

Not long after, I started getting more pain, but not in the area of the op. My blood pressure (which is always on the lower side of normal) was dropping and my pulse was racing. Nurses were in and out, constantly observing blood pressure. The drips I had in were making no difference. They called the doctor who came in and immediately called the Consultant back in. The next bits are a bit hazy.....and are based on my few memories and DH's observations.

My blood pressure by now was on the floor...DH said at one point it was 62/35 and I was drifting in and out of consciousness. He said my eyes were rolling back in my head. The Consultant and doctor were both working on my "downstairs" quickly removing the packing as they thought I was haemorraghing. I could see "huge spiders" coming out of the 3 pictures that were hanging on the wall. DH was taken out of the room by one of the nurses. He has since told me that he thought I was on my way out.

I wasn't haemorraghing so they re-packed, which I can remember was very painful. By now, they had added another drip and started me on my first blood transfusion. I had 2 units at this point. The drips and blood stabilised me a bit, although BP was still on the low side.

Sunday morning I was taken for a scan to see what was happening inside. They found a large haematoma which said needed operating on. As I had eaten breakfast, and was still on drips etc, they said they would operate on Monday. After the scan, I was given another blood transfusion of 2 units and yet more fluids.

Monday morning, I was back to nil by mouth and was taken back to theatre at 5pm for a laproscopy. They removed the haematoma and the whole op took 1.5 hours as he had a good look round to make sure nothing was amiss. On my return upstairs, had my final blood transfusion of 2 more units.

On top of this was given heavy duty antibiotics which has given me severe diarrheoa, so no need for the prune juice that I have stacked in the fridge.

So came home yesterday, am VERY battered and bruised on the lower abdomen. Most of my pain is from the laproscopy as the bruising is severe. Am also on heavy-duty iron tablets as iron levels are still lower.

Will update more as and when as I get very exhausted very quickly. DH has been an absolute rock and I couldn't get through this without him.

Hope everyone else is OK and recovering well.....sorry for the epic post :) xx

Oh my word, what a lot to go through, thanks for letting us know - so so glad you're OK. You need to really rest up, and keep up a good regime of pain killers as the bruising could last a while. Your head must be spinning taking on board everything that has happened - just rest up and lean on people for help with everything you need, take good care x

Oh Slinky your poor thing. What a traumatic experience :(

Rest LOTS & take whatever help is offered. I had 10 days almost bedridden (with migraine mostly) but I do feel that total rest has benefitted me this week.

I'm definitely much brighter these last few days & feel I'm on the road to recovery. You will be too as long as you stick to doctor's orders.

Take good care of yourself & I will catch up on your progress soon. x

Hi everyone, been reading all your comments with interest as home yesterday from having a subtotal hysterectomy on mon 20th because of large fibroids.Had to have an abdominal cut due to size of uterus and fibroid. Recovering really well and have been managing with paracetamol as had bad reactions to morphine and codeine and cant face trying anything else.What i want to ask is it normal to feel a lot of pressure in my abdomen and bladder? The only symptoms i was experiencing before my op was bladder problems ( hardly left the house in 6 months due to constant weeing and bladder not emptying) as the fibroid was growing within the wall at the back of my uterus. I am a scared i have something wrong with my bladder still or is it going to take a bit of time for me to feel normal again? I am managing to pass a lot more when i go to the toilet but feel i am still needing to go too often. Is this the same for anyone else!
Haven't seen my surgeon since i was in recovery room, he just said op went as planned.
Not looking forward to getting staples out tomorrow !

God Slinky, you poor thing! What a trauma for you. Hope you're feeling much better now.

Hope you two other ladies are starting to feel human again.

Walkergirl, would it be the fact you're so used to having the feeling that it will be a while till it goes? I hope that's all it is.

It's four years down the line for me next month girls, and I have to say I've never felt better. No periods dragging me down, no pain, no PMT, just lovely, lovely HRT.

Remember, you all need to take it very easy. Behave yourselves!

Hi Walkergirl,

Looks like we had the same style of procedure. I had a few external stitches & barely felt them coming out- hopefully staples will be the same as most of the nerve endings are cut during the incision, thus lessening feeling around the wound. The feeling may return in time though I still have numbness around my c-section scar from 13 years ago.

