Hysterectomies - it's gotta be done but over here for hand holding

[Oddsocksrus]

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance
I guess I start..
My cervix is on the outside, it can't all hang where it should and no manner of pelvic floor exercises or devises will get it back there.
I'm 41, one fab dd and wanted more but there you are, can't now can I?

This thread, hopefully, will be for those waiting, recovering or supporting

Hi kingfisher welcome you poor thing. I could have written your post about a year ago. But I had to wait a long time for my op.
Anyway what no one will tell you is about the constipation. Prepare for this and it will make life more tolerable during the first week.
Up thread is a few suggestions about what to bring with you.
I second the second best nightie suggested by Lftmad . Short sleeves are handy as you will have a line into your arm or hand. I puked a lot day 1 - you may not too.
Also have a look at Rhondajeans posts to give you an idea about how others can give you help.

Oh yes the constipation.
Here goes.
Prune juice. Dried prunes. Tinned prunes. Oat bran. Lactulose. And lots and lots of water. If all else fails and you know you need to poo but couldn't without straining - glycerin suppositories from the chemist. Personally, I'd buy those in in advance.

When you go to poo, roll a towel into a pad and hold it gently but firmly to your stitches to support them.

Sit on the loo with your feet flat on something like a biscuit tin or a toddler step. This takes pressure off your tummy and pelvic floor and puts your bum in the best position for a poo (we are designed to poo in a squatting position).

Rest your forearms on your knees as this helps prevent straining. Try to let gravity do the job for you.

If you need to gently start things off try saying ooo as in moo loudly (but without the sound if you don't want the rest of the house panicking). That makes your abdomen work rather than your pelvic floor.

Disclaimer - I am NOT a poo troll.

Can I just urge a little caution on all the dried fruits etc? I had surgery earlier this year and gobbled up a load of dried apricots etc. next day and night I had explosive, bloody diarrhoea. Couldn't even get to the loo in time and was already in enough pain without that.

So, yes, lots of fluids and gentle laxatives but I wouldn't wish my experience on my worst enemy.( Actually that's not quite true, but not anyone else!!)

So go easy.

@ poo troll.

Matilda that sounds grim. But tbpf I'd prefer diahorrea over constipation any day of the week.
Nonetheless I amsorry you had that experience.

Hi kingfisher. Sounds v traumatic experience.

Also thanks for the dried fruit tips Matilda. Was going to take in cartons of fruit juice and best pal has promised to bring me in a Big Mac on day 2 which normally goes straight through me.

Lovely gp has given me diazepam to scrape me off the ceiling. Work was ok last night. Only 2 shifts left now.

Thanks all, really helpful comments poo and all… I do remember my first poo post em c-sec was a real shrieker and thought my bum might not accommodate the inflexible log it was very slowly presented with (sorry taken back to that moment there - TMI)

I am still coming to terms with the fact that I am making this 'decision' and feels off to be choosing to do this. But I think a few months recovery then hopefully all issues resolved is better than a couple of years more average quality of life with the nagging worry of issues…

Kingfisher - I've found it very difficult to come to terms with the surgery. I'm only 38. Would love #3 but have secondary infertility thanks to endo, bowel adhesions and choc cysts on my remaining ovary. The surgery is a question of when not it.

The lovely ladies here have held my hand over the last few weeks and undoubtedly will keep my company whilst I'm in hospital next week.

For me the worst part is the wait

Good luck Fled, I think after all the surgery i have had I'm less bothered about the surgery itself - more the doing nothing for 6 weeks and if something does go wrong or there are problems caused by the Op then in effect it will have been my fault for going for the operation.

I hope all goes well for you. I swore by Arnica after my cs and will use again =, it really did seem to make a difference

I am not one for woo , kingfisher you are right about arnica. I tend to bruise badly as my veins are tiny and it is always a struggle to get blood or a line in. As a result my arms are black and blue. I used the arnica cream and the bruises had almost gone overnight . The nurse thought I had put makeup on them

Talking of poo......

If you push on your perinium it will help to evacuate what needs to be evacuated .

Hallo, a little brighter today, head out of arse and back being practical.

theKingfisher the other bit of advise post catheter and stretching/bruising will be weeing in the shower.. Have a flow of body temperature water flowing over your nether regions which will make it easier. It worked for me after dd, I ended up with a catheter for just over 48 hours and nothing was coming out!

