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!

Lol, didn't think to tell him that, even though I've told everyone else this week!
Tbh, that's exactly how I felt about the follow up (glad to be assured that everything was as it should be), so am pleased I was offered one as standard. See how you feel, but I would ask for one, especially given the run of luck you seem to be having, better safe than sorry!

How's everyone doing? How are you coco?

Doing good thanks, I think everybody else has abandoned us

How are you? When do you start your new job?

Back driving the last couple of days and doing a bit of shopping, just back from the shore with the dog. Got a couple of niggles but not too bad.
Going to drs tomirow to check hrt, I've been fine on the 50 patch, I don't know if she wants to increase it or not. Seeing my oestopath next wednesday so looking for to getting straightened up again!

Have your headaches stopped?

I've not abandoned you just don't have anything to report. Still waiting for appointment with Consultant which is next week, had 3 of the jabs to shrink blob and been on the HRT for 3 months but only 2.5mg so imagine that is going to increase.

I am hoping that next week I get my date so that I can start planning child care and work and Christmas...

You both sound like you are doing so well I hope I recover as well, but then maybe I'll drag it out and avoid the worst of the winter weather!

Ohh I hope you get your date soon
Definitely stay indoors as much as you can!

Hello all, can I join in please?

I've been on a waiting list for months for a TAH with BSO due to extensive endometriosis and a rather annoying cyst on my ovary that has increased in size over time. I agreed to the surgery as I was fed up with the scans, blood tests and clinic monitoring the cyst. I have little pain and bleeding controlled by Mirena so completely put it all out of my mind.

I've had the letter through this morning for pre-op Saturday and surgery early next week!.

I've lost my nerve and don't think I can do it, it's such short notice. Someone tell me to man up, it's 10 weeks til Christmas and I've booked the Good Food Show in November!

Man up woman! Really. It's been great for me, I feel so much better. Don't let my moaning over the last few weeks put you off!

It's six weeks today since my op and all of a sudden I feel great. No more bleeding, only the odd twinge if I over do it. If you had asked me last week about going back to work in 4 weeks I would have said I did'nt think I could, but now, no problem.

coco that's reassuring that you feel fab! .

The surgery and recovery itself isn't bothering me, it's the lack of preparation I'm a bit at. I like having time to plan and put things in place.

Hello!

Thanks for asking coco - still getting a few headaches, but think that's as much to do with being exhausted as the HRT. Exhausted due to waking up horribly early a lot of the time (like 5:30!!), feeling knackered but awake, grrr. Don't think that's down to the HRT, but more to my genes which are kicking in (it's a problem that both of my parents suffer with). Am trying to practice going to bed earlier as I start the new job a week on Monday - still need lots of practice though!

auntpetunia - hope you get your date, please let us know when you do!

sugarice - I totally second coco's advice, I also feel fab since my op (although mine was keyhole, so different recovery). It's funny how many people have said 'oh I'm sorry' when told that I've had the op, only for me to reply with 'don't be sorry, it's the best thing I could have done!'

Did you go for your pre-op sugarice?

well i had my appointment and have my pre op late next week, But won't be having the op till December as Boris the blon hasn't shrunk enough, he's gone from 24 week sized to 18 weeks in the last 3 months with the injections But thats not small enough apparently, consultant wants it down to under 16 week size so he can do a bikini incision. so extra strong injection next week and another 6 plus weeks to wait!!!

Oh no! More waiting, at least you have a sort of date. Are you keeping ok?

I was at my oestopath today and I'm nearly straight again! I have candida and I'm full of fluid. My pelvis was twisted and I got that fixed but there is too much fluid around my joints and I couldn't get it and my hip bone put back in. Going to try again in 6-8 weeks. Hopefully I won't have so much fluid then.

