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Original poster

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

993 replies

Oddsocksrus · 30/09/2013 00:13

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

OP posts:
shewhowines · 10/10/2013 22:19

Oh no, you don't have to sit through anything you don't want to, after the trauma you just endured. Tis the law...

Also mandatory to have unlimited chocolate especially toblerone and when you say jump, people have to say how high.

It is criminal for you not to insist on this unfortunately after 4 weeks my power is decreasing

Cremolafoam · 11/10/2013 11:30

Likewise on the decreasing impact if my commandmentsGrin
According to my mother I should be feeling like a spring lamb by now and I am malingeringAngry she keeps telling me how wonderful she felt after her own hysterectomy and of course I'll be the same.Sad
Personally feel like shit. Am on second round of antibiotics and am like a flayed spaced out floppy doll.( with light frustrated weeping)
Thanks mother.Angry
Have asked dh to Hoover and he is looking at me like I have seven heads. I can feel the dust coming at meConfused

Love a bit of Prof Cox - but that moon thing was beyond me. I watched that thing on pain pus and poison last night with Michael Mosely. Not advisable. Confused

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 11/10/2013 14:44

That's so not fair Cremola. Everyone's different and as I am learning, there are good days and bad days. I am have a shit day today after a good one yesterday.

To anyone who is waiting for this op - make sure the hospital discharge you with proper strength pain killers that you can spread out evenly over 24 hour periods. Otherwise, waiting for 45 mins in the GPs surgery 48 hours after the op is a bit of a pisser actually. Paracetamol and ibuprofen aren't always up to it once the spinal's fully worn off.

shewhowines · 11/10/2013 23:45

Sorry you guys are having a tough time of it. I'm nowhere near driving yet and I thought I'd be thinking of it by now. It's a long old process isn't it. I keep feeling discomfort not real pain fortunately in different places. Don't know whether I'm doing myself injury by overdoing things or if its just everything healing and stretching.

28 days of jabs have finished and I have a fetching pattern of circular bruises on my stomach that look as if they're a complex dot to dot puzzle.

And

Drum roll.... I've had a few glasses of wine this week. So things are definitely looking up. Just wish it would speed up a bit.

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 12/10/2013 09:20

Better today now the painkillers are sorted Grin

Those jabs sound nasty She What are they for?
Wine sounds good even now but I'll need to wait a while I think.
Got to wash my hair today before it gives up an crawls off to the shower on ts own.

Cremolafoam · 12/10/2013 10:52

I am much better today - wound is drying out ( sorry tmi) and I am going to risk a Shock bath. This I know will shatter me but I think the upside of feeling soothed will far outweigh the effort .
Lftmad I totally agree with having good days and bad days. No way of knowing really. Good sleep is key and I am still struggling with this. For the first week I had crazy dreams which woke me up and then last week I just felt totally shattered but unsettled. Sleep quality is really poor and related to feeling v uncomfortable I think. Feel knackered but not relaxed IYSWIM .

I am going to discuss HRT with gp on Monday and wondered if any if you have any thoughts. I am 48 and think ill probably need some for bone protection . Any opinions?

Hope everyone is continuing to improveThanks

shewhowines · 12/10/2013 11:39

crem did they take your ovaries out? They left mine in because I was under 50 and fortunately, I don't seem to have any hormone ill effects. It doesn't sound like fun for you.

I took a low dose sleeping tablet for the first couple of weeks. Is this an option to ask the gp for?

Glad you're feeling better now the pain killers have kicked in letsface . The jabs were for blood thinning. I don't know if I could have drunk with them, but I presumed I couldn't. That first glass of wine was like nectar Grin

Cremolafoam · 12/10/2013 12:19

Yes had the ovaries out too.
Going to need something aren't I?

cocoleBOO · 12/10/2013 12:53

Cremola I had my ovaries out and was told I need to be on HRT until I'm at least 51. I was on a tablet at first but it made me incredibly sick. I switched to patches (Evorel 50) and have been fine.

The only thing is I've been on vaginal hrt for a few months too, I had vaginal atrophy due to lack of estrogen. The gynae dr I saw said that you don't really get enough estrogen through oral or patch hrt.

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 12/10/2013 14:03

Cremola my friend had a hysterectomy in her 30s and was on hrt for 10 years. Once it stopped, she has had symptoms she's very unhappy with. I think we need our hormones really, for as long as possible. After speaking with my friend - who I can tell is going easy with the nasty details - I'll be having hrt the nanosecond my hormones look as if they're giving up the ghost.

Cremolafoam · 13/10/2013 12:14

Coco can you explain the vag oestrogen thing - is it a pill or a gel or ?
Have been looking at the Evorel 50.
Looks about right for me at this point in time. Just have to see what gp offers, but v useful to have at least some info in advance .

It's interesting that at this point no one has mentioned HRT to me at all- consultant or any of her minions. There's definitely a case for being given more info I think. I have initiated this appt with my gp and there is no follow up appt by consultant who did the surgery Wink

cocoleBOO · 13/10/2013 13:05

I had no follow up appointment with my consultant either, I had my op at the City snd he said if I wanted one I could phone but it wasn't done routinely.

