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).

My goodness Beanfield, that was brief!

How long were you off for altogether? I'm only one week in, but have already been off for two months with cancer tests/procedures/symptoms and I'm desperate to get back to normality. Can see me being really bored in a few weeks. At the same time, don't want to go back too early.

I'm one week post surgery today and can't believe how good I feel. Though I am still taking hospital painkillers...

Short and sweet bean

Appin glad you feel good so soon, I am interested to see when you will be fit to work as I will be having it done lap & V assisted.

I’ll have 8 weeks off. In fairness I could quite easily have gone back a couple of weeks ago as I’ve felt so fine. But I’ll never get such a chunk off again so I’ve made the most of it. I suddenly got bored and twitchy last week so definitely time to go back.
I think my appointment would have been more I. Depth if needed. But it’s been so straightforward and I didn’t have any questions (and if I do I can grab them at work).

It’s over and I’m very happy about it and I feel good. And I know that this is very different for me, who wanted it done, and for those who aren’t ready or would have rather not.

Thanks Beanfield. My sick note is due for renewal next week and I'm fairly sure the GP will give me another six week one. Of course, a lot depends on whether I'm looking at a straightforward recovery from this, or whether I need further treatment for the cancer. Fingers crossed!

I'm feeling pretty good, on day eleven now. Taking fewer painkillers, generally pretty comfortable. I'm wondering one thing- do you think I could have a bath? I can't seem to find an answer online and didn't ask in hospital. Was anyone given advice on this?

Well my time's up and I'm going in to hospital in the morning. I'm just home from work. Spent the day frantically getting stuff done and delegating what I can't finish before d-day, but now I'm home I'm suddenly terrified.
Waaahhh!

Oh good luck Fanny, I’m sure you will be fine.

I moved one step forward today - got a letter confirming which hospital I’ll be going to and that I’ll hear from them shortly with a date. Can’t come soon enough.

Oh good, macaroon. Hope it's soon for you.

Fanny hope you are early on on the list so you don’t have to wait ages, hope it all goes smoothly.

Macaroon fingers crossed you get a date soon.

Appin any idea how long it will be before you hear if you need further treatment?

Good luck Fanny! Hope it's early, and you don't have to sit about all day. I was terrified the night before too, completely understandable.

Bring back, it's funny you should ask that. I'm lying in bed right now winding myself (And my DH) up worrying about that. I normally hear two weeks later after biopsies (Have had three different periods of waiting for results) so that would mean hearing this week. We've been toying with the idea of booking a holiday, and tonight I've just said I don't want to talk about it, there's no point as I might not be well anyway. It's torture.

Hysterectomy wise, I'm doing really well. Not on any painkillers anymore, feeling fine, quite mobile. The only trouble is remembering not to do too much!

Appin I hope you hear soon, it must be torturous to be in limbo. Fingers crossed all will be ok and you get to go on a holiday to put it all behind you. Glad you feel ok overall.

Thanks for kind messages yesterday. I'm done!

I'm not in much pain at all, but I have a morphine drip if I want it. My uterus plus fibroids weighed 2.2lbs, over a kilo, and I'm so glad to be rid of it all. I kept my ovaries but not the cervix, which was what I wanted.

I'm a bit dozy so more tomorrow perhaps, but I'm the meantime all the best of luck to those waiting, whether for test results, a date or to recover.

Fanny! Hurrah! It’s done. take all the drugs and rest.

For those worried about pain the first night after an abdominal hysterectomy, I can be reassuring. I'm really comfortable. Anaesthetist told me he would give me a local as well as the general, and it must still be working, so I guess it may get worse, but so far so good.

Yay! Good to hear from you Fanny, glad its going well.

Wow Fanny that’s some weight! Glad you are feeling ok.

Bringback, macaroon, Beanfield, thank you. Yesterday got pretty awful in terms of pain, bloating, anxiety. But then they brought out the liquid morphine, which is definitely my new tipple. Feeling a lot better now, having managed to wee at last. Walking seemed impossible at first, but I've done two or three solo hobbles and it isn't so terrifying or painful once im off the bed.

So much respect to NHS staff. They've been incredibly busy with long, long days and nights on a full general ward with a couple of emergencies etc, but they remain cheerful and so kind.

And Appin!

Take it easy Fanny and make sure you take painkillers often. Don’t wait until it is proper hurting before you ask for more. You need to keep on top of it.

I’m back at work today. I fear I’ve forgotten everything.

Oh Beanfield good luck! You won't have forgotten everything- by lunchtime you'll feel like you were never away! Try to keep the physical work to a minimum- though that's hard in a hospital, as I'm seeing all around me.

This is all pretty encouraging to read. My fibroid embolisation hasn’t really worked. The fucker might have shrunk (will find out at scan next month but i’ve been bleeding more ever since than before, am getting random abdominal cramps and my bladder having improved is getting worse.

I’m done want it out now so waiting for Consultant appointment. The hopebis embolisation has shrunk it giving more surgical options.

Post hope you get what you need soon. I got so fed up with my fuckers, and even though it's only a couple of days after a pretty major op I'm glad I had it out.
Surgeon and his wife operated on me, which is bizarre. He didn't just casually phone home for help, she's an actual Gynae, it turns out. Fibroids were so big and everything so tough that he needed backup apparently. She came to see me this morning and told me she wasn't surprised I wasn't ready to go home after how hard it had been to get the fucker out. Not her language.

He didn't just casually phone home for help.

Bean I hope work wasn’t to strenuous for you and you aren’t too knackered.

Post fingers crossed you don’t have to wait too long for appointment.

at the ringing home for help. They are fuckers aren’t they and I only have one. Great to hear you’re relieved they’re out.

Would dearly love not be be so knackered and in bed by 6pm. Don’t even know why I am as not anaemic so don’t really understand how it makes me so knackered.

Im.due one on the 19th of feb. Not gonna lie. Shitting myself a little. Had to fight to the death for it as apparantly 30 is too young regardless of how debilitating uour adenomyosis and post ablation sterilisation syndrome is.
Any tips or any ideas for recovery?