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).

Im beginning to get really concerned that theres something wrong, ill be calling my dr on monday but just wondered if anyone else had the same issue.

On the whole im doing ok but when i need a poo im in agony, i am not constipated, its like a spasmming pain from my intestines to my rectum, it leaves me sobbing and shaking. Afterwards i am so wiped out and my back hurts so much i have to go to bed with a hot water bottle.

That sounds awful @smilingthroughgrittedteeth. I haven't had this - have had quite sudden contraction like cramps across the front of my abdomen a lot though (not when pooing).

Are you any better now?

I had antibiotics for a UTI and feel so much better than a few days ago!

No nordstrom im still having terrible pain when pooing im going to call the consultant tomorrow.

Glad your feeling better

How are you doing @smilingthroughgrittedteeth and @notmylittleangel?

I'm not sure what is normal here. Since I had my UTI in week 1, though my temp is normal in the morning, it rises to approx 37.5-37.8 every day (I feel myself getting flushed). Generally I am feeling much better and more energetic each day. However in a bit concerned re bleeding. I had nothing until day 7 when it was was a watery, pinkish loss. The past few days though it is increasingly red and has been smelling quite off (now day 16)

Any thoughts?

How are you all doing ? Did you get to the bottom of your bleeding Nordstrom?

I had pre-op today and was really impressed with the enhanced recovery stuff and how organised it all is. Physio appt soon then i’m All set for op in September.

Hey

How's everyone doing? How are all the recoveries going? Just under three weeks now til my big day on 14th September. Got my hospital stuff sorted this weekend as things are crazy in work and will be the next couple of weekends. This is all very real now and feeling a little scared and like I'd just like it to be this time four or five weeks when I'm past the worst of it.

I’m just a few days in front of you..have had pesos and session with physio the last couple of weeks in preparation.

@IRememberSoIDo good luck for Saturday. I am through it and had laparoscopic rather than the vertical incision I was expecting. Am on enhanced recovery and was pretty comfortable walking to car park after one nights stay.

My uterus was enlarged , stuck to back of abdominal wall with adhesions and significantly impacting bladder capacity and surgeon said I am definitely better off without it. I might need bladder retraining apparently.

I had an epidural as morphine makes me sick. This really helped the pain afterwards, wasn’t really any. Whole thing has been very positive.so far and definitely feels like the right decision. One injection of Prostap was vile but does see, to have helped so worth the crap.

Oh great to hear you're out the other side, I'm so pleased for you. I'm delighted you managed to have the laparoscopic too. My consultant keeps reminding me it's the same work inside just smaller scars so to take it easy. I'm very very nervous now about Saturday. I really just want it over. Did they discharge you after one night or did you ask to go? I've been told 3-5 nights.

I totally understand , it’s very nerve wracking in the lead up. I was put on Enhanced Recovery scheme which is usually one to two nights for abdominal incision and one night for laparoscopic. I had carb sachets the evening before and the morning of the surgery Plus as was expecting abdominal they gave me stool softeners 4 days previously and an enema the night before.

The idea is to get catheter and drip out ASAP I think. My catheter was in longer than anticipated as someone seemed to forget at end shift. Day of op the epidural kept pain at bay which was relief as morphine after embolisation made me very sick. I did take anti sickness drugs until end of yesterday but was ok.

Yesterday and today (so post op days 1 and 2) i have had paracetamol and ibuprofen plus that one to help your stomach. They gave me stool softeners as well plus I have injections for another 4 days.

I’m able to move around better than expected but stomach very swollen. I got a diary ti fill in and first day after op they said to be out of bed for 6 hours so I did 2 x 3 hours in the chair in hospital.

Today I woke at 5, made a drink and something to eat to take meds. Got up and showered and had breakfast then went back to bed for a sleep until afternoon . Sat out in summer house for a couple of hours this afternoon as have comfy sofa, lots of cushions plus a foot stool then came back to bed for evening.

Hospital physio said that need support but not mollycoddling. Will be interesting to see how I am tomorrow. Sheet says it is ok to do short walks so will do a little one if up to it but if not am not going to push myself,

Wow I haven't had any of that pre op preparation. I'm in Ireland so guessing you're UK as haven't heard of that before. It sounds really good. Definitely don't push it. Sounds really promising though. My youngest is starting to get upset about me going in. I held off telling her until just over a week ago. It was all very calm but now she's saying she wishes I didn't have to do it and wishes I didn't get pains etc 😔. Eldest has just got her second period and is in pain with it and now worried she's going to be like me. It's all very hormonal and upset here lol

Oh that sounds tough My two are older so much easier . They were both worried though, Dd came back from university tinhelp nad DS gave me a rare huge hug before I went and I was really pleased to be here today for his birthday.

I am in the UK. I didn’t realise until preop that they did this enhanced recovery thing. I respond very well to be given a list of instructions so it was right up my street. I don’t know if they give it to everyone or the gynae nurse assesses and makes a call. She remembered me from embolisation and knew that it would be something I would want to do.

This has been significantly better than the embolisation, pain evens a lot less and I am taking far less pain relief at this point than after that.

Thing I have messed up is post op wear. Knickers and nightdress fine but only one lot of suitable jogger bottoms as leggings too tight around stomach. Have been warned it will be potentially an emotional rollercoaster so waiting for that but I am currently completely delighted that my bloody uterus is finally gone.

Good luck tomorrow Iremember . Top tip, do not make any online transactions whilst on a lot if drugs as there is a good chance it will go wrong.

Thank you. Lol what a tip but a wise one, I'm a demon for online shopping. Looking forward to being out the other side!!

Look forward to talking to you on the recovery sofa - I haven’t sat so much on sofas since the DC were tiny.

All set and waiting here. I really just want this done at this stage. Will let you know how it goes.

I hope they get you in soon, it’s horrible waiting. Totally understand about wanting it over. I feel pretty good today if that helps to hear. Dressings off and i’m going to go for a little walk later to enjoy the sun, then lots more rest.

Good luck and speak to you when you’re sorted.

I'm alive!!! I feel like I've been hit by a lorry but I'm ok. Pain meds being shoved into me every five minutes which is amazing! The hospital I'm in is more like a health spa. Sounds like you're making good progress. I'll be keeping that as my goal.

I've just been told I can go for a walk around the ward!!

So pleased you’re alive !!! Sounds like a lovely hospital. Definitely take all the meds going, important to keep ahead of your pain in my opinion l

A walk round ward sounds good. I’ve been for dog walk in woods plus sat at neighbour’s for a cuppa so nothing more than Sofa and bed for the rest of the day plus two sets of pelvic floor exercises plus breathing exercises. I am trying to do this as per my enhanced recovery sheet .

And pain meds so far today are 2 x Ibuprofen to give you some hope . My stomach doesn’t actually feel any worse than some of the pain I had pre surgery at this point. Obviously I could wake up tomorrow and bitterly regret saying this however ....

Hope you’re ok IRememberSoIDo

Hey there. I'm ok. Got home today. Very uncomfortable after the hospital bed. My back is so sore from it. Much better here with all my pillows! Feeling happy to be home. How are you doing?

Huge sympathies, my back hurt from it too but I only had one night to contend with. Hopefully you can get some proper sleep and start to recover, I don’t think that really happens in hospital.

We’re you keyhole or open ? I’m good thanks, it was a week ago today. I’m still sleeping a bit during the day and generally taking it very easy but have been lucky enough to be able to get out and walk now. I think the enhanced recovery program does help.