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 make a complaint again. I'm glad you're home but you shouldn't have felt the need to leave.

When I had my first child a temp midwife broke my waters without my consent and said to the other nurse with her 'This one would have been better off having an abortion'.

I'm now suffering the damage from a full on emergency section and my ablation hasn't gone as well as I'd hoped. Stand up to them and complain when you are strong enough. Shame on her! I appreciate all those really lovely nurses out there but there are a few sadists too.

I hope you feel better soon

I hope no one minds me joining so late on. Hearing all your stories has really helped I'm having open surgery on Thursday to remove left overt and Fallopian tube. It's all been a bit of a whirlwind.
I went to the doctors early June with swelling and discomfort in stomach on examination he sent me straight for X-ray and bloods. I had X-ray that day and results came back 3 days later with abdominal mass I then got bloods done and that came back with high markers for tumor( all this information given over phone. I was then rushed for abdominal ct scan where I had the scan left the room got ready to leave and was called back in and told the hospital doctor had phoned the ct scan room and I needed a chest ct too.(at this point I felt scared) two days later got another call from hospital saying I had a huge cyst which was acting very worrying and would defiantly need surgery! Finally a week and a half later I saw the consultant who said my cyst was the size of a water melon 28 cm long, and would need surgery to remove it but may need to perform full hysterectomy. And now I'm here waiting for my surgery day and not sure what's on the other side of it. Whew thankyou for letting me garble on I just needed to get that all out .

I'm sorry rosemary so7nds horrible.
I've been in 5 days now horrendous but staff have been kind and reassuring.
I had an internal bleed everyone ummed and ahhed over for too long. Then a night on transfusions stretching me to a second op. They drained a 1.5 litre haematoma. It was scary all round. Unfortunately now 24hrso after second opinion have a paralytic ileus. My bowel had cramped into permanent spasm. Unbelievably painful. I'm exhausted. I hope not even more surgery ahead. Just fear I entered by able to update often. It's been very tough

Lasttime and Rosemary I am so sorry you're going through all these terrible complications and wish you a speedy recovery. Rosemary it definitely sounds like you have grounds for a formal complaint (is there a PALS team at your hospital to approach)? My DD is a nurse and would definitely say complain, there is a procedure, they don't want people like that in nursing.

Youwill I have no experience of that but my DIL had emergency ovarian cyst and fallopian removal and went on to have my DGC and my friend had an enormous pregnancy sized uterine cyst and hysterectomy and was fine too so good luck to you.

Thankyou very much lazycrazy, I'm so sorry about your complications last time that must be awful, hoping you get well and no more operations.
Rosemary hope your recovering well at home that's awful they made you feel like that, it's not fair and very unprofessional.sending good thoughts to all.

Still thinking of everone, especially Rosemary and lasttime, I hope your complications resolve soon.

Thank you for thinking of me. During the day I'm not too bad but at night I'm struggling to get comfy.
Woke up feeling really emotional yesterday and sent an email to the complaints team at my hospital- they will think I'm a nut job when they read it - every feeling I had was ploughed into that email. However they are now going to investigate how I was treated.
Last time how are you doing?xx

Good for you Rosemary, hopefully it will mean somebody else doesn't have a similar experience.

Well done Rosemary, you deserve to be treated with respect. I hope you feel better and sleep well tonight.

Yes Rosemary, well done for complaining. I wish you well.

A week on from surgery and I'm finally starting recovery. I had an ileus after my second op. Bowel goes into spasm due to being handled. Horribly painful but resolving itself. After a depressingly bad day of cramps and pain and the full trauma of the second op hitting me. I've had a good 24 hrs and if that's likely to continue and they let me I might even go home.
It's been an ordeal - no question - but I think I'm now starting the normal recovery process.
Ps I think my kegel exerciser worked as after removal of catheter a week after surgery. I peed with control the first time. I know that wasn't the case with previous ops.

I hope things continue to improve for you Last, what an awful time you've had.

Hoping all you ladies are recovering well, sorry to hear of your troubles.

Gosh Last and Rosemary you haven't been lucky but I hope you'll both continue to improve now.

I was much luckier but have now developed thrush inevitably (had prophylactic antibiotics) and despite probiotics.

