Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Gnatty on May 22, 2021, 05:33:07 PM
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Hello everyone,
So I am having the op because of a very large fibroid, I want to continue with my HRT but I wondered if anyone who has previously had a hysterectomy might have some words of advice or reassurance to help me feel less anxious and also to aid recovery. It won't be vaginal as fibroid is large so it will be a bikini scar. Also any recommends re anaesthetic? I have a friend who had a spinal block and sedation which she felt aided recovery. I am 55 and as I am already taking oestrogel and recently added in testosterone I have decided to have ovaries removed. Mum had the exact same op twenty five years ago and said it was the best thing she ever did. Hoping for the same!
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Morning.
B4 each surgical intervention DH batched cooked - so that he had food after work and there was grub on my return from Hospital.
My friend had 'enough wind to fly a kite' after ;)
Make sure that you rest when you get home. Getting laundry up2date B4 your appt. will help. After, it can wait.
Your Consultant should have discussed the GA and recovery aspect etc. at the appt. B4 you went onto the waiting list. I would ring and ask during this week for the options. Make notes ;-)
:foryou:
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I had a subtotal hysterectomy age 41 in 1999, cervix and ovaries left.
My scar virtually disappeared within months, now just looks like a fat fold!
Be prepared to feel very weak after surgery for at least a month, that's what hit me the hardest, inability to walk more than a few steps without being exhausted initially.
If found doing sit ups and stomach exercises before surgery and afterwards, after 6 week checkup, with doctor's approval, built up my stomach muscles
As well accept people's help in the first few weeks as you'll not be able to do much
Good luck
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Thank you both. Yes thought a few sit ups squats would be good idea. I imagine I will discuss GA beforehand, just wondered if anyone had any views before I decide.
Batch cooking a good idea!
Hoping weather improves so I can just lie outside and read lots of books.
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All good advice. I would also say make a plan for the week before as you will be nervous it is very normal! I am having surgery next saturday for a polyp and it is scary! What I did last time was I made a list of to dos for the week ahead as otherwise your mind wanders and drifts into panic.Write everything down - eg complete laundry, charge phone, pack bag, get clothes ready for the morning you go in, stock up on all your favourite things to eat, plan what movie you will watch when you get home, do some beauty things like face mask or long relaxing bath soaks, don't drink alcohol but get hydrated with things like coconut water, and do as much as you can so you can have a "holiday" at home afterwards. Look beyond the day of the op and see it as a passport to a lovely summer meadow!
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:thankyou: Machair ............
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Hmm, my last post didn't work for seem reason, thank you Machair. Yes I plan to keep busy over next three weeks, sort out veg garden, plan food. Great ideas for nice plans too. Won't be drinking alcohol apart from maybe odd bottle of beer!
I think my husband is gearing up to looking after me which is good.
Good luck with your polyp removal on Saturday.
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1. Tidy up before you go in for your operation as you could have 8 weeks of just watching the house become dirtier.
2. Sort out what you are going to do for food. I bought meals on wheels for 8 weeks. The rest was salads and a simple breakfast.
3.Stool softeners are your friend.
4. If you have to take blood thinners by injection set up a routine. Mine was to wake up each morning with everything I needed beside my bed. I would then inject the site, put things away and get up giving me something else to think about. Also this meant that it was over and done with for the day.
5. Have a little area that is just yours near a chair with everything you might want at hand.
6. When you shower put your back to the water and use flannels to clean the front. Pat your body dry gently after.
7. Listen to your body before it screams at you.
8. Remember you only get one chance to heal.
9.Rest is key after a hysterectomy. When you do start to do things be gentle.
10. Sunlight is a great healer ( in moderation of course). I use to expose my wounds to the sun each morning after the shower for a few minutes.
11. Scars will heal.
12. I didn't get in a bath or go swimming until I was sure that I was watertight. They said 8 weeks was ok I waited until 12.
Good luck.
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Thank you so much red elephants. Goodness never even thought about needing to be watertight, eek. Shall miss my baths. Yes very important point, no. 8. And I like the idea of exposing scar to sunlight, in moderation of course. Hmm definitely don't want to be straining on the loo, that would be scary. What happens if I need to sneeze or cough??
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If you need to sneeze or cough, clutch a cushion to your abdomen.
JP x
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After my appendix was removed, Valentine's Day, 1991, I would bend over to sneeze or cough holding the op site. Same as rolling onto my side to get out of bed, leaning over. Then straightening slowly. Don't wait until you need a wee in the night, get moving ASAP ;)
Will U B alone on your return?
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Lots of great tips, but remember to try to trust that you'll know instinctively what to do and when and will get information at the hospital. Spend these days now building up a practice of stillness and delegation! x
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Hi, no I won't be alone I will have my husband here which is good. Cushion to abdomen, good plan thank you.
Quite like the idea of practicing stillness along with delegation!
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Is it worth me getting super fit by the way? I know I only have three weeks but a lot can be achieved in three weeks! Fairly fit anyway, not overweight etc.