As for the bladder feeling, it is normal to have an irritable bladder for a while I think- it has been pushed around during surgery & everything remains quite swollen and bruised internally. Mine still feels quite bruised when it gets fuller, so I think what you feel sounds normal.

I made the mistake of feeling 'better' this week & have definitely overdone it .....feel really sore & tired now :( I won't even admit to what I have done but needless to say I'll live with a less than perfectly clean house for a few more weeks!

Jiminy, I hope you are doing OK.

Slinky I hope you are recovering from the trauma & taking it VERY easy.

And thank you Almostfifty for the positivity!

Hello everyone. I was wondering how you were getting on demo - go on, confess, what exactly have you been doing? I hope you take it easy, you haven't had an easy time with your recovery and taking it slow might help for the weeks ahead.
I am finding I can manage most things around the house pretty easily, but I get puffed out pretty quickly when I try to go for a short walk or potter around the shops. And i feel quite fuzzy headed and abit short-tempered some days. I have an appointment to see the GP on weds and hope to be able to drive by the end of the week (feel fine apart from the tiredness - exhausted today, maybe from a busy weekend, tried to get out and about a bit more). Although then I will have to do the school run so pros and cons :). Some tenderness in tummy occasionally, but think I have been pretty lucky there.
Good to hear from you walkergirl, I also had mainly bladder issues prior to the op. I found I was still in the habit of going to the loo very frequently afterwards, but had to break the habit when a nurse got very stern with me. It felt much better at first, then had a few issues with pressure, but ok again now. I think you should get some advice though, if possible. Can you ring the ward you were on? You are so recently discharged, I am sure they would be able to talk it through with you.
Almostfifty, it is great to hear that (and you're almost making me look forward to the HRT), and thanks for keeping an eye on us! I do feel like I am going to feel a whole lot better this summer than last. Hope Slinky is doing ok.

Hi Jiminy- you seem to be doing really well, so well done!

As for me,yesterday I scrubbed the kitchen floor, the bathroom tiles, vacuumed, changed beds & sorted out a cupboard under the sink. I knew I'd done too much when I could not physically move from the kitchen floor :( My boys had to come & lift me & I went to bed. I'm still in it & feel pretty rubbish!

When I wake up I feel like I can take on the world....but I realise now I can't!

Don't think I'm anywhere close to being able to drive & I'm not seeing my GP until 16/3 so won't try before then.

Despite what I've written above, I still far better than I had envisaged & my energy levels are improved, it's just my insides that can't take the pace yet :D

Slinky, I hope you not posting is because you are resting properly.

Walkergirl, how are you feeling today?

Take care all.

Hello everyone!

Well...what a week! Another little update :)

As you know, had a laproscopy last Monday to remove a haematoma. The rest of the week sort of passed with bruising on my right side (which I thought was due to laproscopy) gradually getting worse. I couldn't see all of it (due to my overhand ) but DH was becoming very concerned as it was also spreading to the thigh and upper abdomen. Anyway, on Saturday was finding it increasingly difficult to move around - I felt like I was 9 months pregnant and having to "carry my stomach".

In the end, DH rang the hospital for advice and was told to come in so they could have a look. Well...the amount of shocked faces and OMGs!! I got, I soon realised that this wasn't normal :) Had lots of people popping their heads in the door for a little viewing :)

Was examined by the Consultant who did the op who then discovered another haematoma had developed on the abdominal wall. This was due to a little injury to the inferior epigastric vessel during the laproscopy. The bruising is due to the haematoma spreading naturally throughout the body. They took bloods/blood pressure/temp etc which all proved normal and drew a "dot-to-dot" on me so that they then monitor the progress of the bruising.

Had my body shown signs of infection, then they were going to operate but thankfully this wasn't needed. I was kept in overnight as a precaution. Am still on heavy-duty antibiotics. My GP did an unexpected home visit this afternoon as she received all the notes from the hospital this morning. She's prescribed another 10 days antibiotics as a precaution.

So all in all...I think I've turned a corner now and am now on the road to recovery. The hysterectomy side of things have been a piece of cake in comparison...have had no problems at all with that side of things.

