Hysterectomies - it's gotta be done but over here for hand holding PART 3

[LackaDAISYcal]

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.

Hi everyone. I'm still here. My doctor called me Tuesday night and I went in yesterday morning to get checked. The bleeding and cramping was put down to ~ahem~ bowel disturbances. All is back to normal now.

Glad surgery went well mary. Take it easy and allow your body to heal.

Thank you nurse for waking me up at midnight for waking

That should read, thank you nurse for waking me up at

Morning everyone, from my own bed at home!

DH showered me while I stood and held cling film around my abdomen, and I'm just back from having my dressing changed by one of the practice nurses.

Not intending to stay in bed all day, but being sensible and getting quality rest where I can.

It was lovely being under my own duvet last night, once I'd got all my pillows in the right place.

How is everyone else doing?

glad to hear your back at home JennyOnTheBlocks. Isn't your own bed grand! . Saying that I did enjoy the snore free zone in hospital ;)

marymoocow yeah I'm not missing the middle of the night bed checks with a flashlight beaming in. The first time they did that I jumped and yelped... saying that though it was an improvement after the first 2 nights being hourly blood pressure checked due to my lovely low blood pressure scenario (86/52 had them in a jiffy, though after my first coffee they were a bit happier as it went back to 112/58 well for about 30 mins it did anyhow - great excuse to keep nursing my caffeine addiction . They even rolled out the good old fashioned manual bp instruments because the clever machine was flummoxed

DH has moved into the spare room for a week or so, he snores quite badly at the best of times and doesn't want to disturb me, what a sweet-heart ;)

How long does HRT take to kick in, does anyone know? Started today but had the most horrendous sweats lately

Hi all. Doing really well. Hoping tobe home today :-)

Well done, Mary

Fingers crossed for you

Sounds like everyone is doing well

Annie, I hope things have setteld down for you.

My dressings came off and I was in the shower the following day; but I was laparoscopic, so only tiny little cuts.

Just when you think things are getting better . I had an interview on Wednesday and spent a few hours chasing small children around and then went shopping on Thursday so on my feet for a good few hours again. Yesterday I had the most awful burning, stitch like pains on the right hand side and could barely walk and was utterly exhausted most of the day. I though I was improving. I'm meant to be back at work next Monday, but am thinking I'm not ready for it yet

I have burning pains on my right side too, I asked my surgeon about it, it's where the side muscles have been tacked to aid stability I think she said - was rather high when she explained! So, it's a good thing, it means your muscles are trying to work rather than just hang there ;)

Mine on Tuesday, total abdominal. Getting nervous now!

Aw, Scarlett, I was so nervous I couldn't look the family in the eye as they dropped me off, but I cried at everyone on the Ward.

You know what? No one minded, they all had tissues ready and a student nurse even gave me a hug.

Nerves are very natural.

mary, Jenny, MrsBigD, glad to hear your doing well after your surgeries
Annie, great everything is fine with you. Bleeding always sounds scary, but good that it turned out not to be a post op complication.
Scarlett, good luck on Tuesday! Will be thinking of you
Daisy, it doesn't sound that you are ready for work yet. Is there an option to get another week or two off as your job is quite physical. Or maybe you can do something less physical until your body is fully recovered?

I am doing fine in physical terms but it's been almost 3 weeks since my conisation and the pathology results will be out next week, probably Monday, so I am getting nervous about it. Spent last couple of weeks not thinking much about it, but now as Monday is approaching anxiety slowly kikcks in again.
It's DD1's birthay party tomorrow which helps keeping my mind off a bit (but brings a whole new type of stress). She's 5 now. Her actual birthday was couple of weeks ago but we decided to postpone the party to make sure I heal enough after the conisation.

Lad everyone seems to be doing well and healing. Good luck on Tuesday Scarlett. I'm sure everything will go smoothly and you'll be home in your own bed in no time.

I'm back to work on Monday and am a little freaked out about it. Physically I feel really good but I am still so tired and am worried about how I will go cope without my naps. I am assuming I will probably be a zombie by the time I get home at night.

Already Annie That seems awfully quick.

Sadly, I have totally run out of money so no option but to go back. And no option to do something less physical as I'm on a zero hours contract so it's either work or not. I could ask for single calls rather than doubles which involve moving and handling, and reduce my hours.

I really need to get a decent job; this was only ever meant to be a stopgap whilst the kids were little. Easier said than done though; I've been out of the market so long its hard to put my skills etc across.

