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Hi everyone!
I had my laparoscopic hysterectomy 8 days ago -kept my cervix and ovaries. I am 44 and have been having horrible periods for years that were getting worse and worse to the point of keeping me from working on the really bad days. I was terrified of having a hysterectomy, but my doctor helped me to understand that it really was the best option for me...and I didn't have any use for my uterus anymore, so why not? I'm a teacher, so I scheduled the surgery for the week before spring break, so I missed one week and then had a vacation week. I hope to go back to work after spring break which is 2 weeks post op. We'll see....
The bowel prep was yucky: moviprep is probably the most vile tasting liquid known to man. I barely got through the last dose. Sipping through a straw helped a little; popsicles helped a lot.
My surgery was scheduled for 7 am, so we had to be at the hospital at 5:30. Of all the days for the alarm to not work, I woke up at 5 and freaked out. My husband was wonderful and calm and got me there on time. Everyone was great at the hospital and I honestly don't remember a thing from the moment the anesthesiologist came in until I woke up.
Waking up was easy and I didn't feel much pain yet. I was home by 11 am. I slept all afternoon and then when I woke up I COULDN"T PEE! I tried and tried and my bladder was so full it hurt. I had to go back to the doctor's office where they catheterized me. Then I was told that I could either learn to self-cath or be admitted to hospital. I just wanted to go home, but the idea of self-catheterizing was horrifying. Fortunately, I was able to pee on my own later that evening by visualizing it relaxing.
Other than that set back, everything went well. I never had to take the vicodin as long as I regularly took the Motrin every 8 hours (sometimes a little early.) I think that I can describe the feeling I have more as achy and discomfort than actual pain. It is worse when I have a full bladder --which is often --but really, not as painful as I imagined.
Here's the best thing we did: four days after the surgery, we went on a ski trip...without my skis. My husband and the boys are occupied all day and out of my hair and I am in a condo that I don't feel obligated to clean or take care of. I am lying on the couch in front of a beautiful fire watching the snow outside. If I was at home, I'd have a real hard time not doing things around the house.
I started taking short walks on day 5, by yesterday (day 7) I took a longer, but slower walk. I ache more since walking, but I think that's ok.
I think that I will probably feel achy for a while, but it's manageable and I am so glad that I will never have a period again. As my sister-in-law said, "Now all your panties can be party panties!"
Good luck to all of you!
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-- January NewsletterPost Hysterectomy Fitness and Health is the theme of our January, 2012 newsletter at HysterSisters.com. Visit this link [ More]...
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