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

I might be talking out of my arse here and if anyone knows different, please shout up...

I reckon the difference between open and laparoscopic surgery is the scar. I'm guessing that the stuff that happens inside is kind of the same regarding repair and anchoring things in place to make sure your bits don't fall out once your womb's gone.

Well my scar and the muscle/area behind it is ok. It's the area above my belly button that's more problematic. That and the unpredictable tiredness.

That's right let's the healing inside is exactly the same, with a laparoscopic or vaginal or even both together (like mine) you just don't have as large an external cut, so initially you do recover quicker in terms of first getting up and about etc and pain levels at the beginning would definitely be less. But the internal stuff is exactly the same.

Kingfisheri had a melt down at the pre op nurse thinking i was being selfish on my family for having this op as i wasn't pain or the condition isnt life threatening. She made it very clear to me that they don't operate on anyone unless it is needed, and that it was left and things got worse how would that be helping my family.
I now have no regrets because i know in a short time i will be better and these weeks will become a distance memory.
Letsface not sure there is much difference between the two in terms of recovery some have more removed than others and everyone recovers differently i did have a sacrocolpopexy (had to look up the spelling) at the same time has/is anyone else having this done?

Having a bit of a bad day i think the brisk walk didnt realky help having all sorts of pains today have been plonked on backside andnintend to be shut in room when the family gets home

Letsface - thats exactly it!

I feel I'm sort of one the home straight now I have my pre-op on Friday - although I seem to be coming down with a cold - would they still operate if I had a cold??

Hi y'all. I am quite surprised to say that it is 8 weeks since my op tomorrow I had to get a new sick line organised for work today and doc has given me another 4 weeks. That's just before Xmas
Practice sister is still shaking her head though, as I still have an open wound FGS. I will need every second of that 4 weeks I think. I have been anointed with manuka honey today for a bit if variation from the silver.
Whoop. Finding it hard to feel enthusiastic about anything tbh.
Have been moved onto 3000mg of amoxicillin per day.
My positive act today was to make a chocolate and beetroot cake for The Phillipines disaster fundraiser at work. Oh and sort out wrapping paper and stationary. I really do not need to buy any more wrap or ribbon,possibly for ever. Also I have absolutely nothing to actually wrap at this point so gold star to kingfisher for Being Prepared

Wonders about fled and kitty
Hope they're ok

Thankyou Crem

6 week update. Can report that DTD was fine

Sorry for not being around. Horribly sore this week. Gp Monday reduced cocodamol from 30/500 to15/500 and they are useless. I managed a wonder round the shops yesterday with my friend for an hour and cried afterwards it hurt so much. I'm two weeks post op tomorrow and the gp I saw said I should be feeling like working by 4 wks. I dreading DH going back to his work at 4wks let alone doing anything myself.

I'm still tearful and don't feel well in myself (no appetite/frustrated/lethargic) but wound healed well and bruising going.

Sorry for moaning

Letsface glad to know everythingn is working, i told my dh had to wait 6 months

Fled what utter crap you need to go and see another gp, the hospital wrote me a sick note for 6 weeks sraight off and then i need to see gp if i need to extend which i intend to do. Also you may feel like working but you might not be able, i am 4 weeks post op i am no where ready to go to work have'nt even driven yet.
On the plus side you wont feel like you do now at 4 weeks it really does get better just make sure you are taking regular pain killers even if you don't feel the need i managed on 400g ibroprofen and plain old paracetamols but taking the max dose in 24hrs.

Fled I hope you don't mind me saying but I'd have been in bits walking round shops for an hour 2 weeks post op. I think the pain you felt isn't out of the ordinary after such a lot of movement so soon. I don't think your GP is being very helpful either.

How's the cat?

