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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:
spykid · 17/10/2019 17:36

Catnidge it sounds like you are doing really well- your body has been through such a lot!

I've found week 4 tough going, twinges and low mood have summed it up really.

I have discovered magnesium sleep spray though which has hugely helped with my insomnia. Can't recommend it highly enough, eleven bought some for my Dad!

catnidge · 18/10/2019 15:16

I guess there is so much going on spykid with hormines and healing. It is a long process.

Where did you get the magnesium spray?

PostNotInHaste · 18/10/2019 16:09

It was a 6th form visit Catnidge, he would have to board during the week which feels very major indeed. It’s also very competitive to get into but I think he would love it. Education free but you pay for the boarding so I just need to work on that last bit! A fair few to look at here as well but that is unique .

It is a long process and still early days for us all. I’m not having to think so carefully every time I move now which is good. Been bad and forgotten my pelvic floor exercises last few days.

catnidge · 22/10/2019 17:58

Bumping this thread up for crazy who has got a date for her op.

Post that sounds exciting re the school 6th form. Does it specialise in something he specifically wants to do?

I also must do(start) some pelvic floor exercises.

I'm not too bad, tummy still very tight. Bruising slowly disappearing. Last day of antibiotics and injections for me, so very pleased about that.

Hope everyone is recovering well

spykid · 22/10/2019 18:02

Thanks for the bump Smile
Magnesium sleep spray from Amazon- still proving a godsend tbh.

spykid · 22/10/2019 18:06

I'm glad to see the back of week 4- week 5 proving to be a game changer so far- now comfortably upping my waking after a chat with physio at the hospital.

Feeling much more like my old self and the green stockings are OFF! Star

spykid · 22/10/2019 18:07

That should have said WALKING. I have now problems with waking!!!

PostNotInHaste · 22/10/2019 18:57

I know about waking! Good the walking going well. 6 weeks for me today and started driving. Had to sit in car after going round shop before driving home but had already walked dog and walked to shop earlier so I guess not too surprising.

So happy not to have periods and so much less pain as well .

Crazyladee · 22/10/2019 23:38

Thanks @catnidge!

Will have a good read through and post tomorrow. So glad to have found this thread!

Mummaofmytribe · 23/10/2019 00:13

Hi ladies. I go in Monday. Surgeon Hopi g for laparoscopy removal but suspects it will have to be an "open her up" job.
I suffer insomnia on and off so the magnesium spray sounds like a plan. I'll order it now.
I'm taking shower things in with me but am really hoping I can get away with a one night stay and do it at home in my own time. We'll see. If I have the abdominal OP it's more likely to be two nights :(
Also just found out my health insurance won't cover the overnight stay part (I'm no longer in UK) so each night in hospital is 1000AUD. Great!
Feeling nervous as he'll. I'm going to start taking the minimum dose of a natural laxative 48 hrs beforehand as I've heard constipation can be dire in the first days post OP and I remember that after childbirth
Good luck to all at your differ g stages of recovery. Such a useful thread

catnidge · 23/10/2019 06:24

spykid did you self refer to physio,? I feel like I was discharged with no advice at all re exercise.
Bet you are so relieved the stockings are off.

post well done on your first post op drive. It's not surprising you needed a bit of a rest after the dog walk as well.

I'm 13 days post op and dh took me to the supermarket for a shop. It was like I'd never been in one before Grin.

Also I'm taking lactolose 11 days post op
Did you guys take anything and at what point did you stop? It all still feels very delicate down there and I can't imagine straining Blush

Welcome crazy and mumma. Good luck for Monday mumma.

PostNotInHaste · 23/10/2019 06:59

That sucks with the insurance Mumma. This is one if the worst bits waiting and not knowing what it will be. I was scheduled for abdominal but on the morning he decided to try keyhole and was successful.

Catnidge I was giving softeners and enema ore op then magnesium hydroxide straight away in hospital twice daily and sent home with some. I found that once a day did the job and had it for 2 to 3 weeks, it’s a bit blurry.

I’m really pleased as last 2 days I have managed 10k. I’m a bit hazy on when we can do hoovering, I guess that’s 6 weeks? I think I might leave it an extra couple though, I want best possible healing .

spykid · 23/10/2019 08:32

Post you are doing so well, I love hearing that you are getting back to normality😊

spykid · 23/10/2019 08:33

Mumma good luck! It doesn't hurt to take in more than you need. Better to be prepared.

spykid · 23/10/2019 08:37

Catnidge, about a week ago I swapped my daily lactulose for a small glass of prune juice with breakfast- dojng the job nicely as I'm still not comfortable with any kind or straining!

My NHS hospital gave me all of the physio contacts, exercises and a follow up appointment in 2 weeks. It is all base V around the pelvic floor. They have been so helpful on the end of the phone too when I have had questions.
If you rang your ward would UK led they have someone in physio to put you through to if you had questions?

Crazyladee · 23/10/2019 18:06

Hello everyone,

So after waiting since April, I finally have my date as 13th November for a total hysterectomy. I've been down as a routine OP as the only reason I'm having it is due to fibroids and debilitating periods. I've realised I'm not sure exactly how they will do the operation. Will they discuss this with me during my pre op?

The GP told me I'll go straight on the menopause and after further discussion, I would like to go straight on HRT. How does that work? Does this involve further appointments/prescriptions with the GP once home and recovered or will I go home from the hospital with the HRT?

Thanks in advance and good luck for Monday Mumma.

spykid · 23/10/2019 22:11

Hi Crazy.
I can only speak from my experience and I found out the details of my operation at my pre-op. Although I had to sign to agree to a Lap and/or a full open op.

Regarding HRT- my consultant refused to discuss it with me until my 9 week post-op appointment, so I booked myself into a private menopause clinic - I went 4 days post- op. Like you I wanted my HRT as soon as I could after surgery.

I think HRT depends very much on your consultant, and your GP. I had no joy with either so took it into my own hands.

PostNotInHaste · 24/10/2019 08:01

Hi Crazy. I was told the method during my consultation with the Registrar when booked for op. I was given the choice of whether to leave my cervix and I decided that at preop appointment. I was expecting open surgery so was consented for that but was lucky and on the day it was keyhole.

I have my ovaries so HRT was not discussed.

catnidge · 24/10/2019 19:36

post well done on the walking.
I think hoovering may have to become the life long responsibility of someone elseGrin

Thanks for the info spykid ill keep on with the lactolose and then see if I'm ready to brave prune juice!

I sorted out my physio referral. I'm please about that. At the moment I can't even feel if I have a pelvic floor anymore!

Hi crazy they should discuss everything with you at the appt. Write a list and write down the answers. I ended up not knowing if I was keeping a cervix or not as I forgot to ask abouf that!
I've been though surgical menopause but am unable to take hrt. Again you should get advice for your particular needs.

I've been having a lot of wakefulness at night due to night sweats and needing the loo! Hoping that improves soon.

fudgesmummy · 24/10/2019 22:19

Hi all,
I am having open surgery for Stage I Ovarian Cancer on Monday ☹️
I tripped over last Friday walking back to the hospital car park (right in the middle of a large muddy puddle, not my finest moment Blush)
I fell very heavily on my right leg and have a massive bruise just below my knee.
A friend said to me they might not be willing to operate as it would mean a higher risk of blood clots in that leg, has anyone ever heard/experienced this?
I am meeting the surgeon tomorrow and I’m utterly terrified they will postpone the operation 😢

catnidge · 25/10/2019 05:44

Hi fudge welcome here. We've also spoken on the cancer thread.
I had my hysterectomy plus ovaries out. I have endometrial cancer plus they took away ovarian cysts including a complex one. Hoping for the histology report soon.

Soeak to the hospital but I expect the op would go ahead.. You will have compression socks plus whilst bed bound I had inflatable socks which were a bit like leg sized blood pressurw cuffs. They constantly pump up and down for the blood flow.
You will be encouraged to be mobile as soon as you are able. The support stockings go home with you for quite a whileSmile

Good luck at the appointment today.

fudgesmummy · 25/10/2019 11:46

Hi @catnidge
Thanks for your reply 🙂
I am on my way to my appointment with the surgeon now, I will definitely ask him.

fudgesmummy · 25/10/2019 18:36

The appointment went OK, She sent me for an x-ray to check nothing was broken, all looks OK.
She said they think surgery will be very difficult as they think everything is stuck together with lots of scar tissue from my previous surgeries. Everything is coming out, my overies, fallopian tubes, womb, cervix and possibly my appendix and some of my bowel as well.
They are estimating that the cysts weigh about 20lb!! 😳

catnidge · 25/10/2019 20:29

Oh my, fudge, that's a massive weight of cysts. When everything settles down post op you'll be as light as a feather Grin

Will they be doing a full abdominal cut with that lot?

Good luck for Monday, I will be thinking of you. Did they have any idea how long you will be in for?

Sending you some Flowers.