Hysterectomy blues, feeling so low

[Moonlightbean123]

Hi everyone. I had my open surgery hysterectomy on sat and at the time my biggest concern was being put to sleep. I really didnt understand how hard this operation would be. I was discharged after 2 nights and I was reading some other older mumsnet posts about recovery and I know everyone is different but 5 days in im in so much pain and discomfort. Struggling with gas and bloating but im not constipated but did have to push a little when on the loo yesterday and then I was scared id wrecked my stiches. I have bad neck pain from not being able to sleep comfortably. The house has turned into a mess. Please anyone is this normal, please tell me im expecting too much because compared to everyone else im just not progressing as I should. Cant stop crying am such a loser.

5 days is nothing! I took at least two weeks. You are expecting too much. I has my mum helping me.

Two years later it's the best thing I ever did.
.

Get an emergency appointment and check. It is probably just being sore and bruised, alongside a reaction to the anaesthetic, which does have a mood impact, issue with feeling poorly. I used a recliner chair for a week to sleep in, so that helped me to get over the soreness. Please make call and get reassured.

Its very early days, I took months to get back to normal. I was off work 5 months, just keep up with painkillers and rest as much as you can

I have an appointment to see the nurse next week , I did actually ask to go in early so they could check my dressing as there was some blood but they said it was from my drain that had been taken off and not to worry 🤦‍♀️

Kindly OP, you are definitely expecting too much from yourself. Please rest and you will feel better over the coming days/weeks. Peppermint is good for the painful gas, you can get teabags. Make sure you stay on top of pain relief.

Is someone there to look after you?

Maybe try and distract yourself with a binge on Netflix or a good podcast. Try and ignore the mess.

Please take the advice to rest and not overdo things, my mum had same op and developed a hernia in the incision because she didn't go slow. She then needed further surgery to correct it.

I know it's hard but try to remember you won't feel so crappy for long in the grand scheme of things.

Sending sympathy

Rest.
Don't lift anything.
Watch fun stuff on Netflix
Imagine how great you will feel swimming, wearing pale trousers, and not having to carry around sanpro!

Gentle activity helped me. Like a slow walk.
Remember it's major surgery. Don't feel guilty about resting.

Sod the house. It won't fall down. Rest and look after yourself.

Thank you. 😊 I do have help, my mum and hubby and sisters and its not that they won't do anything i ask , they will but they just dont seem to be on top of stuff and I don't want hernia so im going to make effort to calm down. Ive got peppermint tea at home so am getting hubby to make it for me. Thank you!

🤣🤣🤣 ok imma try

You're very welcome, I really wish you all the best and hope you feel better soon. Just take it steady and unclench!!

Glad they're looking after you ❤️

I am in hospital right now with high temperature and chest pain.

Oh no! Sending more sympathy

I hope they get you sorted and home again soon ❤️

You poor thing. You’ve had major surgery and need to expect to get better slowly. You’ll get there.

Suggest you download or watch or read something cheery, long and distracting. My suggestions would be Modern Family on Disney or something like that. Great cheerful books ( things others on here have suggested in the past) ‘Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day’ (can’t remember author) or my absolute favourite read when sick ‘The Thing About Jane Spring’ by Sharon Klum(?) or any travel book by Bill Bryson, whatever your taste.

Get well soon.

Sorry, just seen your update. Take care. Hope you’re ok.

Hope all is going well op and it's nothing too serious.

I am due my hysterectomy any month now. I am dreading it but plan to take as much time off as possible.

How are you doing? Are you home yet? What happened in the hospital - I hope they managed to resolve the issue. I hope your doing well.

Hi everyone thank you so much for the support. So I had a temperature and reslly bad chest pain ut bloods were all clear and im now home, they cant explain why, my BP was also high and they've changed the way I take my tablets to help manage the pain better. Ive got an appointment for Wednesday now and ill be checked over again. Thank you so much. Honestly what a lovely community ❤️ ♥️♥️

That's great, I'm glad you're feeling better. Is your appointment with the surgeon who did your surgery?

Good luck. Defo take lots of time to recover. If you want any tips on all the stuff I've learned then let me know. Xx

Thank you!! it will be with the nurses that looked after me at the hospital where I had the op but they are going to speak to the surgeon as well to let him know i went to A and E. Xx

You poor thing , you really have to rest , it's big surgery and you will take a while to recover. Don't push yourself or you'll take longer to get better x

Glad to hear you are back home @Moonlightbean123

Hope you're feeling a bit better and relaxing ❤️

OP I know exactly how you are feeling. I remember the first week after my op I wished I had just lived with my symptoms, the recovery was hell.

It does get better and like others have said, it was the absolutely best decision I ever made.

Take it easy, don’t expect too much too soon and I promise you will feel better soon.

5 days is nothing for open surgery.

I had robotic laparoscopic surgery and day 5 was probably the worst for me!

Try movicol and windeeze both these helped me. I was prescribed lactulose too as you need to try and have no pushing.

try a heat wrap for your neck or order a V pillow.

They and move little and often and sleep when you need to. Day 5 I slept for 18/24 hours and although for me that was the turning point I had far less invasive surgery. It was 2 weeks before I was back to fairly fit after 2 weeks but took me 6 weeks to be fully back to what I’d call normal so with open surgery I’d expect it to take much longer.

Hope you are feeling a bit better today OP. I remember all too well that first week after my hysterectomy! The pain shocked me and my mood was dreadful, I was very low. Please please be kind to yourself, and try to be patient . I did actually make a really good recovery and I was back into my swimming after 6 weeks.