LAVH 10 days post op

Best decision I have ever ever ever made! I am only 20 but don't hold that against me I decided to have my surgery when my periods hadn't stopped after 2 years of medications and testing. I saw 9 OBGYNS in the 2 years, consulted with 2 over the phone (MAYO and Cleveland) and tried 15 different OCPs, Mirena, Depo and 3 hematology medications an oncologist prescribed. Nothing was helping. I was losing weight, gaining weight, sick all the time, cramps that kept me in bed, nauseated all the time, and my joints ached. The weirdest symptom I had was numb legs (I'll explain later). Every doctor tried their tricks and when they failed I got referred to another who would be able to fix me. Nothing was helping, I was becoming very depressed. I had to withdraw from school (my first love), cut back at work and basically give up my entire life. I couldn't leave more than a few hours at a time because I was exhausted all the time. Sitting made my legs numb, I couldn't eat, moving hurt, sitting hurt. All of this turned me, the social butterfly, into a hermit. After all of this combine with family history of hysterectomy and bleeding problems I just wanted a hysterectomy. I started seeing a psychologist (a great idea from the reproductive endocrinologist I saw) and she helped me process all of this. It was sad, but not as sad as not being able to live my life was. I had a laparotomy July 2011 and that didn't help. It was a known fact I had endo and that was contributing to the pain. I went back to that surgeon for the hysterectomy and she was an angel!

Pre-op I was way nervous but once I checked in for surgery that morning (April 17th) all nerves were gone. I had no fears or doubt. I was wheeled off and given some 'happy juice' and that is all I remember.
Post op- I woke up and felt very little pain. I would say it was more discomfort than anything. After tolerating liquid diet for an hour the catheter was removed, not as scary as you think! Didn't hurt at all. I was able to start eating solids and walking within 2 hours of waking up. I started with small trips around the surgical floor. I had to walk every 2 hours at least to prevent clotting (also runs in my family) I had the compression stockings and had to wear them 24/7 for the first 5 days then at night for 4 more. That wasn't a problem since I was up every 38 minutes (yes, we timed it!) to pee. About 4am they took me off the fluids so I could try to sleep. I started oral meds once I could eat solids and those included gas-x and stool softener. A MUST! Everything slows down after surgery and getting it going was a good idea. Plus, 3 incisions in the belly don't make for easy going. Between the walking and drugs I was in very little pain. I had one problem, a sweet nurse came to pull out vaginal packing I didn't have. That was painful and kept me in the hospital one more night. No long term complications, just hurt. I walked a lot in the hospital, slowly but I made it all over the place!

Home-I was discharged the next morning (2 days post-op) and I felt great! It was so good to come home and get a shower! I took Percocet, Motrin, gas-x and stool softener for 2 days at home to keep things easy and basically pain free. I stopped the Percocet 4 days post op during the day and just did one at night to help with sleep. Stopped completely at 7 days with all medications. I've felt great!!! I have been able to go on small outings with my family starting post-op day 4. No driving for me until my two week appointment. Yesterday (day 9) I was able to start doing light cooking again. I can't clean anything or lift anything until my two weeks so having people around to load/unload dishwasher and put things away has been a must. I can load the top rack but bending it still pretty tough. I'll definitely keep posting on my recovery! I hope it helps!
Send me a message if you have any questions at all!! No topic is going to embarrass me!
xoxo