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

[Oddsocksrus]

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.

Bless your DH mary; probably his way of processing things. My DH's way is to not talk about it , but I would love it if he bought me something like that.

I will be greatful I no longer have periods, but I still feel very sad that this might be the last one ever...trying to find info about hormones/pmt etc post hysterectomy.

You know, I thought it would feel odd not to have periods but actually its like one long holiday from the buggers. Turns out there is nothing, absolutely nothing, I miss about them.

I have had such an easy menopause, it took ten minutes on the operating table and now I have oestrogen patches and topical oestrogen, and no nasty symptoms- no mood swings or practically no sweating. Other people take years to get to that point.

Marymoocow, it is always who asking if they can do keyhole rather than a full abdominal scar. Recovery is a lot easier from keyhole. And keeping the cervix is good for afterwards, if there's nothing dodgy about it. lack is right to get rid of hers though, if it was potentially cancerous.

Probably taking my ovaries was overkill, apparently they looked absolutely fine as they splashed into the bucket. But I have lost two friends to ovarian cancer and it was always on my mind. I guess 45 is young to start the menopause, 52, it's about to happen whatever you do. I would get another appointment, rather than leave it till the pre OP check, or it might be a bit late to explore options like keyhole etc.

I think how they operate for me will depend on the results of my CT scan. If there is any spread of the cancer, it will be abdominal. If contained within the uterus, then I think they can do keyhole, though she said that even if the scan is clear they may decide to take some lymph nodes anyway.

I can't believe I'm even typing this. I haven't dared voice cancer in the real world. All I've told people is that there were dodgy cells in the polyp and they want to do more scans before the hysterectomy.

I just want dates, the waiting is driving me bonkers.

How long do they think they will take? Surely they ought to get you the dates soon, with that kind of result?

They said the CT scan within two weeks and the op within two weeks after that, but...they have told me two weeks along along, and it was six weeks before my follow up after the initila polypectomy, then three weeks before the D&C and then four weeks before the result of the that...which took me to last Friday.

I'm not confident that this will be any different. I may call tomorrow to the bookings service as they have all the appointments on the system; the letter may just be in transit... I should be re-assured though, if they thought it as aggressive, they wouldn't be hanging about?

Arrrrghhhhh. Sorry for the random streams of consciousness ...this is the only place I know where people will understand.

Ack again sorry!

Has anyone been told at their three month check up they have vaginal trauma? Apparently it can be caused by the op and by infections?

Hi kev long time no see. Glad you're still doing well.
And rhonda too. Haven't heard anything about that. Oh and flouncy too.

lack my cancer is just a horrible memory now. Yours will be soon too, hopefully. Have you been referred to a Macmillan nurse? The waiting is horrible.

Happy birthday mary

Welcome annie

They mentioned the oncology nurse specialist, but she hasn't contacted me. I may call Macmillan tomorrow.

The cancer they found in the polyp is quite rare; to the point that there is nothing comes up on search on the cancer research, macmillan or BUPA sites.

and thanks; I remember you going through it, must be such a relief to get the all clear.

she " my cancer is just a horrible memory now" that has to be the most reassuring sentence ever on MN! Good to see you, I pop in when i see this thread on actives.

rhonda your friend has been really unlucky by the sound of it!

lack ring them up. The clinicians may be clued up, but it's the office you want to be chasing up.

Morning all. Just a quick questIon if I may ? If you keep your overies do you still have periods ?

Gingeme, I am now 8 weeks post op, have kept ovaries and cervix. Apparently it is possible to bleed if cervix left due to the type of tissue at the top. Hasn't happened to me and I have had PMT symptoms twice now since op. Feeling great now.

Thankyou fitflopqueen. I shall probably have mine removed then due to the endometriosis being caused by periods !

Ftflop, are the PMT symptoms the same? or less? I imagine hormonally the same but my PMT involves a lot of cramping and general yukiness about the pelvic region which I assue is the womb lining getting ready to shed itself which should hopefully go.

DH helpfully told me about amputees who still feel their missing limb and wondered idly if I would still get phantom cramps. Thanks DH

OK...CT is next Tuesday and gynae pncology appointment next Friday, when I assume I will get my date for the op and find out the results of the scan...

fucking fuck, it's all seeming a bit too real now

Good question
Deep breaths it will all be worth the wait in the end. Thats my mantra at the moment

PMT much the same as before for me but I didn't get the cramping.

Hi

Have been busy recovering and not trying to think about the op too much. Had an infection, which was not nice and seemed to be internal but finished the tablets yesterday and seems to have been sorted.

However, just as bleeding seemed to have stopped, I seem to be leaking a little from bladder. Mainly after going to the loo and standing up. For a couple of days I had discomfort I had a sort of wave of discomfort (rather than pain) in abdomen when peeing.

