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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:
Beastofburden · 19/04/2014 19:02

Hmm. I was seven months "pregnant" with my growth, and they chopped it up and slurped it out through my tummy button. Apparently it's not how big it is, it's what it's attached itself to, which is the limiting factor. My lovely surgeon is a specialist in keyhole, though.

Welcome Annie. Best thing I ever did, I came up from theatre at 8pm and was walking up and down the wards by 10 am next day. Really, it was fine.

winnybella · 19/04/2014 19:06

Sorry, gingeme, I think I confused you with notapizzaeater Blush Endo, I don't know, depends on the severity, I guess. They can actually be more precise when doing lap robot assisted ops. But I doubt you get a choice.

Jane- could it be your body adjusting to HRT? Or not going outside? Maybe try to go for a short walk, even just 5 minutes can make a difference.

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 19/04/2014 19:18

jane, worth mentioning to your GP; from what I understand it can take a few tries before you find the HRT that is just right for you.

hi Annie, sorry for your posts being missed before Blush Interesting that you have a stage for your cancer; my consultant said they wouldn't stage/grade until after the hysterectomy and they had done a full biopsy. Mind you, all they have found so far with me is a cancerous polyp and an inconclusive D&C. The cancer thing is horrible though; I was in bits waiting for the results of my D&C and then waiting to see the oncologist; after that appointment though I felt so much clearer and happier. I honestly don't think there is anything anyone can say that will make you feel better, but on the balance of it uterine cancer is the most treatable women's cancer there is and the one with the best outcomes and five/ten year survival rates. small comfort when waiting for your op though Sad Thinking of you xx

I was told they would attempt a LAVH and afaiu it depends entirely on the reason for the op and the actual size of the uterus. My consultant did a very thorough internal examination to check that my uterus wasn't too big for the LAVH.

OP posts:
Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 19/04/2014 19:21

yes, lots of factors, including the make up of the growth itself. As I understand it, if the growth is cancerous they don't want to be chopping it or the uterus in bits incase of rogue cells being left behind, so if they can remove the uterus whole vaginally then they will. If not, then it will need to be an abdo procedure.

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 19/04/2014 19:22

Mine has attached itself to my bladder and has pushed everything up, he really struggled to do a smear and biopsy - he had to get special "long" tools to reach, think this is why it's abdo. I did ask again at my last appointment again as this is my much preferred option but he said no way because of size/positioning ConfusedHmm

The most annoying thing for me is I'm going in feeling actually ok, I have anaemia (which is getting better with 600mg of iron a day) and indigestion which is being controlled on Omzaprol (sp) and I know I'm going to come out feeling like shit ! If I felt "ill" then I don't think I'd mind so much .....

Jane777 · 19/04/2014 20:47

Thank you lovely ladies. I'll see how I go over the next few days and will try for a short walk out tomorrow. I'm seeing my GP on 28th so should have a clearer idea by then.

Have a good evening everyone. I'll check in again tomorrow.

Dunwhingin · 19/04/2014 20:59

gingeme try some peppermint capsules! I had one with each meal the two days prior to surgery and then continued for 2 weeks afterwards.
They REALLY helped

I used to be Oddsocksrus, I started the original tread, I am so pleased that it still helps everyone facing this difficult time
Thanks for everyone

gingeme · 19/04/2014 21:06

Thankyou dunwingin. How long ago was your op? And how are you now ?

Dunwhingin · 19/04/2014 21:11

basketofchocolate lubrication..
I've not had a problem with lubrication Easter Blush but it is very tight
We did leave it 3 months post surgery (I had a lot of post op pain) and I did have a warning from my surgeon about not being afraid and getting on with it ahem, he did say that everything would contract and it would be difficult to stretch back again!
We're doing our best Easter Grin

Beastofburden · 19/04/2014 21:43

For those who feel things are a bit, ahem, less forgiving than before- have you got topical oestrogen? Makes a big difference and is not often prescribed in the UK, but if you ask for it they all go, yes, sure, great idea. It's a tic-tac sized pill onna stick which you apply up the fanjo, and it protects against atrophy and squeakiness generally.

Beastofburden · 19/04/2014 21:44

Waves at odd socks, I was kevinsbowel for this but CBA to keep changing back

Dunwhingin · 19/04/2014 21:55

gingeme 25th November, I had a trans vag hysterectomy with ovaries left in, rectocele and cystocele repair.
The rectocele was the WORST part but by now I feel like a new woman, I'm riding again and am happy to say that it all works pretty much as it did before I had a 10lb baby in 2 hours and it all fell out/popped into the wrong space Easter Smile
Beast jumping up and down and waving (I can do that now and not wee myself) how the devil are you?

