TVH Day 4 post hysterectomy and scared to poop! HELP!

Hi there, I am 5days post op total vaginal hysterectomy. I have been toying with the idea of a hyster since it became an option for me a few years ago in my mid 20's, but I was always freaked out by the statistics sheet on the hospital waiver, and so I backed out, every time.

This time round, after my latest blood tests showed a really based out red cell count and super based total blood count and iron levels that had about as much ferocity as a slug - I was given 6 days notice from the hospital to get my head around the idea that had I was about to have my uterus, tubes and cervix removed as a last resort to control the excessive painful bleeding and bread plate sized clots that we're draining the life out of me. Not to mention the ever delightful hormonal migraines which would affect my sight, speech, hearing in one ear and ability to walk, drive, work etc. They would come on without warning, so fast that it has in the past led to multiple near misses when I'm behind the wheel of a car or crossing a street or even using the power tools at work. This is a condition which had plagued my life since I can remember.

I had my first period at the age of 10 and have been struggling to have a normal life ever since. There was no medical explanation for my symptoms. No fibroids, malformation, cancers, poly cystic ovaries, endometriosis etc - Nothing, except whacky hormone levels which apparently can cause pure unsubstantiated hell for 23 years, and get away with it! I have tried so many hormone adjusting meds over the years with a few short term successes, but nothing long term with lasting results.

I am 33 now, not overweight, relatively fit and recovering quite well. I have a lot more energy even now, during recovery, than I did before hand - probably due to the fact I am not losing so much blood all the time and my iron levels are stabilizing.

I was told initially that four days was the minimum hospital stay in this part of Australia for this type of operation. I was also told I would have a vaginal pack in (which I was told is like a massive tampon - not loads of surgical sponges and bits of old scrubs cloth like I first imagined it to be) and a button operated morphine releasing pain management medicine machine hooked up to my drip when I woke in recovery.

In reality, in recovery, I had no massive tampon or even any pain relief for a while after I woke up. I was uncontrollably shaking, part anesthetic and part response to pain. I wasn't too put out by the lack of initial pain relief because the shaking was making me feel nauseated and the thought of vomiting at this point, scared the spit out of me (I didn't want to bust my internal stitches with the heaving) This fear, bizarrely took my focus off the pain. The nurse was a total hero coming thick and fast with the pain meds once I mentioned I felt sick. I responded really well and quite quickly to the liquid panadol and oxy combo inserted in my IV and was given some anti nausea med called Dancetron.

Hospital was awesome. I had a good rest, though I didn't sleep much. The new addition movie channels and some cross words helped pass the time which felt like nothing at all. I was discharged at lunchtime on day two, not due to bed shortage as with most early discharges in these parts, but because I was up and about, up and down the corridors, eating drinking, minimal pain - getting in trouble for doing things like making my bed and watering the flowers my visitors had brought in - it was the total opposite to how I imagined it would be, going in to this whole ordeal.

I honestly believed I was going to die in surgery or if I did wake up, be in my hospital room, facing the door, all legs up in the air, still in syrups for all to see, with old scrubs cloths stuffed up and hanging of the end of my hoo ha, lurching in agony yet druelling down my chin from all the morphine I had over injected my self with and growing chin hair overnight. Um, so not the case - at all!

Although I am feeling amazing, I am still quite campy, constipated and slightly nauseated. On day four my outer labia started to ache, like I had been kicked between the legs, really hard, and my vaginal passage is stinging and aching right up the top in there, all at the same time.

These are symptoms I expected - but expected them right from the get go, seeing as it was an all vaginal hysterectomy with no lap assist, I did not expect these pains to set in four days after the fact. Is this just the twinges of healing?

I have been emoting weirdness too. Day three and four, I was angry, then bawling then laughing then crying again and then incredibly guilt ridden over my ridiculous behavior I had projected onto my husband and bawling again. The man has seen me cry maybe twice in ten years, so as soon as he saw me crying - AND - crying with guilt over my behaviour, I was forgiven. Thank God! This man is a saint!

My follow up is not for 5.2 weeks yet. I am told by my specialist that I will be given estrogen sups, even though I still have my ovaries, to control the migraines. I am only on paracetamol and ibuprofen (panadol and nurofen) for the pain with the occasional oxycodone (endone) maybe one a day, and regular stool softeners for the constipation. My doctor gave my the name of an over the counter enema to do at home if I don't move my bowels by tomorrow <- eww and omg all at the same time!
I am still bleeding post op, not much just a little, which I'm told is normal.

After that super long background piece - I have a few questions - if anyone can answer them, I would be very appreciative as I have a habit of freaking out and envisioning worst case scenario type things.

Ok...

1) if I go to the toilet, and sit there for too long, will it put strain on my vagi-stump (not sure what it actually called, but that's what I'm calling it) and cause a prolapse.
2) can a bowel movement tear internal stitches
3)why has the labia majora started aching after four days
4) why is the vaginal passage only hurting now
5) can constipation make you feel nauseated
6) can laughing too much or too hard at this stage, burst stitches, cause prolapse or any other nasty side effect....

Now here is number 7 - I can find no documentation on this anywhere so pls just have a think about it. Ps. I am aware it's a weird question, but it's how I operate so pls just go with it.......

7) Can we get phantom uterus pain. Ppl who have had limbs amputated, get phantom limb pain. This is basically amputating my uterus - will there be days, when I will have living reminders of past pain - phantom uterus pain?

Is anyone else out there similar to me freaking out over weird stuff?
Is there someone out there that can offer some insight to my questions?
Is there someone else out there who is also petrified to poop or laugh or sit for too long?

Regards, The Phantom

I can't answer all your questions, but I will try to answer some of them

I know it is not good to strain to poop (it's called a vaginal cuff here). I imagine it could tear or pull at your stitches. make sure you are eating a high fibre diet... I also took stool softeners and Metamucil for the first 5 days or so (still take Metamucil). If things seem to be 'stuck', you could also try a suppository.

5 days post-op is still pretty early. Different things may hurt at different times. Also depends on what pain killers you may be taking, and how long it takes for them to leave your system.

I know laughing hurt! I held my stomach if I was laughing (or coughing, sneezing, etc.).

Hi! I had a TVH also and just like you, surgery was much better than I expected. My only problem was constipation though. Figured out that the pain killers(narcotics),,was causing it. Sat on the toilet straining for about 35 minutes and boy did I pay for it. .thought I had caused major vaginal prolapse(which can happen), but went to my doc and she said I was fine...thank God! But, the straining did cause painful hemhorroids(which I've never had). Any who, my life saver was the "squatty potty"(Google it). If you can't get to one, try anything sturdy that's about 7 inches high. But whatever you do, drink lots of water and try the enema that your doc suggested. You'll want all the help you can get to make your stool as soft as possible.
As far as the pain, it very well could be your nerve endings. Some women don't experience that until later on, but hey, everyone is different. But if it starts to concern you, by all means call your doc.
If you've got a small pillow or a binder, that's great for when you sneeze, laugh or cough. Also, whenever I sneezed, I did it with an opened mouth(gross I know), but better safe than sorry...I take no chances! 😊 Wishing you a speedy and pain free recovery!!

4 weeks in and still experiencing constipation. Taking Metamucil. Worst time for me.

Miralax helped me greatly.