Do’s and don’t’s for hysterectomies?

[Teawithfrenchtoast]

I have been on the w/l for a hysterectomy due to fibroids for the last 10months. I’ve had some recent complications and ended up haemorrhaging and being being admitted to gynae twice recently. Due to this my hysterectomy has been expedited. I’ve received my pre op appt for the end of June and now I’m a little nervous! Is there anything I should be doing to prepare for surgery? Any advice from those that have had hysterectomies as to how best to prepare? Any tips for pre and post op? thank you ☺️

Don't put up with a fibroid. I had one which had been monitored for years but over the course of a couple of months went into a growth spurt and had to have an emergency op full incision to retrieve the full shebang for testing.

Thank you for this thread - it's so helpful - can I jump on?

I'm facing a hysterectomy and dreading it. It's for pre-cancerous cervical cells so it's been a hard decision as there's nothing wrong with my womb, I'm in no pain, no symptoms, I may never develop cancer anyway, so it's hard to see any upside to it...but less invasive treatments (that I had to really argue for) haven't worked. I am 60 years old, overweight but otherwise pretty fit and healthy.

My biggest concern is that I live alone, not near friends and family, in a village. My only loo is downstairs, my bedroom is upstairs and sofa not suitable for sleeping on, my only shower is an over-bath one, I don't own a freezer, the nearest shop is a 10 minute drive away. My consultant just says 'everyone's recovery is different' when I raise a concert about how I will cope. I have a friend who has offered to stay for a week. I have a neighbour who would get shopping for me (if she's around, she's on holiday a lot). How do I do this? I mean, someone suggested getting a commode in the bedroom - but then I'd have to carry a pot of pee downstairs, which is probably over the weight limit, and quite honestly I've got those dodgy cottage stairs I think I'll want to be able to hold both handrails for. I've slipped down them twice just in normal life, once breaking my foot, I'm a klutz!

Please - any advice or reassurance?

@Redflagsabounded You won’t need a commode, the stairs will be fine. I climbed two flights a few times a day to our loft room no issues and I slept up there.
make yourself a little bag with water bottle and chargers and snacks so that if you go up to use the toilet and fancy staying up there you can do for a hour with everything you need. That’s what I did. You have some help with shopping and a friend will stay at the most tiring part. By the time they go it’ll be much easier

Thanks. I'm more worried about middle of the night wees - I'll be honest sometimes I only just make it downstairs to the loo in time as it is ..

You never know @Redflagsabounded your urgency may be relieved by your hysterectomy. Invest in some Tena type pants until you see how it goes.

I’m sorry you feel that way @birdsintrees, this thread was never meant to scare people. I’ve actually found the opposite, I’ve found the advice and tips really helpful and most have had positive experiences of hysterectomy and recovery.

Just remember everyone is different. I had a full abdominal hysterectomy nearly 40 years ago when I was 34.

I had absolutely no pain after, never needed any painkillers. Next morning I could shower and walk slowly along the hospital corridor and I was allowed home.

I did take it reasonably easy but I went for a walk every day and did do light things around the house such as dusting, some cooking etc.

Two weeks after I went to the British Grand Prix and camped for 4 days, walking quite a bit every day.

My surgeon said as far as he was concerned the worst thing to do is to just sit or lie around and that you should be able to do things as long as it is not heavy lifting. I could make a drink by just putting a small amount of water in the kettle so it was not heavy.

As I said though, everyone is different, so some do need painkillers and are unable to do much after.

As far as I am concerned I think the best thing is to try and have a positive attitude and then to listen to your body after.

I managed to get up and down the stairs pretty easily, the shower over the bath was tricky but only because my shower isn’t on a stand so you have to hold it and try and wash. Getting into the bath was fine.

I was surprised how easy it was to get around. I had my appendix out a few years before and struggled to even get out of bed so I expected it to be similar if not worse. I was able to move around pretty well, just slightly slower.

I didn’t have the sensation to pee which was odd, so I just had to go to the loo every hour or so. The feeling took a while to come back.

Tell us what exactly you’re frightened of so we can support you @birdsintrees.
I had fibroids which grew together, had the option not to go through with the op, but am glad I did.

Just sounds painful and a long recovery. I’m a movement teacher. So worries around work too.

@Redflagsabounded The upsides are dodging various cancers: ovarian, uterine, cervical, etc. I was close to your age. Take up your friend’s offer and ask others for help.

Okay @birdsintrees.
The pain is always managed and really shouldn’t be a problem. In hospital a morphine pump is at your fingertips. I hardly used it. Discharged, time your painkillers so you’re “topped up” rather than waiting till you need them. Honestly, I think you’ll be fine.
As far as recovery, everyone is different but if you’re teaching and focused on movement you have age and good physical condition in your favour.
Who needs a large fibroid which is causing a prolapse? My fibroid made me feel badly constipated and there were times when I could only hobble painfully. Yours sounds much worse.
Worries about work? As in time off? Prioritise your health. Fitness to teach movement post-recovery? You’ll be tip top and wonder why you put up with the problem.
Anticipation, fear of the unknown, having the option to dodge the op (I stalled for 9 months 😂) can unfairly occupy headspace.
What else is bothering you? Between us no doubt we’ll have an answer. x

At no point have I been in pain which exceeds that which was caused by the fibroids.