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Do some pelvic floor exercises - 3-4 times a day - if nothing else.
If you have more time, some core exercises (remember the back as well as the abs) and some extra walking (holding in tummy).
And try to eat quite cleanly - reduce or cut out alcohol and sugar/white carbs.
There is a US site - Hyster Sisters - which, it seems, many people recommend for tips and for having a group of people who will be having surgery in the same week so you can ask questions to one another. Most of their main tips have already been covered by the lovely ladies here. The only one I can't see is buying a 'grabber' so that if you drop something, it's easier to pick it up.
Good luck - I too have a large fibroid and am expecting an abdominal hysterectomy later in the summer.
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Thanks applespider. Good tip re carbs etc. We shall be able to exchange notes when you get yours done too. May check out that website you mention, just a bit wary as I don't want to see any negatives in the run up else I shall be in a heap on the floor!
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I entirely understand. I'll be able to pick your brains as you'll be a few weeks ahead of me.
That site seems fairly balanced with many more success stories than not. I have a colleague who used their 'recovery week' thread - when you sign up, you are invited to it so that you can chat about experiences with those who are going through it at the same time. And the only people who can post on that thread are the moderators who have all been through it themselves so you don't end up with scare stories.
The site that I've also found very supportive - and overwhelmingly positive - is Reddit, if you're familiar with it, which has a sub on hysterectomy.
And, of course, here - but, 99.5% of women have no complications from the surgery... unless you regularly win the lottery or make a habit of defying probability, then you've nothing to worry about.
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Yes, the figures are very reassuring aren't they. Thank you so much. Feeling positive about it all now and looking forward to a relaxing summer.
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Hi, I had my hysterectomy which was total along with removal of both ovaries & tubes 6 weeks ago. I had an abdominal with incision along the bikini line. Honestly for me it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I feel back to normal now but sometimes I do get tired in the afternoon if I’ve been out or doing housework stuff. I was in hospital 2 nights and up and about the next morning. There is a great Facebook group which I can’t recommend highly enough, the ladies in there have so much useful information & are so helpful so please do consider joining, it’s hysterectomy sisters uk. Good luck and please let me know if you need any further help. X
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GA makes people tired. After my surgery in 1983 I was OK the 1st week after, middle of the next week weariness overtook me and I slept for 2 days.
After more recent surgery at 9.30 a.m., I slept until 4.00 then I could feel the anaesthetic leaving my body and I woke; hungry ;D
A grabber - great advice: I use mine to fetch items from the council bins which are not in the correct one ::)
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Thank you Nina123, that is just what I need to hear. One question - do I need big pants?? Or are those shorty style ones from M&S ok?
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Gnatty, as long as they are comfortable and cover your belly button they’ll be fine. What you don’t want is for them to be low or roll down and rest on your incision line (ouch)!!
One big tip I found most useful while in hospital take an extra long phone charging cable, the plugs are behind you in hospital so it needs to be long to reach round to the side of your bed. Amazon sell them at a reasonable price. Xxx
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Just had another thought to help you. I had surgery on Saturday. Much bigger op than I was expecting. Very dehydrated afterwards and the weather is very warm. Stock up on coconut water, it is very hydrating and will help to replace electrolytes lost. Being nil by mouth plus the op and the drugs means you will be dehydrated, and the sooner you get hydrated the better as it helps with everything.x
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Thank you Nina 123 and Machair, really useful tips. Am going to place some orders in the next day or two and get myself organised. Really appreciate everyone's help!
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Another idea that helps is that if you have to be nil by mouth from midnight which is usually the case for morning ops, with water up to two hours before arriving at the hospital, try not to eat an evening meal only. I set the alarm for 11.30pm and had a banana. Sounds mad I know but I have had 3 surgeries over the years and I found it really helped.
I think the longer you are starved the worse it is, but obviously you have to be starved for at least 6 hours. My feeling is not to extend this just because it falls during sleep.A tiny snack just before the fasting period they say really helps. Also have the coconut water the day before and really get hydrated if you can before the op day especially if it is warm weather.
The other thing that helps me is to eat easy to digest foods as well two or three days before.Don't eat a lot of high fibre or fatty foods that will sit in the large bowel before and after surgery. It is more comfortable to eat light for a day or two. You don't want curry and chips for example.
I am a trained nurse so these tips are not just from my personal experience but are really from looking after patients when I worked in gynae.xx
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Had another thought as well. Not sure if you get nervous before procedures but I really do. The "list" often means a long wait after the surgeon and anaesthetist do their rounds. Last week I was second which meant a wait of about 4 hours from arriving to going down for the op. I can really recommend the many "coral reef" videos on YouTube. If you play them on your phone through headphones they can really work to calm you down. There is nothing more relaxing than watching tropical fish and hearing the sound of the water gurgling. I prefer the natural ones to those with music.
