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.

Scarlett, you're amazing!

With you on the coughing, but wait til you need a sneeze. You won't give a fuck about your pelvic floor then

I've been on HRT for 7 days, and I'm sure my skin is changing - it's less spotty already, just waiting for the night sweats to subside.

I need a sleep after everything. I think I must have been snoring my head off just because the whole ward was staring at me. Feel v sweaty.

After feeling so well yesterday, and managing not to need a snooze all day I really struggled to sleep last night . Putting it down to reducing my pain killers as I felt really sore this morning. I have spent the whole morning in bed, mainly asleep. I got up about an hour ago, and have managed to shuffle and flop into the chair. Oh well, don't think I'll be going far today. Take care Scarlett, enjoy being at home.

MrsBigD. My latex allergy had been talked about to death, and yes I had a red bracelet. It was just one pair of gloves that 'got in there by accident'. I know they were fully aware because that's why I was first on the list. Just one of those things, and no harm done in the end (fortunately). It did give me an extra days rest in bed before they would get me up walking, so there were slight positives.

I've just crossed my legs sitting on the dining chair!

Is that good Jenny ?

It is, I tried it yesterday with eye watering consequences

I can't even sit on the dining chair comfortably, never mind cross my legs yet! Not had a good day really, felt very groggy and pathetic.

Good to see everyone is making progress - it's encouraging to read that things do get better little by little.

I have my pre-op appointment on Monday and have a list of questions I want to ask:

What anaesthetic will I have/do you recommend?
How long will I be staying in hospital?
Stitches (dissolvable?) or staples?
Advice re avoiding constipation post-op?
Am I allowed to use/charge mobile phone & iPad in hospital?
What happens re dressings in hospital & afterwards?
Should I shave before admission? (Sorry if this is a bit tmi)
General after-care advice?

Can anyone think of anything else I should ask? Anything those of you now "done" wished you'd asked beforehand?

Many thanks.

My favourite thing in hospital apart from the drugs was my extra long phone charger. Take earplugs too!

Gosh, it's been busy! Just had a quick skim and need to go catch up, but wanted to post to Jenny...Stop crossing your legs, think about DVTs!!! Glad to hear of more successful operations; sending healing vibes, and

Had a busy half term week, so not about much, but have been thinking about everyone.

I'm going to get another week or two off work; I am generally OK, but if I have more then two busy days in a row, I am totally wiped out the following day. I may speak to work about phasing my return.

I'm doing job applications this week, so fingers crossed something less strenuous will come out of those!

right, off to catch up properly

oh, and can't believe I am now 8 weeks post op!

Hi everyone. Just read through and glad to see everyone is healing. Every small thing is such a huge accomplishment. I remember getting teary eyed the first time I sat at the table for dinner with the family, albeit on a huge stack of pillows.

I've been back at work for 4 days (I'm now 3 weeks post op) and I am wiped out and sore by the end of the day. And my lovely swollen belly has come back with a vengeance!! I am being really careful though so hopefully my body and brain will get back into the rythym soon.

I have just done my first venturing outside for a izzy walk, aka ca 500m around the house. Feeling very exhilarated but also a tad nauseous and heavy in the groin? Assuming that's pretty normal for 14D post op?

jennyOnTheBlocks yeah! and yes to the exhausted. I've had one day I managed not to have a lie down but the next day I paid for it.

Scarlett good going! The others probably just think you're superwoman for pottering around and doing things ;). And yeah, maybe snoring a bit

letspretend I think it's a definite yes to phones/ipads etc. I made the nurses crack up when they came in to take my blood pressure as they had to wait until I finished my level of plants vs zombies . Just make sure you bring headphones if you're not in a private room.

Annie back at work after 2 weeks? wowsers! I've got a very sedentary (sp? aka sit on my hinie all day if I choose to) job but couldn't even begin to imagine to go back to work next week, given that my little walk has me wobbling! Kudos!

