Is there a hysterectomy support thread?

[ALemonyPea]

I had a laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy, retained ovaries but everything else removed.

Day 6 for me, and I have some questions and would like some support as freacking out about the thought of vault prolapse.

I am managing pain wise now. Some slight pulling on one side, but manageable. Belly button keeps bleeding, but not enough to run out, so just cleaning it twice a day.

I feel quite heavy down there, is that normal?

I thought I had read everything there was about hysterectomies before I had the op, but the surgeon mentioned vaginal vault prolapse just before the surgery and explained it briefly. I then googled, and the first page brought up an awful image and I can't get it out my mind. I'm terrified that it'll happen to me.

Can anyone offer any help and support.

Oh that sucks BG. Hope the time flies by quickly.

Can you find a bright side BG or is it all doom and gloom? I suppose it's not long off sick before the holidays so you know there'll be a decent break before you have to get back to work in September, rather than you pushing to get back before you're really ready? Am clutching at straws here for you.

BG 18 weeks! At least you have a definite timescale, but can't believe it's so long .

It's actually only 12 weeks as I've done 6 already.

Hopefully I get to see the Harry Potter play (hotel and train booked already) we have front row seats. And i get to see Take That.

I don't want to miss the last few weeks of term as I want to spend it with my class (this is the second year I've taught them) and my Headteacher is retiring so it will be a really emotional time.

And....there is always wine and chocolate!

I am seeing the consultant at the end of this month, an appt I can make came through. I was encouraged yesterday when I had a friend over who had a total hysterectomy and ovaries, tubes the lot less than 2 weeks ago. She endorsed that the wind was the worst thing. Her best news was that she is cancer free (was endometrial cancer) and no more action required. She is still a little tired but amazingly encouraging I think. Good luck to all of you going for surgery.

Yy to the wind being horrible. Poor DH has been putting up with me farting like a cow for the last week! I'm glad to hear your friend is doing well lazy - I'm now 8 days post and beginning to feel a lot more like me again. I'll still take it easy but hope I'm past the worst now.

BG if you want to spend the last weeks of term with your class and it's only another month after the 18 week wait is it worth seeing if you can schedule for the beginning of the holidays? It's great, though, that you get to do all the things you had planned - though if for any reason you can't do Harry Potter I'll gladly take the tickets off your hands

How is everyone doing? BG you have a fair bit to look forward to which is nice. Time is going to do strange things for you while you wait I expect.

3 1/2 weeks to mine. Bastard period is here. I feel rubbish, its a good reminder of why I'm having it done. I have a 24 hour cardiac monitor on for palpitations. I'm really hoping it doesnt show up anything that means it needs to be postponed. (Un)Happily the palpitations are crazy today.

Primark visited for giant knickers. Good selection of night shirt things. I also bought a couple of pairs of harlem pant trouser things and a nice shirt dress from gap that was in the sale. Apart from buckets of movicol I think thats all I need.

It's your last one Robots so it's not all doom and gloom re Bastard period. Well done on your shopping!

I've had a realisation that I was feeling good because I was taking a fuckton of tramadol. I've run out today and am sore. I tried to walk to the supermarket (200m away) and it left me feeling sore and exhausted so I've popped some co-codamol and am hoping that'll take the edge off. I've also had a super anxious day of feeling fat as fuck so I ended up taking a diazepam as well. Still feeling scribbly but am home and resting and taking it as a sign to keep taking it easy. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Robots I took care to remember how awful my last ever period was (26.11.2016 )! I still catch myself when planning future events factoring in the possible the arrival of my period - and then feeling huge relief when I remember it can never happen again.

Sweary - sounds like you need to take it easy. I found alternating an active day with a more restful day worked well. I hope your anxiety eases up soon.

Hyster Sisters' advice is to throw a party!

My last period party!

Enjoy your last period Robots. Throw your (unopened) tampons in the air and lie down, make a tampon angel 😁

My last period was the 21/01/17. Maybe I should have a comemerwtive ceremony every year to remember it? I could make a cake. Any excuse for cake.

I've started to drive this week. It was hurting whenever I put full lock on in either direction, and tender afterwards, but I've managed. Back on full school run next week.

