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.

Hello everyone, new to this thread. I saw my consultant on Monday and I am hoping to have a hysterectomy around middle of March. I'm just waiting on confirmation of a date from my consultant. I'm glad I came upon this thread as I hadn't really thought about post operative clothing and I certainly didn't know about the post operative gas! Discovered I needed a hysterectomy after having an MRI scan done on my back to see if I needed surgery for a problem with my discs that I've had for the last 4 years. An incidental finding was an enlarged womb and after an ultrasound to follow up the MRI they found a large fibroid on the outside of my womb as well as my enlarged uterus. It is pressing on my bladder which explains my alarming amount of visits to the loo in a day that due to my back problems I had failed to address. Had no other symptoms other than going up 2 sizes in trousers that I put down to getting fat as I was less mobile due to my back problems. My gynaecologist thinks the op will hopefully have a positive effect on my back too. Here's hoping!

Hello! This thread has been so great for me, hopefully will help you too I cannot recommend peppermint oil enough, I started taking it 2 weeks before my op and I really think it's made a difference, I had a few hours of wind the day after my op but nothing like the horror stories I'd heard!
Do you know how your op will be done? Mine was abdominal with a horizontal incision (which 2 weeks on I still can't look at!) I had a huge fibroid removed so my options were limited but others on here have had different experiences and ops.
Do ask any questions, I'm always checking in and there are lots of lovely ladies on here

Ps I too went to the toilet a squillion times a day and couldn't fit into my jeans pre op Already things are very different and I only recently had mine done.

Oh Cosmic that is good to hear. I honestly didn't realise there was anything amiss. I just thought I was becoming a fat git!!!!!

What a world we live in when it's better to have a large growth inside you than to be fat!!!

I'm being tongue in cheek of course. However, looking back lots of things make sense now and I really really hope it makes my back better as I feel I have missed out on so much of my daughters life being unable to do lots of things with her.

With regards my op, the consultant has ruled out keyhole as the fibroid is too large. He thinks it will most likely be a bikini line incision. I'm waiting on results from my biopsy from Monday and bloods to see if it is worth leaving my ovaries or not and also just to be sure that there is nothing cancerous. He doesn't think so but obviously they need to be sure.

Welcome motherstongue! Feel free to ask any questions about the op and recovery etc. we have all been through it here. I had keyhole but as cosmic said most people have had abdominal hysterectomy. Also look at hystersisters as some great advice on there. How old is your daughter? If she is young you will need some help afterwards. Mine are 2 and 5 and I'm still not up to looking after the 2 year old so had to get extra nursery days.
Still the same cosmic. My friend is an endo specialist nurse and she is asking a consultant for me today if they can give any further advice. Xxx

Hyster sisters is really great, although when I found the hysterectomy association great as well, especially as the forums on there were more relevant to what I was going through (in that it's a uk site, hyster sisters is american)
I hope your friend can help north. I think of you often north. It's a tough enough op to recover from, without having such rough added complications
Mothertounge, I too have kept my ovaries but they whipped out my cervix which apparently is fairly common. I naively didn't give it a thought when my consultant said they would remove it but wish I had researched and questioned more. I now keep stumbling upon horror stories about women's sex lives being ruined because of cervix removal! Having said that, google has not been my friend throughout this!!! Stick with mumsnet and the two sites suggested, I wish I had

Welcome Motherstongue!

My problem was ovarian. The hysterectomy was on a 'just in case' basis. And I had a vertical incision, which I think could be easier to recover from in some respects, but obviously more visible.

All I'd say at the moment, is when they say 'Rest and don't lift', they MEAN it. How old is your dd? Hope you will have lots of help when you're out of hospital.

A lot of symptoms I didn't realise were connected magically cleared up, so that's been a bonus. And I've dropped a dress size! But with your back, you really will have to be careful, as, post-op, the back has to do extra work while abdo muscles are healing.

Hello everyone, thank you for being so welcoming.

In answer to your question, my daughter is 10 so she is able to do lots for herself. I also have a son who is 16 (not so great at doing things for himself, lol). I had lots of gynae problems about 7 years ago with heavy bleeding that seemed to go on forever just to stop for a few days then start all over again. My gynaecologist at that time spoke about a hysterectomy but as my daughter was still quite young I chose to have an ablation instead. It was pretty successful, I still got periods but they were normal with regards being monthly and they were also very light. For the last 3 years I have been peri-menopausal so my periods have been coming and going with months between them. I have had other menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats too. That's why it came as such a shock to me that I had this large fibroid and enlarged womb as I really haven't had any of the conventional symptoms.

Cosmic, my gynaecologist didn't speak to me about my cervix. You now have me worried about the sexual side of things. I will need to talk this through with him. Thanks for making me aware.

North, I really am a little in awe of you dealing with this and having 2 young children. It must be so hard on the wee one to understand that you can't lift for a cuddle. Sending you and them a hug as can't do emoticon on here as not tech savvy enough!

Good news! I think I am healing. The area is definitely getting smaller at last and feeling almost human today! Onwards and upwards! Hope all you lovely ladies are well xxx

mothers, welcome! when your data is 100% booked we will all have the life saving tips x

north, thanks to god!!!! but make sure you keep resting as you are still early days and that womb still a healing

cosmic how are ya? this is (super sedate!) routine that I am loving

thyme, just HELLO

I am 8 weeks now and properly back at work. I am OK, but not out of the woods. lots of fatigue (lots!!!!) and I get ever so sore from sitting down all day. and the icy commute is NOT rocking my world

also I am FAT. weeks of no exercise and way to much chocolate. Grr

want to still work and home a couple of days and try and leave a smidgen early but feels like I am taking the piss???

have a good weekend all.

