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).

Morning everyone
Hope today is a little brighter for those of us struggling
Catnidge- I didn't shower in hospital, although I could have done. I was only in one night and preferred to wait until I was at home. To be honest I would have been a bit unsteady and unsure first day post op.

Officially 2 weeks post op now and am feeling more like my old self at last! Am hoping to start some small outdoor walks next week- grateful for any tips!

Oh Catnidge, that is rubbish. Hope you can reach someone very soon.

I did think about taking towel but thought they might not like it as might see it as an infection risk. I was in one night and decided I wanted to shower at home too.

With walking I built it up slowly. First day just round corner, then each day a bit more. Found I could increase a reasonable amount then. Tried to be on level as much as possible and when did slopes took small steps .

I dId end up overdoing it as wasn't concentrating and went further than I realised so have been resting and plan to start again tomorrow.

My lovely DH has just switched the plug socket by sofa and bought long chargers for my iPad and phone so I can just come down and charge whilst using as have been chewing through battery life recently. I twisted awkwardly trying to plug chargers in the other day so great to just sit down and have cables to plug in.

Ah Post that's lovely- anything to make life easier when you need it!

I've set up a basket, by the bed and by the sofa, of essentials to stop me having to carry around. Charger, hand gel, mints, paracetamol etc. feel like a geriatric!

I can relate to that as have put a table with similar and reminds me of my Mum a few years ago!

I'm home form my op. Unfortunately, I was one of the tiny minority who have a post op abdominal haemorrhage. It was very traumatic and I had to go back into surgery. Lots of blood transfusions and treatments.
I'm home with a mass of medication plus injections to give myself. Feeling pretty unwell at the moment.
Onwards and upwards for all of us

catnidge you poor thing. That must be absolutely awful. Really hope someone is taking good care of you.

Oh Catnidge that sounds horrendous, I am so sorry. Really hope the rest of your recovery goes much more smoothly

Oh god you poor thing catnidge. That sounds so scary. I hope you start to feel better really soon and can put that behind you. Mind yourself.

mumma, post and I rememberthanks so much for the good wishes.
How are you all doing?

Good thanks. Went for an open day with DS two hours away so a long day but I coped. There were a lot of stairs which were tricky at one point but I was ok. Doing nothing today though.

Catnidge, sorry to hear about your complications- poor you! You can fully focus on your recovery now, rest as much as you can.

I'm now just 3 weeks post op and my sleep has started suffering.
Despite being on high dose oestrogen the last 4 nights I have been unable to get a good stretch of sleep.
I've ordered some magnesium spray to see if that helps, I'm feeling Low and exhausted today, which is such a shame as in myself I feel I am healing well.
The other thing I have yet to fully conquer is discomfort when walking. I'm steadily increasing my daily strolls, but I feel panicky when I get twinges. It's so hard to tell what is my ligaments healing and stretching naturally, and what is my body telling me to stop!! Might ring physio tomorrow for advice....

I don’t know if it helps Spykid but I have read that weeks 3 or 4 can be quite rough, week 3 was for me. My sleep has been bad for ages and I do find magnesium helps a bit. I think ringing physio a good idea so you know where you are at a bit more.

Thanks Post, sometimes it's just good to talk to people who have been through it too.

That's so interesting that weeks three and four can be bad as I'm now four weeks post op and I'm really not feeling great. Zero pain which is amazing but I am so tired all the time. I had been warned it would be like this and would start to feel like I'd never feel normal again but I'm still taken aback just how tired. My sleep has gone bonkers too, I keep waking up after an hour or two wide awake. I didn't have ovaries out so can't put it down to hormones unless it's from having the mirena removed at the hysterectomy. I dunno.

Hope everyone feeling ok today!

I sympathise- the exhaustion at the simplest task is unreal! Is your iron level ok? I had to up mine considerably and have noticed a big difference.

My surgeon told me I should be able to return to work after 4 weeks- has anyone done a full time 4 week return successfully?

With only a week to go until then I need to start planning longer walks !!

Also..... how long did anyone wait before having a bath? I had vaginally assisted with cervix removed. Can't wait to have a soak!

Not a chance spykid. I've been certed off until my check up in mid November and my consultant said he strongly wants me to co sided taking until Christmas off. This is mainly because of the state I was in leading up to my operation and that I had passed out last year with pain etc and my job is fairly full on. My kids are also only 11 and 7 which aren't babies but younger than a lot of kids of hysterectomy patients if that makes sense so I still do a lot for them. Part of me feels very guilty at the prospect of taking that long but the other part of me feels this consultant doesn't readily hand out certs so if he's telling me to think hard about it I should.

Not a chance spykid. I've been certed off until my check up in mid November and my consultant said he strongly wants me to co sided taking until Christmas off. This is mainly because of the state I was in leading up to my operation and that I had passed out last year with pain etc and my job is fairly full on. My kids are also only 11 and 7 which aren't babies but younger than a lot of kids of hysterectomy patients if that makes sense so I still do a lot for them. Part of me feels very guilty at the prospect of taking that long but the other part of me feels this consultant doesn't readily hand out certs so if he's telling me to think hard about it I should.

Also iron could be low, I've been anaemic for years so probably should go and get some.

I had same type of surgery as you but i amn't a bath person so haven't had one.

Thank you

My surgeon said 4 weeks- but I won't have seen anyone post - op before I return to work.

post you did well with the trip. Was it a uni visit?

spy if you're re not ready for work, go to go and get signed off for a bit longer

I would think weeks 3 and 4 tiredbess is the bodies way of letting you know you've had major surgery! A work colleague came back after a smaller gynae op and she clearly wasn't ready for it.

I've also realised I didn't get a sick note when I left hospital. Wil my gp sign me off?

Actually I've just read back and saw that spykid advised me she got the note from her GP!

How are you doing Catnidge?

Hi spykid not too bad!
The meds seem to have given me quite an upset stomach but at least I'm not constipated.
Bruised all over from the haemorrhage and tummy feels as tight as a drum.
I'm managing to move around OK though. Getting in and out of shower more easily than I expected. I can Potter around the house for short periods and then feel drained!

How are you all doing?