SAH - My Supracervical Hysterectomy - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

		HysterSisters > Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles
SAH - My Supracervical Hysterectomy

SAH - My Supracervical Hysterectomy

From the Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles List

HysterSisters Articles

Options to Hysterectomy
Pre-Op Hysterectomy
Post-Op Hysterectomy
Hormone and Menopause
Intimacy after Hysterectomy
Fitness after Hysterectomy
GYN Cancer
Hysterectomy Stories
Ask A Doctor

Hi,

I was diagnosed with 2 large fibroids (and alot of small ones), and was experiencing pelvic pressure and also frequent urination. Due to the fact that I don't have, and never wanted any children - -plus the fact that I'm 45 years old - -it was my decision to have a Supracervical Abdominal Hysterectomy. My doctor informed me of other alternatives, but together we decided that the Hysterectomy would be the best thing for me. (Only my uterus and fibroids were removed, and I kept my cervix and ovaries.)

I entered the "castle" on Feb 26th, 2001. It was 7:30 am, and I was scheduled for my operation at 10:30 am. I was really nervous - -and even cried! The nurses were so nice to me, and said "Don't worry". Before too long, I received that wonderful needle in the butt - -which makes you really calm. (But - -it hurt like heck!!) That worked great, and I didn't care about nothing after that!! Then another nurse came in and "prepped me" with a shave. It tickled me, and I couldn't stop laughing. Then they had me put on these thick, heavy, orthopedic stockings on my legs. They said it helps to prevent blood clots.

My Mom and Boyfriend were waiting outside in the hall, and they stayed with me right up until they rolled me away to the Operating Room. which was around 10:30 am. The OR was really cold!! My doctor and his assistant were there, and also the anesthesiologist. My doctor started talking to me, and holding my hand. Then the anesthesiologist put this mask on my face, and "BOOM" I was out like a light.

The operation took 1 1/2 hours, and I was in the recovery room for 2 hours. I woke up in the recovery room without any pain at all. The nurse in there was really nice, and kept talking to me and saying what a great patient I was. I was really groggy, and had a sore throat from the tubes they put down your throat to help you breathe. I also had a catheter - -which was put in while I was under the anesthesia. I was then wheeled to my room, and they put these unusual booties on my feet, which inflated and deflated. I was told that they were for circulation. I had an IV in my left arm, and also a Morphine pump - -for the pain. (I hardly even used the Morphine pump). I was dying of thirst though, and wanted water. They said that I could only have ice chips for now.

The nurses also put some medicine in my IV so I wouldn't get nauseous. It worked great, as I didn't get sick at all. I just layed there and rested. My Boyfriend called me about 10 minutes after I got in my room. He was happy to hear that I was doing good. That night, my Boyfriend and my Mom came up to visit me. My Mom brought me roses, and my Boyfriend got me an adorable teddy bear pillow. (How sweet!) After they left, the nurse came in the room and had me get out of bed and just stand next to it. She said my doctor wants me up quickly! I did it, but I was really dizzy. The nurse said that everyday they will have me get up, and try to walk.

I slept OK that night. However, the nurses come in to take your temperature and blood pressure, so that wakes you up! (They do this about every 2 hours around the clock!) The next morning came, (2/27/01) and I got a liquid diet - -soup broth and jello, juice and milk. The nurse comes in and asks if I passed gas yet, and I hadn't. I watched a little TV, and just tryed to rest. I was doing great, and the only time I had any pain was when I coughed, laughed, or sneezed. I would hit the Morphine pump then! They got me up out of bed, and had me take 4 steps along side of the bed. (I still had the catheter in, so I couldn't go very far!) After that, the nurse said she was going to remove my catheter, to see if I could urinate on my own. I was expecting it to really hurt, but it was nothing!! No pain at all!!

The nurse said that I could get up and walk around the halls. Also, if I had to urinate to let them know - -because they had to measure the output. I walked around for about 10 minutes, and felt really good. I went back to my room and got into bed. My doctor came in to see me, and told me everything went really well. He said he only took the uterus and the fibroids, and left the ovaries and cervix - -which was what we decided. He was pleased to see that I was doing so well, and that he was now going to check my incision. There was a "dressing" over my incision, which was taped on. He grabbed one corner and just ripped it off really fast!! (Kinda like a bandaid!) That hurt a little bit!! He was talking to me, and lightly touching my incision. He told me that he was removing my staples. I didn't even know that I had staples!! He said "Yes, you do!" (He had used staples to close my incision, and used dissolvable sutures inside.) Well, I couldn't believe it! He could have been touching me with a feather, because it didn't hurt at all!! After that, he put on Steri-strips - -and said not to remove them until my post-op appointment (which is April 5th!). I asked him when I could go home, and he said tomorrow (which was Wednesday, Feb 28th). He then left the room.

