Hysterectomy - Can I get some advice from those who have had one?

[lnichols]

I'm scheduled to have a hysterectomy in August. Abdominal. I have these huge fibroids and I am also having one of my ovaries removed. I have had the second opinion and a lot of tests. I hurt a lot and bleed a lot, so I'm ready to go through with it. Only... I've never had surgery before and I don't know what to expect. I've had the doctor tell me what will happen and how I should feel but I would like to hear from some ladies who have been through this thing.

 

And please don't say not to do this. I'm tired of hurting. I'm tired of passing clots and having 3 periods a month. I don't mean for this to become a forum about why doctors do too many operations of how women are exploited or anything like that.

 

Will I hurt? How much? And really, how long does it take to recover. I'm slender and in good shape otherwise. I have no other health issues.

 

Advice from ladies who have been there???

[HokeyReligions]

I have not had a hysterectomy yet --- but I'm the only female in the family that has not had one, so I'm familiar with the procedure. I have had other surgeries.

 

It's scary going in to any surgery, but the doctors and techs and nurses will take care of you and tell you exactly what you need to do and when and how to do it (like scooting from the gurney to the op table, etc.)

 

You will receive pain medicine afterward. My mom, SIL, Aunt, neice, and sister all said that it hurt for a few hours the first day, but the pain meds kept it at a tolerable level. They had to get out of bed and use the bathroom and walk pretty quickly after the surgery. About 40+ years ago, when my mother had hers, she did not move much the first day and it was more invasive so more painful. But they had her up the second day. By the time my neice had hers a few years ago, they had her up and walking that evening and she said she'd had cramps that were way worse than any of the post-surgical discomfort.

 

Everyone has a different pain tolerance and you can expect to be uncomfortable for a while. You won't be doing any bending, twisting, or lifting for a while, so just lay back and enjoy the rest!

 

I know how nervous you are, but keep thinking about how much better you will feel after you have healed!

[lnichols]

Thanks, Hokey. I knew I could rely on a realistic response from you. I was planning to take off a month from work and then return on light duty until I'm not restricted. I have a job that requires lifting. But I am a supervisor, so I can get away with sitting on my buttocks for a couple of weeks.

 

AS for pain tolerance, I had my last baby at home with a mid-wife. No pain meds, there! I am really worried, and this may sound strange, about the catheter. Attempts have been made to do that to me twice and neither time worked! I just locked up and it would not go in!! Hopefully, I will be nicely drugged so I won't care.

 

Also, I guess I'm worried about whether or not sex will be the same. I KNOW! They aren't taking out THAT PART, but it is nagging me. I've been told by several co-workers that it has no effect at all. Some have even said that they liked it more afterward because all worries of pregnancy were gone. But I had one friend that had a fit because my cervix is going to be removed also. It is pre-cancerous and needs to go as well. I guess I'm just dwelling on it too much. If it is between keeping it and risking cancer and losing it and not having that worry, I guess it is a no-brainer.

 

I've never been one of those people who worried about being a "whole woman", and if I had to lose a breast, for example, then so be it. I used them to feed my babies and anything else is just something to look at. (and play with, as my husband might say...)

 

I'm just like everyone else and afraid of the unknown.

[HokeyReligions]

Sex can be different after the surgery---but not because of what's been taken out. You are going to be thrust into menopause and your homones are going to take a while to adjust.

 

Everyone is different, but some things that are fairly common (and not permanent!) are that you may not produce adequate lubrication for intercourse. Try KY liquid (the warming liquid is nice).

 

Until your body adjusts again to a foreign object being inside you, you may feel like things have shifted around and be uncomfortable. (This according to my neice and SIL. My mother and sister never experienced this)

 

You may experience mood swings and hot flashes. Your libido may go into outerspace one day, and be nonexistent the next. I've heard family and friends say that they would try things that never turned them on before at all and it was great, and then I've them say that there were times they would rather have sent their husbands to a hooker than have sex with them!

 

Talk to your doctor about the aftermath of your hormones and menopause. They will give you HRT if they feel its necessary. And you might want to go ahead and buy one of those little hand-held fan/misters! You'll have your head in the freezer at least a couple of times! Those hot flashes are a BYTCH!

 

How long does your doctor estimate your surgery will last? You'll be out of it when they put the cath in. That was my biggest worry when I had surgery. Luckily, none of my procedures lasted very long and I never had to have one---I requested that I not have one! I took my mom's out for her and honestly, I don't know how they get them in anyone who is awake enough to clench!

[quankanne]

I've read articles from different women's magazines telling readers to get a second and third opinion for a surgery that really needn't be done unless certain dire circumstances exist. and L, it sounds like you meet the criteria for those dire circumstances.

 

my mom and both my sisters had hysterectomies, but I didn't notice any differences in their mood swings or anything, but then again, I was pretty young when they had their surgeries ...

 

the wonderful news is that today, there are so many advancements in medical technology that you aren't going to end up having your abdominal muscles butchered when they go in after your uterus. check with your doctor to see what kind of procedure yours will be, and that'll determine the kinds of pain you'll experience.

 

When my mom had hers, they sliced her from her belly button down, and the scar looked like a thick worm. When my older sisters was done, the cut was done differently, and although she was restricted to the "no picking anything up" like Mama, she healed more nicely, and I think there was less pain for her. I know that a lot of different surgeries are done using a laparoscope, where the patient has 3-5 smaller incisions rather than a big ole cut.

 

one word of advice: be sure the docs know of any allergies to medicines you might have. oh, and have him mark your abdomen while you're still alert so that you know that HE knows where he's supposed to go in!

 

happy healing,

quank

[lnichols]

I have had 2 doctors tell me that my uterus is not prolapsed enough for laproscopic surgery. He'll do a bikini line incision. I haven't gone in for my pre-op yet, so I don't know how long the surgery will last. They are leaving my one good ovary, so I shouldn't be doing the hormone shuffle. My doctor says that you can have as little as a quarter of one ovary and still produce enough hormones so that you don't need HRT. I am going to ask if there wil be stitches, staples, super glue or what holding me together. I should only be in the hospital for 2 days.

 

I hate hospitals! I had my last child at home because I hate them so much.

 

I have also been told that I could even have an epidural and be awake during the procedure. I don't know about that!!! I think I'd rather be out.

 

I guess the really hard part is no sex for 6 weeks, and I'm kind of a newlywed. (Been married since May 27th) My hub is very understanding, though, and has assured me that he's gone for much longer without.

 

Any other helpful hints would be appreciated. I can't know too much! And there is no better source than those of us who have been there.

[lnichols]

Oh, and in light of all the surgical goofs in the news lately, I have goven serious consideration to labeling all the parts I DON'T want removed. (Writing "do not remove" on both legs and circling the area above my pelvic bone and labeling "cut here". ) LOL. I want my husband with me for as long before and as soon after as possible.

 

God love him, I hope I'm not too much trouble. He knew about this when he proposed.

[lnichols]

So I went for my pre-op visit, and learned about how long the surgery is going to take, (about 1 and a half hours), what's coming out, what's staying - all the good stuff.

 

I wanted to let anyone else know that may be facing this sort of thing, or who knows someone who will, that I found a web site called hyster sisters.com. Good support from women who have been there.

 

Anyway, going in on the 4th and am kinda looking forward to getting it over with. I am especially looking forward to sitting on my butt for a month. Even if I won't feel very well. An actual REAL excuse for doing nothing!! It's too bad that I had to have surgery to get it, but it is nice, none the less.

 

Wish me luck.