Anyone up for a new hysterectomy hand holding thread?

[Northlondonma]

For those who are contemplating, have a date, had one and recovering?

I had mine keyhole with everything removed on Monday. Am 40. Would love to chat to people going through same thing.

Thanks Thyme for all the reassuring advice, I guess I'm just impatient and too keen to be 'normal' again!

I'm impressed, there is no way pre op that I could have done a roast for 11

Tea and cake sound lovely Cosmic. We (full family of four) are going for afternoon tea on Saturday to a very posh hotel locally. I can't wait! I love afternoon tea! It's my birthday tomorrow so we are all going on Saturday as DD went back to school today after half term so couldn't go tomorrow. I will just have to content myself with making pancakes tomorrow for shrove Tuesday. I will then have to STOP EATING CAKES before my op or I will be the size of a house after 6 weeks of taking it easy post op.

Hi everyone! My sick note for work runs out on Monday next week. I can't see me going back that soon but will see. I am to see consultant next Tuesday about my nether regions but it has finally started to heal properly and can comfortably wear underwear again. I am just so exhausted!!! I work from 7.30 till 4.30 with an hours commute each way. The thought of standing at the bus stop at 6.30 on Monday is not a good one! I need to speak to occupational health this week as they were talking about a phases return to work. As I can now only just walk comfortably I need to build my strength back up. I need a nap after pottering around at home or going out for a morning!! I don't feel ready yet but then do you actually feel ready after this?
Cosmic I agree with you. I have stayed in my local area since the operation. The though of heading into Central London for work/meeting friends etc gives me the jitters as I also feel the need to be able to get home quickly.
I wanted to feel 100 per cent before going back but maybe that isn't achievable???

north, and cosmic. Dont rush back too fast- get those phased hours

Its meant to be something like

3-4 hour day for a week
4-5 hour day for a week
plus home working
google it!

the main thing is to not panic, take iot slow and dont feel pressurised and if needs be north extend that nopte you have val;id reason after labia-gate

I felt the same about venturing out, you feel very vulnerable. I had a night out in the opposite side of London at 7 weeks and with hindsight...

thyme, only 6 months. now I see! you are technically at the "totally recovered" phase

Oh dear! My brain hasn't totally recovered. Nor have my sleep patterns. But perhaps that's losing my ovaries. You know how menopausal women get caught shoplifting by accident? That's a bit how I feel. I can be really absent-minded at times. 'Senior moments' when I'm in the middle of a conversation and my mind goes blank.

I think I must have had really good ovaries. R.I.P. I'm way past the menopause but feel as if there was still some life in the old gals yet, not shrivelled up to nothing as I'd thought.

North, how are you getting on with your HRT? It seems the new advice is to take it only for a short time. I was on it for 10 years, tho' they've never found a link with my sort of non-malignant ovarian tumour.

I'd go for the phased return, too. You've had 'complications'. There must be some pay-off for what you've been through.

North, I'd definitely try for a phased return. My feelings are that once you go back to work, you get an initial grace period then everyone just forgets, conveniently or otherwise, and you feel you need to soldier on. If it is phased it is still obvious that you are fragile and people are more likely to be supportive, give you time and be sympathetic for longer. Or maybe that is just my work place! If your bum is on the seat it is assumed you are fine! Lol.

Hello all, not sure if you remember me, I posted a few weeks ago...
Had put this thread to the back of my mind whilst I waited for my scan but have just caught up with it all.
North, definitely push for a phased return, you may be surprised by just how exhausted you will be after the first few full days back at work (going on my experience of other surgery)

My scan is late this afternoon. I am dreading it, I am not good at showing my lady bits (but then who is??)

I am now halfway through my cycle and have started with the low down cramping pain and pain in my lower back. It will continue like this until my next period. I had never given this a moment's thought, but is this a symptom of something?

Hey ho, let's see what the scan brings. (although I probably won't be told anything this afternoon, will I?)

Good luck this afternoon behind! Let us know how you get on. My pains used to start with ovulation and then continue to period. It slowly lengthened to almost three weeks out of four that I would have pains. That was caused by endo. Have you been checked for that?
I am seeing consultant on Tuesday and will discuss going back to work with him. I have been out of action for the last 5 weeks so need to slowly start getting my life back together and getting out and about and maybe cut out my afternoon naps (although am loathe to do that ). I will def have a phased return to work. Need to speak to occ health. Will do that this afternoon.
My husband goes skiing a week on weds for 5 nights so need to be on good form for then!

Hi North.

I have not been checked for endo yet. GP wanted to rule out fibroids first (my mum had them when she was my age and he thinks therefore I am likely to have them)
I have to make an appointment with a female GP after I have had the scan to discuss my periods, pains and my prolapse so if they suspect endo I suppose I will be sent for an investigation for that. (I gather an ultrasound does not pick it up)

My appointment is at five, I am hoping they will either find fibroids or nothing. Will keep you posted, thanks for holding my hand

Out of interest why a female doctor? All my endo consultants have been male. Every single one of them and I have seen a lot!!!
Endo can only be detected by a laporoscopy. My mum had a hysterectomy at 40 for fibroids but I did not have any.
Hope the appointment goes well.

I have no idea why a female Dr, other than I mentioned I had a prolapse and the lovely male GP went a bit pale and asked my to be assessed by a female GP.
Personally, I don't care.

Appointment was inconclusive. No fibroids, cysts or polyps visible. Well, one small fibroid but sonographer said that would not be to blame for clotting and heavy periods.
He wants me to come back in two weeks when I am in the first half of my cycle (am currently mid cycle) so he can assess the thickness of the uterine lining.

