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

Crem, I think your sister is great. Someone needs to put a rocket up them and say enough is enough. I'm glad you've got someone gunning for you.

I know you had no choice whatsoever She but I did. I could have insisted they find out what the clear fluid was and treated that and just carried on as I had done for the last 20 years.

Still, no point in what ifs. It's done now. I do wish the consultant had been less cavalier about the question when I asked him about it directly though.

Yes, you should be told about these things, especially if you ask directly. It's natural to feel bitter though. Your choice was taken away from you. I'd be mad.

It might improve with time lets I'd keep practicing if I were you ... I have had a dabble so far with 'outercourse' and it did feel different but I guess I'll get used to it and for me it's an improvement because sex often resulted in pain the next day for me. But hope things improve for you
crem pleased that your sister is on the case, the hospital needs to come up with a solution for you and not fob you off with platitudes.

Everyone else, I also feel its 2 steps forward and 1 strep back in recovery terms the mo, as I can feel good 1 day (approaching normal) and then the next I'm in pain and swollen again (like today). I spoke to my boss today and although occupational health dont want me back at work till I'm 8 weeks post op she is pushing me to return next Monday (6 weeks post op).. I don't know what to do (confused),

Waiting I'd go to your GP. There was no messing with mine. Once I said I wasn't confident about an emergency stop she did a sick note for the full 8 weeks. It's tricky for your boss to argue against medical advice. I am feeling exactly the same - 1 day fine, the next not. That's not fit enough to go back to work where it's important to be fine for a whole week.

But as DH says - it's relative. My normal 'fine' is being able to hoik large heavy things around and I certainly can't do that.

I do feel guilty on my 'fine' days though.

Any news Crem and Fled?

Can I join the down in the dumps gang?

Went to the lymphodemia clinic again today as this is a common side effect to having your lymph nodes removed. Mine were removed at the same time as my hysterectomy.
They measure all the way up your legs in 10cm gaps to see if your legs have swollen since the last time. Mine have all expanded between 1 and 2.5cm since I was last checked a few weeks ago, so she wants me to wear full length support stockings everyday. They are thicker than the bloody surgical stockings after the surgery and go all the way up the leg. I cried .

She's agreed to leave it for a month as I said I've put on weight due to lazing around and overeating. Also last time I was still using the hospital stockings so they may have been responsible for giving an artificial low reading last time.

To think I may have to wear these things during the day for maybe the rest of my life is so depressing. I know it's a small price to pay but...
Even if they are ok now, anytime in the future I could get like some women you see, with fat swollen legs and ankles with flesh spilling out of my shoes.

Anyway, how is everyone else?

Oh shew i would be upset to i have even stopped wearing the ones i come home from hospital in becuase they make me itch. Is there any exercise or diet you can follow that might help.
I to have piled on the lbs so i made myself go for a briskish 30 min walk gonna make myself do this everyday have needed to sit down since though.
waiting don't go back until you are ready go and get another sick note from you drs, i am of the mindset that once you go back to work everyone thinks you are 100% and its hard to take time off again if it goes wrong.

I have a confession.....got so fed up of the cleaning not getting done i organised a cleaner to come a couple of hours a week, she came today for the first time and the house looks lovely, figure it costs the same as i would spend in petrol to go to work, may have to work out how to keep her once i go back to work

SHewhowines you poor thing. I am making a habit of weeping in front of medics.was at it again yesterday so we can have a club. Been there, wept, bought the stockngs.
I am sure you are upset at having to wear the ruddy tights. I'd be miserable. So sorry you are swollen; I bet it was a false reading though. Fingers crossed.

Sister has accompanied me to nurse and we are all now satisfied that everything is being done that can be done. I require patience apparently.
< bites hand>
Spud I have a cleaner. Good for you.
Sometimes you have to draw a line in the dust sand.

over i have spent the rest of the day on my backside will try again tomorrow maybe not as brisk, i am having some odd twinges tonight, trying the mind over matter approach. I also have a do to go to on friday i knew there would be areason why i didn't get rid on my maternity wear do you think anyone will notice.....

Loving the chat about apples and the reason Miley Cyrus twerks. Not loving the weepy wounds, reduced orgasm and lypmadema :(

I'm due op in 2 weeks. Starting to twitch.

TiredDog welcome to the waiting corner! nerves a speciality.

I'm just keeping focussed on what life will be like in three months.. By then all this will be behind me and I will be able to jump up and down, walk downstairs at a good pace and maybe I'll have a bit of energy back

The one thing that is clear from this thread is that we must REST (see I was paying attention)

I was going to play this all cool and calm. Outwardly I'm still working and life goes on. I have however bought pyjamas, prunes, peppermint capsules, peppermint tea and senna pills. I'm considering glycerin suppositories to add to the collection. What do you think my main concern is?

I am returning to work 14 days after the op (6 days before Christmas) and plan to start my new year fitness regime in the two weeks I'm off (because I'll be bored yeh?). Anyone telling me this isn't realistic... I have fingers in my ears laa laa laaa

Hi TD and welcome to the sofa of recovery. Tell us what way you are having your op. ? Total abdominal / uppy downy scar/ horizontal/ pv/ under anaesthetic or not...
14 days sounds extraordinarily optimistic to me but I've had my trials and troubles. Most of us are still oofing to get off the settee at 4 weeks. If not 6.

^ see above

Odds and Kingfisher are soon/ next so TD you'll be around the same time I think

Lap hysterectomy losing ovaries. Not sure if it's total or sub total. (So my optimism might be reasonable). Op two weeks tomorrow. I'd only do a short days work before taking a week off for Christmas as well. Of course I might not surface for 6 weeks

I had my pre op straight after being given the news and there was minimal discussion about it all tbh so I have little information.

