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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:
Beastofburden · 14/12/2013 22:02

Sleep tight

Santaspelvicfloor · 15/12/2013 09:17

I've phoned the hospital and am going in for a check up at 11am. They have warned me I will have to wait around. Part of me nearly said no thanks because I think I need to rest at home more. But I'll go.

Trying to summon up the courage to ask people for a lift. I hate asking for help

Waitingaround · 15/12/2013 09:25

santa ask for help, people won't mind

Waitingaround · 15/12/2013 09:26

king did you dazzle everyone last nightGrin

Kevinsbowel · 15/12/2013 09:32

Good idea, Santa, your recovery has been disrupted and I expect you are exhausted. If they tell you to rest, you may have to let people help you.

I also hate asking for help and it has been very strange this last four weeks to be so idle. But it has worked. I saw my surgeon on Friday and she said I was in amazing shape considering it was not even four weeks. And it has helped DH to feel he was contributing.

I also got to see photos of the Thing. Huge, shiny monster, ewwwwww.

Kevinsbowel · 15/12/2013 09:36

I freaked my poor surgeon out though- she told me the pathology of the Thing was fine, nothing nasty growing.

Good, I said, were the ovaries OK too?

She went white and said, "you didn't want to keep them, did you?"

Poor thing- I had told her to take them out, all I meant was, did they look suspicious before they landed in the bucket? But I could see visions of negligence suits flashing before her eyes.

I actually don't see how they could do the wrong operation. Just before they knocked me out, they said, "tell me in your own words what you are having done".

Santaspelvicfloor · 15/12/2013 10:02

Yes it's very good the way they do all the pre op checks now isn't it? I felt their attention to detail was amazing. Photos? How nice Confused

My brother just phoned and is passing so is taking me in for 10 and I'll just wait around

You're right about asking but it's not easy. I will ring someone and ask for a lift home though.

I have urinalysis sticks at home for my renal disease and they are indicating blood in urine. Could be just picked up from vaginal blood but it's worth getting checked. I need to rest. It's just really hard between everything going on!

thekingfisher · 15/12/2013 10:35

Hope all is ok at hospital Santa - you have has such a horrid week , you muSt ask for help and I have found that people have been keen to help and actually be able to do something.

I had a lovely time last night though feeling a little sore this morning from all the laughing. Very good therapy but like a work out on the old scar area so an easy day today.

My mum has left this
Morning so house is back to being my own except ds now finished for Xmas and he's here - I fear we will be fighting for the remote !

Santaspelvicfloor · 15/12/2013 11:25

I was seen very quickly by a really lovely Dr. She's quite happy that the bleeding is normal and the haematoma left at the vault is just breaking down. This is apparently good. If it doesn't break down it can be a source of infection. She's given me antibiotics anyway just to cover me and ensure it all heals ok.

We discussed my level of activity. DP left over an argument that I was doing too much. The bleeding started the day he left and I'd obviously had a terribly busy day so I immediately assumed he was right and I 'deserved this' and have been feeling terrified that I've caused my own problems. However a) I'm healing well and b) she says walking is good and I know what I can do. So I walked home from hospital :)

I feel happy.

DD breaks up from secondary school on Friday. No rest from then on!

Kevinsbowel · 15/12/2013 11:34

Excellent news. It is actually really satisfying to feel yourself getting better every day. You will make loads of progress this next ten days.

Dd will have to pull her weight a bit. I'm sure she will want to.

Santaspelvicfloor · 15/12/2013 12:49

I feel so much more confident which considering everything else going on is a bonus

Kevinsbowel · 15/12/2013 14:52

That is good. Now for some sunday afternoon rest.

Do you have a child that can cook? I recommend fruit scones by the fire...

Kevinsbowel · 16/12/2013 09:58

Hope the morning is OK for all. Bit wet and stormy here.

Interesting advice I got worth passing on. I have got oestrogen patches. My surgeon has also added some "topical oestrogen" to this. This means that the walls of the vagina will be protected from atrophy and that helps prevent a bladder or vaginal prolapse later. Also solves vaginal dryness.

Apparently this is not often prescribed in the UK and people aren't aware of the benefits. Definitely worth discussing with your GP/gynae surgeon when you have your checkups.

Boy I am glad I name changed for this thread Blush

shewhowines · 16/12/2013 10:58

Hi everyone,
How are you all doing? It's nice that all the infections seem to have settled down.

santa how are you after your visit to hopsital a few days ago? Are you ok generally, after your shock? I suppose it's still very early days and it's still very raw.

king I bet you will love the peace and quiet, now your mums gone. You will need it after all that dazzling! You have priority for that remote and prime position on the sofa. Turf him off. Donchya know, you've had a big op Grin

green go easy on the old excitement Grin

jacks it must still seem a long way off. Will the op make a big difference to everyday life?

Santaspelvicfloor · 16/12/2013 11:37

Haha at name change. My details are so obvious re splitting up that I might as well put my real name!

Gynae surgeon wants me stopped onto oestrogen HRT for the same reason but no one mentioned topical. I will discuss

I'm feeling good. Definitely tired and uncomfortable by evening. Yesterday I cooked a roast because DD was back from uni. Re the exP, we have communicated a lot by email which has been helpful so I understand his position. It's definitely a case of it's not you, it's me (I.e. He has a problem) and I think the future will depend on whether he tackles the issue (nothing sinister!)

