Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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 3

999 replies

LackaDAISYcal · 27/03/2014 13:26

New Thread...
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 or just need a bit of advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 22/04/2014 00:14

I just told mine that I had something wrong with the bit of me where babies grow, but as I have all the babies that I need, then I don't need it any more so they are taking it away. My oldest, almost 12, know that the polyp I had removed was cancerous (he overheard DH talking to his parents on the phone so we needed to explain things) and that the cancer appears to have been totally confined to the polyp. All three of them have been been good at not letting me do too much or carry things; I get told off for trying to do too much!

Funny beast about seeing your DDs sanpro lying around; it occured to me the other day that I will onlt be telling DD about periods and stuff, and not going through it with her. It made me feel quite sad, but on reflection, will probably make her feel glad Grin

My lot are back at school tomorrow; can I start my, somewhat delayed, sofa based recovery? Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 22/04/2014 00:19

hey flouncy, my bladder symptoms appear to have improved significantly already, without any repair work done. It's early days though, but I do wonder if laying off pepsi max and alcohol for a week or so has reset things? Or if it's just the weight of the uterus off the bladder that is improving things?

hey socks; glad things are on the up for you Smile

Hi jerm, welcome Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 22/04/2014 23:09

drove the car today! Only a mile down a straight road and back, and have a bit of a pulling sensation low down now. Might give it a few more days before trying again!

Post op appointment is looming on Friday. Will get the biopsy results, and though I am not expecting anything amiss, it's always a worry isn't it?

Saw the practice nurse today and one of my wounds has a couple of stitches that are sticking up and catching. she couldn't get hold of them with the crappy disposable tweezers, so sent me home with a scalpel and showed me what to do, so I removed two of my own stitches this afternoon using my own tweezers! I missed my calling in life, clearly Grin

how's everyone?

OP posts:
gingeme · 23/04/2014 08:00

Oh Daisy Ouch. I thought the stitches were disposable !
Feeling really crap today thanks to the endometriosis Sad can't wait to get this op out the way I tell you Sad Sad Sorry for the moan.

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 23/04/2014 08:36

they are ginge, but the nurse said that they need to be in contact with tissue to dissolve and can take weeks. She said they would drop off eventually once the stuff under the skin had dissolved, but mine were catching on my clothes and looking a bit red and inflamed. Feels so much better after my ministrations!

Rest up today. Do painkillers help?

Just taking DS2 to the docs this morning; we think he has scarlet fever Confused

OP posts:
gingeme · 23/04/2014 10:06

Pain killers ! I might as well eat Smarties Sad my tummy was so swollen yesterday I looked pregnant. And that's before they pump me full of air for the op. I havn't had a period since February and I think my body is really pissed off with it now, or is that me?. Peppermint tea is really helping though Smile getting used to the taste now.
Oh I remember my Ds having that. Hope he gets better soon x

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 23/04/2014 10:16

doc not sure what's wrong with DS. Rash looks like scarlet fever, and he was ill with sickness and fever over the weekend, which all fit. But he doesn't have a sore throat which is the main symptom. He has a couple of little mouth ulcers though. She gave us penicillin and we are to start them if he starts complaining of a sore throat or sore joints.

Endo sounds horrendous ginge Sad Does heat help? I have a few lavender wheat bags that you microwave, and they are great for joint and period pains.

OP posts:
gingeme · 23/04/2014 10:53

Yes Heat helps a bit and I ice my neck when the headaches get too bad. It's where I'm get such bad pmt but have nothing to show for it. No periods is great if I didn't get all the other stuff that goes with it Sad that includes monthly thrush in my case too Sad Sad

Beastofburden · 23/04/2014 10:56

Ha ha to telling DD. I remember telling mine when she had her first period.

"how long does it go on for?" she asked.
"About a week," I said.
"No, I mean, how many times?"
"Ah. Every month until you are 50."

She burst into tears and said "But I don't want to do this every month till I'm 50!"

Going swimming tonight. Still can't get over the freedom of no more hideous massive painful periods.

My stitches didn't catch as they were covered in glue rather than dressings. Glue is the business; you can have a bath as soon as you like. It all fell off around week 3, IIRC.

gingeme · 23/04/2014 13:39

Oh beastofburden I'm so glad I have all boys Grin

My Ds had glue when he split his chin open last year. He was able to go to his swimming lessons the next week Smile

Jerm123 · 23/04/2014 14:23

Hi, how soon have people been able to drive? I'm planning to try today. I was going to check with my Gp, but it is 3 weeks for an appointment, if it is not an emergency. I've checked with my insurance company and they say there is no restriction on my policy. I could do an emergency stop - no problem, but it might hurt a bit. On the other hand, if I was a passenger and the driver stoped quickly, it would also hurt. Has anyone had any guidance?

