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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:
Ledkr · 18/01/2014 19:33

Two weeks yesterday. Yes it is slightly better but defo not like before (which was far from flat)

fullasagun · 18/01/2014 19:47

Thanks for the advice everyone - have had a much more comfortable day thanks to plenty painkillers and the mountain of pillows propping me up. Like others have mentioned I also can't sit upright and find I'm more comfy with a pillow or two under my knees. As for the swelling.... wow...nothing fits! :(

Ledkr · 18/01/2014 19:52

I was comfier in bed for a few days as my belly button hurt so much to sit upright.
In all my life I've never been confined to bed like that.
Hope you have a better night.

LackaDAISYcal · 18/01/2014 23:13

Thanks Santas Smile Reassuring that they aren't whipping everything out straightaway then!
I've had several major health scares/issues over the last few years and am wavering between "I can't be unlucky for a fourth time" to "ah fuck it, what are they going to throw at me next!"

But, at the end of the day, it is what it is and needs dealing with, regardless of whether they find cancer or not!

You are such a brave and unwavering bunch on here, thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I will no doubt lurk until I know what is happening. Thanks again xx

SantasPelvicFloor · 19/01/2014 08:46

Give it another week Ledkr and you'll start to feel real improvement.

I have never been a take to my bed kind of patient but I did lounge on the sofa and bed quite a lot in the first few weeks. Daytime naps were a feature for quite awhile. I thought I'd never wear jeans again (discomfort). By week 4 I was walking on the moor for 4-5 miles with the dog and driving. There is a hump in the middle you need to get over.

Daisy I too have had an interesting medical history and thought I can't be this unlucky...I am thrilled to have had them all whipped out whilst still benign.

gingeme · 19/01/2014 09:09

Good luck Daisy with all that happens.
The lovely ladies on here sure have put my mind at rest about the whole thing thats for sure. I have a much better idea of what to expect now Smile

shewhowines · 20/01/2014 16:25

Good luck for tomorrow twinkle and fitflop . Hope you see each other and are able to support each other. Don't forget to update us all.

Twinkletights · 20/01/2014 23:26

Thank you for the comments about being upright and needing plenty of cushions, it helps to know what to expect.

Goodluck tomorrow fitflop I will be thinking of you

Thanks shewhowines I will be back with an update when I can.

fitflopqueen · 21/01/2014 07:51

Am here, just waiting to see doctors, and am about 3rd or 4th on list.
Haven't come across Twinkle yet.
Nurses have kindly shut the doors as the breakfast wagon has arrived and I am starving, rubbery hospital toast would be delicious now.

Twinkletights · 21/01/2014 08:16

Hi fitflop I am here too and also waiting to see Drs.
I think that I saw you in reception, I was taken up to my room first.
Have not been told where I am on list yet.
V nervous x

fitflopqueen · 21/01/2014 08:28

Rm 25 if you want to have a chat x

Twinkletights · 21/01/2014 08:32

Am in Rm 17 waiting for DH to turn up

Ledkr · 21/01/2014 08:37

This is funny, you are a few rooms away from each other.
Can you take your phones into the op theatre please to keep us updated.

Good luck ladies, just go with the flow and you will soon be back home, all over.

Xx

thekingfisher · 21/01/2014 09:21

Good luck twinkle and flip hope it all goes well for both of you x

gingeme · 21/01/2014 11:14

Good luck ladies. Im sure it will all go well xx

bideyinn · 21/01/2014 11:34

Good luck ladies.

Thought I'd join this thread. I had a hysterectomy (keyhole, kept ovaries) nearly 3 years ago now. I had precancerous cells which persisted after several rounds of treatment. I really didn't want a hysterectomy but I had other problems (multiple fibroids, endo) and finally it seemed the best option. I was terrified but although the after effects of the op were pretty crap it has turned out okay.

