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782368 tn?1244854467

Hysterectomy

I am due April 28 to have hysterectomy with both ovaries left .He will be removing uterus with tubes.I do not know what to expect.My Mother had hers done in her forties she said it was the best thing that she ever did.I have had so much pain  as of late i just want some relief.(Pain worse after being intimate with hubby,are period time)Kind if scared here.Any advice would be appreciated

Leah
18 Responses
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782368 tn?1244854467
yes lol i do just want it all over with and tackle what ever comes next.I had myself in such a mess yesterday just thinking about it .but with you ladies post i have better feelings about things today.Thank you so much for caring..Leah09
Helpful - 0
599170 tn?1300973893
I have been in your shoes I know how hard it is to wait the last few days pre op I bet you wish you could snap you finger and make it be over with..You may or may not feel bad pain I did for a week but it ws about my 6th surgerie,,,more scar tissue issues etc,,,so we are going to hope for little pain...if you have more you can and will be treated for it...I did break the do nothing rule one day Leah all i did was have my husband carry me a basket of towels on day 3 I sat on the floor and folded them I did nothing as far as lifting..believe it r not that caused me to bleed light pink.Phone d drs office and the nurses kindly reminded me that nothing means nothing...

I dobt think I covered spotting with you some on first few days is expected pink or brown is ok...if when home you bleed red ,,ask your doctor if he wants it reported I thinkthe answer will be yes...I wore a thick nighttime pad for a while it was a nice cushion and incase of spotting...if you have young kids or pets..be careful they do not bump your pelvis.....and when you can let me know how you are even just a breif sentance...Best wishes,,,,you will be fine, and soon be very glad its over with....hugs.....Cherie
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782368 tn?1244854467
Thank you Cherie and banamom for all of your information and help.I admit a am anxious to get this over with.I have read the vaginal hyster is not as bad as the abdominal  ones can be.Upon reading back over on my consent sheet doctor wrote removal of both tubes with uterus leaving ovaries for now.Today i am in allot ob back pain and uterine pain pressure so i think this is the right decision for me.Again thank you for taking the time to write to me.Your help is very appreciated.

Leah
Helpful - 0
599170 tn?1300973893
as you likely know any subject or information can be slanted to prove or disprove a persons point of view, One member here had a very negative experience and is really spreading her opinions, I know the video link you speak of MH does not encourage this type of activity. We are suposed to support the womans right to make an intelligent decision along with her doctors advice.

Most women do experience pain after the surgery , but I have had many posters who claim they have zero or near zero pain...this does not take away from the fact that their bodies are healing pain or not,,this is major surgery.You will need to rest and take it easy..if you do take narcotics take colace along with them.Drink plenty of fluids, Im very sorry that you were frightened by the movie   I refuse to let this be a debate amongest members,,,

Almost all women who post here who have had a hysterectomy  are quite glad when its over and happy with the outcome, being pain and disease free can be a very good thing. I know your sugery is coming right up. If you have anything at all i can help you with please dont hesitate,

And again as Banmama and  I both already stated its a good time to do quite relaxing activitys reading, crosswords etc,,,take advantage of being a couch potatoe for a while !!! rest is the key to a great recovery,

Gas problems can also be relieved by walking do not walk stairs, Isimply walked circles around the lower level of my home and the gas does release its self...do not hold it in let it go,,,

And a reminder as Banaman and I bithe already stated diet is important start with liquids ( no red or purple) and work up to soft foods, avoid spicy, greasy. You should bea ble to be on your regular diet by week 2 max.  as long as your taking narcotics avoid foods that you know are binding to you,,,and hydrate yourslf well

One more thing only showers,,no tub baths, until doctor says ok,,I think we have covered the no sex , tampons no penetration of anything,,,
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782368 tn?1244854467
I have found that i do get sick afterwards with this and will be sure to let the the doctor know..Leah09
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782368 tn?1244854467
After watching a video link that i was given did any of you women experience any bad loss of your sexual drive are any other troubling side affects that still linger with you .That video made me see what everything was connected with and doing some hard searching here

Leah09
Helpful - 0
782368 tn?1244854467
Thank you for all of your information.My ob said that he will be doing my hyster vaginally leaving both ovaries (unless while he is in there somethings wrong and he feels they should be taken out)He will be taking my tubes and uterus.I have had many conversations  with family and friends asked many questions and I think for me this is the route .The pressure and pain each month has become worse so i feel this is what is needed to get some relief.

Thank you all of you ladies for your help and information.

Leah09
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm sorry, I meant to put my above reply to Leah to you as well.  :)

About hormones, it is better to be choosy about what you need.  Your doctor can do blood work to check your hormone levels and determine what you need that way.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What type of hysterectomy is your doctor going to do?  Is s/he going to try it vaginally with a laparoscope or do it abdominally?

I had a LAVH (laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy) with the removal of both my tubes and ovaries in Feb 2009.

I had 3 small incisions and had pain for 1.5 weeks-the narcotics helped with that and I was also allowed to take ibuprofen as well.  I did have some problems with constipation so be sure to start taking a stool softener like Cheri suggested-usually you are given one in the hospital the day after surgery or you may need to ask about it.  Drink plenty of liquids but try to limit carbonated beverages as it can cause gas pain or make it worse.  Speaking of gas, you might want to have some Gas x or something similar on hand as either way your surgery is done, you will probably have some gas pain, which is normal but can be very painful.

If you get sick with anesthesia, be sure to have your doc prescribe anti-nausea meds for you, for both the hospital and at home.