Marshy · 23/04/2014 18:44

Hi all
I haven't posted for a while but have been lurking and find it useful to read everyone's stories.
I have my appointment through for the coil removal, hysteroscopy and biopsies. I'm first on the lost on 29th April. Had all the info through yesterday and feeling quite anxious about it in case it hurts and the misery of waiting for results.
Jerm123 if you are around and don't mind,could you tell me what symptoms you had that took you to where you are now? I've just got over surgery for breast cancer which fortunately hadn't spread and now I'm having womb investigations. If it does turn out to be cancer I hope it's a similar situation to yours! Feeling a bit fretful at the moment and wondering how long my luck can hold out....
Just getting over a utility a well which is most unusual for me. I have spent quite a bit of the last week slightly dehydrated and in exercise leggings having walked up and down Snowdon over Easter so I'm hoping it's that and not somehow womb related.

Marshy · 23/04/2014 18:46

List and uti obviously - damn phone!

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 23/04/2014 19:19

Jerm, I tried driving last night, 18 days post op and though it was OK, I could feel things pulling when I was depressing the clutch and then today I've had a bit of stabby pain...so back to the sofa for me!

OP posts:
Jerm123 · 23/04/2014 20:48

Hi Marshy. I went to the doctors for help when I experienced flooding and assumed it was the menopause. During the consultation, I mentioned spotting I had had for the last six months. My GP said flooding was something I might need to put up with, but referred me to a gynaecologist. The gynaecologist did a pipelle biopsy, there and then, saying it was just to rule it out and she would see me in about 3 weeks with the results, to discuss a Marina? coil. The gynaecologist called back in just over a week for a follow-up (bit of a clue that something was not good) and I was told the biopsy was positive for grade 1 endometial cancer. I had the tests for staging the cancer that day. X-rays, virginal scan and an MRI scan. I was told later that week, it appeared to be stage 1a and so it was appropriate to have an LAVH (keyhole)
I had the operation in 4th, was up and walking the next day and allowed to go home the next day.
I appear to have been extremely lucky ie no infections and so once I got over the wind and constipation, I have been getting steadily better. I'm now walking 3-10 miles a day (strangely, flat and downhill is fine, but uphill makes my tummy ache, so I get a bus for the uphill bits)
I've had the results of the surgical biopsy which confirmed the initial view of grade 1 stage 1a. It means I will not need chemotherapy, nor radiotherapy and I can think of the cancer as gone.
The whole saga started at the beginning of March, so has been a gone by in a flash and I feel extremely lucky that my GP was listening and acted on it and that my gynaecologist was a specialist in keyhole surgery.
I have been told that if you have to get cancer, grade 1 stage 1 endometrial is the one to get! So don't get too down if it proves to be the case - it is really treatable.
My symptoms were spotting and a dull occasional pelvic ache.
Daisy, I have just driven my son back to uni. It was fine. I think the difference is I have an automatic, so no clutch! But I will probably take it easy tomorrow - it will be the first day I get the house to myself! Think a film, sofa and Easter chocs. (yum)

Jerm123 · 23/04/2014 20:55

Sorry for all the typos, I'm working from my phone (blush)

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 23/04/2014 23:12

DS2 is back at school tomorrow, so I will join you on the sofa Jerm and try to ignore the untidiness, dust and general decrepitude that has built up in the last three week

OP posts:
Marshy · 24/04/2014 08:19

Thanks for that jerm . I've had erratic period type bleeding, usually separated by many weeks, which I assumed was menopause. Guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Enjoy your day on the sofa - you too daisy!

Jerm123 · 24/04/2014 14:31

Marshy, I too assumed the spotting was part of menopause, but very few people who have spotting turn out to have cancer. There is a link between endometrial cancer and breast cancer, but that doesn't mean that is what you have. It just means they are more likely to check out symptoms. Hopefully it won't be cancer, or if it is - hypoplasia with a typia (pre cancer, or in situ) or stage 1. Both are contained in the uturus and removing the uterus cures the cancer. I was told by my specialist that it is one of the few times they talk about a cure.
If you can, do push for the laproscopic hysterectomy, as it appears to be a breeze compared to the abdominal op.
When will you get the results of the biopsy? If you need any more info, i am more than happy to share. One suggestion is to be selective of the sites/threads you read, some seem to have no-one on, who has had a reasonable recovery. I expected to be in bed after a week having read some of these to gauge my expectations.
Good luck for the 29th.

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 25/04/2014 14:59

Just a flying visit. Had my follow up appointment today; healing well, and biopsy clear so final grading was stage 1A. Check ups in 3 months, then 6 months then yearly for five years, but they are confident that's the end of it [huge sigh of relief]. I hadn't been aware how much things had been weighing on me till the consultant said all clear, but I feel like a weight has been lifted!

OP posts:
Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 25/04/2014 14:59

hyperplasia was also mentioned to me today.

OP posts:
marymoocow · 25/04/2014 16:10

Great news DaisySmile .

ScarlettOHorror · 25/04/2014 17:34

I got a letter with my first appointment with a consultant today. How long did it take you all to get a date from your first appointment?

Jerm123 · 25/04/2014 17:45

Fabulous news Daisy. :)

Marshy · 25/04/2014 19:44

Daisy - hugely pleased for you, and Jerm thanks for your kind offer of further info. I'm just waiting for Tuesday to be over. Womb feels a bit achy and premenstrual today which it probably shouldn't given my age. No sign of bleeding. I think I'm getting a bit obsessed!
Happy weekend everyone xx