Advice to heal

[Josie_girl]

I'm new here... I'm having a abdominal hysterectomy (horizontal) due to fibroids and a cyst. I am wondering if people would be willing to share the things that helped them to recover? Looking for any tips that worked well for you. Thanks!

[Liddon]

Hi Josie

I had the same thing three months ago.

Get a v shaped pillow. Heaven! Also one of those heatable microwaveable bags that smell nice. A hot water bottle is too heavy on your tummy. Also a favoured teddy. I'm 45 and took mine into the operating room and refused to let go until I was knocked out!!!

Be ready for the pain of trapped gas in your tummy. It's unbelievable. Mine lasted for a couple of days. It helps to get up asap. I was hobbling round the room the next day. It helps to hold a pillow tight to your tummy. Don't be afraid to ask for more drugs. My boyfriend was forced to tell them that I have a high pain threshold and wasn't putting it on.

You will look about 6 months pregnant afterwards. Ironic I thought.... It's just the gas though. Suck lots of mints. It helps with the gas.

Due to the amount of drugs I felt like Super Woman for a week after,(I was discharged after three days)..... I then went downhill mahoosively. It was awful. I was dreadful for about six weeks. Not getting out of bed. Not showering. Not caring!! The only good thing was that the cats stayed with me 24/7 as I was like a hot water bottle with the hot flushes.

My hair doesn't get greasy anymore, perfume smells different on me, I hated wine. Not at all like me. I'm back on it now, three months later. The weight gain is shite. I'm still SQUEEZING into my size 12 jeans!!! My moods are bizarre and my sense of humour has got even more wicked (evil laugh!!)

Iits only in the last week I've not been sleeping tons. I've been back at work since the 1st September doing 1000-1400 ish. Then sleeping till 1700. So not me at all. It's bollocks when they tell you that you'll be like a spring lamb after. I feel like an old hag!!!! Back at work full time next week with three demanding bosses. Dreading it. I'm an EA.

All of my bones are killing me too. I'm 46 in 3 weeks and I feel 30 years older.

HOWEVER!!!! No more periods!!!!! Yippeeeeee!! My scar looks ok, I just need to loose the weird tummy over it now. Im sure once my HRT is sorted out I'll be much better. My hair and nails are growing incredibly quickly and because o kept my cervix I'm not all dried up. Nookie was exactly the same as before, except now I can't have a screaming child at the end of it. So good points are in there.

Keep your chin up and GOOD LUCK!

Feel free to ask anything you wish and sorry for rambling. :-). Liz

[etsir]

Hi Josie,

I had a hysterectomy almost 2 years ago at 45 due to huge fibroids (after the surgery I was told I had also had endometritis). I was lucky in that I was able to have keyhole surgery so I was back at work in just over 2 weeks !

I know someone I work with who had an abdominal hysterectomy a few months after me for the same reasons and she was off work about 6 weeks. We both had everything removed and compared notes afterwards !

Neither of us experienced great pain beyond the trapped gas from surgery and that disperses after a couple of days. Mine was worst in the shoulders.

It took about 10 days for me to stop bleeding (like a very light period but without period pain) and I literally had to sit every day with my legs propped up as high as I could get them to get it to totally stop.

I honestly didnt have much pain at all. Id describe it as discomfort rather than pain. I had much worse periods !

Once Id recovered from the op itself I felt great. I didnt start on hrt until about 6 weeks after the op when I started getting menopausal symptoms. I'll have been on the hrt for two years early next year.

I cant say I feel as great as I did in the first months, but neither have I felt terrible. I would like to have been told more about what to expect from going into the menopause 'cold turkey'. The worst thing for me is the dryness its caused in my eyes. I really struggled with that to begin with, they became all gritty and hard to open in the mornings. Your skin dries out too and your hair and everything about your body - its literally going through puberty again in some ways. And Ive put on 1/2 stone in weight. :(.

If I had the choice again I would still have it done. I no longer have awful painful periods, and feel like I want to go to the loo all the time ! I no longer have any risk of ovarian cancer and I no longer have to have smear tests ! I feel free.

The symptoms of the menopause can be managed and you'd probably have to go through them anyway at some point.

I hope this has helped - Good luck. I hope you have as positive an experience and outcome as I did.

Emma

[ElaineinNS]

Hi, Josie

I was so glad to get rid of the pain, the cysts and the bleeding. I wanted to get up the

same day. I had my hysterectomy due to fibroids and endometritis . I was cut from hip to hip. I was 41 at the time, over 9 years ago. I think we all heal differently. I know getting up and wobbling for a few months after was good for me. I would still hold my lower stomach even walking for 6 months. For me is was not the pain of the surgery, it was the pulling of the stables I had.

It is normal to feel depressed, I was and did not want to be around anyone except my cat. Today, I know it was because I did not want the sad stares or how are you feeling, all the time.

Our bodies go through a huge change. When I had my first bad hot flash, I actually went out on my balcony for that cold weather. At times I still do. Yes, it is normal to have mood swings, so I would let people know that my mood was horrible, and they respected this and backed off. You will need good quality time at times, to be with just you, to get used to the changes in your body. I fought my depression and pushed myself out the door to go for that walk.

I would get dizzy cleaning where I was cut, I used a mirror and I faint at the sight of blood, so I had to learn to keep it clean by touch. *lol* I can laugh today, about it.

I still have my weird humour. *lol*

Your two other replies are so true, but for me it was a small pillow against my stomach, and even today, I can not sleep with out it on top of my belly.

I did not have much gas or bleed, and like I said it was the stables I felt caused me to be in any pain. I never needed to take any pain meds when I was home. All the best to you.

[Tashaderrise]

Hey I'm new here too and I'm due for my op on Monday... I have had abnormal smears now for 7 years and last year had a cancer scare so they have suggested I have this op... I am 31 years old but luckily have had 4 children so I know this is the best thing to do so I'm well for them... I have no advice hun but would like to hear anyone's answers to your question also xx

[Tashaderrise]

Oh sorry I forgot to ask everyone what goes on in your 2 hour pre op??? I have mine tomorrow and can not understand why they would need it to last 2 hours and its making me really nervous 😨 any help would be much appreciated xxx