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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:
winnybella · 28/04/2014 18:42

Yes, I guess it's because of the proximity of the lesion to vagina.No clue if it'll be necessary in your case. I would think it should be less uncomfortable than cervical smear. Maybe.

Beastofburden · 28/04/2014 20:02

Oh I do understand about health worries. As I was having a hysterectomy anyway, I had the ovaries and tubes out just to stop me worrying about it Blush. Apparently they looked perfectly healthy as they hit the bucket, and lab work confirmed that there was nothing wrong with them at all. but hey. At my age, they were no use.

Shewhowines · 28/04/2014 20:20

Hi guys,
I'm keeping my beady eyes on you all. Glad to see everyone is ok on the recovery sofa. If you are waiting, then keep your spirits up.

Have pm'd you buba

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 28/04/2014 20:39

I thought long and hard about losing my ovaries and opted to keep them in the end. I think my recovery has a lot to do with that as I'm not fighting surgical menopause symptoms as well as the usual recovery from majoor abdominal surgery.

I technically don't need them any more, but I would rather as natural a menopause as possible.

OP posts:
Beastofburden · 28/04/2014 21:27

to she. I lost two good friends to ovarian cancer so I wasn't being very rational about it. But the surgical menopause was a pussycat in fact. All over in 20 minutes under anaesthetic, straight onto patches, about a week of hot flushes, then... Zilch. All done.

I am going camping this weekend. Last time I went I was drugged to the eyeballs on mefanamic acid and had to schlep to the loos five times night anyway, across a freezing wet field. This time I can stay in my tent all night as long as I have a margarine tub to pee into at 4 am

Shewhowines · 28/04/2014 21:44

Camping in April - well virtually. That surgical menopause has left you with some serious issues! Are you mad? I like camping but not in these temperatures!

Beastofburden · 28/04/2014 22:12

It's music camp. I am only going for the tchaikovsky Grin

But yes, I may yet regret those hot flushes....

marymoocow · 28/04/2014 22:45

I'm with you there Beast on being both drugged up on mefanemic acid, and the nocturnal trips to the loo several times while camping. Really looking forward to going in August this year without having to worry about it all....... recovery depending of courseSmile . 3 weeks 1 day to go ( starting to feel a bit more real all of a sudden)

gingeme · 29/04/2014 08:10

Good morning ladies Smile this thread makes interesting reading. Waiting for my biopsy on the 12th May. My endometriosis seems to know whats going to happen and is playing up with avengance Sad feel like crap most days !

BubaMarra · 29/04/2014 08:27

Just a quick good morning from me.
I just want to thank Shewhowines for all the wonderful support she offers to the ones who need it. And for her incredible spirit. I am getting all emotional and I should better leave now. Will come back later.
Thanks

winnybella · 29/04/2014 09:08

Oh yes, her advice and support helped me get through the hideous time of waiting for the op and recovery.

Thanks Cake Wine

Shewhowines · 29/04/2014 09:19

Thanks guys. I don't want to keep going on about my cancer as I've told my story often enough, but I do want to support anyone with that additional worry on top of the "normal" hysterectomy worry.

If anyone reading this in the future, wants to pm me, then please do so.
I don't post very often now as it all happened last September but I am reading regularly and am thinking of you all. It's not a nice operation to go through, but ime the waiting is definitely the worst part of it all. I think lots of previous posters have said that too.

gingeme · 29/04/2014 09:47

I second that shewhowines. I just want an op date now. Sad

notapizzaeater · 29/04/2014 09:53

Agree the waiting is the hardest, I'm counting down In days ConfusedConfused

Marshy · 29/04/2014 14:25

Hi all
Had my procedure this morning and it was blooming ouchy! He found a polyp and I think an area of thickening but not sure about that. He managed to biopsy the polyp but only on the second attempt by which time my toes were curling. God bless the lovely nurse who distracted me by telling me all about her holiday in Australia!
He said he would usually take the polyp out there and then but didn't because I was in too much discomfort He also did a 'global biopsy' (??) which seemed to involve waving a wand thing about inside me. It looked pretty gross when it came out . He also gave me some of that acid stuff beginning with t as I was bleeding quite a bit but that seems to have stopped so I'm not planning on taking it.
Results should be ready for my appt with the gynaecologist on May 9th. I'm hoping for the best and fearing the worst but glad this bit is over at least.
Am on the sofa Smile

notapizzaeater · 29/04/2014 14:30

Sounds horrific (((hugs)))

Shewhowines · 29/04/2014 14:45

marshy Oh you poor thing, that sounds awful.

annieincogniti and jerm how are you? Your cancers sound horrible too. Different to my cervical cancer, but it is awful isn't it. Strange how this thread has suddenly become full of hysterectomies needed for cancer. Not good Sad

Thanks
Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 29/04/2014 16:24

hugs Marshy Flowers sounds grim...much chocolate and resting for you this evening!

OP posts:
AnnieIncognito · 29/04/2014 18:50

Hi shewhowines. I'm in crazy, freak-out mode. My surgery is next Wednesday and I am frantically cleaning the house trying to take my mind off of the surgery. I'm trying really hard to be strong and not think about it, but for some reason, I am really getting scared.

Marshy · 29/04/2014 18:58

Thanks for your support everyone. Not pleasant but it's done. Normal life resumes, with the occasional interruption for a panic, until the 9th of May...

TheOriginalNutcracker · 29/04/2014 19:21

Hey all. Haven't been on for a while as had trouble getting a new password after that security thingy and well, I haven't been feeling too great mentally.

It's 4 weeks since I was told I need a total abdominal hysterectomy asap and yet I haven't heard anything. I know the two other surgeons that need to be at my surgery have been contacted for their availability, but thats it. Mind you, my main surgeon was on hols for a bit.

I had a prostap injection yesterday but they couldn't enlighten me there either.
My mum wants me to ring the surgeons secretary to find out whats going on but I haven't yet as I kind of don't want to know, but I know I should as even though they don't think it is cancer, what if it is, and it's getting worse as I wait.

My mum keeps telling me it is very likely i will have the colosotomy bag. I think she is just trying to prepare me for the worst but I don't want to hear it.

Sorry for the ranty post. Feeling a bit emotional today.

Beastofburden · 29/04/2014 20:26

Poor nutcracker and Annie.

I have to say my OP was absolutely fine. There is something quite nice about reverting to warm snuggly babyhood for a day or so. I had keyhole and honestly it didn't hurt, nothing like as bad as a headache.

I didn't need colostomy, is there a special reason why you might, nutcracker? It wouldn't be the first thing I would think of.

Shewhowines · 29/04/2014 20:37

Its totally normal to be scared. I was petrified. You'd be unusual if you weren't scared.

winnybella · 29/04/2014 20:58

Nutcracker- tbh I would call and try to find out what's going on because I think being in the state of fearful suspension must be so draining for you. Re: your mum, she obv can have no idea how the surgery is going to pan out, so ignore ignore ignore( I know easier said than done). The colostomy bag is the worst case scenario and I think the surgeon said it would likely to be temporary anyway, is that right?

Annie- I've seen your other thread and thought your situation is similar in a way that I'm only 34 and so the definite loss of fertility was something that played on my mind a bit as well. Are you having just the uterus taken out? I had cervix/ ligaments/ tissue/ nodes out as well so for me the first few days after op were quite painful but really only when trying to move- laying in bed I felt almost no pain at all. I was terrified before the surgery but honestly it wasn't bad at all. As shewhowines says, it's absolutely normal to be scared but please be reassured that it's a pretty standard op.

TheOriginalNutcracker · 29/04/2014 21:31

BOB - I've got severe endo and alot of it is stuck to my bowel and bladder. 'Plastered in it' was the term used lol.

If I do have it it will hopefully only be temporary, but even so, I feel like stamping my feet and shouting 'but i don't want it' everytime anyone mentions it.

I skimmed over some posts further down and can't remember who, but someone asked if anyone else had had high ca125 results. My first one was 71, but it has now risen significantly. They are pretty sure it is down to the endo, but everything will be tested after my op.