Anxiety level through the roof!

Rona,

Don't worry you will feel so much better. My surgery was 3 months ago and it's been great. Just think next summer you can white. I happily gave away or returned all my extra supplies, hurrah. You have to look at the POSITIVES. Men, even male doctors, just don't undertand. It's great that we have this web site. Good luck with everything.

Dana

Hi Rona,

I've been where you're at too. My surgery was just about a month ago, and I know how long and lonely the days and nights can be when you're not in a relationship or don't have a close support system.

If there's anything I can say to help, it's that you WILL get through this. The time before surgery is absolutely the hardest, but when you can finally turn emotion into action, things are SO much better. Somehow dealing with the physical aspects of the surgery itself are so much easier than everything leading up to it.

Some tips for single women facing a hysterectomy (Ok, so they're good for everybody else too):

• Buy yourself a "reacher/grabber" thingy to pick up things you drop
• Stock up on easy to fix meals, Gas-x, and a stool softener
• Stock up on boredom relief (books, movies, etc)
• Stock up on strange things like toilet paper, extra bread, laundry detergent, your favorite soda. Anything you'd likely run out of before someone can bring you stuff.
• Re-arrange your closets, cabinets, and drawers. Put everything you're likely to need frequently at a reachable level.
• Have an emergency contact list and plan in case you run into problems.
• Have a plan where you call and at least check in with someone to know you're ok.
• Work now to schedule "drive by shop and drops" with friends or family to bring you things you need.
• Making lists and crossing things off can help you feel more in control of the situation.
• Ask your doc for something to help you through the rough pre-surgery time.

Good luck to you with your surgery. Life is so much better on this side of the fence!

Hi Rona,

I'm here in Oxfordshire, UK and I'm due to go in for a TVH and pelvic repair this Friday (20th Aug). I know how you feel and I am keeping myself busy getting together lots of lovely smellies and pictures and things that make me feel happy to take in with me. I am really worried about the pain afterwards and especially the water works, but my hsyter sisters in post-op have helped me by beng really reassuring about the catheters so I feel better now. I also decided that I will write down just how REALLY BAD everything is now,especially physically so that when I may feel worse before I get better I can look back and remember why I've gone through this. Everyone I know who has tells me they wished they had done it years ago and I believe them - they can't all be wrong!

Why do women always beat themselves up over everything? Yes, I am very nervous, last Friday it suddenly hit me what I was in for and I worried about all the possible eventualities. We're only human after all, aren't we? I sent a round robin to all my friends telling them about impending surgery and that's when you realise just what wonderful people there are about. This website also shows that. We'll just have to trust that all goes well. I'll let you know how I get on, wish me luck for the 20th! Here we go!!!

God Bless, hang in there sister!