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Women's health

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Hysterectomy.

992 replies

Beanfield · 10/08/2018 17:51

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).

OP posts:
MeganChips · 16/04/2019 09:09

Good luck today Eustacia

EustaciaVye · 16/04/2019 10:36

Thank you ❤

PostNotInHaste · 16/04/2019 10:37

Good luck Eustacia Flowers

EustaciaVye · 17/04/2019 13:00

All done. Quite a bit of pain and low blood pressure so staying in until tomorrow.

Macaroonmayhem · 17/04/2019 13:51

Hi Eustacia, good to hear from you. My pain was really bad to start with but it got better really quickly - I couldn’t believe the improvement over 24 hours so hopefully will be the same for you.

EustaciaVye · 17/04/2019 14:33

Thanks macaroon.
Spoke to surgeon. She didnt find much endo, mainly scarring in the back of the uterus which they saw 5 years ago. My uterus was not enlarged either which it normally is with adeno so I'm a bit confused.
I dont know if it was post ablation pain, or maybe fixed by the 8 months of zoladex I took. I guess I see what the test results say.

She also wants to take me off tibolone and put me just on progesterone in 6 weeks time for the HRT. Is that normal? I have an uncle with osteoporosis so need to make sure that side of things is covered.

Bringbackthestripes · 17/04/2019 18:45

I haven’t been getting notifications for some reason. There have been loads of posts!

Just popped on to see how you were doing EustaciaVye glad it is all over. I also had low BP and had to stay in an extra, torturous night, I hope you are not in too much pain and manage to get some sleep. I have ovaries removed so not much help on the HRT front I’m afraid as I’m oestrogen only. I hope you are not in too much pain and it is all manageable.

Sorry Iamnibird my hysteroscopy was over a decade ago so I can’t remember but laparoscopic investigation in 2017 didn’t bleed very much but I was automatically signed off work for a week which was a good job because I was so swollen I couldn’t fit in my Trousers! (Weirdly a lot less swollen after hysterectomy and fitted in my jeans within 4 days) I hope the bleeding has eased.

I am glad my handled sandwich bag tip was useful Meganchips I got it off a website and it was a brilliant tip so something I feel should be passed along to everyone going in for their op Smile I hope you are recovering ok.

4weeks 2 days on and I -almost- feel guilty not being back in work! I feel physically fine and I think making the effort to go out every day for my walks has been a big help in recovery. I still haven’t had a letter through re my follow up appointment and it was mentioned with the “but if you have no complications you should cancel as you won’t need to be seen” comment so, physically I’m fine BUT I want to know path lab results. I want to know if it was adenomyosis as well as fibroids and how else would I find out if I don’t see the consultant?!

IRememberSoIDo · 17/04/2019 18:54

Glad the operation is over for you EustaciaVye. Hopefully you will start to feel better tomorrow and can get some rest.

PostNotInHaste · 17/04/2019 19:51

Hope the pain eases up very soon Eustacia

EustaciaVye · 17/04/2019 21:10

Thank you ladies. I had ovaries removed so maybe it is oestrogen only - I may have got confused as I had fainted 15 mins before the doctor came round :)

And omg the vaginal packing removal. I thought it would be like taking a tampon out. Not like a magician removing 25 silk scarves....

PostNotInHaste · 17/04/2019 21:20

Flipping heck, that’s a bit of an eye opener ...

EustaciaVye · 18/04/2019 12:53

They have told me I can go home today now that my BP is normal and I am weeing properly :)

MeganChips · 18/04/2019 13:03

Glad to hear you’re doing so well stripes Was yours laparoscopic?

Eeek Eustacia, that is indeed an eye opener. I didn’t get any packing, presumably because mine was abdominal.

Staples came out today. Apparently I’m healing really well even though I look like I’ve been attacked by a great white. I keep threatening to show the kids if they are not at my beck and call!

EustaciaVye · 18/04/2019 14:44

I have so much wind. Its really painful :(

Bringbackthestripes · 18/04/2019 18:17

MeganChips Yes mine was laparoscopic, vaginally assisted. I didn’t have any packing either.

Eustacia glad you can go home. Peppermint tea, extra strong mints, peppermint oil or capsules. The wind is probably the worst bit! I hope it passes quickly.

EustaciaVye · 18/04/2019 18:37

Wonder why I had packing then. Did they take your cervix?

Bringbackthestripes · 18/04/2019 19:02

Yes cervix, uterus, ovaries. I guess it must depend on the amount of blood loss? Not like a magician removing 25 silk scarves made me laugh Grin

EustaciaVye · 20/04/2019 09:40

Glad to raise a smile.
I am feeling a lot better as long as I keep the pain meds topped up. Managed a good nights sleep last night.

Bringbackthestripes · 20/04/2019 17:46

It is great you had a good night Eustacia , the pain will ease quicker than you ever thought possible after such a big op.

I hope everyone is enjoying the long, sunny weekend. I’m struggling to imagine how I will ever go back to work. These lazy days are addictive!

EustaciaVye · 20/04/2019 18:07

Reading my discharge letter and it says no follow up. But it was done by a locum and isnt correct in some of the details.
I know the gynae consultant wanted to see me in 6 weeks to change my HRT. Should I contact her secretary do you think?

MeganChips · 20/04/2019 18:37

It can’t hurt Eustacia

I am back at work on Tuesday. I work from home so the reality will be I will be answering a few emails but I’m not looking forward to it. The arrangement was made when I thought I was going to be laparoscopic so I’d heal quicker. I only get SSP though.

I might call my boss on Monday and see if I can do a week of half days to ease myself in a bit more gently.

Bringbackthestripes · 20/04/2019 19:12

Eustacia my Gynae said follow up in 6-8 weeks and they would send appointment out but if all was fine I should cancel the appointment. Haven’t received it yet. But HRT all dealt with by gp (despite gynae saying I would leave hospital with the HRT prescription, I didn’t, the nurse just told me to speak to GP) so, almost 5 weeks in, I can’t imagine I will have a f/u as long as sex- when I am brave enough- is not painful.

Megan I hope your boss is sympathetic. SSP is rubbish, I have added hols into the end of my sick note as I feel so rubbish but I am panicking about having to go back and I was only laparoscopic! Fingers crossed they let you do a return to work program so you can ease yourself in gently.

EustaciaVye · 20/04/2019 19:19

Yeah, I am in HRT already so there is no rush but it is not the right type for me now I have no ovaries apparently.

Speak to your boss and see if you can work half days and / or short weeks. They will want you back but only if you are effective and so 4 half days would make sense to me if you can afford it.

IRememberSoIDo · 20/04/2019 22:35

Just checking in. Sounds like lots of the recoveries are going really well thank goodness. I'm wishing the days away to September. Periods lasting ten full days and pains that I used to only start getting around day 18 are now starting before periods are fully gone. I'm fascinated by the recovery times. He believes he can do mine laparoscopically if that's even a word and said recovery can be between 6-12 weeks but some of ye seem to be going back now after only a much shorter periods. I've basically told everyone assume the longest and anything shorter is a bonus so that'll put me in good favour!

Bringbackthestripes · 21/04/2019 08:01

IRemember mine was laparoscopic and I have felt really well, physically at least, since around day 9/10. Still had the odd pain if I twisted or bent too sharply for a couple more weeks. Knackered though. Unbelievably knackered. I’m week 5 now. I feel total relief I won’t every have another period, yours sound awful-roll on September!

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