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Thank you Machair, my nerves are playing up already and I have another two weeks to wait! Keeping busy in the garden, but the thoughts keep intruding.
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Hi, I had a hysterectomy many years ago and was given a morphine pump while still in hospital. I was told to press it if I had any pain.....what I remember about that was I then felt very sick and quite disorientated. The nurse was quite amused, but it’s not pleasant and also made me very constipated and that was actually pretty distressing and painful. So after the op drink loads of water and please do tell the nurses if you haven’t managed to poop sooner rather than later! Another thing is the physio you need to do afterwards and yes get as fit as poss beforehand- do not neglect your core and pelvic floor exercises after your op, I mistakenly only did abs and then managed to do my back in because my core wasn’t supporting my back.😏
The positives are just amazing -freedom from pain and such heavy bleeding I had to take time off work..I never regretted having the op- for me it was like finally being free. Take as much time to recover as you need. My GP signed me off for a full 6 months as I was a nursery teacher which involved lots of lifting& carrying of young children and being active. And yes do marshal any help you can get for at least 2 weeks after the op when you will feel knocked out and the scar is healing.
Good luck and best wishes for a speedy return to ‘normality’
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Ah yes, I have heard it can make you sick if you press the button too much. Will remember that.
Yes don't want any constipation, crikey! Think I have a bottle of Lactulose knocking around somewhere, might well come in handy!
Thank you for reminding me of the benefits, no more periods hurray.
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Sorry I can’t remember if I already reply. Stupid menopause, so forgive me if I already wrote this.
That morphine pump is horrible, never again for me. It wasn’t for my hysterectomy operation which was only keyhole, but for a ovarian cysts and endometriosis operation 20 years ago.
So I have the big cut across my stomach and got told when I woke up from the operation to press as needed. I was having a good time no pain pressing away. Then I felt sick, I went to urge and the pain across my stomach was terrible. I cry as I madly press the button for the nurse.
Then I got told it was the morphine, I asked for just Panadol after that and put up with the constant pain better then put up with feeling sick and have the horrible pain.
Best of luck for the operation, listen to your body and take it easy on yourself
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It's difficult isn't it, you don't want the pain but I agree nausea can be worse. I could never cope with the gas and air when giving birth so ended up without anything.
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I had a Total abdominal hysterectomy on 13 May this year. It went very well and I had the spinal block, which was fine. However, I was nauseous for 24 hours afterwards. The nurses weren't sure whether it was a combination of trapped wind/constipation, or whether it was linked to the drugs they gave me after surgery. Apparently I had oxycodin which can cause nausea. In the past I have had oramorph and that always made me sick. The nurses advised me to avoid both if I have any more surgery (fingers crossed I won't need any).
I was in hospital for three nights - the first day after surgery (Friday) I was sick with nausea (retching and vomiting is extremely painful and to be avoided!) I tried to get out of bed but couldn't. On day 2 (Saturday) I was able to get out of bed in the morning and walk around and they took out the catheter (hooray). Realistically I would have been OK to go home on Saturday evening, but they didn't need my bed until Monday and so I stayed an extra night to take advantage of the hospital bed with it's electric motor, as it was very painful rolling over to sit up. I went home first thing on Sunday morning - 72 hours after they took me to theatre. If it wasn't for the 24 hours nausea it would have been a day earlier I think - the lady in the bed opposite me went home a day sooner and she had the same surgery.
I really struggled to sleep for around a week after the surgery, but I don't find it comfortable sleeping on my back, and that was the only option.
I am at the stage where I can now sleep on my side and can move around fairly easily, but obviously I'm not lifting anything heavy. It's definitely worth having a Grabby Stick and also a long shoehorn as that makes life easier. For the first 7-10 days it felt like someone had sliced me open and had a rummage inside. Now it feels like I was maybe kicked by a horse a week ago, apart from all the weird post-surgery sensations near the scar.
In terms of moving around, cooking etc, that has been fine. In fact for the first week it was more comfortable to stand than to sit.
I was very active pre-surgery, and so once I passed the two week mark I have been trying to do some walking - it's fine, doesn't pull at the scar and I think it's doing me some good. I'm up to about 2.5km in one go now now - I got my other half to drop me at the shop in the next village and walked home.
I am fine with a seatbelt as a passenger and so will try a short local drive tomorrow - the NHS advice says you can drive from 3 weeks post surgery provided you can do an emergency stop and the seatbelt is comfortable. DVLA don't need to know and my insurer seems fine too.
It feels like the recovery is going well. The main problem is boredom as I'm signed off work but can't really do much useful around the house or garden.
Good luck with your surgery!
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Thank you inklebraids, its good to hear your recovery is going well but sorry of course to hear about the nausea.
Its amazing you being able to do a 2.5 km walk. Could I ask whether that was on the flat? The fields at the back of my garden are a little hilly and I'm thinking an uphill walk wouldn't be such a good idea because you do use your tummy muscles going uphill!
How did the drive go today?