I need the op and am happy that they will take what needs to be taken. Biopsy expected to be normal or precancerous but I will still be hugely relieved when they return that result

Hi TD. I think most of us would say your timescale is optimistic but that would be based on our own experiences, which are personal to us. Every woman is different. I think we only get one chance to heal well. Why not just take it as it comes rather than stick to a timetable?

Crem I'm surprised it wasn't someone else's hand you bit tbh . How frustrating.

she that's awful I couldn't stand mine for the whole 6 weeks let alone full leg ones. I hope it'll be a blip rather than a long term thing.

Fled is there any news about your poor cat?

Hi tired love your optimism you sound like me before i went in for the op, couldn't understand why i wouldnt be driving and lunching after the first week. As letsface said we are all different but i did succumb to the sofa and afternoon naps quite quickly and still there now 4 weeks on .

Hello all and hi TD welcome.
I haven't posted much partly because I'm in denial, partly because it makes me a bit sad, partly as some of my really good friends have been a bit crap so have pretty much hibernated for last few weeks and have been manic trying to get life sorted before next Wed!!!!!!!!

I have done most Xmas shopping and am posting out stuff to go to friends etc today and also have secretly bought all the stuff TD has but am not thinking about it of course (fingers in ears la la la la )

Work is madly busy (I'm self employed) with them getting me to do just a couple more things before I go off.

I am not imagining being back active active ( i.e. visiting clients etc ) until mid- Jan, but am hoping I may be able to do some planning/laptop work if i'm up to it before then.

I was seating for lap trays last night like an old lady …any thoughts? useful? I thought might be more comfy lying on sofa with that doing xmas cards than sitting at desk???

I am still trying to get over this thing that essentially mine is elective and really think that people feel that I am having some kind of munchausens moment ( don't want to sound derogatory) as if I WANT to have it done.

It is the least worst of a really shitty list of procedures so its not like I want to do anything.

Anyhow the waiting is def getting to me I am a bit of an anxious mess which is surprising as I am normally very blasé about surgery and GA's etc….

So thats me at the moment !

The thing i've found odd about the recovery is how fast it was for the first 4 weeks. It was easy to see daily improvement and think it would be fine to go back to work at 6 weeks. I thought I was ready to go back at 4 weeks then one walk down a long slope at 4 1/2 weeks put the mockers on that and I was back to be with painkillers. The top part of my abdomen is still sore.

So what I mean is that recovery can look brilliant if you compare yourself with how you were a week ago but the real test is whether you are fit enough to do what needs to be done a week ahead iyswim. For me, week 4 onwards were more difficult to gauge.

I was in denial right up to the morning of the op. It served me very well as it was that or panic .

Kingfisher can you pinpoint exactly what it is that you are afraid of? We might be able to help. I was afraid of the fear and the unknown.

Hi
Very good idea about cleaners, although I've just abused the good nature of my teenage children

I also thought I'd be back at work at 4 weeks and working from home prior to that, which has failed to occur- instead I am now arranging to have another couple of weeks off so won't be returning till 8 weeks. My initial recovery was also good then surcombed to a couple of infections which I think has put me back a bit. As I explained to my boss yesterday-sometimes I feel fine for a couple of hours in the morning but by mid afternoon I am sore with stabby burning pains plus a swollen belly so am back in my pjs resting on the couch, that's not fit for work. I do wonder if I should just 'man up' and battle through though and stop malingering!
Also I only had a laproscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy so no big cut but I did have ovarys out and lots of adhesions-op took over 4 hours apparently due to the mess of my insides.
she sorry about the legs! perhapes as you recover and your body gets used to the lack of lymph nodes your legs will decrease and you can avoid the delightful tights ( I hope)
crem glad the hospital are being a bit more pro active.
fled how's the cat?

Welcome tireddog sorry that you have to join us but pleased to meet you. odds and king will be particularly pleased there is someone else at a similar stage to compare notes with.

A lap tray sounds a good idea king

Patience is a virtue crem

I agree about the quick recovery at the beginning. I was doing so well I began making plans for the next few weeks, which had to be quickly altered when everything slowed down. I found it slowed down after 2 weeks then slowed down again at 5 weeks.

Have not found it too difficult, so far, to cut down on the rubbish I have been eating. I want to lose some weight in the next month to see if my measurements reduce. Yippee dieting!

Bit worried about fled . She's not posted for a while.

Thanks lets face - think I'm just worried about me ending up in a worse place than I cam now - Currently my scenario is stable and could be fine for a log while - so I am questioning myself about doing something so major when I could just hold out and be fine.

(I had an emergency embolisation of uterine arteries)

I think my main problem has been the wait and worry and recovery from my emergency in Paris that has all taken hold and really once Ive had op will know that I'm now just on the mend and things will be a whole lot better.

king I do know what you mean. I was undecided for years for exactly that reason and I also wanted to keep my hormones for as long as possible. It's a nasty thought that a choice you make for yourself now could mean you'll be worse off in the long run.

Some denial is working well for me and I also fear taking time off because I think it will be incredibly hard to go back.

I have also assumed a lap would mean rapid recovery so waitingaround's post has been helpful to ponder.

I'm not sure anyone elects for a hysterectomy Kingfisher and I doubt surgeons hand them out for personal choice. I understand a little of your fear of upsetting the status quo - I'm similar. I don't have cancer but I do have abnormal scans and have had a biopsy indicating a precancerous condition. I've opted to act now rather than wait until I have cancer. But I do wonder if I'm being an over anxious ninny and will be left with horrible post op complications.