Newbie due to have hysterectomy

[Mi-chelle44]

Hi all, I am due to have a hysterectomy in February due to a large fibroid, (size of a melon). My cervix and maybe my ovaries are to be removed. Any advice would be gratefully received.

[dasprior]

Scary time waiting. Big relief once it's done and you know what you are dealing with and wonderful to know that big unwanted mass is GONE!

Accept help and don't be afraid to ask for it. Let your body heal and be kind to yourself.

Good luck.

[Mi-chelle44 in reply to dasprior]

Thank you superior. The waiting is driving me mad now because I'm over thinking things, and yes this big mass will be gone, had enough of all the pain. X

[Mi-chelle44 in reply to dasprior]

Sorry predictive text on my reply. Thank you dasprior it was meant to say,haha.

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello Mi-chelle44 ☺

I agree with dasprior, the waiting is the hardest part 😕

Personally it wasn't as scary or as painful as I expected. I was in hospital just 4 days and was up and walking around on 2nd day ☺

Try to get yourself in good condition, eat properly and keep walking as that really helps the symptoms ☺ Also keep your bowel function good, lots of fibre and prunes!! Sorry if tmi 😮😮😮

Best wishes

Anna

[Mi-chelle44 in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thank you Anna, never tmi, you read that much stuff do this and do that. I would rather get advice off people like yourself who has actually been through this procedure. Dreading the menopause as I just don't know what to expect. I will top up on prunes,haha. Thank you again Anna61. X

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Mi-chelle44]

Yes, plenty of prunes! !!! Lol 😆 Menopause ok, a few aches not pains and hot flushes, but so far not too bad ☺

Good luck ☺

[Mi-chelle44 in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thank you Anna61. Take care

[Butterfly98]

I had a total hysterectomy with ovaries and tubes removed in October last year. Recovery has been really good and I'm now back at work full time! All I can say is be kind to your body, don't do too much and accept any offers of help (which I found very hard!!). Peppermint tea and prunes were part of my staple diet during recovery and I still drink lots of peppermint tea now. While you're in hospital don't be afraid to ask for painkillers and also laxatives. My bowels hadn't opened by the time I went home, but the hospital gave me a bottle of lactulose to take home. I started hot flushes almost straight away, but to be honest they haven't been too bad and I haven't had any other symptoms of menopause. I read somewhere that cutting out caffeine reduces the hot flushes, which I've tried to do. My appetite really went downhill before and since surgery, probably because I had a big cyst on an ovary which had squashed all my insides about. I tend to eat small meals of what I fancy, but eat lots of fruit too.

Good luck with your surgery, but it really isn't as bad as we all imagine beforehand!!

[Mi-chelle44 in reply to Butterfly98]

Thank you so much for that advice. I will be stocking up on prunes and cereal with fibre and will make sure I take some buscopan to the hospital with me. Accepting help will be hard for me because I'm so used to doing everything the way I like,lol, so I will be sat in a bed giving instructions,haha. I'm just starting to over think things Way too much, and then I'm worrying. I will let you know how Im getting on. Thanks again.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Mi-chelle44]

The tiredness afterwards can be a shock, you will definitely need help ☺

[Gremlin16]

Hi Mi-chelle44

Please read my post from end of October 2016. I'm 12 weeks post op feel fantastic

Good luck

[Mi-chelle44]

Hi, just had my pre op today, apparently my ovaries are supposed to be getting retained, can I ask to have them removed? I'm 44, definitely don't want anymore kids.

[Butterfly98 in reply to Mi-chelle44]

I had a hysterectomy in October last year and my ovaries were removed. One had a large cyst on it and the other was OK. However my consultant said he would remove both ovaries to avoid and more surgery in the future. It meant I would go straight into surgical menopause, but to be honest at 50 I was almost there anyway and so far I only get 1 or 2 hot flushes a day. Good luck for your surgery

Lorna

[Mi-chelle44 in reply to Butterfly98]

Thank you Lorna.x

[JacquelineLopez]

It's supposed to be much better to leave the ovaries and drs are reluctant to remove. I had a tah with cervix removed but my ovaries and tubes were retained. I'm 46. Curiously I am having hot flushes up to 6 times per day.

