TVH: Surgery Scheduled and FREAKING OUT!!!

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My name is Jennifer, I'm 37 married 15 yrs this Nov. and have had pelvic pain even before I had my 14 yr old. I had a lap done in 98 and was told that I have PCOS, which has been a pain in my side (literally)... It took 6.5 yrs for us to have our second child b/c of the problems with the PCOS. Since having our last child, I have been asking for help from everyone of my Dr's.. They have all told me it's just something I have to learn to deal with. Until recently I went to a specialist b/c my PCM couldn't do anything for me except just give me pain pills for the pelvic pain.
Now the OBGYN specialist said that one way we can "fix" my problems I need a total hysterectomy... good thing about that is that i have a normal vagina so she's gonna try to do it all that way, with the help of a lap. BUT once she goes in through my belly button she'll have a better idea about if she can do it all internally and not have to cut me open.
I'm freaking out b/c I have to be ready for both. I could go to sleep and wake up with a hugh cut in my stomach... Is this normal? Or am I just stressing over nothing? I have 17 days to ready myself for what's to come. Downside to this is it also means I have 17 days to stress and worry myself sick over it as well.

This is normal. Alot of drs just want to hedge their bets about the abdominal incision issue. If she didn't warn you she would be being negligent. Since your vagina is normal she will probably be able to do it that way, but she won't know until she gets in there. I had the same situation, luckily they didn't have to open me up. Try not to worry too much, I know it's hard but you can't do anything about it. Hope everything goes your way. (((hugs)))

Thanks for your words of encouragement.. It helps.. I guess I'm just really freaking out b/c I am loosing EVERYTHING.. Ovaries too since I have pain issues from those. She said I could keep them, but eventually she'd have to go back in and take them some other time.

Jen,
Hang in there you can do this . If it helps any to know if you have a normal vagina as you mentioned you should be able to have a vaginal hyster easily especially having had a child. Yes the dr's are required to tell us to cover their butts that there is always the possiblity of it having to be an abdominal. I had a vaginal hyster last May 2010 and had no children and a history of ovarian cysts and endometriosis. They were successfully able to do a vaginal hyster with me.

Also, one of the things that might make you feel a little better that I did with my dr. was tell them if you end up having to do an abdominal do a bikini cut instead of a full abdominal if at all possible. Its a smaller incision and easier healing.

As for how to plan things I know its hard to plan for the chance that the surgery could be more difficult than originally planned for just make you a list of what would need to be ready recovery wise for both and you will see alot of things overlap. Keep us updated and always feel free to share freaking out we know how scary it is going into a major surgery like this.

Thanks Angel, I have some questions for you.. Did your Dr. take everything? How long was recovery? Did you need/have an abdominal binder or the "swelly belly belt"? If you didn't, do you wish you did?

Hi Jen..I hope I can offer words of encouragement to you..

I am 4 days post op..I had a vaginal hysterectomy..with the help of a lap..and my uterus was enlarged plus I had a fibroid which had to be removed. I woke up with 2 small incisions and the rest was done vaginally; considering the swelling of my uterus beforehand, I'm surprised they were able to do it vaginally.

I hope this helps..best of luck to you!

Jen -

I had a laproscopic (robot) vaginal hysterectomy. I got everything removed, cervix, uterus, ovaries and tubes. I have 5 small scars on different places on my belly. I ordered the perfect pocket abdominal binder with cool packs. I used the binder as soon as I left the hospital (the day after surgery). I didn't put ice packs or hot packs in it - just used it ALL THE TIME to hold me tight. Its like you don't want your belly jiggling inside. I don't know it just felt safe. I wore it even when I was sleeping. I used ice a couple times. I think I wore it for at least two weeks maybe three. Recovery time is an interesting question. I hear that people don't feel 100 percent like themselves for possibly 6 to 12 months. I'm at 2 months now and still feel very tired from regular activities. Take as much time off work as you can. MINIMUM 3 weeks. I went back after two weeks and that was TOO SOON !!

you'll do fine !!! we all did it and you can too - welcome to the club

Thanks, it does help to know that there are others out there that have been throught this as well. I'm just freaking out b/c I don't know how to prepare for the possibility of having a hugh abdominal incision when I wake up. I don't know to ready myself for that out come too.
I've had diagnostic laparoscopy when my daughter was a baby and I remember I was in such pain from that. So that part I am ready for, it's that part of having everything removed, cervix, uterus, ovaries and tubes. I don't know how to prepare for that and the possibility of having a big incision to boot.

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Originally Posted by Deanie68 Hi Jen..I hope I can offer words of encouragement to you.. I am 4 days post op..I had a vaginal hysterectomy..with the help of a lap..and my uterus was enlarged plus I had a fibroid which had to be removed. I woke up with 2 small incisions and the rest was done vaginally; considering the swelling of my uterus beforehand, I'm surprised they were able to do it vaginally. I hope this helps..best of luck to you!

How did you prepare? Have you used a swelly belly band or abdominal band? How are you feeling? How sore?
Thanks...

I want to THANK YOU ALL for you kind words of encouragement and for telling me about your surgeries. It is helping to calm my nerves about all this. Still nervous but I guess I should be.