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.

BG, you sound remarkably calm given the short notice of your date!

I would take a nice soft towel for your face, but use a hospital one for your body because you will still be bleeding at that stage. Take some sanitary towels if you don't want to use hospital-issue ones

Re. hair, I plaited mine and put it up on top of my head before the op to stop it getting tangled, and just left it like that until I had my first shower. It wasn't something I was bothered by, although my hair is quite fine and I usually wash it daily.

OMG BG! I'd be freaking out, how are you so calm? Good luck at the pre op.

I'm going to keep a diary for next two weeks, then go to docs.

I waited 12 weeks to go back to the gym, partly because of the Easter holidays and can't go when DC off. Found it easy enough to get back in to, side wounds hurt a bit first few times, but otherwise fine.

I think I'm calm because I really don't know what to expect. Apart from having 2 babies I've never been in hospital. Ive never had a general anaesthetic so don't know how I'll react to that.

My first son (now a 6' 1" 17 year old) was born by caesarean so I remember how that felt (bloody terrible) and I came out the other side.

And I feel like I've waited so long I've got my head around it.

I think being a teacher might be helping you stay calm BG, you will be used to 'oh shit, OFSTED' moments.

The first few days were a bit crap, but I felt too tired and pathetic to care that much. After that it rapidly got better. You don't feel ill, just tired and sore if you move or if a cat pounces on you.

Number one priority is keeping on top of constipation issues. Don't start out constipated if you can help it.

Agree abut the constipation issues. Stock up on fibogel and if you can, take a few sachets to hospital with you.

I've just got back from shopping and bought 2 nighties and big pants from Primark. Peppermint capsules and asked the woman in Boots about the best constipation relief. She says lactulose is quite mild, so recommence Dulcolax.

I'm going to get some dried apricots and bran flakes as they helped me when I was pregnant.

Robots - it's funny you should mention Ofsted, we are long over due a visit and have been waiting all year for them to appear, if they come in the next 7 weeks it will be the icing on the cake.

Gosh, at least it's less time for you to get too worried about it all I suppose!

I've got my pre op on the 15th, so I'm hoping it's not too long after that to wait. I keep worrying that I'll be too scared to go through with it if it takes too long.

BG
Excited for you. I am probably in a minority but I really didnt mind hospital. Its the nearest thing to a holiday I have had in ages, different environment, enforced rest, waited on hand and foot, meals made for you, drugs on tap..... and there is every chance you will just be a bit uncomfortable and able to sleep through the early days.
Totally appreciate its not quite so much fun if you are feeling poorly, just saying that its perfectly rational to be looking forward to this, given all you have been through up to this point and the amazing life change when you are fully recovered.
I can only echo in triplicate with a stamp the advice about constipation. Some of it is anxiety related as it is scary to struggle to 'go' post surgery but at least you are already fully aware from the posts here that it is a common issue, nothing to fear, and you are armed and ready to avoid it as much as poss. Dulcolax is my laxative of choice too.
Only thing to add is I really recommend peppermint tea when you come home. I am totally clear that the peppermint tea helped my digestive system tremendously.
Tidied out my bathroom cupboard yesterday and came across my armoury of heavy duty sanpro, and serious prescription painkillers. Great feeling to know they are a thing of the past.
Have a fantastic weekend.

Pre-op all done. Fantastic staff at the hospital, really couldn't fault them.

The nurse stressed about keeping on top of pain medication and not doing ANYTHING in the first couple of weeks.

I know the person who will be teaching my class and this has definitely made a difference to my stress levels. I have 19 more reports to write, could I do them by Sunday? Mmmm I doubt it.

Glad the pre-op went well BG! You sound a bit like me with the reports to write before your op, only mine were end-of-year appraisals. It makes a big difference if you have confidence in the person covering for you at work; I had someone I'd worked with before and could trust.

Fennel - hopefully the gap won't be too long. Once you have a date and it becomes 'real' you can focus on your planning and preparation - concentrating on practicalities is helpful for keeping nerves at bay.

My school reports need to be into my head by the beginning of July. I've done 12 so far. Do you think I'll be up to finishing them towards the end of June or should I try and get them done asap?