Sorry for the epic post yet again! Hope everyone is recovering well...:)

Flippin' 'eck Slinky you haven't done things by halves have you? :(

I hope you are now on the road to recovery & you must take it especially easy.

Keep us posted but more importantly REST.

x

Hi everyone, thanks for the reassurance! Cant believe its only a week today since my op,feel really well apart from the bladder issue.Trying to ignore the urge to go all the time but still feel constant pressure same as before the op. 21 staples out yesterday and hardly felt a thing, was sure it would hurt!
I feel guilty for feeling so well compared to everyone else, i have no pain or discomfort unless i sneeze, cough or laugh. Getting on my feet is awkward but once up i'm fine. Feel able to do all my usual chores and finding it difficult doing so little.Will resist doing too much as it sounds like you other ladies have suffered from overdoing it!!
Take care everyone x

How is everyone?

Been to docs today - good news is I can drive again. Return to work is a little further away than I thought, but was a bit daunted by the idea of going back in a couple of weeks anyway, so should be OK. So, school run for me tomorrow. Had to have blood tests as GP seemed to think i wasn't looking great. Feel all right though. Oh and GP was very impressed by the surgeon I had, and the neatness of my scar, which was good to know!

Is it just me, or is anyone else finding it hard to be social/'chat' - when anyone comes for coffee or something, I feel like the conversation is moving on too fast, and I get a bit lost. Fuzzy head I suppose, or too long in the house on my own.

Hello! Glad you can drive....let me know if that helps or hinders progress once you have tried it please. I think I'll be OK but not seeing my GP til 16th so I don't want to chance it if it sets me back.

I'm still in quite lot of discomfort- comes in waves & I think is where the muscles were attached that held the uterus in place. Kind of in line with my belly button & get stabbing pain every now & again.

I just cannot see me me being fit for work in 3 weeks as I'm now already 3 weeks post op & am just exhausted. I've done a few short walks around the block to try & build stamina but it feels like I've run a marathon & I often sleep for a good hour afterwards.

I too find face to face interaction almost irritating. Maybe because I've done nothing to talk about & it's all about how I feel. YAWN! Saying that I talked to my Aunt on the phone tonight for an hour without a problem, so who knows!

Be careful driving Jiminy!

Well, I'm shattered today, but definitely did too much (in the house). I think I am just bored of sitting down! Re: driving - my GP pressed on my belly, asked about my pain/scar etc, and wanted to know if i had a dragging feeling down below. My insurance company said I could drive as long as a doctor had said I could - as your pain has been quite bad, I think you should maybe wait until your GP appointment?

Driving was ok. Been good to have your company through this :) .

Oh and i am meeting two really nice friends for coffee tomorrow so hope I feel more sociable!

Hello- how is everyone doing?

Slinky I hope you are taking it REALLY easy.
Walkergirl I hope your bladder issues are improving and Jiminy I hope coffee with friends gave you some sense of normality returning.

My pain is much improved- still feel a bit bruised internally but definitely better than it was. I walked to our local parade of shops today- about half a mile in total I guess. I took it REALLY slowly but oh my word was I exhausted when I got home! I slept for 2 hours afterwards in what felt like a coma!

I think I know that returning to work in 2.5 weeks is going to be a no-no! I'm hoping my GP will agree.

Hello!

How is everyone??? Hope you are all still recovering well and taking things easy!

Last week I finally started on the road to recovery after the little set-backs! Am feeling so much better....I still have the haematoma on the right side, but they don't plan to operate again as my body is coping with it, and will eventually absorb it over the next month. Having a problem with my right leg (leg...of all things!!)...numbness, pain etc but they think the haematoma is putting some pressure on the arteries/veins in that leg and should improve in time. Consultant wanted me to see a Vascular surgeon (saw him on Wednesday) as a precaution to rule out a DVT.

Am pottering and doing little things round the house...under the very close supervision of the kids and DH....who nag when they think I've done enough ha ha!! Also have a little wander round the garden....although not today! Very windy and rainy here! Am very glad I haven't got to go out!

