Hysterectomy in November - any handy tips welcome!

[PurpleLostPrincess]

Having a hysterectomy on 10th November, very much wanted - my uterus has served it's purpose and is now causing problems so I'm happy to have it removed! (have 3DC's).

I'm 32 so have been told my ovaries should recover nicely and I'm unlikely to go into early menopause (although my Mum had hers aged 38).

Consultant will decide on the table whether or not to do it vaginally or abdominally so recovery very much depends on that.

DH is fab with the kids, may have to do a bit of arranging around school runs etc but have a very supportive bunch of family and friends.

Just looking at any practical tips on stuff in general really - hoping to take DH's ipod with me to help with boredom. Should I get/take arnica? Is there anything I should expect?

Thanks in advance

If you have to have the abdominal sort of op ,i would suggest that when you go out in the car you have a small cushion between your abdomen and your seat belt. Oh and dont let dh drive you down any roads which have humps in as my dh did to me the day i came home from hospital ! You just have to take things easy,and slowly you will get your strength back.Do try and walk a little way each day and gradually increase the distance.Good luck hope it all goes well for you.

Thanks MQOD! DH doesn't drive so I'll be getting lifts off my Dad for a while - hadn't thought about how long it would be before I'm driving again, yikes!

that will depend on which way you have your op.

I had one in July. TBH it's been quite straight forward recovering as I've had 2 c-sections (so I knew what to expect) and my family took over with my dc's - both pre-schoolers that need lifting and nappy changes.

My anaesthetist used a spinal block aswell as the GA, he said it seemed to help speed recovery. My ovaries are still in. I was in bed for 48 hours after the op, didn't need morphine, only paracetamol. Day 3 was hard as my bladder had been irritated by the catheter and I got light headed getting out of bed. But by day 4 I was sick of hospital food and begged them to let me go home. For the next 2 weeks I did bugger all at home and just forced myself to rest. Only needed ibruprofen a couple of times when my stomach felt tender at the end of the day. After that I just did a little more each day and now, 11 weeks on I'm almost fully fit again. I didn't drive or lift the dc's for 6 weeks, mum knows someone who haemorrhaged lifting a toddler after the op so she was very strict with me . I did miss being on my own with the dc's and couldn't wait to read them bedtime stories on my own again.

It's been a rather boring summer, and I did go a teensy weensy bit crazy with boredom and having people around me all the time but it's been worth it as I was able to recover properly.

there is a forum for the hysterectomy association which has loads of info and is very supportive. here

Meglet, so pleased you've had a successful experience! Personally I had a bad time with an epidural when having DS so I'll be opting for the GA if given the choice!

Thanks, I'll avoid lifting DD2 (2) for a while then - have told DH and the kids that they'll have to change her nappy for a few weeks

Bela, funnily enough, I've just discovered that site and have found it quite helpful but thank you all them same

Getting quite concerned, have read varying reports of how it could effect my ability to orgasm without a cervix and the intensity of it, I guess I can only wait and see but will be rather gutted if it affects things too much as we're very 'active' iyswim

Ordered some pyjamas off ebay today - my Mum has always had a thing about having new pyjamas for hospital lol!

Less than 5 weeks to go... yikes!

Got the date for my pre-op - 2nd November... Have a whole list of questions to ask either the nurse or the consultant. The more I think about it, the more I want them to do it abdominally - I had some 'damage' to my fanjo when I had DD1 and I don't particularly want them routing around, potentially doing more damage! Also, I'm worried about how it could effect my ability to orgasm afterwards etc. I know they are weak reasons but I feel like I should have a choice being as it's my body, is that silly?

Also, I'm going to ask about hair removal I'm not sure if I should be getting rid of the hair around that area ready for the op, or if they will do it on the table, or if it needs to be done at all!?

A friend of mine used to work in theatre and I was telling her that I'm worried about my legs/hips when I'm on the table as they're really bad and I don't want to wake up with them sore - she said they can provide sandbags if I ask for them lol!

I've heard they sometimes give the option of having a spinal tap instead of a general anaesthetic which scares the living daylights out of me following a bad experience with an epidural with DS, so I'll be making sure I'm having a GA!!!

I guess that's it really - sorry to bore you but it feels good to get my thoughts out so they're not rattling around in my head!

I had a hysterectomy 4 years ago. It was honestly so much better than I expected. After two weeks I almost felt back to normal (mine was abdominal) I did get tired though and whenever I could I had forty winks in the afternoon, or at least half an hour lying down reading.