By then, I had started to pass gas. I had no gas pains or anything. I let the nurse know. That night, my Boyfriend and Mom came to visit. I walked around the halls with them, dragging my IV stand. I still felt good. After they left, the nurse took me off the IV, and started giving me oral pain killers, and medicines. Dinner came, and it was solid food - -because I had passed gass earlier in the day. That evening was bad- - only because I didn't get any sleep. The woman in the bed next to me was moaning and groaning, and had an allergy to her medicine. (She had just come down from the IC Unit.) The nurses and doctors were in there all night, back and forth. They kept the lights on in the room, and it was so noisy. So - -I just hung out, and was very tired!!

Then came the morning - -I got up and brushed my teeth, showered, and walked around the hospital. Other than being tired, I was doing great. My doctor came in to check on me, and gave me the "thumbs-up" to be released. I was so happy to hear that! I called my Boyfriend, and had him and my Mom come pick me up. I left the "castle" at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, Feb 28th. (This day also happened to be my Mom's birthday!!) When I got home, I felt really lousy - -I was shaking, and very tired. I just went to bed and slept. The next day I woke up, and felt great! It was the first time I got up the courage to look at my incision! I thought it would be this big, ugly cut. It looked like someone just drew an 8 inch long line with a black pen on my lower tummy. (Many Kudos to my wonderful Doctor - -he is just great!) Later that day, I was walking around, cooking, doing dishes and everything! But - - later in the day I payed the price . . . . I was really sore so I think I "overdid" it, on my first day home! I got a huge, beautiful, flower arrangement from my Department at work. Plus, I got many wonderful "Get-Well" cards from my family and friends.

I didn't drive for 2 weeks post-op. When I did, I had to put a pillow on my tummy to keep the seatbelt off my incision. (OUCH!) I didn't lift anything heavy, either. My Mom was here for a month (Bless her heart!), and I am so grateful for that! She was a tremendous help, and did a lot for me. (Laundy, cooking, dishes, etc!). My Boyfriend has also been wonderful through this whole ordeal - -he drove us to the store, picked up my prescriptions, and etc. So, I have been very blessed and grateful that all turned out well.

I am now 5 weeks post-op, and still doing and feeling well! I do have a little discomfort when I have a bowel movement, so I have been taking laxatives to help with this problem. I'm still a little sore on my incision area, and I have some pain when I cought, sneeze, or laugh! But, the worst is all behind me - -and I am recovering quite well. All-in-all - - -it was an easy operation for me. I have had "root canals" and toothaches that hurt way more than this operation did. I hope and pray that it can go as easy for the rest of the "sisters" as is did for me. Thanks for taking the time to read about my experience, and I hope it helps to alleviate some of the fears. God Bless you all.

Love,
Pat

Related Titles

Printer Friendly Version

SAH - My Story

SAH - My Supracervical Hysterectomy

Find A Doctor Near You

Francisco Garcini, M.D. 1870 Silver Cross Blvd Suite 210 New Lenox IL 60451 815-463-3000	Sean Kossari, M.D. 14901 Rinaldi Street Suite 320 Mission Hills CA 91345 818-365-1616	Clifford Rogers, M.D. The Everett Clinic, Dept. of Surgery and Gynecology 1330 Rockefeller Ave, Suite 120 Everett WA 98201 425 339 5424
Jennifer Cova, M.D. 7700 Washington Village Drive Suite 210 Dayton OH 45459 937-433-6513	Casey Sprague, M.D. 3960 Coon Rapids Blvd. #101 Allina Women's Health Coon Rapids MN 55433 763-236-9236	Bruce Pierce, M.D. 2 Princess Road Lawrenceville NJ 08648 609-896-0777
Stephanie Cross, M.D. 1932 Alcoa Hwy Knoxville TN 37920 865-546-1642	Gretchen Makai, M.D. 4735 Ogletown Stanton Rd MAP II, Ste 2103 Christiana Care Health System Newark DE 19713 302-623-4410	Chanda Reese, M.D. 3001 Coral Hills Dr., Suite 300 Coral Springs FL 33065 954-341-2916

Receive support and resources for your hysterectomy related needs: