TAH - My experience (8 days post op) - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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TAH - My experience (8 days post op)

TAH - My experience (8 days post op)

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Well, I made it through three months of worrying after making the decision to get my hysterectomy, and must say the worst part of the whole experience from the moment I found out I needed a hysterectomy, to this moment (8 days post op) was the
anticipation and worry PRIOR to the surgery.
I had my uterous and cervix removed on August 11th, 2004 along with a large (grapefruit size) penduncular fibroid that was growing outside of my uterous. My uterous weighed three pounds and was full of a dozen smaller fibroids. I had no severe bleeding, unusual periods, or symptoms of that nature. What I did have was a large, protruding stomach due to the size of the uterous and the neighboring fibroid, and severe lower back pain.
The tips prior to my surgery that I received at this website were very helpful, but to be honest, most of what I read from other's experiences was NOT what I experienced. Let me begin with my castle story:

My surgery was scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 11th. The night prior to surgery I was instructed to give myself a Fleet's enema, which I did with no problem. I arrived at the hospital at 6:00 a.m, did the paperwork, undressed and was put in a private room for prep work. What that consisted of was, first of all, some aroma therapy to relax me, followed by putting on the fancy stockings and coverlets that inflate every so often to keep the blood flowing in my legs. The IV was then hooked up and about one hour prior to surgery that gave me antibiotics through the IV. The anesthesiologist stopped in, asked me some questions, (good looking, easy on the eyes guy with a great bod!)
He assured me I wouldn't feel any pain or remember the surgery at all. The doctor came in and told me we were set for 8:00, and that about 20 minutes prior I would be given something to relax me. I was, and it did. I don't remember going into the operating room at all. My first recollection was waking up and thinking, wow, is it over already? And why don't I feel any pain, and I am not thirsty with a sore throat, as I had read many stories like that on this site. I felt great, actually! They wheeled me out of the recovery room towards my private room where I saw my son, husband and mother walking down the hall. I remember waving to them and thinking, boy, are they going to tease me about all the pre -op worry and horror stories I had shared from the hyster sister site when I am feeling fine!!! I had a pump for pain, but to be honest didn't use it that much. I also had a catheter which I didn't mind at all, because I wasn't quite ready to get up and wondered if I could urinate on a toilet by myself (mainly because of the drugs). My sister and my daughter came to visit in the afternoon. My surgery took exactly 50 minutes from the first cut to the last staple and my doctor took a picture of the alien he removed from my body...hard to believe!! I was in good humor, and very little pain. I remember wanting to get up and walk and take a shower, but couldn't convince the nurses I was ready until 8:00 p.m that evening. When I did get up, I was very light headed, but made it halfway down the hall and back to my room.
The next morning wasn't all that great, as I got out of bed to brush my teeth and got sick to my stomach and vomited in the sink three times....that WAS pretty bad, but the nurse said the drug they were giving me through the pump often caused that type of nausea, so they disconnected it and started me on oral pain meds (percoset). It was a breeze after that. I walked about 4 times during the second day, quite lengthywalks and I think that helped with the gas. It was a great relief to pass gas!
I did not walk like the hunch back of notre dame like I'd read so many people do, nor did I need to put a pillow over my tummy when I walked...not sure I understand all the clatter about those tummy pillows. It may be because, I was cut VERTICALLY, and not horizontally due to the size of my fibroid and uterous, but honestly have not felt any of the "pulling or tightness" that I read described on the stories on this site. On Saturday morning, the doctor came in and took out my staples (24 total), put some surgical tape across my cut and sent me home.
I had my first BM on Monday, with no problem, actually it was a GREAT relief! The gas is gone, my tummy has gone way down, I'm down 10 pounds and feeling great at day 8 post op!!!
I went out for dinner last night (day 7 post op) and had no problems as a result of getting out of the house and being on my feet.
My advice to those of you preparing for the surgery:
Don't believe everything you read, it can sometimes just make you more nervous than necessary.
And truly, from one of the biggest chickens and low tolerance for pain people in the world, (ME), IT IS NOT THAT BAD AT ALL.,
so don't stress yourselves out like I did for months before the surgery. Going to my 30th class reunion tomorrow night and walking tall!!!!!!!
PS As for the "List of things to bring to the hospital"....really all you need is your toothbrush, toothpaste, your own nighties/pj's
(makes you feel less like a patient wearing your own stuff), and
some lip balm and your own pillow from home (highly recommend that!!)
Good luck to all and thanks for letting me share my story.

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Terri B. Pustilnik, M.D. 501 Medical Center Blvd. Deke Slayton Cancer Center Clear Lake TX 77598 713-665-0404	Susan Carter, M.D. North Colorado Medical Center/ MCR 1800 15th Street, Suite 220 Greeley CO 80631 970 353 1335	Nadia Mileo, M.D. 3001 Coral Hills Dr., Suite 300 Coral Springs FL 33065 954-341-2916
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