Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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:
SantasPelvicFloor · 30/12/2013 19:25

Galaxy is my choc of choice but I think they've tampered with it recently.

She:Are you frightened that by removing it you're tempting bleeding/a return?

CremolaFirCone · 30/12/2013 20:47

Hi you lot.
Respect Shewho : dds bedroom scares the living shit out of me. I am too afraid to go in. It's not a bedroom ; its a collection of piles of crap.

There are bits of geomag in there rolling about since the last century.

I am currently gnawing the ears off a Lindt teddyGrinGrinGrinGrin

Kevinsbowel · 30/12/2013 21:00

I no longer deal with their bedrooms. Presumably when they get married they will take what they need and burn the rest .

I have not thrown away my tampax even though DD prefers towels and is not likely to respond with seemly gratitude to an offer of mummy's half used box of super plus. I can hardly take them them to Oxfam. It's so annoying as I thought I would be super efficient and use up all the random lilets that scatter the bottom of cupboards on my last ever period. But the bastard period went on forever and I had to crack and buy more. The operation happened halfway through the box.

CremolaFirCone · 30/12/2013 21:08

Freecycle Kevin? I've seen weirder things on thereGrin

SantasPelvicFloor · 30/12/2013 21:09

I'm still bleeding so not quite ready for chucking anything. I had a hysterectomy shower...bit like a baby shower but uterus is removed. My friends suggested I hand out boxes of tampax as a party bag

Kevinsbowel · 30/12/2013 21:15

santa arf Grin

Just think about the cake you could make for a hysterectomy shower. I could have done a lovely pile of glistening fibroids, made from profiteroles.

SantasPelvicFloor · 30/12/2013 22:44

. It was the glistening adjective which finished me

RhondaJean · 30/12/2013 23:48

Can't help but grin at hysterectomy showers. Even though it seems wrong.

I'm getting more concerned about my friend. I think I said a while back she had oral thrush; she's now got blisters in her mouth and they are so painful she isn't eating, drinking or talking much. I suspect it's all the antibiotics but its more what I would expect from going through chemo! Anyone else had similar?

I'll see how she is tomorrow, she is to be readmitted on new years day if she isn't any better so they are taking it seriously.

SantasPelvicFloor · 31/12/2013 09:18

Poor woman. That sounds like she needs a complete assessment and some treatment to get her back to health

Twinkletights · 31/12/2013 10:16

Rhondajean that sounds dreadful for you poor friend hope that she gets some relief soon.

Crem what a nightmare for you, be kind to yourself x

Hysterectomy shower! Now there is a thought...

I still cannot imagine being able to chuck out the battle cabinet of tampax, feels a bit far away and unreal here ATM. Some of you have had such a roller coaster of a journey and I can understand why it would be difficult to.

Xmas Grin at chocolate preferences for recovery, any other yummy healing things to be recommended?

AnotherStitchInTime · 31/12/2013 10:29

Hello, Merry Christmas to you all can I join? Xmas Smile

Sorry to hear of all the troubles that you have been experiencing post hysterectomy.

I had an emergency partial abdominal hysterectomy on the 23rd December. I had an obstetric complication called placenta percreta, my placenta had grown through my uterus and into my bladder.

During my c section I haemorrhaged massively and lost all my blood volume, so to save my life they took my uterus out.

I was in high dependency for 4 days and had a catheter in for a week for my bladder, which came out yesterday. Like some of you bowels have been my biggest problem as they weren't working properly and I was vomiting, so was on fluids only for days.

Thing is I have had no specific advice on post-hysterectomy recovery. This is my third c section so I have been following the advice for c section recovery, but is there anything else I should know? I have three children under 5, but luckily lots of support lined up for the 8 week recovery period at least.

shewhowines · 31/12/2013 11:12

Hello anotherstitch welcome.
Wow that sounds incredibly hard. I hope that emotionally you are ok and that now you are well on the road to physical recovery. You have had a lot to deal with. That wasn't what you were expecting to happen when you give birth.
I think the advice is probably similar to a c section although recovery is probably longer and harder, for some. Look after your bowels and rest, rest and rest. No lifting anything for a long time. Difficult with small children but imperative.

twinkle any yummy things are acceptable for post op recovery. The only proviso is, they must be frequent and in ample supply... Unfortunately some if us have been adhering to that advice too much, as our waistlines now testify Sad

santa I don't know why I don't want to throw them out. Clinging on to my youth perhaps, or clinging on to a time when my biggest problem was what to have for tea that evening. I just need to bite the bulletin and do it.
How are you feeling now, about your pre christmas bombshell?

crem are you feeling any better yet?

SantasPelvicFloor · 31/12/2013 12:19

Anotherstitch. Sounds very traumatic. I'm sure you know they saved your life. Make sure friends realise how ill you have been. Thanks. I don't think post hysterectomy is that different to c section except I'd say avoid lifting +++

Shew. I'm ok and in denial about it all until next year. Just getting through Christmas, Twixmas and New Year first.