The vaginal hrt is Vagifem, its a small pessary, I use two a week. I had some spotting and my vagina was dry and burning. I also had a slight vaginal prolapse. The Vagifem strengthens the tissue in the vagina and stops the dryness.

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 13/10/2013 13:17

The friend I posted about has just been round to visit. She's back on hrt and looking and feeling loads better.

Cremolafoam · 13/10/2013 18:58

Thanks coco - also done at CHB - but good to know follow up is not routine, and they just didn't forget .
Smile thanks for info on pessary too.
Interesting and will bear in mind.

Hope gp is on his game tomorrow and is helpfulWink HRT seems v confusing tbh.

That's also good that your friend is feeling better on it.

shewhowines · 15/10/2013 08:50

How did you get on crem ?

fledtoscotland · 15/10/2013 09:04

Can I join in the handholding? 3wks and 1 day til my surgery. General clear out for endometriosis and bowel adhesions as well as looking at my one remaining ovary to see if its worth saving (chocolate cysts). They are going to try for laparoscopic surgery but may need to convert to open.

The enormity of it all is kicking in. Being off work for 3-4 months (nhs shift work), not walking dogs, but also only being 38.

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 15/10/2013 09:20

Hello. fled . Of course you can join in. I've never heard of a chocolate cyst before. Weird name. Is it painful?

Cremolafoam · 15/10/2013 12:57

Hi fled , and welcome. I understand that apprehension very well.
It's a lot to take in and a lot to organise. Do you have lo's?

Gp has indeed put me on an HRT patch. He was deeply ambivalent about it tho citing all the reasons it could negatively affect me and not much of the positives.

Nonetheless I start on it tomorrow in patch form.
Not a minute too soon: hot flush in bed last night was like being burnt at the stake with pounding heart beat like a maniac jazz drummer.I accused dh of jiggling in bed but it was actually me shakingShock

fledtoscotland · 15/10/2013 17:07

Letsfacethemusic- my ovary bleeds every time I ovulate leaving behind a small brown mark the gyn consultant called a chocolate cyst. Get horrendous ovulation pains to add into the mix of endo & vowel adhesions

cocoleBOO · 15/10/2013 17:11

I had chocolate cysts as well, one burst in my fallopiam tube and it was agony. I chose to have both my ovaries removed, I was 43 at the time. My Dr. said they usually do remove the ovaries in anyone over 45 as a matter of course.

fledtoscotland · 15/10/2013 18:08

Coco - I've only got one ovary left as the other was removed 6yrs ago as I had a dermoid cyst. Doctor reluctant to remove the other one if possible cos of my age. My innards are a mess Sad

Cremolafoam · 15/10/2013 18:20

Oh fled you poor thing, that sounds grim. Know that it will all be dealt with soon. Thanks

LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 15/10/2013 19:35

That sounds horrible Fled Sad
And what is it with ovulation pain? I find it loads worse than period pain and it only started after having kids!

You're going to feel so much better when they've had a good sort out in there.

fledtoscotland · 15/10/2013 19:57

Thanks for the support and understanding. I'm so sick of people judging me for wanting the surgery so young but the pain is horrendous. Everyone says the coil is the answer to their problems but I bleed for 14-16 days, take tramadol & diclofenac for the pain and have secondary infertility because of the problems. I'm gutter I will never have dc3 but the thought of being relatively pain free is the carrot for me. Just nervous now.

So what do I need in my hospital bag? It's going to be a but different from the last hospital bag I packed when ds2 was born

Cremolafoam · 15/10/2013 20:44

Fled I'm so sorry you are also dealing with the emotions of loss as well.
It really sounds like you've been through the mill.

Hospital bag based on 4 day stay so you can add or takeaway as needed

3x nighties pref with short sleeves as you might have a line in
Dressing gown
Slippers
A nice fluffy towel
2 in one shampoo and conditioner
( I was given a shower with assistance but not enough time to condition my hair)
Bar of favourite soap( easier to deal with than gel)
Face and body moisturiser ( dry air plus anaesthetic caused skin to flake)
Hand gel
Sucky sweets or throat lozenges
( my throat was v dry after intubation)
Innocent smoothies or juice as a change from water
Audio books for when you can't focus on a book or magazine.
Mobile phone for ordering up things you need from dp
Your own pillowcase if you are weird like me Grin
Fanny pads of your own choice( the hospital ones are scary.Shock)
Leggings and a loose tunic top or similar for getting into to come home.
Anything comforting you can think of:
I brought some lavender oil to dab.

Days 1-2 I read nothing and wasn't able to eat anything until toast and tea in the late evening of day 2.
Day 3 I had a shower and change into fresh nightie. Able to eat some breadsticks and yogurt and soup and toast. Hospital tea sustained me.
Day 4 off morphine and just taking paracetamol and they let me come home in the evening after I'd managed to go to the loo.Wink

You don't need much really. Spent most if the time staring out the window, chatting to fellow patients or asleep.
.