Morning all, just to clarify I didn't actually sit for any length of time with my legs crossed, I was just ecstatic at doing it

I've just realised I was intending to walk DD home from school next week, and I haven't ventured out by myself at all, and not walked any further than up a supermarket aisle

Have got a family party tomorrow daytime, not looking forwards to that - long story but none of my sisters have even acknowledged I've been ill/needed intervention, and they will be there. But it's not every day your Nanna is 90, and I love her to bits. I bought a new easy-to-wear dress before I went into hospital, so I'll nip go, have a slice of cake with her and nip out again.

Morning all,

I have some good news - they found no cancerous cells. Yay! I was in such disbelief that I went back checking whether my name was on pathology report, because I taught it must have been a mistake.
Now I need to stop overthinking it because I catch myself thinking what the hell was showing on my pap smear if they found nothing . I will talk to my consultant next week, hopefully she'll give me some answers.
Now I feel like a cheat on this thread, hope you don't mind if I hang around here

That's the best news, Buba, brilliant

I for one don't mind you staying on thread at all, I'm enjoying the chat, even if it is pretty gruesome at times.

Off to the nurse again for dressing change, I'm feeling a bit woolly-headed now, but think that's more emotional than anything.

brilliant news buba. . Have been thinking of you.
Good luck with the dressing change today Jenny. Not looking forward to DH doing it on Sunday .
Feeling in a bit better place today, had a better nights sleep, and the pain/discomfort seems a little easier this morning. I'm getting the heavy feeling in my groin if I walk around/stand up for too long too. I also have sore nipples . Am assuming that might be hormone related?
Annie I don't know how you have managed to go back to work so quickly. Couldn't imagine having to think about it in a week and a half time. My surgeon immediately signed me off for 10 weeks, knowing I then have the summer holidays to go aswell. He is a lovely man though

Has anyone tried having a bath post op? I don't think I can manage a shower and they told me to keep my wound clean. V sore and tired.

Brill news Buba, congrats :)

Dressing change went well, last one! I've to take this off on Monday, and 'go natural' from then onwards.

Scarlett, I was advised against baths as it soaks the wound and stitches, and you're very likely to get stuck sitting down so low. Can you shower sitting down, or is there anyone who can help you? My first shower consisted of me standing a little pathetically whilst DH moved the spray head about.

I think I might try a garden chair in the shower.

I weighed myself earlier and despite my giant bloated numb jelly belly, I am 6lbs lighter than I was pre op. :O

Scarlett what a bonus !

Garden chair in the shower is a great idea, make sure there is someone close at hand when you venture in though, please. And give yourself time for a rest afterwards, before getting dressed. It is knackering!

Can't remember if your wound is dressed or not, but if not, dry the area very gently - maybe use low setting hair dryer to make sure?

I wish I'd weighed myself immediately after, I'm sure to have gained some by now - chocolates galore here

I am bored in bed and can't sleep so I'm going to write up my experience so far.

Monday night, went into hospital (Liverpool as I would have struggled to get there for 730am the following morning. Hospital very clean, nurses lovely. Slept ok with earplugs but wished I'd had a mask as lights going on and off. Next day, starving, thirsty, taken down on foot at 2pm. V nervous but anaesthetists lovely. They told me they were filling me with Jack Daniels and I was out like a light.

Came round at 7.30 after very long operation and blood transfusion. In pain but not for long with morphine pump. Very hot so they got me a fan. Didn't sleep well as was on hourly observations and attached to pump, oxygen mask, blood pressure thingy, catheter etc.

Next morning they got me me up for a wash but I felt queasy so went back to sleep then felt better. Various people came in to tell me I had a massive uterus but no cancer, hooray. Had lots of tea and toast. Husband turned up and accidentally pulled my catheter wire out.

Slept better that night despite woman with beeping keypad tones tapping away on her phone. TAKE EARPLUGS. I managed a wobbly seated shower and got dressed. They told me I could go home and gave me bag of drugs - ibuprofen, codeine, laxatives, and a months worth of anti clotting injections.

Very tired first day back and slept a lot. Today very tired but not sleepy so lying in bed with cats and being waited on by minions. Seem to have lost the ability to know when I need a wee after the catheter - it's there when I go to the loo but no sensations. Giant numb jelly tummy.

Well done Scarlett. What a good idea. Wince at DH pulling the catheter (sp!) tube though !