So, no further forward, unfortunately, other than with the pain I am having endometriosis may look more likely than fibroids?
Or it is one hell of a hormone imbalance?

Either way, another scan in a few weeks and we will take it from there.

Thank you for all your support and advise

Oh I am sorry it was not more conclusive. Can you push for endo investigation? Hope you are ok. X

I am ok, thanks. I half expected them not to find anything. I think the plan of action is:

1. Scan in first half of next cycle to double check thickness of lining
2. See GP and ask for endo investigation OR bloodtest to check hormones (or even both)

And then we will see.

For now there is

I am wearing jeans for the first time tonight!!! JEANS! bye bye jogging bottoms (well at least until tomorrow ). Off out for dinner with lashings of wine......

Jeans?! Wow I haven't worn jeans for such a long time, my whopper of a fibroid made all trousers uncomfortable and now post op it's not yet an appealing thought! Mind you, I do look fairly 'fancy' for someone who is doing nothing more than a lot of lounging about, I treated myself to a couple of cute mini dresses that I wear with oversized hoik them up to your armpits tights. Most comfy.

How was your night out? You almost sound as though you have a life north, I'm really pleased for you after all you've been through!
Good luck with work, I hope they are understanding about when you return to work, keep us posted xx

Another one sorry to hear it wasn't more conclusive behind It's hard not having an idea of what's happening next, I do hope things are clearer for you soon x

Thanks cosmic. I feel a tad disappointed; if the scan had shown something obvious it could be treated and that would be that.

But hey ho, have telephone app with GP tomorrow afternoon to get referral for second scan (daft system, the hospital could not give me an apt)which I don't think will show anything either and then I will see a (female?) GP to have prolapse looked at and I will give her the whole sorry tale of flooding, fainting, pain etc and see what she suggests.

I think it could be a while to get this sorted (if ever??)

Btw, I like the sound of your 'hoik them up to your armpits' tights - where do I sign up for some of those

North, how was your dinner? Must be great to be back in the land of the living as it were. Just don't overdo it at work!!

Hi everyone! Just on way to see consultant. Have only one sore part left of damaged you know what but is so much better than before. I am not back at work yet. I am thinking two more weeks but will see what he says. The main issue is exhaustion now and the fact that I am not fully healed. Need to concentrate on getting energy levels up. I do feel so much better though in the last week. Not having stomach ache all the time is wonderful and hormones are settling. All in am progressing well now and am seeing the benefits of having had the operation.
I've now started to get rid of all of my baby stuff which has been a bit but I am not going to be needing them anymore!
Night out was great. Just went to a pub in Highgate with friends for dinner. It did feel great to get out of jogging bottoms and in to normal clothes! Any jeans were however a tad tight. I have def stacked on the weight in the last 7 weeks!

Return to work 10th march. All healing below. Just one small bit that is still sore. Now need to stop my afternoon naps in preparation!

How are you sleeping at night, North? You lost your ovaries, too?

I'm still having problems with insomnia. I can sleep after lunch and am v tempted to go back to bed in the mornings, but at 11p.m., when my book is falling on my face, I switch the light off and - BAM - I'm wide awake till about 12.30 OR 1 a.m.

However active I am during the day, nap or no nap, it's the same. I think I'm missing some hormone or other. And, if I'm home, it's hard to give up the naps when I haven't had my full 8 hrs.

Glad to hear you're healing at last. Are you returning full-time?

Behind - hope your woman doctor is more sympathetic. You really shouldn't have to put up with symptoms like that.

Hey thyme!! My sleeping patterns were all over the place. I wasn't sleeping at night until a couple of weeks ago. I for some reason can barely make it through the day without a nap. But even with the naps I am absolutely shattered by about 9.30 and sleep till the morning when I literally can't wake up.
I am on Estelle 2mg solo. Estrogen only. What are you on?

I have to speak to occ health tomorrow and think they will recommend phased return. I only work Monday to Wednesday so will see what they say. I have a long day though. 7.30 to 4.30 with an hours commute each way.

In theory, I'm post menopausal. They said I wouldn't notice the difference without ovaries, but I did. I think insomnia is one of the symptoms.

I was on HRT for 10 years. No problems. Started taking it at the first hot flush and no emergence of symptoms when I came off it. There's no evidence that the sort of ovarian tumour I had is connected with HRT. But I think they'd be cautious about giving it to me at my age now and I don't really need it.

Might try something like Nytol or ask my GP next time I see her.

If your hormones are still a bit unstable, perhaps your need for a nap is like the first trimester? I know I always used to be incredibly sleepy at that time.

Yes - that is a long day. And you might find it difficult to concentrate at first.

How is everyone? Are you weaning yourself off those naps north or making the most of it before the 10th?!
I've had a rough few days, I've had horrendous pmt (normal for me ) and normally as soon as my period starts I feel instant relief, physically and mentally but now with ovaries but nothing else there is no relief! So has it 'come' do I still have pmt? It's going to be hard adjusting to this every month!
I popped into work today, I work with young children and thought I should say hello as they're missing me. I only stayed for an hour and only sat on a chair talking to then all but it totally wipes me out, I've been in bed for the rest of the day, feel totally wiped out

Have you tried going on the pill in the past, Cosmic? Did that help? Seems a bit of an overkill now you don't need contraception, but some combination of hormones might help, or cancel out the progesterone?

They might adjust on their own, but if not I'd ask your GP. The Pill is meant to protect against ov-ca so that shouldn't be a worry. Is there any advice on Hystersister?

I'm still feeling very achey. Not abdominal. Just back and hips. Don't know if that's lack of hormones or lack of exercise.