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.

How worrying for you Grey. Fingers crossed the scan shows you're fine and it was just contained.

Greyboot . It's really good that your uterus itself was clear, as you say, hopefully everything was contained within the fibroid(s). I hope your scan will go well - sending you all the positive vibes I can muster.

greyboot

Thinking of you and best wishes for a resounding all clear from the scan.

I know it's scary, but at least it was discovered and the fibroids are already gone. Fingers crossed for you. x

I hope the scan is clear and the answer swift Greyboot. A good job that you did go for surgery and hopefully you've got in nice and early.

How are you doing today BG?

I'm doing ok Robots. Last night was one of the best nights sleep so far, I sleep on my stomach usually and it's so hard to get comfy but I went to sleep a bit later last night so I wonder if that helped.

I actually got dressed yesterday and moved about a bit more, I even made myself a sandwich for lunch. That's the frustrating bit not being able to lift anything. I moved the kitchen chair and then thought oooops I shouldn't have done that. But at least my DS14 knows how to iron a shirt now after being given instructions!

How long did you ladies keep your dressings on for? I changed mine on Friday after my shower, I have 4 incisions, one is tiny and the stitches must be below the surface the other 3 are larger but seem dry and clean and have obvious stitches. But I'm wondering whether to take them off tomorrow.

Also I've been popping painkillers everyday - I'm a bit scared to stop. How long did you take them for?

And how long did it take your bladder to stop hurting when you went for a wee?

Morning BG..
I'm glad you're starting to feel better, I think the frustration is one of the worst things as you start to feel better!
I took my small dressings off after 6 days I think. Mine were all looking dry etc, just my large incision was a bit dodgy.
I dropped to my usual morning paracetamol only after a week, but ofcourse everyone is different.
My bladder is just about feeling normal now at 6 weeks, it wasn't exactly painful after about a fortnight or so, just heavy/achy.
Hope that helps?

Physically I'm feeling fine, mentally not so much.
We had a special delivery yesterday though, she's a very good distraction

I'm sorry, I forgot to say thankyou to you all for your messages x

Morning BG!

The hospital took my dressings off a day or two after surgery. Painkillers wise, once I left hospital (after 3 nights) I dropped to ibuprofen (600mg/4 times a day) and paracetemol 4 times a day for about 10 days I think and gradually weaned down. I could have done with more, but my constipation was a bit grim.
It hurt to wee for a few weeks. At one point I thought I had cystitis because of the pain.

awww, what a sweetie Greyboot :)

She's adorable, Greyboot!

BG - I kept a dressing on for about 3 weeks; changing the top one and left the tape underneath alone. That was probably a bit excessive, though - I was paranoid that if I took the tape off the wound would suddenly gape open. In reality the stitches had pretty much dissolved and it looked fully healed by the time I removed the tape.

Painkillers - after a week I stopped taking them routinely and just took them when I felt the need, so over the course of the next few weeks I was taking fewer and fewer.

Bladder - about two weeks to recover from the catheter.

Glad you are still doing well, BG. I had many starting to lift something 'ooops!' moments!

Hope your scan goes well Greyboot, and what a lovely dog you've got!

Ahh Greyboot she's lovely. What have you called her?

My lovely DP has been such a great help at home. He hasn't fussed over me (which I would hate) when getting up, showering etc he's just left me to get on with it but he's made lovely meals, endless drinks, washing, taxied my boys around and of course emptied the kitchen in preparation for Wednesday. I need to take him out for a big thank you meal when I'm up to it.

What is that tugging, pulling sensation I keep feeling on my left hand side?

I think it's part of the healing process, BG. Mine receded a lot, but didn't disappear until after the 5 month mark.

Just wondering if anyone else has had a weird throbbing pain in top of their vagina after walking and bowel movements? It started yesterday and has been accompanied with a light brown discharge. I'm not sure if it's something that I should be worried about or a normal part of the recovery process. Hope that everyone else's recovery is going well x

Peanut not felt that, but it's very early days for me I suppose. I'm just feeling lots of strange little nerve/twinge/pulling type sensations.

I've been fairly active today, only light stuff but just sat on the bed sorting washing and directing DP where to put boxes of kitchen stuff. My cousin came round for a visit, brought soup and crusty bread and we had a good natter for a an hour or so.

After she'd gone I had to have a lie down. But then I did make myself walk to the post box to post a card. It's only 5 minutes and I took it slow. Can't believe how hard it was to walk though. Two weeks ago I walked 12km - what a difference!

My weird twinges tend to be over my hip bones. No idea why.

I remember how exhausting visitors are BG. It's good that you are walking. I'm convinced it's played a part in how well I'm recovering. I do get so very tired at the end of a days work but feel much weller in myself than I can remember in forever.

I've had odd twinges and still have a tiny bit of bleeding occasionally, I think it's normal, but if you're concerned then maybe ring GP?

In the early days I would think I could do more than I could then be exhausted! Take it steady.

Our fluff ball is called Mabel ❤️

I have oncology appt tomorrow morning, it can't come soon enough

Greyboot Good luck tomorrow lovely lady, everything crossed.

PS. Mabel is gorgeous

mylittlepeanut i had lots of twinges and muscle contractions as part of the healing process, still do. Internally around week 4 there was definitely lots going on internally, think that is when the internal stitches are dissolving, and definitely had a bit of discharge around that time. As greyboot has said, if you are concerned though and symptoms persist worth getting reassurance.

I am heading into week 9 now and feeling well, main sensation is if muscles still knitting and tightening. Peeing still feels quite strange. Otherwise back to business as usual.

I am redecorating the house (carefully) at the moment so getting a lot of controlled stretching which I am hoping is good for you.

Teetering in a ladder in order to rescue a pathetic wailing 8kg cat off a neighbours shed wasnt the smartest thing though.

Best wishes to all,

Progress here today - i ditched the BIG knickers for my normal ones. I'm only 48 and felt like a 90 year old in them. The top of my own knickers sits neatly between my scars and the waistband of my leggings can be pulled up.

I feel so much better for it

Greyboot please let us know how you get on tomorow - will be thinking of you

Hi all
Sorry I habe not been around but there have been some complications resulting in a change of hospital and surgeon. Does anyone know Paul Bulmer?

Greyboot, am sending so much positivity your way and BG, I am so glad you have finally had your procedure!

Wishing you the best for tomorrow, Greyboot.

BG, hope all is going well with your kitchen and glad you are back into normal clothes.

I've had a lot of odd twinges over the months as everything knits together. The strangest were very brief sensations that were almost like a flicker of an electric shock - I presumed this was a nerve reconnecting itself somewhere - they were around the 3 month mark mainly.

Thinking of you Greyboot.

Thankyou ladies, I'll let you know how I get on x