I used a canestan pessary earlier (without the stick as thought that might be sore) and encountered what felt like metal stiches from the vaginal wall repair. Must be twine but felt like metal. Nearly passed out!

Can anyone tell me if they'll be removed on Tuesday at my 2 week post op appt? I was hoping they'd be dissolvable but they don't feel it and I think the vagina and maybe the cervix replacement "cuff" is the source of my current discomfort. Not pain just soreness. Sorry for TMI!

Also did it take a while for anyone's nerves to respond normally? I don't seem to be getting the message that I need a wee, my control is much improved but when I go to the loo I find I really needed it but didn't know. My DD had this after EMCS and thinks it's from the catheter. Thoughts?

Lazy - I found my bladder didn't tell me it needed emptying quite so often as before, although I had an enlarged uterus which I believe was pressing against my bladder - I was constantly running to the toilet and had lots of 'dribbles' - now it's much improved.

I still get a strange sensation as my bladder empties which I believe is normal.

Can't help you with the stitches, sorry.

Wishing you all well with your recoveries.

Can I join please?!

Lazy - I am having exact same shopping list of repairs as you for triple prolapse. This will be my second repair, the first was done in 2015 and has failed due to my crappy tissues. How have you found it so far? Did you get any buttock pain from the sacrospinous fixation? How long have you been told the recovery will be? Last time I was told 6 weeks but it was more like 12 but I had bladder problems last time and had a catheter for 2.5 weeks.

I've told work I can work from home from about 2 weeks onwards? Is that a bit optimistic??

This thread popped up in active so thought I'd pop back in and see how you were all getting on.

It's just over 5 months since my op, and I'm feeling great. Still a few issues with my bowels (still not been to docs as too embarrassed), but everything else is grand. First time in years I've not had awfully flooding period in the summer holidays.

Addicted and BG: No pain at all from the sacrospinous fixation? He did say I had a strong ligament and they never know whose will be strong and whose will be flimsy. No buttock pain at all though warned.
I think having the whole thing done vaginally with no external incisions has helped me hugely. I've had lower pelvic mild period type pain and this general vaginal soreness (now itchy from the thrush!) but nothing is describe as pain since the recovery room where my knee (of all things) went into spasm presumably from being in stirrups for 2 hours 45 mins! I was given a signed off for 6 weeks note on leaving hospital but won't use it as I'm retired. But that is what working people are told.

Thanks BG I think mine was the same, everything was squashed together. I had. As urge incontinence so would go from "I need the loo" to running in 10 seconds. That's better already but I just have to remind myself to go. Thanks that's reassuring.

Slightly dreading if stitches come out on Tuesday but DD a nurse thinks they won't after only 2 weeks. She's going to come with me anyway in case I faint, feeling a bit faint at the thought already. I really hope they're dissolvable.

Lemony, go to the doctor, as the saying goes "don't die of embarrassment" to doctors the bowel is no different to the leg.

Sorry lemony pressed post too soon, didn't want to end abruptly, I mean it kindly, never ignore bowel issues as they are often easily resolved if dealt with quickly.

Well Im up today, have to be there at 11am, just two pre op drinks to go!

I won't have internet access until I'm back home, so will update then! I can't stop rushing to the loo with nerves. Wish me luck!

Good luck with it. Let USB know how you get on.

I am waiting on a call back from the GP as my belly button wound is still looking pretty nasty and the smell is awful. I'm convinced everyone else can smell it - they say not but it is pretty bad x

Fennel hope it went well. Rosemary thinking of you.

I see surgeon tomorrow, have a list of questions. Still v tired.

Fennel - I hope it went well. Rosemary- hope there's no infection

I'm doing remarkably well post op. Starting to get a bit bored even. Can't walk for more than 10 mins. But otherwise really ok of a bit muddled and tired.
Anyone know when I might have a bath? I'd also fancy going for a very gentle swim - especially next week when house will be full of relatives to look after dd. An escape would be prudent.

The walking gets easier. I walked 6 miles on Saturday.

I've been to a spin class this morning and felt ok, I'm 8 weeks post op today!

Lasttime I am sitting in waiting room for 2 week check and am going to ask about a bath and swim so will let you know. Mine was vaginal so no abdominal incision though.