Hysterectomy.

[Beanfield]

Hurrah and Hallelujah. My uterus has been given an eviction notice!

30 years of being a complete bitch. Let me down twice (miscarriage and ectopic). Did what it should do twice (2 grown up DDs). Never officially diagnosed with anything but suggestions have been PCOS and endometriosis. 30 solid years of hideous periods. 30 years of being fobbed off by assorted GPs who told me it was normal to faint, vomit, incapacitate and take over my life for one out of every three or four weeks.
It’s got to the point where my cycles are just 18-20 days long, I bleed huge amounts for 5 days (emptying cup every 2 hours), overflowing, clots. Light bleeding on and off for a further 4 days. Bleeding on and off randomly mid-cycle. Puking and dizzy. Period diarrhoea, excruciating, labour style pain. Another 3 days of pain while i ovulate plus bleeding then too.
Tried everything. Mirena - I bled for 8 months then it fell out. Painfully. Pill - unhinged. Drugs - I’m allergic to the good ones and the others don’t work so well. Herbs, flowers, tea, homeopathy, diet - all bollox.

Finally saw a Dr who actually listened and agreed to whip the bugger out. Not sure how yet as apparently it's ‘bulky’ (like the rest of me) so need a scan to see how big it is. Also waiting on smear results and endometrial biopsy (which hurt like a bastard and is still hurting 4 days later).

Thanks MerryGinmas! DH got me a new dressing gown for Christmas, so that's sorted. I think I'll need to go to Primark to get some soft trousers- I don't really have anything like that just now.

Primary do very comfy pyjamas. Stretchy cottonish with vest tops with boob support. Very useful for slobbing around in.

Good luck, Appin!

Very best of luck for next week Appin!

Good luck Appin. How are you feeling?

Thanks all, I'm feeling ok, actually strangely calm this evening. It's been a long wait, and I'm ready to be better now. I've been in a fair amount of pain the last few weeks.

Off to bed now, hoping I get some sleep!

Hope the recovery is still going well Beanfield

Hi some advice needed. I am 5 and a half weeks after my surgery now and yesterday I decided that as the children and DH had went back to work and school I would do some cleaning as I was bored.
My light cleaning became extreme cleaning as I got slightly carried away and started hoovering and cleaning all the stuff that hadn't been done. My DH has been amazing but he to put it nicely he has not got the cleaning abilities and I've been doing as much as I can but having to restrict my obsessive tendencies with my cleaning. Anyway last night I had the most painful sensation ever and found that I was bleeding. My check up is not for another 2 weeks and I cannot get an appointment to see doctor. Is this normal have I over done it? Or should I be worried? Sorry for rambling

Appin. I hope you are enjoying the good drugs.

Lopped. How much bleeding? A smidgen on wiping or like a period? Up until last week I was still getting a bit of spotting after I’d done a bit much. Dr google told me it was normal but I still fretted. If it’s more like a period maybe walk in for a check?

Doctor google is what set the panic off its more like period. I managed to get doctor appointment cause I went into panic mode so they gave me a same day appointment for 5pm today.
So the doctor had a wee look this was not the most comfortable thing to happen wee bits not completely healed completely I have to watch what I am doing so no climbing worktops, excessive hoovering, no lifting children, antibiotics just incase. I have another appointment in5 days to check. Feeling frustrated cause I managed to do everything I was told to for this long and in a day I have put my healing back by 2 weeks. But I just have to deal with the consequences of my stupidity now.

Loppey. Glad you got checked. Now behave and slow down.

I’m officially 6 weeks tomorrow. I’ve hoovered in secret a few times when I couldn’t bear the mess but I’ve mostly been enjoying the ‘I’m absolutely not allowed to hoover’; thing when I want to make a point.

@Beanfield hoovering is my favourite thing it got me through uni stress, job stress, hyper children stress unfortunately it cannot be used to recover from hystorectomy stress. I miss hovering soo much but I just need to accept the fact that until I heal properly. I will just have to "walk it off" on the plus side I can do yoga now as long as I "listen to my body" whatever that means.

Can I ask what your 6 week checks involved? Was there an internal? It’s one thing having a colleague look at your uterus and foof while unconscious or on serious drugs but another thing doing it sober. (Yes, I’m a professional wuss).

Don't worry about your check, Beanfield- I'm sure it'll be far less awkward than you think it's going to be.

I've been to see my surgeon today because he needed to get my permission to use a new piece of equipment on me that the nhs is trialling on some abdominal hysterectomy patients. It seals the wounds on the inside apparently, meaning no internal stitches.

It was good to have an opportunity to ask questions and I was reassured that it wouldn't have been possible to have a laparoscopic hysterectomy - my fibroids are just too big. I'm going in on Tues 22nd, out he thinks by Thursday or Friday. Then six weeks off!

Thinking about my hospital bag now.

Had it done this summer and it was the best decision ever. Having been robbed off by (male) doctors for over 30 years, I finally got a woman to say ‘you shouldn’t have to live like this’. Got a post op diagnosis of anemydosis (sorry spelling!) so it WAS necessary despite what they all implied! Took 4 weeks off work and rested and I was literally back jogging at 6. Flying now and have forgotten what hassle periods were! Just need to donate my vast stash of Always to a period charity...

Beanfield - I don't even get one how are you doing? They might want to check your stitches have dissolved.

I'm feeling pretty much back to normal now, although I've started bleeding lightly again. I think it's probably my stitches dissolving.

