Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Hysterectomies - advice and hand holding over here PART FOUR

206 replies

AtSea1979 · 10/07/2014 07:59

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 · 16/07/2014 21:57

Aw, that's crap, but saying that, I've not been able to donate for a while either with one thing or another

I'm a universal receiver but restricted donor I think they call it - B+ anyhow

Wonder how Mary's cleaning went, I actually properly cleaned the bathroom today, bloody hell what a difference. And now I'm in bed because I'm knackered

Original poster
AtSea1979 · 16/07/2014 22:24

I've been unable to give blood due to anaemia, I'm guessing I won't be able to do it now either.

OP posts:
Original poster
AtSea1979 · 17/07/2014 20:37

Hi, how is everyone?
I did a spot of weeding this morning whilst the sun was shining. Just half hour. But now I can hardly move with lower back pain. I thought period back pain was bad but this is worse, it's worse than I've ever felt it before. Its agony. I have been raiding my pain relief cupboard, it's horrendous. Anyone else had this.

OP posts:
marymoocow · 17/07/2014 21:42

Cleaning was sporadic Jenny. I managed to clean the UPVC and windows to the conservatorySmile . I've also been to asda and done big shop today (DS pushed the trolley), have driven quite a bit and visited my DM who had her knee replaced last week. Not feeling too bad. First set of people viewing the house tomorrow......eekShock .

ScarlettOHorror · 18/07/2014 03:43

Hi all
Came into hospital yesterday to have omentum removed, pelvic wash and biopsies via keyhole. They tried doing it that way but couldn't so reopened my six week old hysterectomy scar. Ow!! Seeing surgeon later I hope.

I was was meant to be a day case but had to stay over. They gave me a morphine injection in my bum which was heavenly :) can't sleep though.

notapizzaeater · 18/07/2014 09:01

Oh Scarlett not good Angry. Hope you managed some sleep x

Atsea, if I do too much my tummy swells up and it's painful. Hope it's better now.

JennyOnTheBlocks · 18/07/2014 09:04

Scarlett, sending best wishes and swift healing vibes for you. Can't imagine how you'd feel having to start recovery all over again.

marymoocow · 18/07/2014 13:32

Aww Scarlett. Not good having to start all over againThanks .
Bathroom cleaned today and assembled a new shelving unit. 3rd lot of washing on. Taken youngest DS to his y6 leavers trip and bought above unit. Now to dust front room and clean kitchen. Hmm think sick leave has declared itself overHmm .

marymoocow · 18/07/2014 13:34

Oh, and Atsea stop doing things. You're in very early days and will do more damage than good.

marymoocow · 18/07/2014 17:32

I should take my own adviceSad . Aching from head to foot now...and the house viewers cancelledAngry . Still, we have a reasonably tidy house now. Hope everyone is managing to stay coolSmile .

notapizzaeater · 18/07/2014 17:56

I know how it feels, I've took my silly tights off as it was too hot and made sure I've walked a lot, I'm shattered and I hurt Angry.

Going to put them back on and rest .....

ScarlettOHorror · 18/07/2014 23:27

Back home now. The ward I was on last night was awful - they left me so I couldn't reach the call button or adjust the bed, forgot to bring me meds, and eye rolled when I asked for food as I hadn't eaten for 24 hours and I was shaking. Day nurses were lovely, but not the night time ones.

I have three keyhole incisions that they tried and failed to operate through and my hysterectomy scar had to be reopened. It's so very sore but hopefully won't take as long to heal this time. Waiting for results now to see if the cancer was confined to the ovary.

Original poster
AtSea1979 · 19/07/2014 02:59

Aww Scarlett you poor thing, that's sounds dreadful.

I am awake, in agony with back. Saw GP today, no sign of infection anywhere so that's good. Surprisingly, he prescribed Tramadol, even more surprising, he have me 100 of them Shock

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 19/07/2014 10:37

Hope the tablets have kicked in atsea, good to have in medicine cabinet Blush

The ward sounds horrid, hope you've managed some sleep now and your wound heals nicely. Grin

Original poster
AtSea1979 · 19/07/2014 17:58

It's was the four hour interview I had yesterday that did it I think. Unfortunately been vomiting today and had a terrible head ache. Possibly dehydration from the hot flushes/sweats I was having all night.
I got the job though, only problem is they want me to start asap and I haven't told them about the op.

OP posts:
ScarlettOHorror · 20/07/2014 09:25

Hello all, hope everyone is ok.

My reopened hysterectomy scar is bloody painful and I have several keyhole wounds covered in plasters. I'm going to have to change these plasters as they look a bit minging- they didn't give me any new dressings so I've got some from Boots. Really not looking forward to uncovering the wounds.

I feel like my recovery is starting all over again and I'm under pressure to give a date that I will go back to work. I'm a childminder and some of my parents are getting very anxious that I might not be available in September, there are very few cm's with spaces. But after being reopened again I don't feel that I can give them a date. I'm waiting to see if I have to have chemo but won't find out until mid August.