Beastofburden · 19/04/2014 21:59

Hey socks I am a new woman, back at work since early January, not anaemic, feeling fantastic. Isn't it great not having periods any more? I thought I might get a pang of nostalgia, looking at DDs gear everywhere, but no!

Dunwhingin · 19/04/2014 22:30

I had a big problem for a couple of months with pregnancy, friends having babies and a lot of resentment ( hence coming off the thread, lots of denial)
I also had a few post op issues but all is good now, no periods is just great and I agree with the no anaemia as nowhere bleeds anymore Easter Grin

Beastofburden · 19/04/2014 22:33

Sorry to hear that Flowers. I am so old it was not an issue for me. hope it's a bit better now.

AnnieIncognito · 19/04/2014 22:33

Hi everyone. I have been told it is stage 1. I am in Canada so I don't know whether it is different here or not re: diagnosis methods. I had bloodwork, ultrasounds and far too many internal exams! I was told that a biopsy of the mass would be done after surgery and I could expect definitive results about 2 weeks later.

Thanks for the welcome. I will likely read more than I post, but so far what I have read has been very helpful.

Jerm123 · 20/04/2014 00:19

Hello, I'm new to this thread, although I have been stalking for some time. I had a radical hysterectomy, just about everything gone, on 3rd Apr. It was done via keyhole and virgin,which has made my recovery much quicker. I was diagnosed with grade 1, stage 1 endometrial cancer and that is what the surgical biopsy has confirmed. So I'm fortunate not to have to go through radiotherapy, or chemotherapy.
The only advice I can give to others is to eat roughage (until you resemble a farmyard animal) and walk as soon as you can, as much as you can. Take lactimose - or whatever the hospital gives you for constipation, you will need it.
I'm feeling pretty good now, but I am still getting tired when I do too much. As I've explained to my DH, I can't do housework, or carry anything for 6 weeks. Well there has to be some benefits.

gingeme · 20/04/2014 11:24

Thankyou jermi and welcome x

ScarlettOHorror · 20/04/2014 12:37

How did any of you cope with explaining all this to children? Mine are 13 and nine, the 13 year old just wants to know the facts and risks and will worry but is ok. DS is nine and has ASD, it's going to be hard on him having his routine all upset. Hope everyone is ok today.

notapizzaeater · 20/04/2014 12:55

My ds is 11 and had PDA (on the spectrum) we are moving my mum in for a few weeks as he is almost surgically attached to me and next to me he loves my mum next. DH just will not do, hoping that excitement of nan being here sort of helps him. School are already aware (that's where his PDA is worse) in case he is unsettled. He knows I'm having an operation and will be in hospital for days but don't think he's taken it in yet. Got 8 weeks to keep telling him and hope it sinks in.

gingeme · 20/04/2014 13:26

3 Ds here. 10 year old has been doing the respiratory system at school and has been showing me gory pics about it. I have told him about my op and he wanted to look at gory pics of it. I said it's my baby making bits and he said ' oh yeah because you don't need that any more do you Mum ?' Sad I havnt told the other two yet , 6 and 7. I shall when I get an actual date. My 7 year old and I are very close and I know he will worry if I tell him too soon Smile

marymoocow · 20/04/2014 16:41

I told all 3 of mine as soon as I knew I was having the op (16,13 and 10). 16y DS explaining to 13y dd "it means she'll be infertileShock ). Such a delicate DS I have! Haven't gone into detail with youngest DS. Just told him "mummy is having an operation on her tummy to stop her from being poorly all the time". He is the clingiest and I felt the longer he had to get used to it, and for it to be talked about openly (and quite often constantly), the more 'normal' it would seem to him.

Beastofburden · 20/04/2014 18:22

With my youngest, who is almost 18 but with a mental age of 2, I didn't tell him anything. I was only away for a couple of days and he is at school during the day anyway. Lying on the sofa reading while his carer looked after him was just another of the random things mummy does.

My older DC are of an age where I just told them. They were torn between medical interest and understandable grossed out-ness at the thought of either of their parents having a reproductive system [Grin]

It was worse telling my mother, who has a tendency to worry.

Pasithea · 21/04/2014 14:17

Didn't have any to tell but now struggle explaining to friends and relatives children why I haven't got any. Sometimes I just say I forgot.

flouncymcflouncerson · 21/04/2014 17:53

I lost the thread for a while but have found you all. I've consultant tomorrow to discuss my op and likely go on the waiting list. I need prolapse repairs at the same time and have requested a second opinion but am still waiting on that and likely to be until I get a dateihch could be awkward!