LSH & Repairs - My Story - Hystersisters Hysterectomy Article

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LSH & Repairs - My Story

LSH & Repairs - My Story

From the Laparoscopic 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 started my period on Valentine's Day in 6th grade. The night before I started, I thought I was dying. I had no idea what was going on. Turns out, I had cramps. Ever since then, I have horribly painful periods.

At 24, I'd been having a lot of problems for awhile and I just assumed they were par for the course after having 2 babies and being a woman. I was having incontinence problems (but not like stress incontinence where you leak with sneezing or coughing), I was cramping 24/7 that would get worse with activity (even just walking or light housework). My periods were getting progressively unpredictable, heavier, and just different and bad pain with sex. In March, I saw a GP and described my symptoms. I also told her that I took a medical quiz online and it told me that I should discuss PCOS with her. She acted like I was stupid and brushed it off and said it sounded like endometriosis. She said she could do an ultrasound to see if I have any cysts, but that wouldn't be a diagnosis. She did offer to bloodwork though and explained how the hormone levels corresponded to each other would be an indication of pcos or not. She said it wasn't the level itself, but if one level was twice the amount of the other level, that's pcos. I think they were LH and FH? I could be wrong. Anyway, mine were within normal ranges, but the one was 3 times the amount of the other - so she diagnosed me with PCOS.

Fast forward to July. I saw my regular GP (not the one I saw previously) and she referred me to a gynecologist for the chronic pelvic pain. I got to see him in August. We met in his office first and discussed all my symptoms. He suspected IC (interstitial cystitis) or endometriosis. Went to the exam room and he did an exam and said that he could tell me without question that it was not IC. He couldn't know if I was dealing with endo or not without a laparoscopic procedure, but he could definitely tell me that I had fairly severe prolapses. Which instantly reminded me of a symptom that I'd wanted to mention, but had forgot. Often times, it felt like I was wearing a tampon that was falling out. He told me that was my bladder. True or not, he told me that I was one of the youngest patients he had seen with prolapses to that extent. He explained the pessary, repair procedures, and hysterectomy. I was done having children, but he didn't want to do the hyst because of my age. His opinion was that the repair procedures were my best bet, but it was ultimately my decision. I chose to try the pessary and we agreed that it was more of a diagnostic tool than a solution. I tried the pessary for a week and it gave some relief to the cramping and bladder issues, but not a lot.

When i went back, he did another exam and we did a lot of talking...he then said that he would recommend the hyst because if he left my uterus, I'd be back in for surgery sooner rather than later. Again, ultimately - my decision. I did a lot of researching, a lot of asking, and a lot of soul searching. I decided that the hyst was appropriate. I was done having children and for quality of life and for mine and my children's best interest - i wanted fewer surgeries as possible. To improve my pelvic floor, he was going to also repair the scar that I had from where I tore with my first son. We also discussed my labia and he said that because of the loose scar I had from my tear and my relaxed pelvic floor, pregnancies, births..my labia had 'elongated' and would continue to do so as I age. If they were a problem (discomfort with sitting, during sex, etc) then he could do a labial reduction as well..which I opted for.

So, we planned an LSH leaving ovaries and cervix. Anterior (cystocele) & Posterior (rectocele) repairs. He was going to use graft material and a sling (TVT) for my bladder. Perineorraphy (perineum repair) and labiaplasty (or labial reduction). After some scheduling difficulties and last minute medical requests (gyn wanted the ok from my endocrinologist to go ahead with surgery)...it was finally scheduled for 10/10/06.

I had my pre-op with the doc on 10/02 and a follow-up on 10/04 (to discuss lab results). Pre-op at the hospital was on 10/04 following the doc's office consult. They said to allow 2 hours, but I was there for about an hour. I met with the woman who processes the pre-admit stuff and insurance. Met with another woman who took my vitals (weight, temp, bp) and they would've normally done bloodwork, but I'd just had my bloodwork done 2 days prior. Saw yet another woman who discussed everything about surgery - before, during, and after. Had to sign a bunch of papers. Talked to ANOTHER woman (the anesthesiologist) and signed her papers and then I was done.

For bowel prep, I had to drink a 10oz bottle of magnesium citrate the day before surgery, 10/09. I was told I could have a normal breakfast and lunch, but to drink the mag. with lunch. I could have a light snack (like soup), and then nothing but clear fluids until 5p. Nothing to ear or drink after midnight. Morning of surgery, I was instructed to do enemas until clear return (up to 3).