Can I join? I'm right at the start of the process and the gp has reluctantly agreed to make a private referral but says I'll have to convince the consultant as I haven't tried the coil for my periods.

I am 38 and have endo. My periods are not agony anymore but feel so distressing and draining and massively affect me emotionally. I just want rid of it all as I also flood and lose about 250ml over a morning. It's just awful.

I want to keep ovaries but lose womb and cervix. I'm hoping they'll ok it for 31 July so I can take August off work as it's a quiet time.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

My last period started on 2/12/16 and finished last wednesday when they relieved me of my uterus and I would throw a party but I'm too bloody exhausted!

Hello arms my advice would be to pay for it. That way you don't have to argue with the consultant, get them to agree and get a letter two weeks later putting another hurdle in your way of getting the surgery (a psychiatric assessment that I'd have to get ccg funding for, god knows how). Honestly the stress that the NHS consultants were causing me with their lies and belittling would probably have had me fail any assessments! Good luck with getting what you want.

I'll probably fit in one more period before the op! So my penultimate one, then it's gone. Woo Hoo. I'm going to make a donation to a charity that supplies menstrual products to those that can't afford them to celebrate.

And eat cake.

Arms, that does sound awful. It gets to the point where you just want it sorted. Have you had your endo treated at all? Any recent scans?

Sweary you need to rest more.

Lemony - full school run? Are you mad?

Robots One more period - just time to order your lovely 'lola' cake, then .

Arms I had endo (along with adenomyosis and fibroids). The extent of my hysterectomy was pretty much dictated by my adhesions and what could be saved after everything was unstuck. Have you had a diagnostic lap or scans as Robots mentioned?

Thanks all. I had an ectopic pregnancy then a lap, dye and scrape 6 years ago. Not sure where it is now. I guess they'll find out! I have to have a lap and dye under ga as I only have 1 tube since the ectopic so if I've got to be under anyway reckon they may as well whip everything out (know it's not as simple as that but I'll be unconscious)!

Thanks for confirming private is more likely to get it sorted sweary. Gp told me I'd still have trouble convincing them but I have a 5 year old dd and am happy sticking there. Lucky to have 1 with my condition!

Honestly arms I've been arguing with the gynaecologist since before Christmas having been referred in the summer. I saw the private guy on the Tuesday and had my op 8 days later. I'm not sure if there are more hurdles to jump if you're using insurance rather than self pay (DH had better get a new job soon, I miss private healthcare) but I can't imagine it'll be that bad.

I had mine privately (work insurance) and the consultant agreed to the op straight away - she could tell I was in a bad way, I think. I have no children, and she discussed that with me but didn't make me jump through hoops to prove I was okay about it.

I'm childfree too and they didn't bat an eyelid

Arms, my NHS consultant suggested I tried the coil first, but I did not like the idea of having something sitting inside my body, it freaks me out. It also, wasn't a guarantee that my periods would stop being horrific, considering that when I had the implant (which I hated) I bled the full 6 months it was in, and stopped the same day it was removed.

I lost weight to be able to get my hysterectomy, and although I was offered an ablation to try first, it wasn't guaranteed it would work, so insisted on the hysterectomy. Stick to your guns, be firm that that is what you want and that the coil is not an option.

Thank you all so much for the advice. I feel reassured that there's light at the end of the tunnel. I worked out it's about a fifth of my life it impacts on. That's too much!

Wind is so painful isn't it and sounds like nothing. Def rest up after an op. My mum swears by salty baths and big knickers after her c-section experience. Assume it's a similar scar!

Lemony - you had to lose weight? Can I ask what your BMI was and what they wanted it to be before they operated?

I'm told my scar is identical to a c-section (abdominal op) - have you had any discussion so far about whether to have an abdominal or vaginal/laparoscopic op? The latter wasn't an option for me due to bowel adhesions.

On the NHS I was told my BMI had to be under 35.

My incisions are tiny - 2 about 1 cm long at either hip and one I can't see in my navel. I was told to avoid baths until all incisions - including the vaginal cuff - have healed, so around 6 weeks. Soft knickers are the order of the day too.