Hysterectomy worries

[bertieallsort]

I'm having a hysterectomy in the next few weeks & I'm getting more & more anxious about it all, the physical & mental side of it. But right now my anxiety is mainly about intimacy after the surgery, im so worried that it'll change that part of my relationship. I know this is mainly my issue, my dh is being brilliant about it & says he loves me & it'll be fine but I can't help thinking I might ruin it all.

I guess I'm just wanting some advice from those who've been through it, anything I've tried to read online has been a bit scary (hystersisters etc) but my logical side knows people are more likely to share negative experiences than positive ones. I don't need any gory details (this one of first posts so I don't want anyone thinking I'm a troll or a voyeur!). I would just appreciate knowing whether I'm working myself into a panic over nothing.
Any advice about what I need for hospital or at home during my recovery would be appreciated too.

Yay noimnot glad you're out and all done. I'm feeling well now only having normal painkillers and off home this afternoon 😄.
I'll make a drs appt or call next week for an extension on sick note. I'm definitely not going back until I'm ready. I'm going to get fit and lose some much needed weight during recovery. It's a pity we all don't live close together- we could have a coffee and catch up xx

Glad you're both ok, you'll feel much better once you're in your own beds ☺️

How are you doing bertie? x

I'm doing ok, pretty much off painkillers now. I was told off (lighthearted) by dh yesterday for causing myself pain because I was watching some stand up comedy and I was crying laughing while pressing a cushion on my stomach and intermittently saying 'ow'. I refuse to just avoid funny stuff though!! So prepare yourself for laughing as well as sneezing and coughing!

I am starting to feel the emotional stuff starting to sweep in now, I've been getting more tearful. Up until now I've been quite pragmatic about the op and what it means after being really emotional beforehand. Feels like it's starting to edge back in.

How are you feeling?

Waiting to go home in about an hour. A bit sore but not bad. I didn't have my glasses on and thought your 1st sentence said " I'm driving" 😂 wow!! That was quick x
Be good to get home x

Very jealous zazu44! I was all on track to go home but after 2 normal wees bladder stopped performing nurse and doc faffed around for three hours and finally decided had to have catheter back in and stay in! Really sick of being here visiting time mega noisy and dh had to go home and get extra bits so on own!

Oh no! That's not good news. I think bladders get a bit bashed during the op. Mine was a bit slow and after a scan and the threat of another catheter I drank gallons and managed to pee.
You'll be home tomorrow though. Sending a gentle 'upper body ' hug xx

@zazu44 @noimnottryingforagirl how are you both doing today?

Hi bertie 😊
Doing ok. Really sore and thought I could do without painkillers yesterday but not worth it. A bit weepy and fed up yesterday but DP has been wonderful and feeling better in myself today.
Have made some soup in my soup maker for lunch and my new table has come today so should be easier.

Not pushing it but doing a little.
How are you bertie?
xx

Made it home last night and have to say feel awful! Throughly ashamed zazu44 that u made soup!! Im literally struggling to get to toilet and back never felt so weak! I do have another health issue which might be complicating matters but hoping to be feeling more alive tomorrow. I've got painkiller regime written down and am getting dh to ensure I take them by clock! Does feel like a long road ahead at the moment x

noimnottryingforagirl Sorry you're having a bad time . It is totally normal to feel weak and exhausted at first. I did nothing but lie on the sofa for several days after coming home. You have to listen to your body and rest if it's telling you to, and don't compare yourself to others - no two recoveries are alike. If you have other health issues to contend with, it's not surprising that you're exhausted at the moment - your body has undergone a huge trauma, and all its energies will be concentrated on healing to begin with. It can be a long road, but it gets a little better every day.

Feeling really sore tonight think I probably overdid it today. It's so easy to think you're ok and plod on. Will be more careful tomorrow

Hope you're feeling better noimnottryingforagirl x

Hi, I'm doing ok. Picked up something without thinking about it yesterday and I felt it so I'm a bit sore today. Just feels like a bit of a pulled muscle, which it probably is! It is definitely just a question of listening to your body as everyone recovers and heals at such different rates.

@noimnottryingforagirl I kept alarms on my phone for my painkillers for a week or two to make sure they didn't wear off too much and I could rest, it definitely helped especially when you're so tired and it's easy to lose track of time.

hope you both have a good, restful night.

Just hopping on to say please get your painkillers sorted out before you leave hospital. They allowed me home 24 hrs post abdominal hysterectomy but with no prescription meds. Having to attend gp sit and wait less than 24hrs after the op was not a barrel of laughs though my pain was fine pre hospital discharge.
Get the painkilllers and keep on top of it would be my advice.

That sounds awful, CanlBuffalo. I'd never have managed that 24 hours after my abdominal. Fortunately, they loaded me up with codeine tablets before I left the hospital - great advice to make sure this happens.

The way I look at it now, it's best to get the painkillers prescribed and then not need them.
I was foolish. I just wanted to go home so did that whole 'see I'm fine' thing.

Hi all feeling tiny bit better today I think! Ive accepted now that I'm going to feel weak for a while and I think that makes u feel better! Still sticking with Meds round the clock but night sweats waking me up so not sleeping well. Will be starting hrt today though so fingers crossed they go soon! Zazu44 hope I are taking it easy and everyone is being kind to themselves xx

How's everyone doing today?

I've had a rough weekend, all the hormonal stuff I was warned about has kicked in & I've been sobbing my heart out at the drop of a hat. I have mh issues too that have been triggered as well but luckily a lot of support was put in place for me in the lead up to surgery so I'm being well cared for by everyone. I've had some weird pains/twinges too, I'm guessing it's just healing & things moving about in there as it doesn't feel like worrying pain if that makes sense.

Hey bertie sorry to hear you're having a rubbish time, I think it's 2 steps forward, 1 back! I've been feeling ok then this afternoon really sore again, not so much pain but sore. Will you be able to go on HRT? x

I've kept my ovaries so it's not on the cards just yet unless I have symptoms. I'm confident about it though, I was on the zoladex injections for 6 months with no symptoms. I think it's more the actual ramifications of the surgery, the pre-op nurse & the booklet from the hospital said you might hit a low about the loss of it all no matter how fine you were about it all, and I'm hypersensitive at the moment anyway. It'll pass I'm sure.

Lots & lots of twinges though, I think you're right about 2 steps forward 1 step back!

Hope u had a better day bertieallsort, I'm already bit teary though I did have ovaries out and have started hrt so there's a lot going on! I've just felt bit useless I think and I've got such a long way to go so must try and accept and be positive! Zazu44 are you still taking it easy?

I have today ( read a whole book in a day! ) as haven't felt so good. It's weird isn't it, one day you feel like you're fine and on the road to recovery and the next you're floored and feel rubbish! I've got low down pain so I think I haven't been resting enough. Off for a weekend away in about 10 days so need to go easy so I'm ok for that.
I had already been through the menopause ( almost 5 years period free) so not so bad for me although hot flushes are still being a bugger.
Do you think you're making progress noimnottryingforagirl? x

bertie and noimnottryingforagirl did either of you have your cervix removed?

Zazu44 I did x

I'm getting bad pain when I sit and I wonder if it's just internal bruising, have you had this?