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.

rosemary listen to your dr friend, to be honest for the first 2 weeks if you see a sock on the floor a) you won't be able to pick it up and b) you won't care

lazy glad you're all done

last enjoy your last day before your 6 weeks forced rest

Last I will think of you tomorrow. So true about the sock. DH brought me in some things I asked for but they're under the little wardrobe so I can't get them. Nothing seems worth the effort.

I was sick last night and that hurt like hell from the heaving but it didn't last long. Probably pressed the morphine button a bit often! Lovely stuff!

Had packaging out (dignified not!) and the catheter is out so am attached to a few less things. Just have to remember to go to the loo now! Pain under control. I feel very lucky that it was done vaginally and no external incisions at all. I wasn't inflated either so so far no wind pain. It's just like a dull period pain so far. Very little bleeding.

Hello ladies
Further good news from me is they have decided I don't need radiotherapy!
Gynae oncology consultant had been going on what they would usually do, but as it was a different type of cancer (sarcoma) it 'behaves in a different way' apparently, so the other team have said I just need a follow up ct scan in three months.

What a rollercoaster it's been, but I'm cancer free and mentally and physically ready to get back to exercising etc as I was doing pre op.
I've signed up for yoga today, so looking forward to that.
Take care everyone

Oh, that's great news Greyboot!

After last month's nightmare period, this month I'm lighter than I have been for many months but crampier. It seems that cutting my sertraline dose may have helped with the bleeding. Now I'm anxious about going to the gynae and being told I don't need treatment now. Especially if my anxiety levels rise again and I decide to up the sertraline dose again. I feel quite tearful even trying to decide; physical quality of life or mental quality of life? This drug has been a god-send for me, and most of the others don't work as well but have the same side-effect I think.

I may still ask for an ablation but I don't know if they will dismiss me now if my periods are lighter. But this might be a one off? Urgh. I guess I'll find out in a fortnight.

Greyboot, thats the best news ever!! I'm so pleased, it must have been a horrid time for you, but now you can move on and you know youve done the best thing for your body.

Fret - exactly the same thing happened to me. It's your bodies way to try and trick you. One ok month doesnt mean you are magically cured.

Lazy - you can ask for antisickness stuff if you are still feeling sick. It would be so much easier if vomit didnt come into play with this stuff!

I've started a thread about post surgery hairloss. I had a bit of a waaaahhh moment today when I noticed a bald patch. I'm also getting some low down pain when I walk. Seeing the gp in 3 weeks. Hopefully by the time that comes around I'll be all magically better. 3 months in now.

Glad to hear that everybody's getting sorted!

I missed a period completely last month Fret, I'm worried that I've finally hit menopause, but I'll still go ahead with surgery as I can't face periods like they have been if they start up again.

Fantastic news on the radiotherapy not being necessary Greyboot, hopefully you'll feel more relaxed now.

Robots I had hairloss after my anaesthetic in January, it all grew back again though so hopefully it's just temporary.

Actually, after going through 3 super tampons today already, that's not 'light', it's just lighter than it has been, and anything is going to seem lighter after last month.

greyboot I am doing such a happy dance for you, fantastic news.
lazycrazy well done it is onward and upward from here so glad you are sounding bouncy despite the nausea and sickness which will pass.

Greyboot that's great news. What a relief.

I just had the one episode of sudden dry heaving think it was the morphine. Am staying in tonight just for rest but all the signs are good, catheter and drips all down. Wind kicking in!

Good luck tomorrow LastTime.

Grey boot- great news!!!

Thinking of you lasttime...

Greyboot that's fabulous news! So happy that you don't need further treatment.

First day back at school yesterday, hardly slept the night before thinking about work! Apart from feeling shoved out of my classroom and sidelined from the children I've taught since for the past 2 years I had a good day. Spent it doing assessments with my new class.

Dashed home for an hour then back to school for the disco. I was in bed and asleep at 9.30!

Wishing everyone healing vibes and speedy recoveries.

How are you lasttime? Been thinking of you today.

I'm ok, home now. May have overdone the laxatives / softeners 😮😳

Thinking of you and others whose ops are coming up.

Things went really well I think. No long wait on surgery. An awful half hour before they got my pain under better control on waking but pretty good since. Zlthough I'm v distended and they are concerned about a possible internal bleed.

Well I didn't sleep at all. Heading into hospital in about half an hour. So damn nervous x

Oh lasttime I hope not a bleed. Thinking of you.

Good luck Rosemary I didn't sleep
at all the night before either and gave up at 3:30am and got up. You'll be fine and will sleep a lot today!

You might warn your family that you may be down there a while. It must depend what is done but I had two vaginal wall repairs and a sacropinoous pinning as well as the vaginal hysterectomy so the operation lasted 2 hours 45 mins and I was down in the theatre area for nearly 6 hours which worried my family. I had no idea! They won't send you back until pain is under control as lasttime said.

Thinking of you!

Top tip: don't overdo the laxatives - oh dear. I won't go into details 😳

Good luck rosemary

How are you all doing?

When can I have a bath? No external incisions.

Felt a bit faint once or twice today so would rather not stand in the shower. DH is around and I would love a bath. When I had babies we were allowed a bath, with salt was encouraged (dark ages!) when my DDs did more recently no baths allowed. Nothing in my advice sheet. Seeing surgeon in 2 weeks but obvs not meant to leave it that long!

I'm not sure about baths. I'm not a bath lover so it wasn't an issue for me.

Maybe someone else will answer!

This may sound weird but did anyone else feel totally wired afterwards? I'm wondering if it's to do with the anaesthetic or the anti-emetic medication. I feel fine except that I feel like I've got instant ADHD. How are the rest of you recent ones?

Well I ❤️ General anaesthetic. When I had a (different) op the nurses had to put me in a side room as I was high as a kite and giggling when I came round and disturbing all the recovery room. Was more calm with the TAH. Also the relief and end of pre-op anxiety can give you a mood bounce?

Re baths for external it was a definite no no for some weeks. Appreciate your situation Is different but I would def check as it is not worth the risk of infection however tempting. You are still lying in dirty water 😕( am huge bath lover just stating the disappointing fact)

Thanks whatashower. I did have two different types of anti-emetic drugs during operation as I was very sick after a previous one. That worked and I wasn't sick except once several hours later and think that was morphine related. I will definitely mention it in case there's a known side effect from something. Yes I came to the same conclusion re the bath!

How are you Rosemary?

And lasttime?

Hi all, I came home yesterday just over 24 hours after my op. Not in too much pain until I move them it shots right through me. I wasn't totally ready to leave the hospital but didn't really feel I had much choice - the nurse I complained about (utterly vile and should not be in the nursing profession) on my last admission was working yesterday and all the staff were giving me a wide berth. One hca told me they had been warned to be careful around me or I would report them. I just cried and asked to go home.
Actual surgery had a slight complication in that from my previous failed ablation. Where they perforated my uterus it decided to attach itself to my bowel whilst healing so they had to unpick that first x