[WhiteClouds]

Happy Labor Day PC Fam! (HUGS) I hope you enjoyed your last day of Summer with good food, friends, reflection on your Summer. As for my family and I.. We did nothing. We prepared for the 1st day of school tomorrow and were literally sloths.

I have some questions about my upcoming hysterectomy in 9 days. Time is flying. Each day I have a new set of questions. I decided it may prove beneficial to ask the experiences of those who have had the procedure before. A medical response is not the same as a life experience answer IMO.

So if you do not mind sharing:

1. What are some things to expect after surgery? The 1st week or 2

2. How long before you were mobile again?

3. How long before you noticed a physical change?

4. Did your tummy go down?

5. What are some things I should have prepared for me at home? Meaning be prepared to have once I arrive home?

6. Do you mind sharing with me your experience and regrets if any?

I sincerely appreciate any and all input. I am only 35 and facing by far the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. With great sadness I will have this procedure done accepting, my life will never be the same again.

[Wren_]

Hi,
I really hear you on it being such a hard thing, and in so many ways I had it done a few years ago and it was and continues to be an emotionally difficult thing, if you want to pm me at all you are very welcome to and I can share what I found with you. As far as your questions, a lot of the answers depend on how they are doing the surgery. Abdominal incisions makes it a longer process for example. One of the best things I did was finding Hystersisters because everyone else there was either going through, or had been through the surgery and understood my fear and questions; and there are also answers to a lot of what you are asking. Mine was needed in connection with cancer, so while I have many deep regrets it was also essential. Thinking of you at this tough time

[~Christina]

Yes Hystersisters was my saving grace prior to surgery.. I had a gazillion concerns

After surgery ( was total abdominal)
The staples drove me nuts,, they caused itching and you really cant itch them. I was told to gently "slap" the area and it would trick the nerves and it work the majority of the time.
I was up walking 16 hours after surgery.. Best thing I did ! I also walked fully upright not bent over like you would want to.
I follow my doctors orders and did take it easy. Please follow the weight restrictions.
Walk numerous times a day.. It really does help recover sooner, also it helps keep your bowels moving

I was actually very surprised at how quickly I was able to recover. But I had planned ahead many things that indeed made the entire process much easier..

Hystersisters is a wonderful site.

Good luck
PM me anytime if you want

[bebop]

all those questions can be answered but really it depends on the way they do surgery. When I had mine back in the early 80's it was a bikini cut and recovery was about 7 weeks. Now I understand they do it laproscopically and much less painful. I would ask the dr what procedure he will be doing. Is it a complete or partial? If it is partial you will keep your ovaries and not have to take HRT. Mine was complete and had to do the hormones. When you go home make sure to follow his instructions to the T. No lifting anything for as long as he says. I am happy to talk with you about it but you need to know really which way he is going to do it.

[shezbut]

Like the others, Hystersisters was wonderful to me! It helped me a lot ~ to see others facing similar fears, experiences, and getting through life okay was priceless.

I do agree with bebop. It is tough to answer some of your Q's, not knowing what type of hysterectomy you're having. Mine was a total hysterectomy (uterus and cervix) done abdominally about 4 years ago. Partial hysterectomy only removes the uterus. Oomphorectomy removes the ovaries. There is a little bit of confusion about these terms, which is why I've mentioned it.

I bought a tummy wrap thing at Hystersisters, to aid in my recovery, and that really helped!! You put it in the freezer, and then wrap it around your tummy to numb the pain post-surgery. That item was well-worth the cost!

I do not regret my decision to get the hysterectomy, as I was absolutely miserable for many years prior. I had tried shots, medication, and a lot of time. But, I had adenomyosis ~ endo inside of my uterus, causing never-ending heavy menstruation, anemia, and painful sex.

I did lose a lot of blood during my surgery, and required two quarts transfused immediately afterward. My uterus and bladder were attached to one another (which was unknown prior to the surgery), and that complicated things a bit. I required a catheter for a couple of weeks, until my bladder had recovered from the surgery.

But...I made it. I think that there are often little complications in most surgeries, but we make it through just fine. Very best wishes to you in your surgery. You will be just fine ~ you're a survivor!

[WhiteClouds]

I'll getting a total vaginal hysterectomy. removal of the uterus and cervix. I too have adenomyosis. After suffering for years and trying the Lupron, Premarin. I told my husband that I was ordering the tummy wrap. I'm just so anxious. I'm worried will my sex life die after I have this procedure. They are leaving my ovaries. But I still have concerns that everything is going to go from "Hi" to "DRY"

[shezbut]

I haven't really had a problem with "dryness" ~ but I id buy some KY liquids (just in case). I haven't had any problems since! It was a difficult decision for me as well, but it was the right one for me.

Sex is SO MUCH better nowadays ~ I can't believe it!! No pain and actual enjoyment = pretty amazing! (((hugs)))

[likewater]

[QUOTE=WhiteClouds;3258040]Happy Labor Day PC Fam! (HUGS) I hope you enjoyed your last day of Summer with good food, friends, reflection on your Summer. As for my family and I.. We did nothing. We prepared for the 1st day of school tomorrow and were literally sloths.

I have some questions about my upcoming hysterectomy in 9 days. Time is flying. Each day I have a new set of questions. I decided it may prove beneficial to ask the experiences of those who have had the procedure before. A medical response is not the same as a life experience answer IMO.

So if you do not mind sharing:

1. What are some things to expect after surgery? The 1st week or 2

2. How long before you were mobile again?

3. How long before you noticed a physical change?

4. Did your tummy go down?

5. What are some things I should have prepared for me at home? Meaning be prepared to have once I arrive home?

6. Do you mind sharing with me your experience and regrets if any?

I sincerely appreciate any and all input. I am only 35 and facing by far the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. With great sadness I will have this procedure done accepting, my life will never be the same again. [/QUOTE

You read my mind. I am severely anemic and have an 11 cm cyst on my ovary and a 6 cm fibroid and am in a lot of pain. I have to get a hysterectomy too. I came on this forum to asj questions and you had done it for me thank you.