My advice to you is 'big pants'! Afterwards you just want to feel comfy, so I got big pants and nice comfy sweatpants to lounge around in.

Also- make sure you do the exercises they recommend afterwards, they are are very gentle but really do help

Thank you happystory, I was thinking about getting some more comfy baggy trackies for around the house but I'll get some baggy knickers too, so glad you mentioned that! And also glad you had such a good recovery

Three weeks today! So sick of being in pain - if it's not my hips clicking and siezing up, it's a pain in my right groign, or my back. If I didn't know better I'd say it was my right ovary but I haven't really got a clue - the scan showed them as being fine and healthy...

I think we've got all the plans in place so it's just a case of waiting now, it's doing my head in. Every time I complain about the pain, I'm told it'll all be gone soon, which is right but I can't help worry about the pain from the op although hopefully that won't last too long...

Pre-op on Monday, have come on today and I'm in agony but surviving as it'll be the last period I ever have!!!!!! Burst into tears this morning as I can't cope with the pain any more . Need to see the gp about my ad's as I feel so emotionally numb all the time, I have ulcers all over my tongue and I'm grinding my teeth all night so my jaw is killing me - might ask if I can reduce the dose.

My hip nearly clicked out of place yesterday while bending over to look at a low shelf in tesco's - DH had to literally pick me up off the floor, rather embarassing!! .

Just can't wait for all this pain to be gone, but confused as to how a hysterectomy will help my hips

Good luck plp, I will be in your boat in a couple of months so do say how you get on. I know I am having mine abdominally and I am having my ovaries renoved as they are the problem. Really hope all goes well and you recover quickly.

Thanks doggus, hope all goes well for you too

Had the pre-op today - consultant has decided to go in abdominally as he'd like to do some exploration before deciding what to take - he agrees some of my pain could be due to my ovaries but would prefer to keep them if possible so has said he will only take one or both if they are showing to be my cause of pain. They are so funny when trying to be polite about the fact that I'm on the 'larger' size bless them but I guess they have to be careful not to upset those who might be sensitive about it lol! They've given me a breakdown of what to expect, I'm quite impressed and very reassured. The matron was very relaxing and welcomed questions and answered them all happily!

So, one week to go! In the meantime, DD1 (11) is now realising the impact of the fact that I won't be here for a few days and has been quite emotional this evening bless her!

Oh, and DD2 (2) won't be allowed in the ward to visit to we have to wait till I'm mobile (day 2 I think), then she can come into the building and I can spend time with her in a separate room. I reckon I'm going to miss the kids immensely, it's all becoming real now!

Right, I'm off to write a list of things to pack etc - still in massive amounts of pain with this af but thankfully it'll be my last one EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

Got home yesterday and family are looking after me well - can't get used to the idea of staying in bed just yet but I'm sure I'll cope lol!

Had a bit of a bad experience - op went well, he left my ovaries in. But when I got back from theatre, the spinal ran out within ten minutes and I was in agony. Almost felt like they didn't believe me, had to keep telling them - they then noticed how much was coming out of the drain and eventually rushed me back to theatre in the night - I was bleeding internally due to an atery being nicked in my tummy so my abdomen was full of blood and I had clots building up between the muscles of my tummy. Had to have 4 units of blood transfusions etc.

Because they had to go back in through the original cut, I've now got 28 staples across my tummy, extremely uncomfortable!

Also, when the original op was being done, he found that I had lots of stuff backed up in my bowels so I've had the joy of having to get rid of it, without straining or pushing so have had tonnes of movicol and even a suppository. Not all of it has worked just yet but I'm getting there.

The hospital staff were lovely but almost punched the poor nurse who pulled out the second drain (had an extra one put in after the second surgery) - how painful was that!!!!!!!!!!!!

So glad to be home, just trying to keep the wound clean and dry, having staples taken out on Tuesday.

Feel like shite today, hardly slept at all last night, was either sitting on the loo pooing (I really didn't have that much movicol, promise!!); or couldn't get comfy. Have been feeling like crying all day, just had a few tears - they told me to expect it but it doesn't make it any easier. My wound is so sore...

Oh well, staples out tomorrow...

Well, having the staples out wasn't fun but I feel so much better for it! Now have a purple belly due to the bruising coming out lol! Had such an emotional day the other day but not too bad yesterday and so far today. Just feel immensely tired all the time. Also still struggling with the pooing but I guess that's normal...