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Original poster

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

992 replies

Oddsocksrus · 09/12/2013 22:57

Over here for the hand holding.
One in five women in the uk will have to have a hysterectomy at some point in their lives.
Come and join us if you are waiting, pre op, bleery eyed on the ward or recovering afterwards.

OP posts:
Twinkletights · 28/12/2013 17:31

Hope that you have all had a lovely Christmas and have managed to get some rest between the festivities.
Also hope that none of you have been affected by the terrible weather and powercuts.

Having a bit of a wobble here about having the surgery but keep telling myself that it will be worth it and that the end is in sight.

SantasPelvicFloor · 28/12/2013 18:10

I'm 3 weeks in and all of a sudden feel soooooooo much better. I'm walking instead of shuffling, planning to extend my walks, not sleeping in the daytime (2 days now Grin ) and have no abdo pain.

Kingfisher your Christmas sounds stressful. Hope you get a chance to rest up a bit.

Twinkle you will be so relieved when it's over and you're making your recovery

Kevinsbowel · 28/12/2013 20:27

Hooray Santa you have made it past the hump!

Twinkle, It is exactly six weeks since I got back to the ward after surgery. I have apparently made an excellent recovery which is nice to know. And six weeks off work has been amazing.

For me, before the OP I was ill. So ill I could barely function.

After the OP, I was basically well, with some holes in my torso that needed to heal. I don't regret it at all. I still keep expecting to wake up and find I have to have another "horrific" period. Never again!.

Twinkletights · 29/12/2013 16:10

Thank you Santa and Kevin for your positive and reassuring words. It helps so much to know that others have experienced this and can share the good and bad times. I am under 40 and do not know anyone in RL that has been through any of this.

Still waiting for a date but have been advised that it will be early in the new year. I think it will help once I have that so that I can make plans.

Is there anything that any of you recommend that I should get for hospital and recovery?

I am already addicted to candy crush thanks to this thread Xmas Grin

SantasPelvicFloor · 29/12/2013 16:44

Lactulose, mint tea, mint oil capsules, glycerin suppositories... I swear I have never been 'at the mercy of my bowels' but post op nearly all my pain was bowel related. I believe the handling of the gut bruises and sensitises it (???) Every time I ate it felt like sandpaper was being rubbed over my insides. Becoming constipated would be pretty bad because the internal stitching etc is so closely related to the rectum. Sorry...not very naice to talk about but I'm sure my pain was reduced by tackling it proactively.

Twinkletights · 29/12/2013 17:48

Thank you Santa I will add peppermint capsules to my shopping list.
The bowel troubles were not pleasant after the rectocele repair but that sounds even worse

RhondaJean · 29/12/2013 17:52

Hi everyone and a slightly belated happy Christmas, I hope you all had a lovely time and are on your way to feeling better.

Well as predicted friend has an infection, she was at the doc on Friday who said it was a bladder infection and gave her antibiotics, however her belly button is hot, red and leaking pus now and her stomach is swollen again, just waiting to hear what nhs 24 say and whether I'm needed to give her a lift somewhere. Poor thing has no luck at all with this sort of stuff, strangely she's also one of the cleanest people (both personally and house) that I have ever known.

RhondaJean · 29/12/2013 17:55

Her belly button wound that is, not her actual belly button leaking pus, that would be odd!

Twinkletights · 29/12/2013 18:00

Rhondajean so sorry to hear that your friend is not recovering well. Bladder infections make you feel really grotty.

You sound like a lovely and supportive friend for her Thanks for you too.

Hope that she gets some help soon

RhondaJean · 29/12/2013 18:14

She's got a 6.45 appointment but her boyfriend is able to take her so I'm just manning the phone.

Twinkle I see you haven't had your op yet, this isn't normal, my friend is really really prone to infections and I could have put money on this happening all along, I don't think it's that common a thing.

Kevinsbowel · 29/12/2013 18:18

Awww poor Rhondas friend. Bad luck to get an infection. Lets hope it clears up soon. If she already has health issues, that is going to slow her recovery, I'm afraid.

Twinkle, the bowel certainly sulks and hates to be handled. It can't hurt to do as Santa says. That said, I didn't bother with any of it, I didn't even take the movicol once I got home. I did eat a lot of baked fruit though- apples and plums. It takes about a week before anything obliges, and there was a bit of colicky pain, but I didn't get as much pain as Santa has had.

I would get in- a pile of good books and some cosy PJs. I have an old charity shop cashmere blanket for my knees- I find it too depressing to heat the whole house during the day just for me. Also, something you can wear which doesn't pull on your waistline and knicker line. A stretchy jersey empire line dress was my friend. You may not fancy your jeans for a bit!

Kevinsbowel · 29/12/2013 18:21

The other thing I did was make a batch of chicken soup, with garlic, ginger and leeks. Froze it in lunch sized batches. Perfect pick me up food for the sofa!

SantasPelvicFloor · 29/12/2013 18:24

Today is the first day I've worn jeans all day and been comfortable. Until now I've felt better in leggings/pyjamas or jogging bottoms

Twinkletights · 29/12/2013 18:38

That sounds like fantastic progress Santa! I still live in dresses since the prolapse repairs and find jeans too uncomfortable.