I've been shopping today and have got this lot in preparation (I have been paying attention)

Nightie, knee length
Huuuuuuge granny pants from M&s
Yoga trousers with long loose tops x 2
Trays for freezing dinners
Ordered this book for dd
www.amazon.co.uk/Going-Hospital-Usborne-First-Experiences/dp/0746066589/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383160148&sr=1-1&keywords=going+to+hospital+children%27s+book
A couple if box set DVD series
Arnica

Hello kingfisher I didn't need more than paracetamol and ibuprofen, but as someone up thread said- best be prepared.
There were loads of tips at the beginning of the thread but you might not feel like wading through all the scary stories to find the relevant posts
I think you are right to just go for it. Short term pain for long term gain, and all that. Quite a few have said they wish they did it earlier.

When do you actually have your op fled ? You are right. The worst thing was the wait. Oh and the constipation... talking of which, I seemed to have improved in that department, but am not completely normal,so am currently yoyoing, trying to get the right balance of lactulose and senna.

I drove for 20 minutes each way today, to take the kids and nieces to a circus. Got a bit worried in a traffic jam on the motorway, about the extra leg action that would have been needed for the stop starts. Fortunately it moved really quickly, but I was glad to get home with only a little soreness. I had been building up the driving a bit each day, since the end of last week.

Feel normal now. Even found myself virtually running down the stairs to get to the ringing phone. Managed to walk around town, yesterday for an hour and a half, before I even felt anything. So need to build that further, and the driving, but I'm nearly there. Yay

Which box sets oddsocks ?

Shewhowines -go in next nxt Thursday (7th) at 8am. First on the theatre list

Hi Kingfisher i had the same conversation with the pre op nurse, felt i was being selfish for having the op and as i wasn't in pain it didn't feel right that i was having it what if something goes wrong, then she did explain that don't just operate for fun.

Oh shewhowines constipation and windthe most painful bit by far still on lactolose not sure what else i can take, forthose that are yet to have the op the only thing that cured the wind was schwepps pepermint cordial made strong with hot water was the hospitals magic cure i would put that top of your list
Myfriend is down for a couple of days and made it out of the house a look round Dunelm mill than back home for a nap could get used to these afternoon naps...

shewhowines Dexter, Bones and West wing :) never managed to save them all or catch all the episodes and I found a good offer

fled lovely to be first on the list none of the hanging around! My hospital gets everyone to come in at the same time and then allocate theatre slots so I could have to wait from 8am until 4 or something I will be in bits if I have to wait too long.

I've had a much better day today making the list of all the work I need to schedule in for others to do, and everything that I can get done in advance. I'm self employed and the majority of our clients are companies headed by men so we are doing everything we can to avoid them asking where I'm going /what I'm doing...
Just waiting for that letter with a date... I've got a birthday party for my dd on the 19th December... It would be nice that I might be able to move by then.....

Ok, DVD list officially approved as suitable material to aid, rather than hinder, recovery although actually no idea what Bones is

House suitably decorated for Halloween, but managed to keep my scar to myself. Now what shall I do with the left over sweets...

Tell them you have a latex allergy. That helps to get you first on the list according to dsis.
no idea if this works

Halloween + occupational health meeting + unfortunate series of events at diabetic clinic had broken me this week.
Back to dozing in bed for an hour in the afternoon .
Swollen tum really depressing me.

Creme- I'm allergic to latex so have to have a "clean" theatre ie first on list. Preferable to stopping breathing

I went in at 7am and was supposed to go down mid morning. Someone had a latex allergy so I didn't go down till 1.30. Not good for my nerves, as you can imagine. I was told they also need to keep the theatre vacant, whilst the allergic person is in recovery, in case of emergency.

Shewhowines - yes that's me. I get severe swelling so potentially could stop breathing in recovery if that area has been contaminated with latex. Sorry for the inconvenience - personally I would prefer to not be allergic but since ds1 I've had increasing allergies

Cremola I know what you mean about the swollen belly. I was expecting to be wearing my clothes again by now considering the size of the fecker they removed but I can only get into a pair of tracky bottoms I bought in a bigger size for coming out of hospital. It's really frustrating as I haven't got any heavier.

No I'm lighter too Lftmad !! Why??
I feel like a big heifer. Sick to death of leggings. I keep eyeing my jeans and feeling meh :0(
Walked for 30 minutes like a normal person today, down the lane; up the lane followed by my bemused cat.
Not shuffling any more and can finally stretch my back so I don't look like Quasimodo

Fled no offence meant by my comments- I was being flippant . I apologise.
Certainly not getting at you.

I am allergic to alcohol and am type 1 diabetic so they took me first on that basis. I feel terrible for anyone who has (had) to wait all day.