Newbie with Some Questions

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Newbie With Some Questions
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Newbie With Some Questions


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Today, 10:08 PM
ritav
Hyster Sister


Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1
Hysterectomy: January 21st, 2013
Surgery Type: LSH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both

Newbie With Some Questions

Hello,

I am new to this forum, I am 44 years old and have a beautiful 7 year old girl. I am scheduled for LSH Jan 21 with the removal of my uterus. I will be completely honest, this has been an incredibly hard decision for me to make solely because I have had a few surgeries over the last few years with one of them having an ovary removal due to it being completely damaged. I vowed that 2013 was going to be a good year for my health!

My periods have always been painful with the first three days and have always lasted 1 full week since I can remember (I started menesutration at the age of 10). Sometimes to the point where even my feet would hurt. The last year my period has been somewhat erratic, heavier sometimes 2 or 3 times a month - completely off schedule. Then comes along December - my period started a bit wacky, I was spotting (I never spot), I was raging PMS but not really bleeding, then one day I things seemed what I thought was going to be normal, but it wasn't. I was clotting - HEAVY clotting more pain than usual (which was A LOT) with my cycle. After a week this time it didn't stop, it still hasn't stopped.

My doctor put me on Provera, it calmed down some but still bleeding. They then had me double the dose which I was still bleeding. I can count on one hand how many good days out of the 45 that I have been bleeding. I feel bloated, pressure, pain, cramping and my days consist of shoveling in advil and midol regularly in order to take the edge off. I'm completely miserable. Some days I feel like I am pregnant and some days the pressure and cramping are unbearable that I am in tears. I had a biopsy to rule out cancer which came back negative. My doctor says that my hormones are out of whack and possible adenomyosis but cannot be completely sure without removing the uterus and a pathological report being done. I have finally made the decision to have my uterus removed since I am no longer having any other children. I'm a single mother and I feel the quality and future quality of life is just jeopardized by this. I never know how I am going to feel from day to day its been a constant roller coaster ride for me. I just want to feel better and get on with my life.

My questions are - how long was anyone's recovery time that had the same procedure? Did you gain weight after your uterus being removed? What if any issues did you have after the procedure or did you find it was the best thing you did in your case? Any other helpful suggestions regarding the procedure or recovery?

Thank you so much!

Hi ritav to HysterSisters!

I am sorry you have to have a hysterectomy but glad you found this site.

I did not have the same procedure you will have, but can tell you everyone is different. Keep in mind, though, that no matter how they enter your tummy you have a lot of internal healing to do. You only get one chance to heal right. You will be very exhausted after your surgery. You will need help at home with dishes, cooking, cleaning, shopping, driving, etc for several weeks. You may also need help with your little one. You need to listen to your body, and not push too hard - allow yourself to heal. You will also have lifting restrictions (10 lbs for six weeks). Recovery takes time, with 100% recovery taking months.

With my TAH BSO, I was out of work for 3 weeks with a moderate stress desk job. Then, I went back part time only for 4 more weeks. I could then go full time but no OT. I SLOWLY moved back into my life. It took me about 15 months before I was 100%

I did not gain weight after my surgery.

Keep posting. Know that your emotions and nerves are very normal. We are here for you.

Thank you so much for the kind words Marestail. I am a bit frustrated and upset too about having this done, but I feel that I am making the right decision. Good advice I will listen to my body and not push hard and definitely get some help. Thank you for the helpful and logical information - and your support means a lot

Sweetie,

This is such an overwhelming experience. The emotional can get very intense. Know that you are not going insane, and that you are not alone. We are here, and will be by your side throughout this.

Do you have family or a friend that can stay with you and help out during your recovery?

I hear ya!! December was about the same for me ... My periods had been getting longer and stronger, clotting so bad i could not believe i was able to stand up, and the last period was 5 weeks leading to anaemia and a transfusion. I was weak and knew i had to move forward and get this out of the way.
My only regret is that i did not do it sooner. I was in hospital 1 night, the first three days difficult from a getting up and laying back down standpoint but the pain was so much less than expected. I am 9 days out and amazed at how well i feel, other than that someone kicked me in the tummy. I have been doing a 6 hour a day training class from home which started 2 days after i was discharged, with the irst 3 days from my bed ... I am now sitting at my dek (at home) 7 hours a day! Of course everyone is different (some better .. Driving and at an office job after 2 weeks.. And some worse.. But we all come out in the wash.

You WILL feel so much better .. Of course it's surgery and it will take time, accept any and all offers of help, any sleepover invites for your daughter (beg if you have to). There are so many helpful posts on here and everyone is in the same boat, i mean castle!!!

I do have family and friends that are able to help me out yes - thank goodness! Yes this has been very trying on me emotionally. Oh my gosh NewinNC! I can't live like this either I am anemic as well from the blood loss and completely exhausted. This prolonged bleeding and pain has really taken over my life the last month and a half. My doctor did say I could get or try and ablation, but he feels in my case it is really only going to be a temporary solution in my case and for some reason my intuition tells me the same thing.
It sounds like you’re doing quite well and no regrets on the decision that you made with this either. I have a very sedentary office job which should help when I do get back to work too. I just really honestly want to feel better. As I said there are some good days but they are very far and few in between. I do have friends that can take my daughter if needed as well. Yes there are some really helpful posts here that have really helped me out. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this it really has made me feel much better about the choice that I have made. 

ritav -

You may want to review our pre-op information pages, as well as our post-op pages, especially the check points videos on the post-op page. The videos can give you an idea as well as to recovery issues and experiences.

Hi! I'm new too. I also have adenomyosis. I was diagnosed by a specialist via vaginal ultra sound. I too am anemic now and have trouble with heavy and long term bleeding, pms that lasts for weeks, my uterus is the size of a 14-16 week pregnancy. I have one more appointment and then am hoping to have my surgery first part of feb. I am feeling same feelings as you.stess, depression, and worry, but also looking forward to the relief. From the research I have done ablation will not help adenomyosis. Only cure is removal of the uterus. I'm 33 but am done growing my family, so that helps, also I think at this point my health is detracting as well as my quality of life. Anyways hugs! I hope things go well for you!
Hebba19

Thank you Marestail, I will definitely check those out and I am sure that it will answer some things for me. Hebba I feel for you going through the same thing, its been well over a month for me (bleeding) and I too just want some relief from this. I am also done growing my family as well so there are no concerns on that end either. The last couple of days I have been about a 5 on the pain scale so its been tolerable but then most days, throughout the days there are bouts of pain - usually when I bleed. Whether that amount is a lot or not a lot - I'm still bleeding. Yes my doctor told me too that if I were to have the ablation done, it would only be a temporary solution.

I got clearance yesterday from my cardiologist to have the procedure done. So I am still looking at going in Monday morning and looking forward to feeling better, but still very nervous about this. In my case too, I feel that my health is declining because of this and taking away from my quality of life as well, as I said before this has been very disruptive in my every day life. Thank you - hugs to you too. I will try and catch up and let you know how things go next week after the procedure. I hope all goes well for you too!!

Good luck lets keep in touch. I have one final appointment Wednesday and will schedule as soon as possible after that.
Hebba