My knickers are catching right on my stitches. My waist band of my trousers is catching higher up. Lying on the sofa naked from the waist down is not an option. I also have a funny pain (like something is catching? Not sore but like a finger poking from the inside) around umbilicus. Anyone else?

I'm confused where everyone is ... I'm day 10 lap total with BSO

Kevinsbowel · 16/12/2013 11:55

Absolutely had all that.

Funny poking up pain around tummy button went on for around three weeks. I thought it was the glue but clearly not, you didn't have any glue. Anyway, mostly gone now, sometimes comes back. Surgeon not remotely concerned about it at the four week check up.

Stitches catching on clothes- yes, and the glue as well. Mine came out around three weeks and it was a lot more comfortable afterwards. I don't wear trousers anyway. A nice stretchy jersey empire line dress is your friend, and you can wear it with opaques so the DVT stockings aren't as embarrassing, or you could go commando as long as nobody can creep up on you on the sofa. Des DD have anything you can steal borrow? Or wear your PJs if you are not going anywhere.

DS is also back from Uni and he is doing some cooking, could your elder DD take over the food now she's home?

SAd for your poor DP , he must be feeling frustrated with his issues, good luck to him in working through them. Though I do feel he could have waited for you to be four weeks post-op...

Just had nice yomp round the park, I am back up to pre-op speed and stamina which is good.

Kevinsbowel · 16/12/2013 11:58

Topical oestrogen- I have been prescribed a "vagifem pessary" 10mcg. Obviously your own GP will want to make up their own mind, but that's what it's called.

Time to raise the tone of my day with a little music, I think.

Kevinsbowel · 16/12/2013 12:01

shew hello to you too. How are things at your end, so to speak?

Santaspelvicfloor · 16/12/2013 12:36

That's reassuring. I'm sure I'll be more comfortable when the stitches leave me. I keep pondering removing them myself. Good plan re a dress. I'm not wearing Teds? (DVT stockings) Should I be!

DD is a lithe size 12. I'm a curvy 14.

I have black PJ bottoms on this morning and did find myself twisting and turning looking in the mirror wondering if I could get away with them to walk the dog ...then came to my senses.

Is shew back at work?

shewhowines · 16/12/2013 12:48

It's hard to remember how I felt post op, as I am feeling completely normal now. I'm finding myself running up the stairs without thinking etc. I'm waiting till after christmas to go back to the gym. Will take it easy at first but I am desperate to get back to Zumba. I miss it and I need to lose some post op weight. I'll need to build up to that though. The instructor likes the higher impact tracks.

Have my lymphodema clinic appointment tomorrow to see if my legs are any more swollen since the removal of my lymph nodes with the hysterectomy. I'm sure I've put on a couple of pounds since last month when I was last measured, despite my good intentions so I'm hoping that she won't make me wear the dreaded compression stockings. It is hopefully fat not swelling, if my legs increase in size Sad

shewhowines · 16/12/2013 12:53

It's been 14/15 weeks since my op now. I would be back at work, if I did any Blush I'm very fortunate to be a lady of leisure SAHM. My youngest just started secondary though, so will be thinking of doing something in the next year or two definitely part time

Kevinsbowel · 16/12/2013 13:02

Removing them yourself??? I have visions of you spraying the room like Mr Creosote in monty python. . Leave em alone and put something over them- a slip or something?

Damn all lithe daughters. I have one, and it is so humiliating. tohuugh at least her feet have finally grown past the pount wheree she can borrow my shoes and trash them. Perhaps you have a friend with similar measurements who has a suitable dress?

I didn't bother with the stockings either but thought I was a tad delinquent and every else did... I got achy calves at one point but was told it wasn't DVT but mild phlebitis. I put them back on to meet my surgeon and she said, "oh bless you, you are still wearing the stockings" in a kind of "sweet gullible thing" voice. So I wouldn't worry.

Can't you wear PJ bottoms under a big coat?

Kevinsbowel · 16/12/2013 13:04

shew that sounds good though it would take a lot to get me back to high impact Zumba! I am hoping to get back to swimming at 6 weeks.

Could be fun to investigate a bit of part time with your youngest at secondary- sort of new era, new you thing. I definitely feel that about having got the menopause over with in 25 minutes. Time to get fit and fabulous, I think....

Santaspelvicfloor · 16/12/2013 13:57

Grin I have decided against DIY stitch removal but mainly in care I slip with the kitchen scissors. I think the guts will stay put. On that topic I wonder if it's a little hernia type pain around the umbilicus. Pressing on it helps

I envy you shew however I would need some sort of structure albeit volunteer/walking club or part time job. It's great for meeting people

greenfolder · 16/12/2013 14:03

have walked to shop and am picking smallest one up from the after school club this pm. it has of course started hammering down and gone dark. spent this morning sending fuck off email to dd2s useless school so the old fight is still in me. am still resisting the christmas cupboard although did buy some crumpets from the shop. the other five are actually calling my name through the cupboard door!