A lot of unanswered questions - help please!

Abdominal hyst. scheduled for next wend (2/28). Pre-Op appointments all completed (blood, ekg, urine,) all O.K. Told to stop all meds and vitamins, herbs two weeks prior. No aspirin, motrin, etc. only tylenol... Discussions about how long I will be in the hospital are indecisive... If I need to take hormones or testosterone, undecisive. No answers. Only ...we will no better after surgery... Option to keep one ovary if possible, so I am assuming all these answers depend on if they take both or leave one???? Please give me your experiences... I am a planner, and I can't even plan how long I will be a way from home, look into alternative for hormones... or types with no answers or input....
Thanks so much for your help!

Oh geeze - vaginal cuff, catherized....???? I am starting to freak out here.... TAH I think I got that right - total abdominal hyster. 2/28 - doctor did NOT mention a vaginal cuff, no one mentioned being catherized.... some one mentioned some ballon type thing in them....AH!!!!! splain please... I am getting very scared now... I had major surgery 30 years ago, took out my append. Have few memories. I do not know what to expect - please answer. I'm scared!

Zella,

I understand your concerns. Take a deep breath. Here are some answers.

1.- for major sugeries like this, you are under general anethesia and your internal organs need help functioning. Thus, the catheter. I have never known anyone to have major surgery and NOT have a cath- but maybe it is possible. This was a huge anxiety for me, and it was fine. It goes in when you are asleep, and comes out when you are able to be up and about and can unrinate on your own. It is your friend, trust me.

2. Vaginal cuff applies I believe, only if you have your cervix removed. Ask your doctor to explain this procedure and show you on a diagram if your cervix is being removed.

Best thing- go chat with your doctor and get the FULL story about what will happen before, during, and after your surgery. There are a number of books out there too- and some good ones on this site (go to store).

Overall, I'll tell you that the procedure was not all that difficult. I dont know why you are having your surgery,so I couldn't comment on what you should expect- but with a healing attitude, this surgery can be quite a blessing.

Best to you,
Jean

Zella,

The more you know....the better you feel? I am that way too. If your doc isn't giving you all the details....get a second opinion and find someone who handles this in a manner condusive to YOUR style, and fits YOUR needs. You are the consumer- remember that.

If you are interested, I'd be happy to send you a couple of good books that I purchased. Just PM me.

Jean

Zellabella.......STOP....take a DEEP breath and relax!!!!!!!!!!! No need for panic even though it is extremely normal. I had a TVH with everything removed...I'm on HRT and everything is going well. You didn't say what type of hyst you are having. So I can't comment on any incisions. Vaginal cuff is what they create when they remove the cervix ant uterus. It blocks off the abdominal cavity. You won't even know it's there, or so my dr said. I haven't had any problems other than the hormonal thing and that can be taken care of. If you are feeling anxious and who wouldn't, talk to your dr about something to help you relax. Write down all your questions and ask your doctor, don't leave until you have the answers you want. Under the pre-op tab at the top of the page....there are questions and suggestions for you to talk to your dr about. I hope some of this helps you!!!!!

Good luck to you, you're going to do just fine!!!!

Wendy

Hi Zella! I started getting weird reading all the posts as well. You and I have the same surgery date, February 28th. I am scheduled to have a TVH. Many of the posts I have read regarding a TVH talk about their docs requiring a bowel prep and a cath. overnight. I just had my pre-op appointment Monday and I asked about all this stuff. My doc. does not require a catheter overnight, he drains the bladder while I am alseep and then removes the cath. He also thankfully, does not require a bowel prep before surgery. So I am feeling much relieved. The vaginal cuff everyone is referring to is standard in all hysterectomies, it is basically how they seal off the opening when they remove the uterus.

I am however, feeling just a bit anxious just because I really want it to be done and over with. Almost everyone on the board has said that waiting is the worse part.

So I suggest you and I take a deep breath and try to keep busy until the day of surgery and say a prayer for one another. It will all be over soon.

God Bless
Teench

Hi Zellabella and

If you haven't already discovered it and enrolled to automatically receive the information, I think one of the best features this site has to offer is Checkpoints. The Pre-Op page, for example, contains answers to many of your concerns.

Don't let the term "vaginal cuff" frighten you. As one of the Pre-Op Articles about it explains, it's simply the term for the area at the top of the vagina that the surgeon sews shut after a hysterectomy in which the cervix is removed.

Best Wishes for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery!

Many s to you,

It seems like the more I read, the more questions I have and I don't want to be a pain to my DR. by calling and asking so many questions, even tho he told me not to hesitate in calling. I am having a total abdominal hysterectomy. I have forever had "female" problems. I have never given birth naturally, could conceive alright, but never carry full term. Lost a son a 7 months. Have always had endometreosis, been to a specialist, had 5 labaroscopies, too many D&C's to count, 2 hysteroscopy, 1 nova sure....and in December of last year - all the problems started up again.... pain and pain and pain....very clotty bleeding... so - here I am - scheduled for 2/28.... I was really doing O.K. but the past few days and night.... Nightmares that they are going to find cancer, even tho they told me 99% chance no, or something else wrong when they open me up. Afraid because they are not giving me definates about how long in the hospital, how long of a recovery, what types of hormones... I do not do well with the unknown. I guess I am a control freak and all of this is starting to really freak me out... On top of all of this - I decided I was going to stop smoking before surgery - so yeah, after smoking since I was 14 - I am now 50 1/2 - I stopped smoking 3 weeks ago.... Am I nuts or what??????
I thank you all so much for your encouragement and words of wisdom - I value them more than any doctors'. And Teench - you will have my praryers on that day - I will share my angels with you!!!!