I had confirmation that I will never need another smear yesterday whoop! Still no diagnosis re: bleeding so I guess I'm going to be one of those who never find out why . Maybe it was hormonal?

I'm finding I feel better in myself than I have in years. I guess from being on contraception

@loppeyloo you must be about a week ahead of me. I hope your bleeding calms down soon! REST!

I must confess I've been doing the odd little bit of hoovering but I have one of those small Dysons and it's just the same as sweeping really. I did some reorganising of clothes etc. the other day which is what set me off spotting I think.

So pleased it's been such a positive experience for you @R3ALLY

Fanny 7 weeks! That’s not long. My other colleague has just had open type and has had 12 weeks off.

No more smears. Isn’t it wonderful

I had a hysterectomy at 27 (now 31) due to cervical cancer... it was the most horrific thing i have endured.....almost 4 years on (5th feb) I'm still in incredible pain, I was a picture of health and fitness (beside the growing demon ) at the time was running 7 miles daily gym 4 evenings a week strict healthy diet. I really hope you're goes smoothly, and you dont suffer like i do. if they offer you a spinal block take it ! Let froends and fanily wait on tou hand and foot because you'll need it you will be catheterd too which is helpful bot having to get up for a wee! Oh and the drain that hurts like hell when removed. Don't mean to give you a horror story just wish I had been told that before my operation xx

Stuckmom sorry you had such a pig of a time. It sounds grim.

Crossing fingers I'll get through ok. I'm expecting to be in some pain, but I think the end result will be better than now, when I'm bleeding masses, total bloodbaths completely unpredictably and I'm anaemic. I'm very unfit too because of my big lumpy tummy which makes proper exercise quite hard, though I do walk a lot.

Bean I have told my school only 6 weeks in total! Oh no! but if I need longer I'll just have to take it. A lovely recently retired teacher is taking my lessons and I'll be doing some admin from home anyway.

I just want to get on with it now.

Do I need nighties rather than pyjamas in hospital? I will presumably have a catheter, so yes, I think. I just bought two new pairs of pjs but can wear them at home.

I wore pjs. I was only in 2 nights, key hole. I had a section on DS one and the discomfort was comparable but not as bad - also you don’t have a new born to look after!! They keep you in till you are weeing clearly so drink loads and the first poo is terrifying but that’s the worst of it!

@R3ALLY did you not have a catheter then? I was in 2 nights too, would have been one night but I had a temperature.

I wore a nightie. Mine was keyhole/ vaginal. The worst bit for me was having the packing removed the next day. I hadn't even realised it was in there

Hello all! Thanks for asking after me whilst I've been out of action.

I had my op on Tuesday, everything taken except my ovaries. Surgery was uncomplicated, and laparoscopic. Quite miraculous really- I just have three small scope wounds, which are not too painful. Pain is mostly internal and more of a bruising pain- I'm keeping it under control with meds at home. Got home after two nights in hospital.

Day of surgery was awful, took a lot of time and different medications to get my nausea under control and stop me being sick, and I was very emotional. I can't even explain the feeling of complete devastation when they told me it had been done. But I'm on more of an even keel now, so that's good. I'm just waiting on results to hear that (hopefully) all the cancer has been removed and no further treatment required.

I'm fairly mobile, similar to after a c-section. The exhaustion is the worst, I feel like even lifting a cup of tea to my lips is a challenge, and every small action requires a lie down to recover. But I'm sure I'll get better every day.

I had a catheter until seven the next morning, so needed to wear one nightie post-surgery. Been in jammies since then, ones with big soft waistbands, as my tummy is tender and swollen still.

The only other advice I have is to drink peppermint tea, take peppermint capsules, anything peppermint. It really helps with the trapped wind after surgery, which was excruciating in my shoulders. A heat pack or hot water bottle is also useful.

I did but not for long. Yeah... mostly I closed my eyes and didn’t think about it 😄. It was over soon. I would have been one night except my op was 5 in the evening so the following morning would have been too soon

I had my laparoscopic hysterectomy in 2011, I wore leggings one size up to come home in & wore them a lot during my recovery, otherwise I wore a very loose sundress as it was summer, if it was a day I was resting, i had a pj day. I took a nightshirt to the hospital & my partner helped me change in to it as the hospital provided paper theatre gowns & I managed to rip mine. Stick to dark colours, I had a drain that was removed the morning after & I was leaking fluid from the site for a couple of weeks, it may be handy to get some waterproof absorbent dressings from the chemist before you go in. Once you are home do whatever you feel like doing but don't do any lifting or stretching, sit down to prepare meals if you can & get someone else to drain pans & lift things out of the oven.

@FannyBurneyUndertheknife thanks... it's just another thing sent to test me though.. I hope you're goes well and it is obviously going to improve your life you're going through a lot...

@alwaysneedgin oh god heard the vaginal one is absolutely horrific because of the internal dressing. Thankfully mine was abdominal... But because I was so muscular the surgeon said he basical had to hack into my muscle ad they were so tough, so yay all the work paid off but that's why I'm in so much pain afterwards

I wore pjs as not one nurse or doctor told me to bring a nightdress as I would be catheterd, (ended up being two weeks in the end came home with it in) my surgery was done so quick they missed out loads of information I would of loved to have known before hand (being a control freak) I think that's what made the whole situation worse I was hit with curvballs every day it was extremely distressing when I was already having to deal with the diagnosis and the operation it's self