Kevin I like the sound of cosy pj's and good books both of which I have stocked up on over Xmas.

Frozen lunch portions is also a great idea. I make and freeze soup portions for DH who works/lives away during the week so will make sure that I stock up for me too.

Hope the appointment goes well for your friend Rhondajean.

I have ordered a load of Hotel Chocolat because that will help with the recovery process won't it? Xmas Wink

CremolaFirCone · 29/12/2013 20:24

Rhonda . I'm so sorry about your friend. It sounds depressingly similar to my experience. The wound getting infected and being pus filled. Some fluid leakage. Hard red and hot swelling and so on. They will most likely take a swab of the ooze to test whether it is staph strep or mrsa.
And she'll be given antibiotics accordingly. The one that worked for me was amoxicillin . I also had amoxiclav flucloxacillan penicillin VK
And an iv of some potion for a day.
She will be feeling wretched and tearful no doubt. No hugs or kisses for the time being. My wound finally cleared up using silver dressings and manuka honey - which might make a good gift. ( priceyShock tho)
The best healer is time and being permitted complete unstressed rest.
(Ha!)

Just for fun I've now got shingles.
Completely run down I think, and dd driving stress related situations to maximum drama. Sad ah teenagers!

RhondaJean · 29/12/2013 20:30

Thanks creamola I think I will see if I can find manuka honey at a reasonable price.

She's been given a prescription for two types of strong antibiotics but she's missed the pharmacist so I will collect them first thing tomorrow for her. If no improvement by Wednesday she will be readmitted. The nurse told her its a good thing that the ous is coming out?

I think she now has three types of antibiotics to take three times a day. That's going to wreak havoc with her as well isn't it? Sad

RhondaJean · 29/12/2013 20:31

Oh and she has a teenager too creamola! Really hope your shingles improves fast, a bath with oatmeal in is supposed to really help with the pain from the rash.

Kevinsbowel · 29/12/2013 20:31

Hotel chocolat is indeed key. I have just been eating their Florentines. I also found bubble bah very good. But I had glue and not dressings. If you get the choice, I would go with glue. (Dermabond)

Cremona, no!!!! Shingles, you poor thing. I can't remember - didn't you go back to work? Perhaps it was too much. I am due back in a week and I am in denial. If shouting NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! counts as denial.

CremolaFirCone · 29/12/2013 20:37

Yep the fluid coming out is good. It's dead infected cells so it's gotta come out I'm afraid. It is about freaky but all you can do is keep it clean as possible and hope the antibiotics do the work . Of course you feel like it will never end and the abx slow you down and are exhausting. I felt like I was in fog for weeks. But there is light. Honestly. I do hope they swabbed her. And that she has as good a practice nurse as I did. She kept an eye in me for ages. I saw her every other day when I was really oozing and ill. Saved my sanity knowing that I was being cared for .
I was quite depressed I think.
Having a friend like you will make all the difference .Thanks

CremolaFirCone · 29/12/2013 20:42

Not back at work Kevin - they don't want me til all clear from work doctor. Unlikely to get that considering the onset shingles. This bout is on my FACE and neck dammit. I look like I've had a stroke with my droopy eyelid and whip marked cheek.
Festive. Not.

thekingfisher · 29/12/2013 20:58

Crem so sorry to hear it you've really been through the mill - thinking healing and getting better vibes

SantasPelvicFloor · 29/12/2013 22:12

That's not fair Crem. You've had a bad recovery from the op let alone this. You can't work whilst the blisters are 'out' and not yet healing. You're infectious.

I had penicillin at week one 'in case' because I had new bleeding and pain. I have no idea if it was something starting but was happy to avoid. I did have brain fog…hard to know if it was my life collapsing or physical recovery

Kevinsbowel · 30/12/2013 09:56

Off to get my hair done now. I have been too mean to waste money on dying hair that will only see the back of the sofa. It has also answered my question of whether it is time to go gracefully grey. Definitely not. I have horrible streaky dead looking hair when left to itself.

Also may need a new cashmere cardigan for work as the others are all bobbly and covered in little moth holes.

Not the weather to spend any money on a blow dry, though.

Not quite enjoying all this getting day to go back stuff. I have to do a ton of laundry too.

Waitingaround · 30/12/2013 10:45

Oh crem poor you Thanks

shewhowines · 30/12/2013 18:12

crem and rhondas friend oh no. Not good news, especially over christmas. This too, will pass Thanks

Hope everyone else is ok and had a good christmas.

Sorry, can't agree that hotel chocolat will aid recovery. Good old cadburys is better. Grin ok, ok I know I'm a chocolate heathen.

kevin I'm glad you enjoyed your time off so much. It's both good and bad that you are well enough to return to work. Grey streaks probably isn't a good look. I'd be interested to know how bad mine really is too.

Currently sitting in dd's room, supervising the great annual clear out. It's unbelievable how much, one teenager can accumulate. We are being RUTHLESS! She didn't even know she had half of it.

I need to clear out my bathroom cabinet. I am strangely reluctant. Whilst I am really pleased at the thought of no more periods, there is a psychological reluctance to remove all traces of my life before cancer/hysterectomy. Strange.