TAH - Strong independent woman has to ask for help - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

		HysterSisters > Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles
TAH - Strong independent woman has to ask for help

TAH - Strong independent woman has to ask for help

From the Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles List

HysterSisters Articles

Options to Hysterectomy
Pre-Op Hysterectomy
Post-Op Hysterectomy
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Pelvic Floor
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Grief and Loss
Endometriosis
Uterine Fibroids
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor

I am 39 and decided to get the hysterectomy because I didn't want children and didn't want to live with heavy, clotty murder scenes to clean up in public bathrooms and bad cramps. I had fibroids. I asked the doctor to take a picture when he removed my uterus and he obliged. Of the blurry lump in the picture, only about a quarter of it was the actual uterus.

I am a fiercely independent woman. I do not like people helping me. I barely like people doing nice things for me. I am strong, too. I can hike 24 miles in a single day even after a dog bites my leg with 7 miles left to go. I rode my bike to my appointments the day before my surgery. People said I was lucky because I am young and strong and would bounce right back. I was not very nervous about the surgery.

I was very happy to find this message board so I could get all my questions answered without having to bother anybody. People were very helpful and there is so much experience to learn from. Best thing I learned: I ask the nurse to sneak some extra pairs of those mesh panties into your bag. They are great.

I want to say first off that I am very happy I had a total abdominal hysterectomy and not a myomectomy. I never want to have surgery again and this is the one that'll fix those fibroids forever.

I reported to the hospital at 5am on the day of the surgery. A very nice nurse who probably lied about being childless like me did a great job of putting in the IV (my veins are barely visible) and getting me all prepared. Soon I found myself wrapped up like a burrito on a gurney. They pushed me a short way and told me I could kiss my boyfriend good-bye. Then they pushed me through all these big doors and cold halls with people looking like they were doing Very Important Doctor Stuff. They brought me to a room to await the anesthesiologist.

They did this very methodically, which I appreciated. The nurse made me tell her my name, my birthday, the exact surgery I was there for even though she had all that information right in front of her.

I could see other people lying there. They didn't look sick or dying or asleep. They all looked healthy. I started crying. I was the only one in there crying. I tried not to let it show.

The Anesthesiologist came in and asked me all the same questions as the nurse. He said his job was to make sure I remembered nothing. He was very nice and gave me some stuff to help ease the anxiety. When they started pushing me down the hall I was scared but didn't feel it.

They brought me to a bright, greenish room. I was surprised to see it had a window and I could see cars going by outside. I told them I would figure out where that window was so I could watch them do surgeries. They promised the blinds would be closed.

I had to climb aboard the table myself. As soon as my head was properly on the pillow I remember nothing. When I woke up it did seem as though a long time had passed.

As soon as I felt aware of where I was I could feel pain. It grew quickly and exponentially. A nurse was there and asked me on a scale of 1-10. I said 8. She asked again. I said 9. I said please help me.

I have no idea how I got to my room or how I got on my bed. I think I remember something but I'm not sure. I waited a long time alone in my room in pain. When nurses came in I kept trying to tell them I had someone waiting for me in the waiting room. Poor guy. He ended up waiting and hour and a half extra before they found him.

I was surpised how happy I was to see him there. Soon my dad and sister were there, too. We chatted and talked and my dad argued with me about my choice of who to vote for. The nurse tried to ask me questions and my sister kept trying to answer them. She's an old hat at this hospital stuff because she's had 4 babies. I shooshed her.

The pain was only down to about a 5. I could not relax. I was trying to make sure I remembered to push the morphine button. I probably was not pushing it right. I never felt any waves of relief.

The day is a blur but somewhere in the evening I started to panic. The pain would not stop. I could get no relief. Every sound would make me startle and then my stomach would tense up and then the pain meds couldn't do their job. I tried to explain this to the nurse. She got me some other pain meds. They did nothing. Later I told her again, but now I was crying. She offered to bring more pain meds. I did not want pain meds. I wanted to relax. She asked if I thought I was anxious and tried to ease my fears. I did not want to bother her any more and I didn't want more pain meds so I told her I would be fine. Don't worry about me, I'll be ok.