You will probably want to eat light so be sure to have some soups on hand, popscicles, jello, yogurt on hand.  If you have family to feed, start making and freezing casseroles, soups, etc now or buy some so no one will need to worry about cooking or relying on take out.  Also, try not to use straws while in the hospital or at home:  it increases the amount of air you swallow and can contribute to gas pain-that was the best advice I've ever gotten after I had my children by c-section as well for my LAVH.

Use a pillow to splint your belly in the hospital and at home for when you have to cough, laugh, etc.  All you do is hold it against your belly as snug as you can stand it-it helps keep tension of your incisions and will help decrease the pain.  Also be sure to do deep breathing and coughing exercises and use the device you are given in the hospital to help do so-you don't want to develop bronchitis or pneumonia after your surgery.

If you have any movies or books you have been wanting to see/read, now would be the time to get them!  You are not allowed to do anything strenuous for at least 6 weeks-no lifting over 10 lbs, no housework (laundry, vacuuming, mopping, etc).  You will be encouraged to take short walks when you feel like it buy no heavy exercise.  And of course, no tampons after surgery nor sex.

The only pain I've had after my surgery was some cramping from where my doctor sewed the ligaments that used to support my uterus to my vagina so I wouldn't have a vaginal prolapse.  That pain happened about 2 wks after my surgery until I was about 8-10 wks post-op.  Now I feel great in that I don't have chronic pelvic pain anymore due to endometriosis and adenomyosis.

HTH!
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Avatar universal

I just wanted to say that I had a complete hysterectomy in June 2006. Removal of uterus, tubes, ovaries.  I never had ONE ounce of pain in the hospital or when I came home.  Once I got home I did not take one pain pill !   You will have to rest and take it easy for sure.  But just didn't want you to freak out thinking you were going to have severe pain because it's not always the case.  Good Luck !
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599170 tn?1300973893
One new technology that didnt exist for your mom , is called the DaVinci Robotic assisted hysterectomy its the highest tech way to get a hyster..leaves less scaring lowers healing time and allows for extreamly precise incisions so small that would have been almost impossible for surgeon without,,,,it is the mthod I had for my hysterectomy...it increases surgery time because of how complex the "robot" is to use but the results by all whom have reported to em on using this method are all positive..

Keep up with the positive attiudes its really helpful with recovery,,,when we decide we need surgery we can choose to make the best or the worst of it,,,,there is always going to be people on here who are entitled to their opinion, and who have had very negative experiences,,,that happens,,,more often it is  a surgery that women recover from may have some issues that they find help with , deal with and are able to still lead productive and happy lifes...



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782368 tn?1244854467
Thank you  all i am informing myself and educating myself well before having the surgery.My Mother had one done in her forties and has informed me of alot of thinga as well.

Leah09
Helpful - 0
599170 tn?1300973893
Most doctors and nurse friends of mine , myself and most who post on here agree about getting more than one opinion and being informed and reading I hope you have done all of that...

As for you question about hormones I believe bio-identical is best ..Please read up on that dont take any more hormones than you personally need some women think and or do need tesosterone I dont...All women should atleast consider Estrogen is strengthens your bones and helps drastically reduce the menopausal symptoms//getting the correct does can be tricky for some ,,,I was lucky got it right the first time..Weight gain varies Id say from most of the posts most women gain however its possible to lose it too...I mean I gained about 20 lbs after my hyster,,,then got serious 3 months ago started actually being a vegitarian no sugar no white flour and exercising and Ive lost 16 and can fit great in my skinny clothes...

You ll find some women who have had veryvery negative experiences with hysterectomys...there is help available,,,,you will find some women who are very happy with the out come of therir surgery..

Of corse you cant undo this I would presum any intelligent adult would know that.  As for life changing dramatically it can be in bad side effects like Bobbi indicates or it can be living a life not worrying about excess bleeding , chronic pain etc...it varies..by all means its your decison not your doctors yours...study well on everything...and if you do get the operation...follow all doctors orders if your unhappy with anything advocate for yourself dont stop trying for help until you recieve it and are happy.
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Avatar universal
Oh I forgot, will I lose weight after this surgery? and then gain weight.? ?
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your response.   As far as with estrogen replacement, what do you know about this and which is the best.  How about herbal or organic.?  
I am all mixed up with all this but this I do know I want to live my life and be able to move around without worrying what's going to fall out that I will be embarresed and clean up. LOL..
Thanks again
Be a Blessing
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599170 tn?1300973893
welcome to mh if I can be of any help to you please dont hesitate to make a post under this forum,,,if you prefere more privacy you may pm me....Cherie 762


I unterstand scared and worried...lets try to turn it into informed and concerned...I can help you,Been through it and have answered several hundered posts on this subject..have a medical back ground..if I dont know an answer I will resurch for you untill I find it..
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Avatar universal
Good luck with hysto. We will both be in the same boat. Mine is April 20, 2009. I am scared and worried.
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599170 tn?1300973893
be prepared for some serious pain, you will be sent home with narcotic pain meds which cause constipation,,,take colace stool softener every day until your 6 week check up this help prevent pain with the bowels...eat light the first several days soft foods, then slowly progress back to normal diet.
When you come home from hopsital rest is needed lots of serious off your feet rest no housework no childcare,,get someone to help you. you will need it..If possible anything you need done do it now like maybe make some frozen meals ..stock up on things ya need etc....try to lay still alot the first 2-3 weeks tv, reading crossword puzzles are ok.vacumming folding clothes any lifiting excess stairclimbing , is not ok.. absolutley no sex( you wont want to try anyways) until doc gives the green light.

oh one more hint but it helped me alot buy an icepack cold on the spot were the uterus was helps alot with the pain first several days...do not use heat ( it will increase bleeding risks)....best wishes,,,Cherie
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