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.

lasttime on planning.....
Everyone's recovery is different but I recognise that feeling before the op that there is a huge void/opportunity to fill during recovery.

All I can say, 6 weeks in is....

Doing nothing/resting is really important. It is NOT 'doing nothing', it is healing, the most important thing you can do for a full recovery without complications. So plan for being ready with a lounging place and as many 'resting' distractions to hand as possible. I am on my 10th or 11th audiobook!

Getting the balance between resting and constructive activity is the real challenge. You will not feel ill, but in the early days you will feel rather uncomfortable and staying still in a prone position will be more appealing than the required gentle mobility. Later on you may well, like me, feel quite fab and rested, and be keen to press on with stuff you never usually have time for. ERROR! The vast majority of bright ideas are a bad idea as they inevitably involve stretching and your abdomen. Walking is great though so if you are competitive or need to feel your time is constructive, get a fitbit/pedometer. Forget about tidying, sorting, gardening, painting, decorating for a bit.

There is a reason why all these forums and leaflets and medics say this is a long process. The only prize for thinking you are ahead of average progress and boldly going etc. will be more discomfort and possible burst stitches/adhesions.

Hopefully others will agree. Having read up beforehand I still didnt really 'get it' until recently - I now realise that getting back to feeling fine isnt the challenge, restraint is. So first step is to get your head around being 'busy doing nothing'. Oh, and stocking up on peppermint tea 😀

It is odd the recovery period because as Gig says, after a couple of weeks you don't feel ill. 4 1/2 weeks in I feel like a massive fraud, until I try to do too much stuff. You just have to be really flexible and not take on time sensitive tasks, so if it's too much you can give up or go and have a rest.
I'm gradually increasing my work hours now. I get very tired but I'm managing.

OOh BG only a few more big sleeps until Harry Potter.

Promise you will report back.

Just checking in to say, I hope everyone is OK and not suffering too much in the heat. BG - have a lovely time tomorrow!

Hi Arch

Today I am mostly trying to work out whether I am having another hot flush....or am just hot

But it is glorious weather and I am so grateful to be able to be outdoors.

Have a lovely weekend.

Hi Arch and Gig!

Yay BG tomorrow is nearly here :)

It is on the warm side today isn't it. I'm doing pretty well. Did have a slight fright when I started bleeding in town a couple of days ago. Had to dash off to sort it out. That was unexpected, but it's settled.

I just realised today how weird it is not to have any cycles anymore. I don't mean my actual period, but the whole feeling of the menstrual cycle. It was like a clock that marked time. A deranged high speed clock granted! I feel like it's like suddenly moving to California where it's sunny all the time rather than having changeable weather.

Soooo excited for tomorrow! I cannot wait. Slightly nervous regarding the critical state that's been announced, but life must go on.

Half term, then 7 weeks left of the school year so I really need my operation soon otherwise I'll be dipping into my holidays.

Have a wonderful time, BG - you deserve it so much after all you've been through. Fingers crossed you'll get your date imminently!

Back from a fabulous weekend in London. Harry Potter was AMAZING!! We were 3 rows from the front - fantastic seats. We did loads of walking and spent part of the day in Hyde Park with a picnic and a bottle of Prosecco!

Still no news from the hospital. We have Take That on Thursday in Birmingham and then that's it, nothing planned at all.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Bank Holiday!

Hi everyone, hope you're all doing well. Keep meaning to come update and see how everyone is getting on.

Can't believe you've not got a date yet BG! That's ridiculous! Glad you enjoyed Harry Potter. Very jealous.

Whoever mentioned PMT, I've found I do get it, but nothing in comparison to how it was before hysterectomy. No huge chocolate craving, no cramps, nut a bit of a moody bitch for a day.

Still having problems with my bowels, and have developed pikes as a result . Im in a lot of pain before and during needing to go, mainly in my lower bowel, I suspect where my cervix wa, so not sure it's worth going to GP or not. Today was the first time in 8 days I've been. Trying to not have any laxatives, to see if it'll sort itself out.