I found that the information from medics was dire and actually they were pretty dismissive of all my concerns.

fullasagun · 21/01/2014 12:06

Good luck to you both ... nearly a week since mine and I'm feeling a lot stronger. Hope everything goes well and that you recover quickly. Keep pressing that morphine button ... its amazing :)

flouncymcflouncerson · 21/01/2014 22:30

Hope all has went well with twinkle and fitflop. I'm not sure whether to stay on this thread, I will be having a hysterectomy due to uterine prolapse but not for a few months yet as surgeon repaired my bladder prolapse but hasn't fixed uterus. I'm scared and wondering how long I'll need off work post op?

fitflopqueen · 22/01/2014 09:19

Well job done, had subtotal hysterectomy, was a bit of a "bugger" according to consultant as all a bit larger than anticipated and my bladder was happily adhered to ?uterus.
Staff have been fab, pain control good, catheter out and going home this morning.
Have met my fellow mums netter Twinkle and she is also doing ok.
We both have similar swellings on same side.
Very relieved to be recovering and already consuming peppermint water and tea for the wind.
Good luck to whoever is next

Twinkletights · 22/01/2014 10:30

All done here too with some extra stitches to hitch everything back up.
It was lovely to meet fitflopqueen and compare notes, I will be off home later today too.
The trapped wind is awful so I have started guzzling peppermint tea.

thekingfisher · 22/01/2014 10:31

Glad its all gone well Fit and you are having good pain control. Keep up with the fluids and make sure you have or can get in lactulose or something similar to give you some help over the next week or so - things will slow down as the morphone/codeine take effect.

Flouncy - you should stay on and read through the previous thread to get an idea of recoveries. I had a total abdominal hysterectomy and am 8 weeks today. I have been back at work for 2 weeks ( although am self-employed so can can work flexibly) have been driving since exactly 3 weeks post op. Was signed off by consultant yesterday who did seem to think I'd made a remarkable recovery ( particularly as I had to have V emergency treatment a month before the surgery with transfusion, GA etc etc) so I do feel I have done well

However I am a shit patient and I def had a couple of weeks where I felt very set back for having done too much the week before but I think most ladies would say 8 weeks to back to a full-time desk job ( with an ease back in for first couple of weeks) and slightly longer for anything with maul elements.

HTH

flouncymcflouncerson · 22/01/2014 14:59

Glad GP see things have gone well for fit and twinkle.

Thanks kingfisher for suggesting I stay. I have a very heavy lifting job within the NHS and so I'm not sure of recovery times etc. My surgeon had said 12 weeks minimum for the surgery I had done last year but nearer to 16 due to hypermobility. As you can imagine work aren't too happy about this. I wondered whether the hysterectomy would be less? My manager seems to think 6 weeks!

Twinkletights · 22/01/2014 15:25

Flouncy I had anterior and posterior repairs last year. My uterus had prolapsed again (did get better after the repairs for a year) which was removed yesterday and hence the stitches to hitch everything back up again.
Recovery time advice seems very varied but I was told this morning that 6 weeks for tissues to heal but 3 months before doing any heavy lifting or high impact excercise.

The drive home was very uncomfortable, wounds are leaking and my tummy is swollen and really hard like a football.
Let the healing begin!
Hope your drive home was more comfortable fitflop.
We also had to turn around half way home and go back to the hospital for a sick certificate which I had forgotten to ask for.

Ledkr · 22/01/2014 16:30

Glad everyone is home today, lots of telly and peppermint tea.

I had a big row with my dds surgery yesterday as my gp didn't do my referral to the hrt clinic. I saw him two weeks ago, he did it with the gynae referral too. Needless to say I am leaving and registering with another practice.
I'm pissed off because it means there will be a big delay in starting hrt and I'll probably have symptoms before. I've not had much as yet apart from a couple of mild night sweats but I pretty sure they are imminent.

I just feel totally uncared about tbh, they take out some organs, push you into the car park a few hours later and forget all about you.

Sorry, having a bit of a moan but I'm cross.

My tummy is annoying me too, it's still fat.
grumble grumble

Twinkletights · 22/01/2014 17:18

Ledkr that is just dreadful Sad can you get in touch with the gynae who removed your ovaries and ask them to see you to sort your hrt?
You have had such a long journey with this I am not surprised that you are pissed off x