Pain-wise...not that much really. Just get twingy and achey every now and then. Am seeing the Consultant next Monday to check up on the haematoma and bruising. Am not bored yet....think it's because the last week has been the first time that I've started to feel vaguely normal.

Hope everyone is well :) xxx

Good to hear things are going OK with you both. I am ok - headachy and tired more than anything, but quite able to get on with things (in between sit downs). Not bad.

My (apparently undissolved) dissololvable stitches are hanging out a bit at the knot end...dh helpfully keeps warning me not to pull in case I unravel. :)

Hi all,

Slinky I hope things are seeming more 'normal' now & you are still taking it very easy.

I hope your headache is now gone Jiminy & that some rest has helped. As for the stitches, I'd get them checked as they should I think have virtually dissolved by now.

Today I took the bus into town to get my nails done (my one luxury!). It still involved a lot more walking than I have been used to. However, I managed it but was really tired & sore when I got home. I feel tonight I probably have overdone it & my bladder feels a bit tender.

On a brighter note my nails look lovely :D

Hi all,

hope everyone is well.

Demo, unfortunatly i still seem to have the same bladder issues i was having before surgery,but i no longer have the awful backache and pains in my abdomen that i had before so the op wasn't a waste of time . Got my check up app through for next month so will see about it then.

Just over 2 weeks since op and i am doing really well, much better than i expected. Managed to get out the house this week and managed a fairly long walk along the beach without any repercussions!

If anyone could advise- my scar is healing really well except right in the middle where it has just started to bleed. A black blister appeared and keeps bursting open and blood is coming from it, i am very bruised all around it. The blood is very dark so i am assuming it isn't fresh blood. Could it just be blood from the bruising? not concerned enough to contact dr about it but never having had any surgery before i dont know if i should be worried or not? Also i have been left with a roll of skin hanging over my scar and it feels hard and lumpy underneath the scar, will this go away in time? dont know anyone to ask who has had a hysterectomy done abdominaly or a cesarian!

Thanks x

Hello Walkergirl.

I think if I were you I'd get someone at your GP's to just check the wound. Is it where the drain was situated? I'd say better safe than sorry & obviously if it is still open there is a chance of infection getting in too.

Is your scar bikini line? My c-section scar was quite lumpy/itchy/hard for a long time (months rather than weeks) but it did settle with time, though it remains numb 13 years on. My most recent scar runs from my belly button downwards so is a bit more visible though it has healed OK.

Funnily enough, since I started getting out & about more my bladder feels very irritable. It's not causing a huge issue so I'm putting it down to internal bruising. My external bruising is still very prominent so I'm pretty sure inside can't be any better!

Hi Demo,

My scar is bikini line. I didn't have a drain in. Bleeding has stopped for now but think i will get it checked if it starts again.
Not concerned about the scar being bumpy just didn't expect it to be like that!!

Before my op my bladder wasn't emptying,(500ml remaining after going to the toilet) and needed to go urgently sometimes more than 10 times in half an hour! I was given decapeptyl to shrink the fibroids and that seemed to help a bit but still felt as though my bladder was full but i didn't need urgently and could hold off for a couple of hours. I still feel this way, hoping it will settle down.If you are suffering an irritable bladder too perhaps i just need time for inside to heal as well, i hope, bladder problems are so restricting.
Just been for another long walk, feels good to get out the house, just need the decapeptyl to get out my system, night sweats and insomnia are a big problem, i had my last injection the week before my surgery so still suffering the side effects unfortunatly, hope this is not a taste of whats to come!
Thanks for the advice x

no advice, sorry, but i should get it checked out in case. sorry the op doesn't seem to have helped your bladder problems much - maybe there will be other options if it doesn't improve? I did notice a lumpy ridge near my scar early on, (like you mention) but it is not there now. I am noticing a few bladder problems, but nothing like what i was getting, and hoping pelvic floor exercises will be helpful as they are not too serious. I still have a problem with allergic itching (so the mirena may not have been the culprit), so taking daily anti-histimine, think that might be making me a bit headachy, but better than the alternative. GP not optimistic about tracking down what is causing it :(. Am trying to build up my stamina - having a bit of a walk every morning. My brain is turning to mush. And I'm spending far too long on ebay :).