We're booked to go away on the 31st and wish I had longer to feel better. If I'm not up to it, DH will have to take the kids, we can't get a refund now.

JennyOnTheBlocks · 20/07/2014 09:38

Oh Scarlett, my heart goes out to you I think your recent op will mean your recovery is set back to the beginning again, so sorry.

Is there any way you can make your holiday, even if you don't actively take part, the change of scenery will benefit you?

I've not been able to look after DGS during all this either, used to have him whilst his parents worked. I miss him, and that's not even a financial arrangement.

Don't struggle with dressings and wound care, make an appt with practice nurse and let them do it. It hurts to hunch forward to see what you're doing in the first days x

notapizzaeater · 20/07/2014 10:29

Aww that's awful. I agree you're back to,day one nows recovery is going to be slow.

Where are you going on holiday ? You might not be able to fly ? (Or travel long distance in car) would the insurance pay out if you can't ?

We decided we weren't having a family holiday till October this year just in case.

Atsea, congratulations - yours was vaginally wasn't it ? You might be better in a couple of weeks if yiu could push the starting date till then?

I'm walking about fine now, still,hurts to stand up and I'm hunched for first few steps then I'm ok. Still having a weeping discharge thought it wasn't much and changed from sanitary towels,to knicker liners but they aren't managing. My body decided to wait for the hottest few days of the year to start having hot flushes and I'm having loads, am going to see my gp next week and ask about hrt. Not sleeping well as when I lie on my side I can feel something pulling deep inside me in on my right hand side. The surgeon did say my pelvis was very deep and the instruments wouldn't reach so they'd had to manhandle me to get to all the bits AngryAngryAngryBlushBlush.

8 days till I can drive (not that I'm counting .....)

JennyOnTheBlocks · 20/07/2014 11:45

Pizza, have you tried sleeping on your side with a pillow under you, much the same as a pregnancy pillow?

I'm very happy to report no hot flushes, and I think I'm even managing the heat better too!

notapizzaeater · 20/07/2014 12:44

I've got a pillow that's I'm "leaning" on in bed. Poor DH is in the spare room as it takes me about 5 mins to turn over and readjust everything. And because I'm not comfortable I'm moving positions every half hour or so. I have some sleeping tablets but they aren't really helping much, think I might ask my gp. He'll be amazed - I don't really do tablets last antibiotics before this was 10 plus years ago,

Still,wearing these bloody dvt knee high tights - 8 days for them .....

Does anyone know when we can "diet" ? I was told 3 months ?

JennyOnTheBlocks · 20/07/2014 16:07

Hi again pizza, I'm quite frightened to get back on the scales, I'm not weight-driven for aesthetics but realised how much of a health-risk being overweight was for me. Younger sister now has type 2 diabetes and high Bp, dad has angina and so on, but still had a stone and half to lose before 'normal' BMI and then had my operation.

I'm aiming for 12 weeks then have an appt with GP to check everything is ok then back to weight loss programme. Same for exercise, I'm a veteran shredder Grin

How about you?

notapizzaeater · 20/07/2014 16:53

I need to loose lots of weight, was doing well,on protein shakes and lost 35lbs before surgery,. I walk lots (bouncy dog) and work in a school so am used to being active and I'd just taken squash back up as I became anemic. Luckily for me I have low blood pressure and now they've took that funny layer of fat (that I can't remember what it was called but nut improves insulin resistance) I hope I'll be healthier. We're aiming to get away in a holiday in October so aiming for then Grin

I have the shred, not took sellophane off it and I can't understand why it's not worked AngryAngry

JennyOnTheBlocks · 21/07/2014 09:27
Grin

taking the wrapper off is the first workout

Original poster
AtSea1979 · 21/07/2014 10:05

Jenny, I'm also a shredder but I can't see being able to do that anytime soon. The thought of star jumps and sit ups seems very distant yet.

Pizza, I had vaginal with four lapro holes so my recovery should be quicker but this back pain is now proving to be the real problem. Slightest movement and I get shooting pains up my back. I'm ignoring the Tramadol and taking a Naproxin daily and paracetamol top up.

My new job involves 12 hour shifts on my feet all day so I'm doubtful I'll be able to start that any time soon. Also I haven't told them about my booked holidays yet, well they never asked!

Scarlett, how are you getting on now? I'm finding not being able to do anything so frustrating and I'm only 3.5 weeks in, so I can only imagine how you feel.
Still, the DCs break up on Wednesday so I won't have time for boredom! A little bit worried about how I am going to manage them, it's just going to have to be lots of cbeebies and board games I think.

OP posts:
marymoocow · 21/07/2014 11:16

I shredded some paperwork yesterday, does that count?Grin . I've managed the hoover today on the laminate and tile floors. Couldn't push it on the carpet though. I keep looking at the ironing, but think I'll leave that for another week, I don't want to push it after allWink .