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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:
JennyOnTheBlocks · 25/05/2014 16:36

Have you been recommended a sports-cap drinking bottle to take in?

Far easier to maneuver than a paper cup and a straw post-op. Staff on our Ward remarked what a great initiative that is, the physios are advising us of that.

I wasn't offered a choice wrt anaesthetic - would have chosen GA I think, wouldn't want to know what was going on and since it wasn't exactly straight forwards glad I wasn't aware at the time.

I'm really tired today though, just had a lovely hour and half sleep in bed - wish I could sleep at night, blasted sweats are awful

Shewhowines · 25/05/2014 20:53

Hi lets pretend welcome

buba was thinking of you earlier. I think no news is good news. They would have been in touch before now if they had found anything cancerous.

marymoocow · 25/05/2014 21:02

First full day at home has been spent mostly asleep! Most of the time I haven't even been aware that I was about to nod off. Pain is under control with regular medication. All in all not too bad

AnnieIncognito · 26/05/2014 00:07

Glad to hear that mary. Sleep as much as you can - your body heals while you sleep. Oh and chocolate has definite healing properties. Or at least, I like to believe it does! Grin

ScarlettOHorror · 26/05/2014 09:07

I go in tonight to have it tomorrow. Despite my best efforts to get my iron levels up, my heavy period (last one! Yay!) has wiped it all out again so I expect I'll have to have a blood transfusion too. Looking forward to not being anaemic.

JennyOnTheBlocks · 26/05/2014 09:23

Good luck, Scarlett

Hope you've got lovely things planned for today, keep those nerves at bay.

I'm looking forwards to when DD springs on us that she wants to go swimming, and I won't have to tell her daddy will have to take her again.

ScarlettOHorror · 26/05/2014 09:31

I'm just going to potter about the house packing my bag and listening to music. No heavy meals today, it says.

MrsBigD · 26/05/2014 09:39

good luck scarlettOHorror :)

marymoocow I realised today that I'm still dozing/sleeping 12-14h/day! Well I look at it that way... there's nothing I am allowed to do around the house and that way I don't see it LOL and also sleep is healing so here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

JennyOnTheBlocks · 26/05/2014 09:45

I read that as listening to music and no heavy metals, Scarlett :-D

I'm still in bed now, not sure what to do today, probably flit between here and the sofa, it's DH's last official day off today, so I should make the most of his waiting skills really.

BubaMarra · 26/05/2014 11:23

Thanks shewhowines Thanks. I called the hospital today and was told to call again tomorrow, the results should be there by then. Right now I just have this silly wish to go to bed today, sleep though tomorrow and wake up on Wednesday Hmm.

Good luck Scarlett Thanks

GnomeDePlume · 26/05/2014 11:54

Back from seeing consultant today. Currently I am down for a uterine ablation but only if my fibroids arent in the way. I have another ultrasound scan first but this time done by a gynecological sonographer. They will then do the ablation if all well. Apparently I am not a good candidate for surgery because of my size.

At least I dont feel like I am being fobbed off now. Off to google ablations!

gingeme · 26/05/2014 15:36

Good afternoon all.
Good luck today scarlett.
Ive missed so much. Is anyone else having trouble logging in with their mn app on their phone? I don't very often go on a real pc so pretty much rely on my phone to keep up!!

marymoocow · 26/05/2014 17:21

I can't get on using the app either. It stopped working a few days ago for me, so feel like I'm missing stuff too. Sleep has been a huge feature again today:-) My iron levels were still low after the op, so battling with tablets for that too.
Good luck Scarlett Thanks.

defineme · 26/05/2014 17:28

Hi all
I had my total hysterectomy including ovaries the vertical open incision on Thursday night. Took 2 hours longer than expected as everything glued together -bladder-bowel etc. Surgeon said some surgeons would have just left it but he thinks he got it all -it being he thinks endemetroisis but test results will take 3 weeks.
Had my first night bed drenching sweat on Thursday night- So have been prescribed HRT.
Felt very grim on Friday especially when physio made me walk around the room-retching and faint.
Bit better on Saturday but still needed help washing and walking and was getting very sick of catheter -couldn't stand the feeling. They took it out on Saturday night and I was fine going to the loo.
Much better yesterday except for trapped wind(they gave me warm peppermint solution which helped) and I think tramadol makes me spaced out/dizzy. Young male nurse offering bed bath motivated me to get out of bed and wash myself! Had a bowel movement which everyone seemed very pleased about. It was only last night when I managed to walk up and down the corridors, that I could actually imagine coming home.
Came home today. I feel fine. Had a big nap this afternoon and did an asda order of ready meals. Kids are trying their best to be gentle with me and dh has made the bedroom very invalid friendly Smile

My only tips would be to take light nighties/dressing gown as I was hot.
Take sanitary towels without wings as mine stuck to the catheter tube! I actually needed 2 sizes bigger pants-I didn't realise quite how swollen my tummy would be and I can't look at the staples/incision-too grim looking. I listened to my music a lot because a poor old woman in the room next to me made a lot of noise. Remember a flannel-I forgot mine and a pen. Write down what the consultant says as mine didn't communicate that well with the nurses.