Ledkr · 31/12/2013 15:34

Hi there. I wonder if anyone can give me a bit of sympathy/advice/arse kicking.
I'm booked for ovary and Fallopian tube removal on Friday due to me being brca2 ( already had breast cancer when I was 27)
I'm 47 and no sign of menopause as yet in fact I have a dd who is not even three yet.
They are apparently going to give me hrt until I'm fifty but I googled and am now full of worry about it all. Effects of premature menopause and hrt.
Feel panic stricken and yet have no choice but to have it done as it's a 70-80% increased risk.
Anyone else had similar?
Thanks for reading if you do.

SantasPelvicFloor · 31/12/2013 15:39

Hi Ledkr. I had a similar little panic to you just before my op. All the risks loomed large and I was also having mine removed pre-emptively for cancer rather than because I have it. I wondered if I was doing the right thing. I then imagined my op being cancelled and that thought instantly gave me perspective. The relief I feel, having had the risk removed is worth the op.

Re the meno. At 47 you could be menopausal anyway. I am and am similar age to you. I'm on HRT and have stopped researching it because Google is not your friend here. The problem with all positive treatments is that you are informed of the risks and taking the choice makes you lose perspective of the risks in not taking that choice. Does that make sense?

Kevinsbowel · 31/12/2013 16:00

Hi ledkr. 52 very shortly....My menopause took place on the operating table six weeks ago when they took out me ovaries and tubes. Otherwise I was all set to carry on for another five years or so- my mother had a late menopause and my periods were showing no signs of slowing up, rather the reverse.

I was mainly in for a hysterectomy- I asked to lose the ovaries and tubes while they were in there, having lost two good friends to ovarian cancer.

I can't say I have even noticed the menopause. A little bit hot at night maybe, but not enough to keep me awake. Nothing else.

I am now on oestrogen patches (25 microgramme/ 24 hours ) and have added topical 10 mcg/24 hours. It's a teeny tiny dose compared with taking it orally. As I don't have a uterus I don't need progesterone, so I am going to stay on my HRT for a lot longer than 50 , more like 65 apparently.

Ledkr · 31/12/2013 16:07

Gosh thankyou so much it helps so much.
My dh is at work and I'm sat here in tears all alone with my worries.
santa how long ago was it for you and did you have genetic screening.
I think I'm having a "life is pretty unfair day" today, which I've not had for years.

Twinkletights · 31/12/2013 16:32

Oh Ledkr big hug from me.

I am also waiting for my surgery and keep having wobbles. It must be very daunting for you and after you have already been through so much.

There are some lovely ladies on this thread who will be able to give you better advise.

Sorry I can't be of more use to you but am here to hand hold x

Another stitch what a frightening experience for you. Can you ask your midwife/health visitor for some recovery advise? I agree that rest is crucial for you x

RhondaJean · 31/12/2013 16:43

Sat in doctors reception waiting for my friend. She looks so pale. He phoned at 4 and asked her to come in :-(

Ledkr big hugs you will get lots is support on here x

shewhowines · 31/12/2013 16:59

ledka you wouldn't be normal if you weren't worried. I was terrified before surgery. They gave me something to calm me down the morning of the surgery. They said I could have asked my gp for something beforehand. If you are feeling that bad, is it worth phoning the surgery now?
The only thing I can really say to reassure you, is that the surgery wasn't actually as bad as we all imagined. I think we've all agreed on that. The waiting is the worse bit.

I've been sitting in dd's room again, supervising the great sort out. She's really got into it. Hours and hours later the room is 80% emptier. It's the christmas miracle Xmas Grin

shewhowines · 31/12/2013 17:28

Oh Happy New Year everyone - slightly in advance.

Don't get too drunk tonight or do anything I wouldn't Xmas Grin
We are at a neighbours party, raving partying in a most sophisticated fashion the night away.

SantasPelvicFloor · 31/12/2013 17:39

Ledkr and twinkle. The waiting has been the worst bit for me. The op itself was 'ok'. I was impatient with recovery because at two weeks post op I didn't feel able to do 5 miles with the dog. Hmm I'm known for my legendary patience...

Ledkr I'm having a life is unfair day today and feel a little bit black dog. I think it's because it's NYE. I'm not going to post my litany of life's insults but feel I've had more than my share at a times. You've reminded me of the 3 things you're grateful for technique at times like this.

Mine are
1 I live in a beautiful part of the country and do now feel able to trot 3-5 miles with the dog
2 I have 3 lovely DC
3 Someone vacuumed my house for me today Grin

SantasPelvicFloor · 31/12/2013 17:41

Ledkr...not BRCA2 but HNPCC so my uterus was the offending item. Ovaries have gone...the whole shebang

RhondaJean · 31/12/2013 17:45

Been sent to a and e now.

Kevinsbowel · 31/12/2013 17:46

Hello anotherstitch, I forgot to welcome you. I think you will be a veteran of abdominal surgery, we should probably be asking you for tips :). There is slightly more internal mayhem, possibly. If you kept the cervix you will have less trouble with prolapse-y type stuff, but I was given Stern Advice about lots of pelvic floor exercises which I have been very bad about .

As you are young and still have ovaries I guess the hormones will keep flowing and you won't need HRT?