Another infection??

No answer at docs, so not much chance to get it checked.

Or does it mean the repair didn't work and the incontinence is worse than before

Hello everyone.
Just to let you know I'm still good and back at work and feel amazing.

For newbies that care a fig, I had my ovaries out in January via keyhole because I had the brca1 gene and have already had breast cancer twenty years ago.

I am 46 and thus far have not needed hrt as I'm symptom free apart from a bit of night hotness which is better for sulphur tablets.

I'm having a bone scan soon to see if they are ok, if not I will need some hrt but it's always a slight risk for breast cancer survivors.

The cancer thing is a bastard but you gradually do forget to think about it every single minute of the day and get on with your life.

Hope everyone is having a good day xx

Now I have refound this thread, I shall also share my shower tips for anyone still pre-op. Those post-op, please add your tips:

If you have one of those kids stools in the bathroom for children to help get closer to the loo, then use that to get in and out of the shower (if it's over the bath and you have to climb up).
My Mum was keen to get me a rubber mat, but I felt fine for standing in the shower.
Before you get it, turn down the pressure significantly and the temperature. You'll likely to be more sensitive to the pressure when your insides are tender and the temp too - although the temp turned down is more sensible so that any heat doesn't make you feel woozy.

When you get out, I found having my towel closer than usual helpful as well as using a much smaller towel than normal - I couldn't hold my normal bath sheet at all. Am still using a bath towel size after almost three weeks and think I won't go back to the big one for a while.

Use loo roll to dry underneath (if vag op) like after childbirth. Always, always, always think about what you are doing carefully before you go merrily drying yourself. After a week or so you start finding things easier and it's all too easy to get carried away and then find you, well....ouch.

Thank you for all those tips. This thread is constantly reminding me of how naive and unprepared I really am. Maybe once I have a date it will seem a bit more real and I might start thinking about things properly.......

Marymoocow - It's not really that scary. I hardly prepared at all - preferred not to think about it really. Did organise some stuff, but kept thinking that every day people get rushed to hospital for operations and stays in that weren't planning for and they manage.

However, I think some preparation helped me keep calm about it in the run up to the op as thought, well, am prepared so will be fine.

I'm most glad of:
-cartons of juice DH brought in
-music player he put a CD I like and some relaxation music on for me which also had the radio
-pillows for bed when home so could sit up and lie propped up a bit at night
-small table by the bed at home as in the hospital everything is in reach but at home, if uncomfy in the night, need to get to drink, drugs, light, music, book, tissues, snacks without having to call/wake up someone

I didn't worry about:
-food too much in hospital - didn't eat hosp meals other than breakfast due to allergies, but DH brought sandwiches but didn't really fancy much more than some breadsticks and cereal

• wore hospital gown happily while in hosp. They tried to encourage me to change day after op but as was bleeding quite a lot still, couldn't see the point in getting it all over my stuff really! They gave me a new gown, which was good and also easier to remove when stiff

Other than that, you'll work it out as you go along.

I found this leaflet encouraging to read beforehand.

If I'm honest its only the food side of things that I've thought/worried about as I have multiple food allergies too, one of which has the potential for anaphylaxis. I'm also allergic to latex and have already filled in forms to declare this. The trouble is my major allergy isn't a common one in terms of people hearing about it but it is one of the 14 named. Hoping I won't feel like eating much either......I'm just focusing on the end result. Just wish the date would hurry up and come.

If you are allergic to penicillin (sp?) you will have to repeat this about three times to every single medical person. Drove me a bit mad. When had DS the first nurse I saw slapped a red band round my wrist and that was that sorted.

I found the hospital menu was marked with GF, but couldn't tell me DF at all. Just made sure DH brought sarnies, breadsticks, bananas and carrot sticks and accepted that would bin anything that didn't eat/last. They did let me keep some soya milk in their fridge to have with rice krispies.

Overall though, hunger didn't kick in til day 3 though when was up to eating 3 small meals, and as others have said, big desire for savoury/salty stuff. Perhaps effect of IV or something? I had Ilumi's chicken cacciatora for my first few meals at home to save DH cooking for my whim's :) We had prepared for him being able to bring something like that into the hospital for me, but just wasn't that bothered.

I have coeliac disease so will have to take in my own bread/cereal, and will be limited to omelettes or jacket potatoes at meal times. Lunch will be a no no as here they only offer sandwiches, with no gluten free option. Which is pretty shocking really. You'd think hospitals, of all places, would be able to cater for food allergies/intolerances.

Unless, I can get it down through DH's health insurance and go to Spire or Nuffield, who do cater for gluten free diets.