Trust me - I'm resting for me. I'm hardly doing anything - no housework, very minimal cooking, no school runs, not walking dogs. Yesterday was going to m&s to get a scarf and slippers. My gp says that at 2 wks i shouldn't be needing pain killers and starting to get back to normal. Seeing DHs gp tomorrow morning as I'm far from normal and horrendously emotional

Re cat, he's pottering around the kitchen. Fought me tonight giving him his meds (DH is too scared to give a huge ginger tom a tiny wee pill!) and has scratched my face so he's more like his normal feisty self. He's not eating much and sleeping 23hrs a day but hes at home.

fled your GP is an arse!! Glad your cat is home too....

I might show DHs gp this thread tomorrow. The "girl" I saw on Monday said I should know what to expect as I'd had a csection with ds2. I'm not due back at clinic for 12wks so I'd assumed a gp wouldn't think I was fit to work til then

fled have a look at the hysterectomy association site- they explain quite clearly what a hysterectomy involves and the typical recovery times. They also do a monthly club thingy so you can all compare notes etc. I've looked at the October club but found some of the characters on there a bit odd but that could just be me being a grump!

Fled I am furious for you. Aforementioned gp is a complete twat. You have had major abdominal surgery. It it NOT comparable to a c-section. Every hysterectomy website i refer to outlines that you will not be ready for work at 4 bloody weeks.
Six weeks minimum. 12 weeks is the average to be off work.
You need to speak to another doctor at the practice or indeed contact your consultants secretary to get advice re return to work. The consultant needs to inform the gp about recovery in your individual case. Everyone is different but fwiw you really sound nowhere near ready for anything except rest and helpful medical advice.

Btw I am never DTD ever again. No.

Thankyou ladies but all the nhs info suggests you should be back to normal at 6wks I feel almost fixated with that 4 wk "deadline" that's been set and like I'm pushing myself to be normal. I've got this intermittent pain like a hot knitting needle on my l side above my hip that makes me feel faint and nauseous. There's no pattern to it (had it sitting on the bed this afternoon and standing in the kitchen a couple of times yesterday). Gp Monday said its the healing process but nurse pal suggested they've stitched a nerve which is why it's a hot pain that only lasts seconds. All my pain is on the left side but that been the same since I was in the recovery room. DH is worried sick which is why he's phoned to get me seen by his gp tomorrow.

Fled can you phone the ward? I was able to see a senior reg when my wound opened. I was given the ward number in case I was worried about anything. They are the team that operated on you and tend to be quite territorial about their own work ime.

• am anxious for you-

Cremo - unfortunately I'm discharged from the ward back to gp care. Got physio exercises to start at wk6. Return to clinic 2-3 months. The gp I normally see is off sick. I'm just worried that they are seeing it as a csection and are trying to give me lower dose cocodamol which isn't helping at all.

The actual scar is looking great but in myself I feel a mess

That red hot pain is not normal. None of us has experienced anything like that. Only you know how you feel and no doctor can tell you what you should feel. Keep making a fuss. Cry in the surgery if you have to. Although saying that, 2 weeks is still early days and an hour in town would have been too much for all of us too. It's the pain that is worrying and needs addressing.
If you feel emotional then, perhaps they need to look to see whether the ovaries are working properly. You did say that you kept them didn't you? Sometimes a hysterectomy kick starts the menopause even if the ovaries have been kept. Was it Crem that felt better with the HRT? (i know she lost her ovaries though)
Well done for going back to see another Gp tomorrow. The least they need to do is give you painkillers so you are comfortable, but I think they need to look for the cause of the pain too.

Glad that the cat is at home and is feeling slightly better.

Is D day next Monday odd ? and am i right in thinking yours is next Wednesday king ? It will soon be over. Try not to worry too much easier said than done

Shewhowines- I've only got a right ovary. Left one was removed with large dermoid cyst in feb 2007. Pain is where I had the cyst pain.

Will update tomorrow after seeing yet another blardy doctor

Fled that sounds dreadful and I hope a different GP has more experience. Regardless of her personal opinion (because that sounds as if it is just that) your personal recovery is what matters.

Could it be old scar tissue thats now been messed around with, or adhesions cause by the new op or something? Sounds a bit of a coincidence it's in that area.

tired is the pre cancer worry in the ovaries or the cervix?

letsface I thought you'd already DTD?