I HAVE A DATE!!!!!!

It's only next bloomin Tuesday! Just had to ring my headteacher whose in France on holiday to tell her.

I'm in shock

Apart from the lack of notice, it sounds like an ideal date! You get to have a whole half term to recover and get to enjoy your summer :)

BG yay, yay, yay!!!!

Oh man, no time to even think about it, after all this time! That must have been an incredible surprise. But brilliant.

Dont forget the peppermint tea and earplugs/ipod.

Will make sure to check in with you next week. Bet you enjoy Take That!

Yay!

Hopefully this will mean the most difficult stage of your recovery is over by the time your summer holidays start.

We'll be here for you next week!

Just for the record and for any newbies, its coming up to week 7 after my TAH, and it feels like I am pretty much back to normal. Just cannot tell if the sun is too hot or I am having a hot flush, or both. 🤔 My bladder and bowel movements are quite different now and a bit odd but that is probably unsurprising given the large obstruction previously.

ALemonyPea I hope your bowel behaviour is resolving. Please dont put off seeing your GP.

It is actually ideal timing - apart from a phonic assessment Year 1 kids need to do on the 12th June, which obviously I can't do.

I'll have 6/7 weeks to recover and then it will be the holidays.

It's exactly six months tomorrow since my TAH and BSO and I can honestly say I haven't felt this well for years.

I feel so much better at the six month mark than I did at the three month mark, when I was still feeling exhausted all the time. No pain, lots of energy, hot flushes down to just one or two per day. Digestion and bowel much better now than before the op. Contemplating summer activities without having to factor in periods is brilliant. I am really feeling 'recovered' now, if that makes sense.

Gig have you done any exercise yet (do you exercise?)

I'm going to really struggle not doing anything. I'm a regular gym goer, spin class twice a week, Zumba, today I've been on a 12km hill walk. I walk most days after work 3 - 5 miles. It keeps my weight down and sorts my head out too.

when will I be able to do all that again?

I'm at 6 weeks today. I've been building up my walks to around 4.5 miles a day for the past week. I'm thinking about starting cycling again very soon.

Don't rush anything that will put a strain on your pelvic floor and absolutely no lifting, you want to minimise adhesions.

Just realised I won't be able to vote - gutted!

you can vote by proxy, you can apply to your council even on polling day.

Hi its Gig here, a special NC for the election 😀 (I am quite impartial, my user name applies to the whole bally lot of them apart, possibly, from Caroline Lucas)
BG I am not a gym goer but pretty active. When the tiredness dissipates I think you will just have to tweak your fitness activities initially to minimise stretching/lifting/abdominal strain. Walking will be fine and if you are anything like me the abdomen will get heavy and uncomfortable after a while and you know to stop and rest. The duration of walking without this warning flag increases pretty quickly.
Now I have got shot of the fibroid that was causing such discomfort and discouraged anything that involved bending, I am thinking that I should start Pilates ti help my suppleness and joints. I am not up for Zumba yet but in fairness I wasn't Zumba-ready pre-op 😀

Spoke to my spin instructor and she says wait the 6 weeks, walk in the meantime and come back and take it slow and don't do too much!

A couple of questions about the hospital stay! Will I be bothered about washing my hair? I have quite coarse thick hair and I only wash it every other day. It can take me up to 20 minutes to dry it.

Do the hospital provide towels and should I take my own pillow in?

You probably won't care about your hair if you are like me, but the first shower was blissful. I could only stand for a few minutes though.
I took my own towel, but the hospital gave me some so I wouldn't get mine dirty. I thought that was very considerate.
Pillow, yes. Wish I had!

Robots thanks for that! Pre-op tomorrow and am going shopping to get stuff i've been listing from here

nightie
big knickers
peppermint tea/capsules

its getting a bit real now