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.

Greyboot what fantastic news! Hoping you go from strength to strength!

Greyboot that is wonderful news ❤

I'm now starting to feel a bit of a fraud. Coming up to 5 weeks post op and I feel great!

I have no pain and the only slight discomfort I get is my bladder hurts towards the end of a wee (which I've read is normal) and I do ache a bit around my tummy if I walk or do too much.

I went into school on Thursday, some people were a bit shocked to see me, I think they thought I'd still be flat on my back. My headteacher hugged me - she's a lovely person and has been the best head I've ever worked for. It will be sad to see her go when she retires at the end of term

My sicknote runs out on the 18th so I'm going into school for the last 3 days of term. I don't have to teach but can spend time with my new class and get ready for September. It felt very strange to be there and I felt a bit daunted - very odd!

I'm in again next week to meet with our deputy and my teaching assistant to plan for my Year group moving forward after Ofsted, just for the afternoon.

BG read my posts you are in the danger zone. Yes you feel great, as I did, but you are still healing - be really careful about stretching and lifting. Being too active and tearing will cause painful adhesions! Don't listen to your brain, listen really carefully to your full of stitches body! Am I being dramatic enough? 😀😀😀 (great you are feeling so upbeat though)

OK 10 days left. I'm a bit more unnerved at the thought of the op after my pre-op appointment today. I've been really looking forward to just having it over but I'm realising its going to be the biggest operation I've had.
Anyway fancy being recovery buddies rosemary?

Yes definitely. I have my pre op on Thursday. It was my first day back in to work today after my failed ablation. Got a mountainous stuff to do so I can be covered whilst I am off. Don't think the enormity of it has hit me yet. Not great timing that I go in for my op the day the kids break up for school. Not going to be the most relaxing recovery ever x

See brain in totally muddled - pre op is friday

Poor you rosemary that sounds very quick. I've been putting this off for years. I have serious caring responsibilities and couldn't work out the planning. Has the side effect of my being really happy it's finally going ahead. Do you know what type of procedure you're having?

I have known for a few years that I would eventually need a hysterectomy but because of my age the hospital wanted to put it off as long as possible. As I said if heard a few stories of the ablation not working so I kept refusing it but was eventually talked round - wish I had never bothered. I am having it done larascopically - I already have several scares from previous procedures, my daughter says they look like a wonky smiley face! Has the hospital said how long you will be staying in for?

Rosemary I had a failed ablation last September and am 5 weeks post op having had a laparoscopic hysterectomy on the 6th June.

Honestly the build up is much, much worse than the operation itself. My procedure went without any complications and I was only in hospital for 28 hours.

I've recovered really well and have actually quite enjoyed my time off.

I'm having ano abdominal incision - hopefully not vertical - but remains to be seen. I've got fibroids. The horrific bleeding has been well under control for many years now thanks to a mirena. But I'm huge round the middle (and knackered and plaques by aches and pains physios think comes from being misaligned.
Anyway I really hope those issues will improve after. Good luck wrapping up your work etc

I'm still pro op with multiple fibroids bulky uterus blah blah. But I'm so tired all the time. Did others feel like this? I sometimes wonder if maybe this is something else. I've been checked multiple times for thyroid issues anemia etc but csnt believe how shattered I am.

I've been in today to confirm my hysterectomy arrangements. I will be having a scan to confirm the method and sign consent forms but with how I have been feeling I reckon the fibroid could be too big and have to be abdominally.

Has anyone had any experience of looking after small kids with this? My three year old has reverted to wanting to be carried (trying my hardest not to cave and carry to get her out of it!) I also have a 5 year old and 9 year old who I have to referree with fighting. I know they will probably calm down once they know mum has had an op but this is my main worry.

My csection scar went wrong which I am sure was down to having a defiant 18m old I had to lift from climbing things and I don't want to be packed again!