My advice would be to let people help you, listen to your body and don't be too stubborn! I'm a bit of a clean freak and the worst thing was not being able to clean the house!!

You will be really tired for a good while. I'm 15 weeks post op now and still tired. I'm now taking multi vitamins with iron as my iron levels are still low after the op. Be kind to yourself and go easy on yourself.

Good luck with it. It is a major operation and don't rush your recovery.

[Mi-chelle44 in reply to JacquelineLopez]

Thank you Jacqueline, 3 weeks to go before the opening now, just want it over and done with now. Thank you for the advice.x

[RachaelE]

First and foremost, get up and moving as soon as you're able to. Do the exercises they give you and eat well to promote healing and keep your bowels moving. I got so consitpated in hospital I had to have an enema and that is NOT funny! Rest when your body tells you to but do try to get out for a short walk each day if you can, gradually building up your strength. My recovery didn't go as smoothly as it could have done. If you feel at all unwell, don't hesitate in seeing your GP and ask to be examined. I had a granuloma that went undiagnosed for six months. Kept on being given antibiotics for UTIs which just surpressed the infection, but didn't get rid of it. In the end had to have it dealt with under general anaesthetic because it was too big for a GP to deal with. I also developed adhesions, which had to be divided almost a year after the operation because they were so painful. Ask your surgeon what she or he will be doing to reduce the risk of adhesions. Surgical menopause is better than perimenopause, level dose of oestrogen patch and I feel pretty good, most of the time. Complete healing can take a lot longer than people expect, so be prepared. Good luck, hope it goes well. I've been unlucky so don't let it scare you. Most women say it's the best thing they've ever done. X

[Mi-chelle44 in reply to RachaelE]

Thank you Rachael, I'm due to have my op on the 21st of this month. I've got my cereals in and my orange drinks so I don't get constipated, let's hope they work. Sorry to hear you had a rough time, fingers crossed mine goes smoothly. Thank you for your advice, hope things start improving for you. X

[RachaelE in reply to Mi-chelle44]

I will be thinking about you on 21 st. I'm guessing you'll be having an abdominal hysterectomy due to the size of your fibroid, so I hope it goes well. I was "lucky" to be able to have keyhole, but still having problems so there's no guarantee. Good luck and don't rush things. Look after yourself, do the exercises especially the pelvic floor and listen to your body. Actually, do your pelvic floor exercises right now! Yes, right now! Get well toned up before the op, makes it easier afterwards. As far as diet is concerned, I find oats are the best fibre - porridge or homemade muesli. Keeps you regular ;). Xx

[Mi-chelle44 in reply to RachaelE]

It is supposed to be a bikini line incision, but I've not seen anyone on here that have had a bikini line incision, it's either been abdominal or keyhole, suppose I Will know on the day,haha. Just want it to hurry up now, sick of the pain I'm in, especially my hip pain. Oh I've got plenty of fruit and fibre in. Will have a look on Google and see what exercises to do. Thank you Rachael. X

[RachaelE in reply to Mi-chelle44]

Pain is exhausting, isn't it? Pelvic floor exercises mainly, but try some hip extensions too. I'm not sure if they put you up in stirrups at all for abdominal, but it hurts my back if I'm not prepared for it. Good luck xx

[Gremlin16 in reply to Mi-chelle44]

Hi

The hospital spoke to me and gave me a leaflet about the exercises seen gp this week re hot flushes had op 26/10/16 asked about going to Zumba been told no it's too soon. Cycling swimming walking hula hooping no Zumba jogging or running.

Trying a mild beta blocker for the flushes as not getting much sleep at night early days but will let you know how I get on.

[Mi-chelle44]

Thank you.x