Sub total hysterectomy in 8 and a half weeks <Eeeeeeeek>

[grinningbee]

So I got the letter about an hour ago and am feeling rather wibbly. Firstly because I'm a bit scared, secondly because there will be no more babies. Having said that I am more than happy with the two I have, and don't want any more, but I'm sure everyone going through this feels a bit sad as it's so final.

I'm going to have to rely on H to help, and there is no-one else to ask. I'm just going to have to trust him (he's not the most, erm, helpful sausage). My dc by then will be 3.5 and 1.10. And the little one has a current passion for using my tummy as a trampoline which will have to stop.

But, all that aside, what the heck do I need to organise. Meals for the freezer for certain, including the dc. What do I need to take with me to hospital do you think? How long are people normally in for?

The reason it's being done is down to a rather large fibroid we have called Freddie. Freddie is visible when I lay on my back, and is causing pain, heavy periods and playing havoc with my bladder. It has to be abdominal due to said fibroid, but I'm keeping the ovaries and cervix.

I need to shift some weight between now and then, so am going to have to resist the comfort of biscuits and chocolate and wine.

Please tell me it won't be as bad as I think!

Ooooh, just looked and the hospital provides free tv. they just ask you to take your own headphones. Could be useful. Especially if someone is snoring...

at free tv! I use tresemme too thats why I got them. forgot my cereal bars. Im going to take a small bottle of juice too . I drink loads but cant drink hospital water without juice in it. Because I'm 5 apparently

Primark or Matalan for cheap nighties.

Yes to squash as well. May as well make the most of drinking loads and not having to get out of bed to wee. Ha ha. Just hope I'm with it enough to enjoy a bit of time on my own. Does that make me sound bad?

No

Glad you agree

I took your advice and went and got some of those little bottles from Primark on Saturday. £1! bargain. I'm going to leave nightie buying a bit longer. I couldn't be doing with battling the crowds in there. It was a bit of a bear garden!

Can I join the waiting room? been told yesterday I am having a sub total beginning of November, apparently got to wait that long as blobby the fibroid is so big 32cm long! It has to be shrunk so I am going for monthly injections starting next week to make the bigger easier to get out. so I can have a c section type scar and not a midline one. Didn't sleep last night trying to get my head round it.

Everyones welcome aunt

Hi Aunt

It is a bit of a shocker when they tell you, isn't it. 32cm is a whopper, that must be uncomfortable. Feel free to join in with any questions or whatever - we're all in the same boat.

Thanks for the welcomes , am yet again awake at 4am as I can't get comfortable in the heat and with blobby, I usually sleep on my front but this makes it impossible. Apparently in size it's the equivalent of a 5 month pregnancy! and yes grinning it's uncomfortable! :)

At the moment I don't have questions just trying to figure out logisitics, when OH should be off work, what the in laws are willing to do to help. I tend to be dead practical like that then when I know those things are sorted I will start thinking about what is actually gonna happen to me. Though some of your ideas re nighties and small bottles etc are already written down in my "shite going into hospital" book! My biggest concern is the food I am a coeliac and I am imagining the worst food ever coz it'll be dairy, gluten and flavour free if hospital food is anything to go by. Am already planning on stocking up on appropriate breads and snacks and ready meals that are at least nice so I can just ask for them to be heated up! Micro chips where my saviour last time I was in hospital! though last time it was summer and I just lived on salad bags from Sainsbury's that OH brought it with any ham/spread/cheese/pate that he could get his hands on.

Thanks Petunia

Boo to being up at 4am . I'm with you on the "shite I'm going into hospital!"

I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old. H will need to take time off work, and dd will have just started going to playgroup 5 times a week, so he'll have to do that as well. It's making my head spin!

Double yuck to the restricted hospital food. I hadn't really thought too much about the food, other than thinking taking some snacks would be a good idea.

I was told Freddie (fibroid) is the equivalent of being 20 weeks or so pg. It's particularly impressive first thing in the morning when my bladder is full... not for much longer though!

