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.

I was told before I went in that I would be there for 4 nights, for an abdominal plus extras.

In the event, I was doing so well, they discharged me late afternoon on the 4th day after 3 nights. But they won't let you go until bowels and bladder are working properly. I had to be collected by someone and it had to be a cab/car not public transport.

But I was fine to leave at that point. V glad to get home, tho' everyone was so kind in hospital. And I did enjoy the company on the ward.

Am really pissed off . Family meeting friends today in park then for a roast. Got ready and had to stay behind as underwear is too uncomfortable with my infected lady part. I should be out there with them rather than stuck at home. If not for this infection I would be up and about by now. Feeling a bit sorry for myself

Good luck cosmic! Thinking of you today. X

Thank-you! Am here waiting, trying to keep warm and distract myself from what's about to happen....
Hope your day improved yesterday, sorry to hear you missed out Hope your feeling ok today x

Good luck!

Good luck cosmic. Bad luck North!

Sorry to sound dim, but what happens in long term after hysterectomy? (All types). All the medical sites talk about the 6 week recovery but not about the physical stuff in the months and years to come.

I know I won't remember to ask hospital doctor. He's a real ten minutes and you're out kind of guy and my gp surgery with a chatty female gp are closing down in March (boo!).

Just wanted ask mumsnetter's experiences,please.

Hi all! Cosmic hope everything went well. It would seem I am medical marvel. Went to see consultant today and he has done over 1200 hysterectomies and this has never happened before. He has never even heard of it happening. It is getting better as in the dead skin has come away but I am left with open sore which is v painful wearing underwear and sitting/walking. He has given me some local anaesthetic so that should help and am to see him again in 2 weeks. He would like to monitor me as he would like to see progress from a medical point as it is so unusual. Would seem I am also medical guinea pig. Thinks it will heal as normal.
Tobee. What do you mean? As in how we will feel after 6 weeks?

How wonderful that must have made you feel North.

What I mean is re bleeding, menopause, what happens to overies if they remain, sexual related issues etc. all I can find is things to do with immediate healing of scar and you might feel weepy.

My sister is too scared to google so I do it for her and when I've found stuff in the past (eg on hystersisters) it's been the result of specific questions I've googled and hystersisters etc has come up. Reading bits and bobs has just confused me.

Somewhere said if your ovaries remain you can still conceive but it can be (obviously) life threatening. Made me realise I've know idea about loads.

From my experience, I had no bleeding post op at all, I have one ovary left but I'm not sure how it would be possible to conceive as they remove the cervix and sew it all up, so there's no access for sperm - that's another bonus, no more smears!

I haven't had any problems having sex, with the wound healing, or anything else at all, for me, there have been absolutely no negatives

Thanks for the response. I know my sister (partial hysterectomy late November 2014) was weirded out by pmt and wondered how long it would go on for both this month and all other months.

I'm desperate for my (fibroid) bleeding to stop. Since my resection (early December 2014) I've gone back to being anaemic and I'm sick of the feeling.

I have read that when ovaries are left after hysterectomy, they don't last as long as they would have done otherwise. I will be 50 later this year and am sure I have (peri)menopausal symptoms - loss of concentration/sleep issues/memory problems/mood swings/palpitations - but whether that has anything to do with the hysterectomy, I don't know, I don't plan to start on hrt and will get by without it, if at all possible

Thank you for the info.

Hello! Here I am, on the other side All went well, my ovaries are still there but everything else gone. I've struggled with the pain, I presumed I'd be pumped full of something for the first few days but I seem to mostly on paracetamol?! I managed to get up yesterday and today I've managed a shower and a little walk up and down the corridor, so I'm doing ok.
Oh my god, the wind! It's definitely arrived today!!! The dcs will find it most amusing when the arrive later
How is everyone else? Hope things are improving for you north? x

Congratulations! That's the hard part over now!

I think I was on more than paracetamol to start with, but maybe only for the first 24 hours. I also had an ice bag over the wound for 24-48 hours which I guess was to help with inflammation and infection

They do get you up quick - horrible feeling the first time, but it does get easier. And yes the wind - horrendous and I had absolutely no control over it at all, but once your system gets back to normal it all settles down again

Welcome to the club!

Well done cosmic. That's over and done with and you can concentrate on your recovery. Was thinking about how you were getting on in last couple of days. Did they manage to do it via keyhole? The wind is something else! Lots of peppermint tea and as you are in a private room you can let it out to your hearts content!
I am struggling majorly with the pain in my lady bits. It's raw and throbbing. Think will have to call consultant back tomorrow as local anaesthetic doesn't seem to be helping.

Thank-you both, the wind was so bad last night I kept waking myself up Good to hear its normal!
So sorry to hear your still so sore north, what rotten luck and I can't quite understand how it could have happened! It must be making your recovery twice as hard
My surgery wasn't keyhole, so I'm in a lot of pain at times, it stings! I'm trying to get up and about but really I just want to lay in bed dozing!

Sleep cosmic sleep!
Anyone on here taking hrt? X

Hello, please may I pop in with a quick question?

Assuming some of you had your hysterectomy for heavy periods or period pain, did any of you try the Mirena before your surgery? I suffer terribly with period pain (I have adenomyosis) and my dr is suggesting I try the Mirena before opting for surgery. I am not keen, having read some bad experiences with Mirena. Also, I don't need contraception anymore, so I'm not keen on the fact that it delivers hormones. I'm currently on the mini pill to try to stop my periods, but it's not working, I still have pain (even without the bleeding) and I don't like the other effects it has on my body (pesky hormones).

Having said all that, I know it's a big decision to have surgery, so I want to consider it carefully.

Any advice welcome and hope you're all recovering well.

Hello cola! Hopefully someone wiser than me will pop along shortly, as my experience is very different but I totally understand why you'd be wary of the mirena, I know many people who have had a terrible time on it
I'm having a rough day today, unfortunate really as I'm due to go home soon. I now have the runs, sorry if it's tmi! They have been giving me laxatives and I think maybe they've worked too well. Getting up to go to the toilet constantly is exhausting though!

Thank you, Cosmic.

Sorry to hear you've got the runs - hope it settles down soon! Hope you're soon home with your feet up!

Cosmic sorry you are feeling bad. Get them to take good care of you.
I was on the mirena for endometriosis. Was on it for two years before my operation two weeks ago. For me it didn't work as planned as kept having monthly bleeds so did nothing to help my endo. This apparently happens to one in four. I then went on the mini pill in addiction and that still didn't stop my period. Next step was zoladex (which I hated) and then hysterectomy.
That said I have a friend with endo and it has worked well for her. Hope you get it sorted.

Thanks, northlondon.

Really feeling crappy now I'm home Struggling to keep on top of the pain, have been in tears it's been so bad, not great in front of the dcs!
Miss my super swanky, electric bed that I had in hospital, just can't seem to get comfy.
Sorry, what a self indulgent whinge that was. Shall leave you all in peace now....

The first few days are tough cosmic. Try to make sure that you are taking the painkillers at regular intervals. I feel for you. A hot water bottle on your back may provide some relief. As mine was keyhole I can't really provide advice on best position to get comfy. Put loads of pillows in bed and make sure your family are looking after you. Xxx

Thanks north, I'm a bit less pitiful now, am comfy in bed and relatively pain free. My family are being lovely, all I keep thinking is how on earth do woman cope post caesarian with a baby to deal with too!!
Thanks for being there xxx