Are you not able to do a phased return, Annie?

That's something the physio went into great detail about, because if you do find it hard and need to take a day off, it would count as a separate period of sickness rather than continuation.

I don't have work to worry about, but I'm quite worried about DD. She has autism and keeps asking when I'll be better. I've kept information minimal, and not let her see my wound/bruises yet, she is very squeamish.

Scarlet good luck for Tuesday. Nerves are normal :) [hug]. I'm very calm when it comes to op's as I've had a few, and also I'm the master of denial ... but even though mine was a 'routine' op it's still a big one, I still got a bit anxious. Not that I would have let the kids or dh know.

Feeling not so good today (D9 after op). Had a friend over for a couple of hours yesterday and even though I just spent all time on the sofa with dh making the coffees it seems to have taken its toll :(. Slept most of today, which is ok as I can't do much else anyhow, but now woken up feeling very uncomfortable just underneath my ribs going across. Almost like indigestion but bigger. Any ideas/suggestions?

I get am ache under my ribs if I've been sitting too long, anyway, it's really frustrating but think it's more to do with my posture - is it eased if you sit upright with feet at hip height?

my wound feels sort of thick and numb still, but my bowel is still complaining. TMI perhaps, but I can feel every movement. Also having a few twinges high in my vagina. Not enough to worry me, but I notice it. Will stay off my feet as much as possible today. DD is staying at DS2s overnight as DH has to work this evening. Got dog-walker coming in later so will ask him to run the vacuum about.

Has anyone got any experience of IBS post op? Mine is grim usually and I'm dreading being constipated after the drugs.

I'm away for a few days tomorrow so good luck scarlet

that seems really quick anni* - are you sure your doctor has okayed this?

buba I bet you are getting really worried about your results next week. I will be thinking of you. I can remember that horrible wait

Tmi alert!
Ibs wise- once I'd battled the initial constipation with lots of senna and lactulose, I found I had a good 8 months of lovely bowel movements. Wipes with only one piece of tissue, previously unheard of. I saved a fortune in toilet paper. I did have to take one teaspoon of lactulose to maintain that. Only recently has my bowel started to misbehave again. I miss those days of one piece of toilet roll

Hi JennyOnTheBlocks generally gets worse when I'm sitting upright but better when lying flat. Hoping it's maybe just gas. The nurse mentioned something like that might happen even if bowels are fine

ScarletoHorror they put me on some sugary syrup called lac-dol here in Oz. TMI warning... the first 2 days were worst for gas and first 2 bowel movements were a bit of a killer but after that no issues. I made sure though as soon as they let me to drink plenty to flush out anaesthesia and help with the constipation. So far so good. only at D9 after op so have to wait and see re IBS. I think a lot of my IBS might have stemmed from everything being glued together inside, which they now have in the most part remedied... here's hoping.

Wow Annie that's really quick, hope it goes ok.

I work in an office And am not active at work at all. My doctor told me I could return after 2-3 weeks as long as I did not lift anything. Monday will be 2 days short of 3 weeks. I'll be fine and I am not going to push myself.

I found this thread a couple of weeks ago and have just lurked until now, but noticed today that pizza and I are both going in for an abdominal on June 16th, so decided to officially join in!

I'm already getting myself worked up about it, writing lists of useful stuff for DH in case I'm no longer here (!) and generally overreacting. I've stocked up with peppermint tea and cordial, bought new nightshirts, lip balm, wet wipes etc.

My latest worry is whether I should have a general anaesthetic or a spinal block. So far I've changed my mind about 6 times. I've got my pre-op on June 2nd so maybe I'll be more decisive after that (or maybe I'll just let the anaesthetist decide).

Good luck to those who are nearly there and thanks to all for your posts - I think they're all that's keeping me sane at the moment.

Ooh we could be twins, I'm meeting my consultant on the 6th yo discuss everything.

I'm trying not to think about it, I keep crying when I think of the op and my ds. (Aspergers so really keeping it low key, but I keep thinking what if)

My peppermint oil stuff came last week, so I've got big knickers and small knickers (depending on cut) 2 nightshirts, bed socks (hate cold feet) lip balm, arnica tablets and cream. Need to pop to holland and Barrett for some makuni honey cream stuff. Wet wipes. Slip on slippers (leaving my bootees ones at home :-( couple of loose summer dresses that touch my boobs only (to come home in - fully intend lobbing it at home)