You know what Coco I am keeping really well, and feeling so much better now than I did at the start of this process, I am not having any problem with the HRT I am on and the blob shrinking means I am not as tired and can sleep on my tummy now without horrendous pain. I wish I didn't have to wait but I can understand as the consultant said if he does a mid line incision then I am off for 6 months EEEK, but if it's bikini it's 3 - 4 months, so I would rather go with the latter I know work would, so looks like just before Christmas and back after Easter for me, so I miss the dark nights and bad weather. Just waiting now for next week to get the exact date so that DH can sort his time off from work. and I can start training someone to do my job... the joy!

Why are you so out of shape is this a result of the surgery, I used to see an osteopath he was fabulous and twisted my head round, when I didn't know it was crooked! Hope you get your joints sorted sounds really painful.

I feel more positive now I know it's shrinking and I know it will be done BEFORE christmas, just need to get organised now, presents aren't too bad but food etc will be a pain and childcare will need to be sorted. Need to start on my hospital bag, so will be trawling back through this thread looking for tips on what I need... nighties, small bottlles, pads, ...

That's great that your a keeping well, it will help in your recovery, eeek at 6months indeed .

I got very run down the last couple if months before my surgery and it was the weight and pressure of my womb that has wrecked my pelvis.

It turns out that my horrible infection was poo! I had a small fisula but it sems to have healed over. The antibiotics have given me candida and my immune symtem is low.

Falling to bits I am

I know what you mean about the weight of the blob's my back is shot and I will be seeing an osteo again if I need to once everything is sorted. Though I picked up lots of tips on how to realign stuff over the years with my osteo so I might just be able to do it myself!! Cheapskate...

Hope you get everything sorted and start getting over all these bugs and infections. You need a good rest woman!

Can I join? Had a sub total done on Wed (think I still have cervix, neglected to double check since I was desperate to get out of hospital. uterus and tubes removed) because of adenomyosis and patches of endo. I'm home now but really full of wind and generally sore at wound sites. Any idea how long the pain will go on for? The wind is slowly going but I still can't cough or sneeze without pain.

As for the indignities of PV antibiotics.....

Hi monkeywrench did you have keyhole? I found the incisions not too bad after the first week. The wind was awful for a few days but generally not too bad. Though I still get it now, 7 weeks later!
I was told to put my hand between my legs if I needed to cough or sneeze, for support.

Remember it will be a good few weeks before you start feeling more like yourself, rest, rest, rest.

PTDG are you starting your new job tomorrow? If so good luck!

yeah keyhole. Still a bit dopey lol DH was a bit when told no sex for at least 3 months but tbh the way I feel right now it's the last thing on my mind.

3 months? I was told 6 weeks.

I'm changing it to 3 months

LOL The surgeon said that he used diathermy and the cauterised tissues tend to take longer to knit than if they are cut using a scalpel. I really should ring and find out if they took the cervix cos then it would make sense that he wants to make sure the vaginal vault is completely healed.

I do have to say I did have visions of sperm floating about not knowing where to go I can't be the only one who wonders about how it'll all work if the top is sealed Really need to point out that I am a nurse In my defense, the brain is still not working to well at assimilating the reality that my ovaries are just floating about.

It is bizarre. I'm convinced it feels emptier now everything has gone

Lol at sperm not knowing where to go!

Well I know it looks emptier because my stomach is the flattest it has been in 5 years (even with all the swirly gas) My uterus was roughly the size it would have been if I had been 6 month preg

Quickest 4lbs I've lost Have to get lactulose tomorrow cos I really feel blocked up and even though the bowels are working, I'm scared of doing a big poo without scaffolding around my stomach

so 17th December is H day!!! now feeling scared.

Be brave! You won't regret it .

Half term next week then I'm starting back at work, I wonder if they'll let me fit a wee doze in after lunch

we're on half term this week. have had a lovely lazy time, got lots of christmas shopping done need to finish that off coz christms is gonna be right on us when I get out of hospital!!!good thing about it being over christmas is DH will be off for those 3 weeks and wont go back till kids do on 7.1.13, by which point I'll be 3 weeks post op. got loads of bumff to read and glucose drinks to take before the op, and she told me to take isotonic drinks in with me. it all seems real now...

enjoy half term and hopefully they'll timetable in a snooze in the,reading corner.