Total Abdominal Hysterectomy - Pleasant Recovery

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Total Abdominal Hysterectomy - Pleasant Recovery

Total Abdominal Hysterectomy - Pleasant Recovery

Date : 05-04-2008 - 10:07 AM - Readers : 344

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My experience with having a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) was a very positive one. For the first time in my life, I didn’t mind being called a “goody, goody.” My doctor told me and my parents that I was her best patient and wishes her other patients followed her pre-op instructions because my surgery was “textbook.” The surgical team and I experienced absolutely no complications during or after surgery.

I was severely anemic due to excessive blood loss and had to postpone my original date of surgery. Eating liver twice a week, Cream of Wheat every morning, leafy green vegetables three times a day (actually twice a day), drinking lemon water, 1000 mg of vitamin C twice a day and taking the iron supplement my doctor prescribed for me, increased my blood count to within normal range. Eating iron rich foods for three months prevented me from having to have a blood transfusion. In short, all of the pre-op preparation really helped me with my surgery and hospital stay recovery.

My surgery took 2 hours and was "clean cut" and "fortuitous" according to my doctor. Apparently, there was a fibroid as large as an orange in my cervix. If my doctor had not put me on a higher dose of estrogen or if I had waited a little longer for my surgery, I would have had a fibroid abortion which would have caused severe hemorrhaging and emergency surgery in which case, I would have had to have all of my reproductive organs removed instead of just my cervix, uterus and right fallopian tube. Dr. F couldn’t remove my left fallopian tube due to adhesions I developed from a previous surgery I had in 1981. She told me that removing the adhesions and tube would have caused more problems and more bleeding so she and her team decided to leave it alone. However, when I go for my annual check-up, she will check on it to make sure I am okay and haven’t developed any more adhesions.

I can honestly say that I think everything went so well because I was desperately seeking this relief. Since 1999 when I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids and having exhausted practically all of the alternatives to having an hysterectomy and finally realizing that having a TAH was my final option was a welcome sigh of relief. Due to changing health insurance, I had to find another gynecologist and I must say that I am really lucky to have found her. She read my medical files from my previous gyn and actually talked to me, not at me, not that I’m knocking my former gyn. She told me all of my options and was not a bit miffed that I sought a second opinion.

I was at the hospital with my parents bright and early Friday morning (4/11). I was asked the same questions asked of me during my pre-test for verification, stripped, gowned and rolled into the recovery room where I met my anesthesiologist and assistant gynecological surgeon. My doctor came to talk to me and give me some positive words and asked for my parents name while stroking my shoulder as I was wheeled into the operating room. I thought that was very nice since I felt more excited than nervous. The last thing I remember was hearing one of my favorite songs, “Sometimes When We Touch” by Dan Hill and then waking up to see my parents by my side.

My gynecologist, all of the resident gyn doctors who saw me during my stay at Roosevelt Hospital in NYC, my nurses and attendants, my parents, family and friends were all surprised at how well I came through with the surgery. I experienced only two negative things and they were relatively minor. I had back pain due to having to lay flat on my back for the surgery and then for the 2 ½ hours in the recovery room. A recovery nurse saw me struggling to turn onto my side and ran over to me with a body pillow. She propped it against the side I was turning to and then rubbed some arnica cream on my back . . . a much needed relief. The other thing was that I had three blisters form where medical tape was due to an allergic reaction. Again, the nurse took care of this problem.

My first night in the hospital was so uncomfortable despite taking the pain medicine. I had to contend with constant check ups of my temperature and blood pressure; the catheter; trying to find a comfortable position without straining myself; and the intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) boots which inflated and deflated at regular intervals. I had to wear IPC boots and was given Heparin to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) since I am 43 and was taking estrogen to stem the excessive bleeding.

I was up and about Saturday, passed gas and was able to move my bowels once on Saturday and once on Sunday. I took frequent walks with any family member or friend who came to see me. Dr. F was so pleased with my hospital recovery that she told me I could go home Monday. YEAH!!! Dr. F bragged to her resident interns and medical team that she has an excellent patient in me and wished all of her other patients would listen to and follow her pre-test instructions so that recovery and hospital stay will be go well. I actually felt embarrassed and blushed a bit instead of feeling like a guinea pig whenever the residents came to look at me.