I'm having an abdominal hysterectomy and no lifting for 4-6 weeks. How you manage that with 3 children to look after just don't know. I'm drafting in a lot of help

It's a tough one! You've just got to explain to your kids how lifting will not be happening.my kids are teenagers so I didn't have that problem.

I spent the first 10 days either lying in or on the bed.

The Hysterectomy Association has a list of what you can and can't do each week - I followed that pretty much and read it out to family. It's pretty accurate apart from the stairs bit.

Thank you. I will take a look at that and save it to my computer for nearer to the time.

I'm 5 weeks and 2 days post op. For the past 4/5 days I have felt absolutely shattered. Totally fatigued. I've slept during the day and been asleep by 9.30pm every night and slept right through to 6.30am.

I'm not particularly busy, in fact now that the kitchen is done I'm doing less than I did last week.

Also I've been into school today for a meeting and I realised I felt and have been feeling really strange, I feel like I'm lacking in confidence, 5 weeks of school life has gone on without me and I feel out of it somehow. Did anyone else feel like that before going back to work?

I'm due to go back in next week for the last 3 days of term and I know I really need to do that now to feel normal again. Otherwise some September I won't want to go back!

BG I checked back on the thread and by week 6 I was telling everyone to take it easy as it was too easy to do too much and I posted again at end of week 7 to say for the first time I had started to feel back to normal so you have a bit to go. Sounds like your body is telling you it needs to recharge batteries still.

Think it must be normal to feel disconnected from the workplace, it is bad enough when you go on holiday for two weeks. 😀Hope your 3 days next week helps.

I had my pre op today and she kept discussing having an abdominal hysterectomy- I kept saying no I am having it larascopically but she wouldn't budge saying I'd have to discuss it with my consultant I will refuse point blank to go down until someone puts it in writing!!
Iv got three children age 4,5 and 10.my youngest is a total cling on and I'm not sure how I am going to cope with it all. They are all going to stay with my parents for the first week as my other half can't have any time off after that I'm on my own x

Rosemary- stick to your guns. It's crazy they are proposing an abdominal hysterectomy with almost no notice. If it's definitely the abdominal one you need you can reschedule if ita not possible to scramble more help.
I took my uterus out dancing last night- haven't been out in years but felt huge need for a proper send off. My lovely friends stepped up even tho we were all a bit 'how do you for this again?'

I think they don't often know what sort of procedure it will be until they start.

My consultant told me I'd probably have an abdominal hysterectomy as my uterus felt very bulky but in the end I had a laparoscopic one.

There was a woman on the ward opposite me who ended up with an abdominal hysterectomy as they just couldn't get everything out any other way!

So although you may prefer a laparoscopic it may not be physically possible for them to do that! And don't be fooled, it's still hard going having a laparoscopic

It wasn't my consultant that said I would be larascopically. Because after the ablation went wrong they had to do a larascopic investigation so she had a good route around and said when she came up to see me said I was a perfect candidate for a larascopic hysterectomy so hopefully it was just some miscommunication.x

Your consultant will come round on the morning of your operation and talk to you then about it all. What does a pre-op nurse know about the actual operation? I really wouldn't worry about it.

This seems to be the most up to date hysterectomy thread so I hope I'm posting in tinge right place!

I am having a hysterectomy on Tuesday morning. It's described as "Anterior (+/- posterior) colporrhaphy with vaginal hysterectomy (including primary repair of enterocele) with secondary Sacropinous fixation" for those who know the lingo.

I have had a worsening prolapse for several years post menopause and multiple (straightforward) births.

I know to take peppermint tea and pads but any other tips would be greatly appreciated!

Also to have a few anonymous people to wish me well will be lovely. Trying to keep low key with family as they all have a lot going on and it really should be routine shouldn't it?

TBH I'm going in so tired that I'm quite looking forward to the rest but maybe I'm being naive.

Forget the tinge! When will
I learn you can't edit on MM?!