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 for the tip! I have invested some very 'attractive' big pants and jogging bottoms so should be ok. It must be hard for your 2 year old and hard for you too I'm lucky as I have a teen and a 9 yr old so nobody needs carrying! My pre op went really well, everyone I saw was so lovely and reassuring so feel much less anxious. Hope your ok x

For those of you worried about G.A. I had a total abdominal hysterectomy, plus ovaries, omentum and v large ovarian cyst four months ago.

At my hospital they give you an epidural for post-op pain. It's hooked up to a drip afterwards for 24 hours. I have absolutely no memory whatsoever of being wheeled anywhere or of being in the recovery room. One minute I was chatting to my anaesthetist in a sort of cupboard after he'd done the epidural and the next I was in the ward, admiring the view from the window. I think there must be some amnesiac drug they give you.

The best advice I was given was glycerine suppositories. They really help with constipation without irritating the entire digestive system with laxatives.

Overall, it wasn't half as bad as I expected. Just kept on taking the over the counter pain killers given to me by the hospital as a routine, not waiting for the pain to begin. Walking - no problem. But standing still gives me a bit of a back-ache - queuing, waiting for the bus etc.

Best of luck to all waiting for their op.

Hi thyme. Glad you are recovering well. When would you say you started to feel better? I had mine on the 5th jan and still not getting round to doing much. Still absolutely exhausted by everything! X

Watching last series of homeland which I recorded for my recovery slothing. Damn it's good. Doing nothing for my internal stitching healing as keep getting shocked and screaming out!!!!

Hi just wanted to check in to say I'm so fed up with this heavy bleeding. Just having one of worst periods ever. I look like an old dish rag, about 82 and now know the true meaning of raddled. I feel queasy and weak all the time and this is after my (failed) fibroid treatment and on iron tablets. Sorry just needed to vent.

On the plus side, my sister had her 6 week post hysterectomy check the other day and is fine. She had to return to work 2 weeks ago. She works full time in a highly stressful job and has two highly lively boys of 11 and 9. She says she has been operating as normal for the last two weeks to all intents and purposes.

I have yet to have gynae appt sent through to discuss my situation.

Ps my sister's gynae seemed most concerned to know what pants she's been wearing!

Hi tobee, so sorry to hear how awful your feeling, you seem to be suffering far more than me and I'm just 5 days away from my op

Sorry posted too soon! What help are you getting next? I struggle each month, especially on work days, it must be horrendous for you. Why the interest in your sisters pants?! I'm worried I've got the wrong type for my hospital bag now

Tobee sorry to hear you are having such a rough time of it all. Do you have a date for the hysterectomy? Sounds like you need to start pushing to get this operation and to get a date fixed.
Re the pants thing. Weird! I had to wear those awful paper ones but then after didn't wear any as had a catheter in. Best to air those parts after the op! X

It's to do with the scar being rubbed on the pants front is all I know!

Feeling better re the period tonight. Thanks for the sympathy. It's just that I had the tail end of my period before my fibroid treatment in early December followed by lightish bleeding and then heavy bleeding on and off ever since. This could just be result of treatment and two periods ( my cycle has gone down to 21 days) but considering I thought I was going to have my fibroid gone and a mirena fitted I was expecting to be barely noticing it!!

I still look like a recently dug up corpse though.

Tobee I can join you on the corpse front. Would be fine to look like this round Halloween but not January . Hope you feel better soon and you get yourself sorted.
I am still very up and down. Feel like I should be feeling so much better by now. Everything I read says that when done laporoscopically you heal faster. One day I am feeling brighter then the next not so much and can do nothing but laze around.

When did I start feeling better? I can't really help with a timetable because mine was total abdominal, vertical incision. But I only had to look after myself. I could rest as much as I needed.

I'm not surprised you still feel exhausted after only 9 days. It's not just the incision. All your other organs, bowels, bladder, intestines, are shifting around and adjusting to having more room.

I know it's difficult, but I'd say don't stand when you could be sitting, and don't sit when you could be lying down. It really does pay dividends to give your body time to mend.

Don't be surprised if you feel a little emotional, like the baby blues. I was on a high, still am, from not having cancer, but several friends have told me they felt unexpectedly tearful at times.

Thanks Tobee. That really does help. Feeling a bit sorry for myself this morning. My dad also has started chemo this morning for non Hodgkin's lymphoma which was diagnosed last week. Good news is that it is looking good for him as this type of cancer is curable/treatable. Given me the wobbles though.
Need to give myself a stern talking to.
Stopped taking tablets earlier in the week but back on them now as stomach and back so sore xxx

Sorry I meant thyme!!!!

I have just come accross this thread . I am 46 and just discover i have fibroid last month i am not bleeding much because of mirena fix 1 year ago . Dr suggest to take the coil off because of fibroid but seek second opinion on private sector he suggest not to take it off because it help not to bleed a lot. i just want to know if it worth taking it out i feel bloted lately . thanks

North don't give yourself a stern talking to. Be gentle on yourself. You've just had major abdominal surgery (laparoscopy or no), not much over a week ago. Physical and emotional stress. And with what your dad is going through. You probably slightly overdo it on your good days. I think we assume it's going to be a straight forward upwards trajectory in recovery which it rarely is with these things.

I'm sure it's very frustrating but try asking yourself every now and then if you would expect your best friend/sister/mum etc to be feeling fab at this early stage. I bet you would be giving them lots more time and sympathy than you feel you deserve to give yourself.

Am back in the hospital. Looks like I have an infection down below. Nurses just checked me over and now calling the consultant. Am trying not to weep in the waiting room.

Oh hope they get that sorted out asap NorthLondonMa...I'm waiting for a date for my op - part of me can't wait and I've suffered for over 10 years now, while another part of me is bricking it as I'm self employed and worried how we're going to manage financially through the recovery period. They're aiming for laproscopic removal for mine first but after 2 sections and previous andominal surgery they're not confident it can be done this way and may end up with abdominal

I had an infection, about 17 days post-op. Absolutely revolting, eau de rotten veg, but no pain or temperature. 1 week on metronidazole then another week, just in case. It started working almost immediately, but if they give it to you, take it with a full glass of water and drinking alcohol will make you feel very ill. No exaggeration.

Btw, still needed panty-liners up to 8 weeks. Just spotting. Like lochia.

Might explain why you've been feeling as if you weren't getting better. Hope you don't have to wait for long.

Thanks. She thinks it will be a course of antibiotics. He will be here in 45 mins to an hour to look at me. It could well explain why i have been feeling worse this week. X

I haven't had a glass of wine yet but am so looking forward to one! Maybe this will be a dry January not through choice

For those who had they're op and an abdominal removal, did the surgeon use a vertical incision or an horizontal bikini line incision? Or does anyone know the preferred incision (if there is one)

Bawbag hope the wait is not too long. I too was looking forward to getting it out of the way and getting on with my life. I am doing that now but very very slowly . I can't help with the incision question though x

Thanks NLM. I was told the waiting list was about 12 weeks so I'm looking at the end of March at the earliest. Tried everything before this though, the pill, mirena, ablation this is a last resort, can't wait to see the back of it really

Is it for endo? I also tried everything and this was last resort. Hoping that this is the solution! X