I didn’t take any pain medicine on Saturday because I felt fine but by Sunday evening, I had to take a Percaset. I found that instead of being in pain, I felt sore due to using my arm and back muscles to replace the use of my stomach muscles. My doctor and my favorite nurse, told me that this is to be expected and that the pain/soreness will be worse at night and that is so true. My first night home, (Monday, 4/14) I felt as if I did 100 pull ups and the back of my thighs even ached. I was in bed by 10:30 pm and didn’t get up until 3:30 am. I thought I was going to have trouble returning to sleep but once I had a cup of warm soup, I was knocked out again until 10 am the following morning. I took my doctor’s and HysterSister’s advice from their booklet, “What 100,000 Women Know About Hysterectomy” to take the pain medicine every night. It helped me sleep solidly and painlessly. Ten days after surgery and with my doctor’s permission, I take five Arnica pills thrice a day and am rarely in pain. However, on the few occasions when I feel pain or soreness, I take one Advil, drink a cup Chai tea with milk and honey and a nap. Afterwards, I’m as right as rain.

My sister who had a cesarean birth and doctor told me that the removal of the staples wouldn't hurt at all and they certainly were right. It didn't hurt a bit. If anything, my staples only hurt when I got up after sitting or lying down. The sensation was that of burning but once I was fully erect, the burning sensation is disappeared and once the staples were replaced with surgi strips, I experienced no more pain. My doctor told me to do Kegel and some light pelvic exercises to strengthen my abdominal walls, otherwise just take short walks.

With the exception of fatigue, I am doing well. No fever, not even a low grade fever and now that the staples have been removed, I can move better even though I am taking it easy. I can even laugh out loud now, cough and sneeze (allergy season—ugh!) without using a pillow as a splint. I know the "swelly belly" band and stomach wrap is contributing to my recovery. So far, so good. Yesterday (5/3) was my first day back to work and I am doing well. Thankfully, I work only on the weekends so my doctor gave me the okay to return but with limited hours. I get up and walk around the building every hour, and sit with my feet on a foot stool so as not to put pressure on my lower back (I’m a text editor).

The "swelly belly" band that I purchased from HysterSisters is wonderful!

The swelly belly band and the stomach wrap helps me with mobility, reduces the swelling, phantom pain and holds everything in place. Especially when I'm sleeping since I like to sleep on my side. I don't feel my stomach "falling" to the side and causing me to be uncomfortable while I'm trying to sleep. The swelly belly band is the best.

Being limited to physical activity and even mental activity for two weeks was a really weird thing. If it weren’t for all of the forums I visited about hysterectomies, talking with my friends who’ve gone through the same thing, and this site, HysterSisters and the booklet provided by HysterSisters, I would have thought something was wrong with me. I didn’t feel weak or tired. The feeling was more like floating, if you know what I mean--almost liberating. I felt like for the first time, I was really relaxed and I didn’t let anything or anyone get to me. As strange as this is, I felt even more relaxed than when I go on vacation. I don’t know if I’m really conveying the way I feel accurately but all I can say is that I felt great despite being fatigued and limited. I will say one thing though, at first I felt really weird having everyone do everything for me, but you know, I could’ve gotten used to the treatment. LOL.

I am so thankful and extremely glad that this whole ordeal is over. I can't wait until my complete recovery so I can really get on with my life. My personal and professional life will no longer be interrupted due to prolonged and severe bleeding, clots and pain. Despite my limited activity, I really do feel like a brand new person, as if I have a new lease on life. A weight has definitely been lifted off of my shoulders. I have permanently incorporated the healthy eating habits that I had to do pre-op, minus the liver and am feeling and looking great. Gone are the fried greasy foods and beer and cheese. I don’t think I’ll give cheese up but for now, I’m limiting my intake until I’ve made a complete recovery.
I can not tell express how much I value and appreciate all of my family’s and friend’s emotional and physical support, and well wishes. I honestly believe that their well wishes, support, blessings, etc. played a vital role in my surgery and hospital recovery.

One last thing that I believe was a positive thing for me that I have to mention. My whole surgical team were women—from my gynecologist, to her assistant surgeon, to the anesthesiologist and her assistant, to the scrub nurses. I really believe that this group of wonderful women operating on me and hearing one of my favorite songs, “Sometimes When We Touch” by Dan Hill before being put under anesthesia, also contributed to my “textbook” surgery and speedy post-op hospital recovery. GO WOMEN!!!!

Tips that I can give but MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR DOCTOR'S PERMISSION FIRST as Idid: take 1,000 mg of vitamin C (rose hips or a buffered form if your stomach is sensitive) twice a day two days before surgery and for the duration of your recovery period; eat plenty of fresh pineapples before and after surgery to help prevent or keep inflammation to a minimum; drink plenty of water with lemon or lime juice (no sugar); take Arnica pills and use arnica cream where your belly is sore.

I hope the positive experience I have written will help other women who have no choice but to have an hysterectomy. Thank you HysterSisters for giving hystersisters a voice and a place to find answers.

Sincerely, BoogieFever

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