I can't lie on my stomach either, so of course I am desperate to . My DDs are 10 and 14 so I'm not to stuck for childcare, they will be back at school. DH has been saving his holidays so he has 3 weeks to take off.

I went to see my MP the other day, he is in China, natch, to complain about my wait. I was told I would have my op by 20 weeks, they sent me a date by 20 weeks not quite the same thing. It wouldn't be so bad if I didnt work but I have been off since the end of November and wont be back until November again. My pay is going to run out soon .

Oh coco that's awful, cant imagine having to wait that long I am a bit narked at waiting till November but I do understand the reasons and if blobby wasn't so big I'd have been listed for end September so only a 6 week wait in our area.

My kids are 10 and 13 so like yours at school am getting in-laws to be here when i actually in hospital as No point OH taking his leave then, it's more when they get in from school they'd be on their own from 4 till 6.30 when their dad would get home. Think they might kill each other. Hubby has 8 days leave left so is gonna be off the first week then I am on my own... I'm sure I'll be OK had 2 sections and was home after 2 days and left alone with baby after a week so hoping iam still fit enough to bounce back..

Off into primark later for small bottles.

Hello all I am having the op in two weeks time - getting a little nervous now. I also have a very large fibroid which is like a 20 week pregnancy in the morning. I can report back if it's of help to anyone.

That would be great!

That would be brilliant.

Sorry, posted and ran last night .

Are you packed and sorted to go?

Hope it goes well for you, think how much better you'll feel in a few weeks . DH took me shopping last night and I am totally cheesed off waddling about like Im pregnant, my pelvis is agnony this morning.

Keep in touch, we'll hold your hand

Thank you for your good vibes. Perhaps I will update you from my hospital bed :-) I actually have not really had any symptoms with it, just hate having a a huge growth inside me, that shouldn't be there and I know it will only get bigger. My consultant did say that sometimes you don't realise that it is causing symptoms until it has gone. We are actually going away for a week before I go in, so hopefully that will take my mind off it. I will be back to update you.

Well I am off for the first of the shrink the blob injections. Don't know where they are going to stick the needle, didn't ask on Wednesday was still realing from size of blob and being told I was having hysterectomy! The only thing I do remember is that I start hrt at the same time..... This should be fun.

Hi emanon Ooooh, only a couple of weeks away? Do lete us know how it goes, and good luck!

Aunt How did yesterday go? Are you feeling ok?

I've been thinking about getting some chickens, and was about to but then thought with what is coming up in 7 weeks (eeeek) I should wait really until afterwards. I just want it over and done with.

How are you Aunt? I got my ovaries shut down a couple of months ago and got the injuction in the bum . The nurse warned it would hurt because the needle was thick and the liquid was gloopy (not medical term) but it was ok.

You do all know that before the op we need an enema?

I gave to go to the treatment room the day before for the suppository and an blood thining injection. Dont know if the thinner is common , I had a clot before so was prescribed it.

Hi grinning and coco injection wasn't too bad, I hate needles of any sort so it was hard work but the nurse was lovely and did it into my arm which started hurting almost immediately a horrible warm and hard feeling. Arm very sore today and today I've been started on hrt medication so not sure how am gonna feel it's everything at once! Have appointment for beginning of September for scan to see how blob is doing and so Dr can find out where the blob is attached to. Apparently I might bleed next week ,but hey what's new.

Urgh coco didn't know that but suppose it makes sense!

I was in HRT, Livial, after my ovaries were stopped. It was ok but I only did it for a month. Im going on it after op because my ovaries are going and I cant be bothered to go through the menopause so soon after being ill.

That's what I'm on, the plan seems to be start now so that when I have the op
I will already have all my hormone levels sorted, so looks like am on this for a while, am only 43 so it's gonna be a few years. Apparently the injections suppress all hormones and start the menopause so am counteracting that. Just feel tired but that's normal.