I just don't know how I'm going to feel.

I was doing some work at home at 2.5 weeks, my brain was fine. But it sends the wrong message that you are ready to work when you aren't. Plus you may as well try to enjoy your recovery without having stuff hanging over you.

Everyone is different but I think I'd have been OK 3 - 4 weeks post op to complete a purely brain-based task such as writing reports, as long as I could do it at my own pace. Our year-end appraisals had to be in by the first week of December which is why I worked furiously to complete them in the run-up to my OP on Dec 1st. I went back to work after seven weeks, but only on a phased basis (half days for the first week) and I spent the few days 'catching up' while the manager covering me did all the day-to-day (hard!) work with my team.

I would definitely say, it's far better to do too little than too much in your recovery period and you really do need to listen to your body and only go back to work when you really are ready - as Robots says, it's easy to be lulled into a sense that you're ready to resume normal activity levels before you really are, so you absolutely have to 'down tools' at any sign you are over stretching yourself too early.

You've encouraged me to crack on, I've done 20 reports now. I plan on doing 3/4 more later then the rest tomorrow.

I can then hand the memory stick over to my teaching assistant and have no worries.

Otherwise it might stress me out. Never done my reports so early!

SaltedCaramelBrownie - how did the smear test go? I have been putting mine off since the op and am genuinely dreading it.

Go BG! You can do it!

so pleased for you BG!
I echo the importance of laxatives, I usually take movacol, but added regular latulose for the first fortnight and it worked a treat!
Good luck BG 🙂

I'm 5 weeks post op and feeling fairly normal. Walking more and re starting some gentle pilates.

I'm seeing GP for six week check next week (as hospital told me to)
Haven't had hospital eight week appt through yet, so might ring on Monday.
Have others had follow up checks ok?

I don't have any follow up either with a gp or at the hospital. I wish they would as I'm still bleeding slightly and after a very gentle 'rummage' discovered it's quite tender inside and I have pokey stitches which won't be great for dh when I get brave enough.

I didn't have any checkups at all, was told not needed. Find it a bit strange. I did go to GP at roughly 6 weeks though because of constipation and she asked me how I was and had a little feel of my tummy to reassure me.

BG, I wasn't prepared for how exhausted I'd be, it's hard to describe as even the smallest of things exhausted me. Worse than having sleepless nights with a newborn. I was expecting it to be on par with a c section recovery wise, but was very wrong. The first 3/4 weeks, if I stood longer than a few minutes, it felt like my insides were dropping out. They weren't, but it was just the. Getting used to the space there. Don't get that feeling any more.

Well done getting the reports done.

I was thinking earlier today how well I feel. The Northisterone stops the bleeding, so I have no pain or flooding. I've lost half a stone in 5 weeks, upped my exercise so I'm hitting 10k + steps a day. Walking everyday. Making healthy eating choices and not drinking too much alcohol!

In just over 2 days all that is going to change and I'm going to be a patient and probably a frustrated one at that.

I just don't know how I'm going to cope doing....nothing for days and days days!

Gig here. My "6 week" check up for the hospital which would have been around last week is actually in late August. They were very apologetic. That's why my path report was (eventually) posted out ahead. But here (South London) there is definitely a follow up.

Well done on the fitness and weightloss, BG. You'll feel the benefit after the operation. For the first few days, you probably won't feel like doing very much at all - I was too tired to be frustrated. When you're ready, you can start gradually increasing your mobility, going for gentle walks etc. If the weather stays nice you can sit outside with a good book.

I had a follow-up at six weeks with my consultant, this was with BUPA.

Robots, I had a sudden bleed just after I went back to work and saw the nurse practitioner at my GP surgery - she did a quick internal exam and set my mind at rest - is it worth doing that if you're concerned about your stitches? I felt very tender after my first 'rummage' - for a couple of hours afterwards it seemed as if there was something still in there.

Robots.. I would be inclined to get checked out. (I think your about a week ahead of me?) I'm five and a half weeks post op now. Having very light bleeding occasionally, I'm guessing from healing stitches, I'll check when I see GP

Good luck for tomorrow BG. Hope you're top of the list and not waiting all day.