That's great news north, I really hope your on the mend now but please please don't over do it! (Says the woman that totally over did it yesterday and now feels horrific!) I hope your coping ok at home? Must be so hard with little children, I find it hard enough with my big ones!

Thanks for the link paris, hope your having a restful weekend? I'm sure the weight will drop off now your up and about again. Are work being sympathetic? I hope they're not expecting too much of you so soon.

Does anyone else have a weird internal feeling when they first wake? I've realise that as I stir and eventually started getting out of bed, that it feels like my insides are all shifting around, sort of jigging about in all the new space! Makes me feel quite queasy!

Hello to everyone else too, hope your all ok

Hi everyone, I'm off shopping now for some new sleepwear for the hospital. No PJs, thanks to all you lovely ladies advice. I think M&S will probably be my best bet for cotton nighties, new experience for me, don't think I've had a cotton nightie since I was about 10.

North, glad you're feeling a bit better.

Thanks for the hello, Paris! I'm further down the line, and ancient, so of limited use, but hope I can occasionally come up with something helpful. Btw, re weight, I read that you need a high protein diet to help with tissue/muscle healing, which might fit in well with weight loss.

North - so pleased you're beginning to heal. Never thought I'd be logging on to find out the latest on the labia of a complete stranger.

Hi to everyone else!

i had my op 3 years ago. aged 27.
TAHBSO. I no longer take HRT but probably should be...

Recovery for me was slow but now feel so much better

Filo - that sounds grim. Do you still have menopausal symptoms, or are you concerned about future health, re bones and cardio-vascular?

I'm post-menopausal, but had a TAHBSO (plus other bits) six months ago. Am now getting hot flushes and weird insomnia, even tho' I was told I wouldn't notice not having any ovaries any more. There's no actual link between my tumour and hormones that they've discovered, yet, but I don't want to go on HRT, and they probably wouldn't give it to me. Don't really need it, tbh.

Glad you feel so much better. So do I. I thought I was just getting old.

im kind of being an ostrich about it to be honest...

I ate chicken twice today. And one cake . And chips . Hmmm

Agree re strangers labia comment !!! I was worried too !

Cosmic you are early days girl. It's still just three weeks ish no? What you been doing ?

I found after my op, I had weird cravings, like being pregnant. I would totter my way to M&S, just to get their cherry pie. Two slices made a v acceptable breakfast. Fortunately, I had a lot of weight to put back on. Not the case now, and I'm struggling to resist desserts.

Cosmic - I didn't have the jiggling, but it took at least 3 weeks for my bladder to re-site itself. And it was good as gold all day, then went into overdrive between midnight and 2 am. That's still the time I can't sleep, but no bathroom trips involved. Just a craving for a midnight Mars bar.

Hello funky, sorry to be dim but what does the bso stand for in tahbso? I know it will be something glaringly obvious but I had to ask!
Paris, yes mine will be 3 weeks ago this coming Monday. I know I'm doing too much but really trying not to! Attempted a small trip to a cafe (driven there and back!) and it was awful Felt dreadful and can anyone else remember feeling vulnerable? I was nearly rammed into by a shopping trolley and it's odd moving so slowly out in the 'real' world! Was so glad to get home!

Hope all you lovely ladies are having good weekends

Thyme, loving the idea of a midnight mars bar!

YY about the vulnerability. I think it's because we don't know our new limits and are afraid of finding out at an inopportune moment. There were times when I simply had to sit down, awkward now M&S have removed all but a token few of their chairs. (Had a conversation with someone on the till about it.) And I kept well out of the way of my toddler gc's flailing feet when sitting next to me on the sofa.

8 weeks post-op I was invited to a dinner party on the other side of London - an hour and a half by public transport. Lunch would have been fine. But I was really wobbly at the thought of of discovering I'd overdone it on some dark deserted station. I did it, but left early. Partly because my back was killing me from sitting too long at the table, but mainly because I didn't feel safe so far from home.

But it goes. You do get your confidence back.

Had to stop buying Mars bars. And chocolate biscuits. Don't want to grow out of my new clothes. And was looking forward to having a waist this summer.

Morning all!!!
My labia is truly grateful and never felt so loved . On the mend now I think. Still sore but I'm now going commando which is a wee bit chilly but is definitely helping! Totally overdid it yesterday. Lunch out in herts then back for a kids party (hell on earth) where I had to stand around for 2 hours. Could barely remember my name when I finally got home.
I have a further two weeks off work and then am supposed to be going back. We'll see. But hr called me last week to remind me that I am on half pay, that they miscalculated January's pay and that they will take it all out of my next pay. Nice people.
Cosmic keep going slowly. Very easy to over push yourself and then pay for it later. BSO means removal of ovaries. Mine are in some bin somewhere and am on hrt. So far no menopausal symptoms and no cravings. I am however getting as big as a house from sitting round on my ever expanding derrière.

Thyme , that's exactly what I did last weekend ( the dinner party across London) so pleased it not just me that aches aches aches

Cosmic . Cosmic ! North! North ! What a day and u know I did same but driving is such a no as it puts pressure on where the stitches are . Even at 8 weeks it hurts me .

I am def going to some Pilates (sedate and gentle) as am hobbling like an old lady.

I went to soft play and ditto for the chairs hurting back .

For this recovery there seem to be are only two comfortable positions

Stand
Flopped in sofa

I live for 930pm when I get into bed with my hot water bottle

That said Really miss being off work . I had time again. Time to play with kids , time to read , time to poodle, time to call people . Back to normal now

bi salpingo oophrectomy. both ovaries removed in short!