TVH - I made it! - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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TVH - I made it!

TVH - I made it!

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Hi all,

I just wanted to let anyone know that I am now on the other side. I had my TVH last Friday and I am already feeling fine. It really was not as bad as I was expecting.

I went in at 7.30am having fasted from 12 midnight. I had to have a full shave (that was almost the worst bit for me), I was allowed to do this myself at home. The Dr did not know what way he would do the op as TVH was preferrable to him but he would not be sure until I was "on the table". I had a lovely pre-med at 9.30 which made me all relaxed and any nerves I had disappeared (don't know where as I was petrified).

The porters came for me at 10.30 and took me to theatre, I went in at 11am as booked. I had a laugh and a joke with the anethetist, the registrar and Dr and thats the last thing I remember as I fell asleep- no counting to ten, just laughing!

I must have been in quite a deep sleep as I did not leave the recovery room until 4pm and was then taken back up on to the ward. My operation was just short of two hours! I then drifted blissfully in and out of sleep.

I was taught how to use the morphine self administering pain killer and had that in one hand and the nurse call bell in the other hand. The morphine was lovely and really helped. I was told that I had had a TVH, I had a vaginal pack and drain, and a catheter. I was also attached to a saline drip - this was kept in for three days. I had the morphine until early hours of Sunday (op was Friday) and when it ran out I felt that I did not need to renew it. When the nurse came to take it down, I said to her "that was my best friend"! She replied, Helen, sometimes we have to loose our best friend! We laughed as she took it away.

Saturday morning, I had a full bed bath. I thought I would be really embarassed but it was done very tastefully. It felt nice to be semi-clean and I did not mind at all. When the nurse had finished, she put on me some "paper pants" and a pad. I still had to stay in bed and felt a bit shakey and very weak. I was helped into a chair though whilst they changed the sheets and made my bed. Whilst in the chair they put my feet in a bowl of warm water - that felt lovely. Then they dried my feet and put me back into bed. It felt nice and clean.

On Saturday afternoon, the nurse came and took out the vaginal pack - although she left in the drain. I can honestly say that this was the worst part of my whole experience. The nurse was in a very bad mood and was taking it out on everyone. She took the pack out very quickly and it hurt very much. It seemed to go on forever, yards and yards of it. It almost felt like I had carpet burn down there. I was very worried in case I started bleeding or something, when she went I cried and cried. Another nurse came in and comforted me and I was ok after a while. The drain had been left in, just in case there was any bleeding. There was not.

On Sunday morning, the catheter was taken out and I was encouraged to get up and walk about. I was a bit worried as I still had the vaginal drain in, but it was ok. I was able to go for a wee and stretch my legs a bit. Now, about the catheter, again I was worried about this. I thought it would hurt when it came out - I did not feel a thing. It is held in place by inflating a small bag with water, all they do to take it out was take out the water and the whole thing just "fell" out. I did not even have to take my knickers off! In the afternoon, the moody nurse came back to take out the drain. As you can imagine I was extremely worried about this. She just whipped it out, one short, sharp tug and out it came. She took time to tell me that it is held in place by a suction cap. It was uncomfortable but did not hurt like the pack did. I told her that she had really hurt me when removing the pack and said that it always hurt like that and had to be done quickly to get it over with. She did apologise.

I was able then to go and have a shower by myself which was wonderful. It took ages and when I got back to my bed I was exhausted but glad to be clean.

Sunday was a good day and I was given regular pain killers orally and drank lots of squash and water. I took in some Peppermint Cordial with me and drank lots of that too. I did not suffer from wind as much as I thought I would but was not able to go for a poo. In the evening the girl in the next bed said she felt as if she really needed a poo, I did too and we asked for some help by way of glycerine suppositaries. Once we had been given them we had a competition to see who could keep it in the longest! Once we had been to the toilet I felt so much better, as did she.

The doctors came round Sunday evening and my neighbour was told that she would be going home on Monday. I wanted to go home too but was told that it would be Tuesday. They said that I had to go for a poo first - I told them that I had! They did not believe me and the nurse had to confirm it! I really wanted to go home too and they said they would review it on the Monday.

Monday morning came and the registrar came round and asked if I still felt like I wanted to go home. I did indeed! She checked me over and I was fine, but she had to ring the main man Dr and double check with him. He was surprised that I felt ok and would prefir if I stayed in but was happy if I wanted to go home as long as someone was there to look after me - there would be! So, I called DH and was home by lunchtime.

The first few days were spent in bed sleeping. Then I ventured downstairs to the sofa. I spent the whole week just lazing around in my pyjamas - watching Big Brother 24 hours a day! Today is a week post op and I feel fine. I have actually got up and dressed today and put my face on too. DH is not allowing me to do anything, not even go into the kitchen for a drink. So if I continue to do nothing and rest and be careful I think I am going to be OK!

To think that I was so scared a few weeks ago, I was having second thoughts, I nearly did not go ahead with the operation - especially when Dr man did not know what way he would do the operation. It is really not as bad as you think. I am still on painkillers three times a day and having a bit of discharge but nothing like what I used to get.

I have my post op check booked for five weeks and I am looking forward to going on holiday to France for the final part of my recovery.

I made it! I am so happy.

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TVH - I had no options

TVH - I made it!

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Terri B. Pustilnik, M.D. 501 Medical Center Blvd. Deke Slayton Cancer Center Clear Lake TX 77598 713-665-0404	Jennifer Cova, M.D. 7700 Washington Village Drive Suite 210 Dayton OH 45459 937-433-6513	Chanda Reese, M.D. 3001 Coral Hills Dr., Suite 300 Coral Springs FL 33065 954-341-2916
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