Thanks for all your tips and advice people-it has made it a much less scary experience.

Letspretenditsnothappening · 26/05/2014 18:08

Thanks for the welcome.
Good luck for tomorrow Scarlett - you'll soon be one of those reassuring the ones of us still waiting.
Yes Jenny - got a sports cap drinking bottle. In fact, I've got so much stuff they'll think I'm moving in for a month Smile.
Pizza - we do sound very similar: I've also got a hefty fibroid that's shoving everything else out of its way, and I'm also thankful for the private health insurance that I've been moaning about paying for for 30 years! I'm older than you though (55 - been hanging on hoping the menopause would solve the problem but consultant says he's concerned that Lumpy is still growing in spite of hormone injections and Esmya). It sounds tough that you are worrying about your ds with Aspergers too, as if all the rest isn't enough.
Good luck for tomorrow buba too.

JennyOnTheBlocks · 26/05/2014 18:08

Welcome to the other side, define

The swelling is something to behold, isn't it - my incision was across my abdomen, but wow, it's a sight to behold. I haven't seen my wound yet, it's been dressed up until now, I'm seeing the nurse tomorrow and going to ask if it can be left undressed now, my pubes are growing back and itching like mad!

defineme · 26/05/2014 19:09

Thanks JennyMy consultant likes wounds to breathe so my dressing came off on Saturday-really wish it hadn't-not nice to look at but I suppose washing easier. I was given a really inept Brazilian!The swelling is affecting my appetite-1 slice of toast and I feel like the staples will burst but I don't suppose I need many calories as I'm stationary.

pizzaeater my ds1 has asd and I have spent more time worrying about how dh will handle the 3 kids without me than I have thinking about what it'll be like for me. It has been hard for ds1 and he was pretty stressed visiting me in hospital but he's happier now I'm home. I've only spent 1 night at a time away before so 4 nights was a lot for me.

ScarlettOHorror · 26/05/2014 20:50

I'm on the ward now. Waiting to find our what time my op is tomorrow! Quite relaxing in here.

JennyOnTheBlocks · 26/05/2014 21:48

Oh, I haven't got staples, but dissolvable stitches. The bloatedness has gone down a lot today, but I'm not impressed with the pouch hanging there - and the bruising is horrific, having to hide that from DD still. She has ASD too, they allocated me a side room so she could visit and not see anyone else. Not that she really paid me much heed, was more interested in the magazine I'd stashed for her.

I'll be you're nil by mouth by now, Scarlett?
You can swish water round your mouth, just not swallow. Best of luck again x

ScarlettOHorror · 26/05/2014 22:16

I'm on the list for tomorrow afternoon. Nil by mouth after midnight. Also have an asd son and have bought him a new Mario game for distraction. Kids won't be visiting me though, they're staying further away with Grandma.

MrsBigD · 27/05/2014 02:44

welcome defineme, I was on smoothies and light soups for the first couple of days home, found it less bloating then real food

Jenny dh and I are joking re when the twins are due! Fair enough I had a tummy to start with, but these are new dimensions!

reading all your stories I'm so happy they could 'do' me via laparascopy. Dressings off after 1 week with dissolvable stiches. Not the prettiest stitching I've seen, but as the wound's weren't too big or reusing existing scaring it's not too grosse (though dd would disagree being the squeamish one in the house).

ScarlettOHorror · 27/05/2014 06:41

Tip for those yet to come in, ear plugs are a must and a sleep mask would have been good. Lights going on and off all night on the ward. I put lavender oil by my bed and it smells very relaxing. I'm on the afternoon list today. I could murder a bacon butty.

JennyOnTheBlocks · 27/05/2014 15:05

Keeping fingers crossed for Scarlett, probably in theatre right now.

Letspretend, I shared the lift up to the ward with a woman who was nervously clutching a tiny plastic bag, her face at my wheeled suitcase, sports bag and two pillows was a picture Grin she was having a very minor procedure, with local not GA, but I was sceptical at her getting her jeans back on later the same day.

Went to the nurse again for dressing change, says wound is very clean and dry but wanted to dress it again at least once as the lint helped keep the area dry. I'm not sure on that, but since it's healing well, I'll go with her.

Dippyeggsrock · 27/05/2014 16:47

Hi I've been watching this thread as I am due to go in for an abdominal hysterectomy on July 2nd and I was wondering apart from ear plugs and an eye mask does anyone have any other tips for things might need to take in with me? I should be in for about 4 days they've said.
Well done everyone who has been through it and fingers crossed for those who are waiting. I'm starting to get a little nervous now!! Thanks Smile

JennyOnTheBlocks · 27/05/2014 17:10

Small towels, if you manage to shower, do not underestimate the weight of a bath sheet! Also small bottles for shower gel for same reason.

Dry shampoo as hair-washing is really hard work.

Slip on footwear

Massive pants

Facial moisturiser, helps remove sticky residue from surgical tape

Light clothes, I'm shocked at how heavy some of my clothes are!