Surgery was tentatively scheduled for 12p, but I was instructed to be @ the hospital at 10:30 for surg. prep. Got there and changed into the standard issue gown. They gave me pepcid and reglan to reduce stomach acid. Apparently there was a 'line' ahead of me and I just had to..hurry up and wait. Doc came in and asked how I was doing. Explained that he'd taken my file home and read up on me..thought about it a lot..slept on it..and decided, ultimately, that he wanted to leave my uterus if at all possible. He just thought that I was too young and if the uterus looks like a normal, healthy, 24yo uterus..he wants to leave it. If they have to go back in later, that's fine - but my blood count was just a tad low to be doing all the procedures they had to do. Ugh. I knew it was in my best interest, but frankly - it really irritated me. I had planned and planned and was at peace with losing my uterus. I was ready for it. I was irritated because I didn't WANT future surgeries..I wanted it all done at once. He said that there was someone ahead of me and I'd be going sooner rather than later, but still had to wait a bit.

Finally wheeled to the surgery holding area which is where they start the IV and (normally) administer versed (not sure what it is exactly, but it's to relax and they said it would probably be the last thing I'd remember)...however...when the doc came in and broke the news of leaving my uterus, he offered to tie my tubes. I wanted to think about it and then when I got to the holding area, I explained that I needed to either talk to him or whatever I needed to do for the tubal ligation. So, a nurse marked it on my surgery paper with me watching and I signed it. At first they were giving me grief because apparently when you sign the tubal ligation papers, you're supposed to wait 24 hrs. It took awhile, but I finally got them to realize that I had planned on leaving the hospital WITHOUT my uterus, so it shouldn't be a problem to tie my tubes. anyway, I never got the versed. Finally I was wheeled into the OR and the pushed the beds together and I scooted over..laid down...they put the mask on my face and told me to breathe deeply..and that's the last I remember.

I woke up in recovery, but don't really remember it now...I remember about 3 seconds of travelling in the hallway to my room and then I remember bits and pieces of the evening. I slept a lot. They were giving me shots of morphine for pain (when requested) and I'd fall asleep shortly after the morphine. I vaguely remember the doc talking to me and he explained that they had to go ahead and remove the uterus because it was "bulgey with a bunch of fibroids" and I don't remember why, but for some reason - they didn't do the cystocele repair he'd planned...but just rectocele repair and then the external repairs..and the hyst. Nurses came in around 7 or 8 I think to help me stand up to walk around...and I got up okay but I got *really* nauseated and I did NOT want to throw up...so they laid me back down and let me sleep it off. Next morning they said as long as I can get up and walk..and I can go pee...then I go home. Once I felt like I had to go so I went and sat down, but nothing. Then I went back to bed and started drinking a lot. I got up, took a shower, got dressed, and went for a (slow) walk down the hall. Came back to the room and drank more...went for another walk. Came back to the room and peed. Then I got to leave. During recovery, I was up and down to pee and get a drink and whatever else, but I was laying down and resting/sleeping a lot for the first several days. The external repairs made it really uncomfortable to be upright. Other than the yeast infection and bacterial infection that I can't seem to kick, surgery and recovery has gone really well

I don't know what I would've done without this wonderful site and all the fantastic women who make it what it is. There's such a WEALTH of information...from research/medical studies to personal experience. It's more than I could have EVER hoped for when the doc first mentioned hysterectomy.

Huge, huge

's for all the sisters who have gone before me and all the ones who will follow!

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Recommended for Hysterectomy Recovery

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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!
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Find A Doctor Near You

Jack Ayoub, M.D. 44035 Riverside Parkway Suite 435 Leesburg VA 20176 703.858.5599	Stephen Zweibach, M.D. 815 S Parsons Ave Brandon FL 33511 8135712777	Ellen Wilson, M.D. 5323 Harry Hines Blvd - Dept of OBGYN Dallas TX 75390 214-648-4747
Christopher Stroud, M.D. 11123 Parkivew Plaza Drive Suite 101 Fort Wayne IN 46845 2609695071	Geoffrey Bowers, M.D. 834 Chestnut Street Suite 300 Philadelphia PA 19107 215-955-5000	Aarathi Cholkeri-Singh, M.D. 120 Osler Drive Ste. 100 Napeville IL 60540 630-428-2229
Geoffrey Cly, M.D. Suite 101, 11123 Parkview Plaza Drive Fort Wayne IN 46845 260-969-5530	Sean Kossari, M.D. 14901 Rinaldi Street Suite 320 Mission Hills CA 91345 818-365-1616	Bret Lewis, M.D. 5780 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Ste 295 (#2 Location) 11975 Morris Rd., Ste. 310 , Alpharetta, GA 30004 Atlanta GA 30342 404-255-3633

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