I was in quite a bit of discomfort post surgery/in recovery but that was due to the surgery being more complex than anticipated (scar tissue, everything jumbled up and stuck together, fibroids had grown bigger and were difficult to remove). The morphine pump handled that very quickly indeed and apart from gas pain on day 2, I haven't had any real pain. Twinges, aches, pressure here and there but utterly manageable.

Movement wise, I've been able to move normally the whole time, just had to move slowly at first. I could get up and down easily, pick things up, walk up and down stairs, get in the car and so on. I'm 2.5wks post op now and am back driving, can walk at normal speed and am doing light exercise, as well as housework. I'm following instructions not to lift anything heavy or push/pull etc with a hoover or similar but I feel like I could iyswim.

It hasn't been easy and there is a way to go yet but I don't have a single regret.

That’s reassuring thanks.

i suppose i am scared I’ll end up worse off somehow. That something irreversible will occur and I’ll regret it. It won’t be soon anyway. List is long

@birdsintrees I had an epidural for after the surgery. Was about 3/4 days . My surgeon preferred it to opioids.

I think this fear is normal. I know I got so used to living a life where my body was malfunctioning that I grew to expect it. I was worried about the surgery itself, the anaesthetic, the long-term repercussions and so on. But every single person I know irl who has had this surgery told me it would be life changing. And most women on here agree.

Even though I'm still only 2.5 weeks from surgery, I can see so many benefits. I don't bleed. I've bled solidly for 14 months and now, I don't have to plan my life round where the nearest toilet is and I don't have to carry spare clothes and supplies at all times. My iron levels are normal for the first time in years. They were around 37 on average before surgery (with high dose tablets) and now they're 135. I can breathe again, I'm not having palpitations from the anaemia. I'm not in pain. Going to the toilet doesn't cause labour type pains which last for hours on end. I'm not living on painkillers or on injections to induce menopause or struggling with high blood pressure from the constant pain and bleeding.

It is SO worth it.

I don’t feel worse off at all, I feel healthier, a few things are different but that doesn’t put way the benefit of no longer having painful, heavy long periods.

For me it was totally worth it.

I was petrified before I had mine, I didn’t have long to think about it as I was rushed through 4 weeks after a failed biopsy. I cried when I got to the hospital on surgery day as I was so sacred, the nurses were amazing and reassured me how life changing (in a good way) it would be. Luckily I was first to go down so I didn’t have time to worry. Mine was changed from open surgery to key hole/vaginal assist at the last minute which I was so relieved about. I had to get a private scan to prove I didn’t have an enlarged uterus.

The surgery was way better than I expected and I wasn’t in any pain when I woke up. I went home after 24 hours and my recovery was pretty easy, not what I expected at all as I had long recoveries painful from much smaller surgeries.

It’s totally normal to be petrified.

I am thinking of you today @Teawithfrenchtoast

Sending you all the love and luck in the world.

Sending an encouraging cheer @Teawithfrenchtoast. x

Thank you for the thoughts ❤️ I had my hysterectomy on Friday afternoon and I got back home last night. My consultant came to see me before surgery and really put me at ease, the anaesthetist was so funny! The theatre nurses chatted away and kept me calm so it was a good experience. I had a total laparoscopic hysterectomy with Fallopian tubes and cervix removed. I’m doing ok pain wise and I’ve come home with dihydracodine so I’m going to keep dosed up for the next few days.

That all sounds really positive @Teawithfrenchtoast.

Take it easy, keep cool 😎 🧊 and kiss goodbye to smears! x

Well done. Speedy recovery !

I'm so glad you're well! Your time frames are exactly the same as mine: surgery on the Friday afternoon and home Saturday late afternoon/evening. It was similarly hot as well.

Somebody on here recommended using the dihydrocodeine only at night if it made me spaced out and sleepy, which I did. But I only took it for 2 or 3 days as I realised I didn't really need it and ibuprofen and paracetamol were enough.

Weirdly, my laparoscopic incisions are taking way longer to heal than my hip to hip incision. Cleaning out the belly button incision is a joy I didn't really need. If you're got any of the anti-microbial wash they give you pre-surgery, I've found cleaning the incisions with that has really helped.

Here's to a straightforward recovery and a new lease of life!

So glad to hear that all went well! I hope you have a speedy recovery xx

I'm so glad I've stumbled across this.

I have been on a waiting list for the last 14 months and have my pre-op on Friday. I am very embarrassed to say that I've been crying every day since my pre-op appointment came through, I'm beyond terrified to the point that I'm seriously considering pulling out (my pain has since lessened in menopause so I'm wavering). I have a huge hospital fear and health anxiety and the fear of such a big op is pushing me over the edge. My gynae is an endo and adeno specialist but doesn't have a great bedside manner which makes matters worse as I feel that I can't articulate my fear to him without him dismissing me.

I'm glad it went well for you though op, wishing you a speedy recovery.