When she left I started crying and that's when my mother appeared finally. She decided to make one of those Terms of Endearment scenes for me. My boyfriend appeared. He sat and rubbed my arm and my mother rubbed my feet and I cried like a baby because I needed people to help me. I couldn't do it all by myself.

Eventually the nurse gave me something that eased the tenseness and allowed me to fall asleep. When I woke up again the pain was no longer in the 4-5 range anymore. It was down to 1 or 2.

The rest of the stay was pretty uneventful, except for the night I got a fever. I guess that's a big deal and for that I earned an extra day. On my last day the nurse removed my staples and replaced them with tape. The doctor showed up and he was beaming that I looked so good. He was probably proud of himself, too, for doing a good job, and I'm glad for that.

Now I am home. I spent my first night last night. I am still sobbing, but only when nobody will see me. I still can't believe that I needed people to help me. I figured my recovery would be a vacation. But there is pain and there are things I can't do yet and I'm filled with fears of adhesions and other horrible things.

That horrible night in the hospital, when I was feeling all the panic, my boyfriend was so good to me. I thanked him for helping me. He told me I was the strongest, most independent woman he'd ever known, and that I was his princess.

Printer Friendly Version

Recommended for Hysterectomy Recovery

The HysterSisters Store has gathered products made specifically for your recovery from surgery. Here are the best sellers we can recommend to help you:

The Great Binder Set - We have made it very easy for you and combined the two best binders and the Silky Sac into a great set to save you money! Our favorite is the Perfect Pocket binder with cold/hot packs!
Deluxe Hyst Prep Set - As you plan, we've gathered the best products into one set for special pricing.
Post-Op Panty - These great panties speed recovery, and reduces scarring. They contain a medical-grade silicone panel over incision to reduce scar's apperance while they provide support to weakened muscles and tissues from surgery. Excellent!
Softest Bra Ever - When you want to wear something, but feel nothing. This is the softest bra ever, in microfiber with no hardware or tags to chafe or dig! The comfort-ribbed underband stays in place gently, so it is perfect for sleeping and lounging.
HysterSisters Accessory Kit - Are you a HysterSisters fan? This set has a fun collection of HysterSisters items.
Very Private Moisture - Once your doctor gives you the green light for intimacy, this is the stuff! This is a best selling product with a high rate of permanent, satisfied, repeat customers! Relieves vaginal dryness instantly, protects tissue & enhances intimacy. "Buy it for the problem, use it for the pleasure."

TAH - Story from a new sister

TAH - Success Story

Find A Doctor Near You

Gerald Harkins, M.D. Department of OB-Gyn P.O. Box 850, H-103 Hershey PA 17033 717-531-6447	Devin Garza, M.D. 12201 Renfert Way, STE# 215 Austin TX 78758 512 425-3830	Jennifer Hayes, M.D. Visionary Centre for Women 2695 Ulmerton Rd Clearwater FL 33762 727-540-0414
Molly Senokozlieff, M.D. 9279 A Medical Plaza Dr. North Charleston SC 29406 843-569-2900	Siobhan Kehoe, M.D. Gynecological Oncology Clinic - SW Med 2201 Inwood Road Suite 106 Dallas TX 75390 214-645-4673	Stephen Zweibach, M.D. 815 S Parsons Ave Brandon FL 33511 8135712777
Megan Daw, M.D. Western Carolina Women's Specialty Center 2100 Ridgefield Blvd Asheville NC 28806 828-670-5665	David Zisow, M.D. 2005 Rock Spring Rd Ste. 3 Forest Hill - Baltimore MD 21050 410-879-1139	Sean Kossari, M.D. 14901 Rinaldi Street Suite 320 Mission Hills CA 91345 818-365-1616

Receive support and resources for your hysterectomy related needs: