dVH/RALH 2 days post-hysterectomy; vaginal bleeding since surgery....

Hi everyone,

Today's Thursday. I had a daVinci hysterectomy (everything taken out except one ovary) on Tuesday morning, so I'm 2 days post-op. Dr. told me many women don't even spot. I barely had any spotting the first day; just a couple of brown spots on the hospital pads.

The second day, very time I peed (they had to measure it) I saw blood in the pee. There was red blood on the TP when I wiped, too. Never enough blood to even be considered "filling up a pad." At the most, blood stains on pad have been about 1" across.

Today I'm feeling some twinges of pain inside my vagina, and I'm spotting a little more. My doc's discharge papers said spotting is normal but to call if it gushes.

Several articles I read on this site said to call if the blood is bright red. Mine is pretty red -- it's not brown or even maroon -- it looks like period blood at the beginning of the cycle. Today in the shower, a "clot-like thing" came out. Also very red. So I guess I'm confused about bleeding vs. spotting?

BTW -- I have been doing next to nothing, as directed. Walked the hospital hallways once or twice, and since getting back home, have walked very little, and lifted nothing. I have stairs, but I am walking up them two feet on a step at a time (the slow way, like little kids go up stairs :0). I don't think this is caused by over-doing it.

Just wondering what is normal and what is not. Am I okay to just let it continue like this as long as it's not filling up a pad or gushing out? i'm so scared I'll have to go back in to have it cauterized or something.....

Thank you!

It's probably normal since you are so close to surgery. But you should call your Dr. just for peace of mind.

I also think it is probably ok, but you may want to just call in and give an update to reassure yourself, it never hurts. As long as you are not saturating pads. Take it easy and rest on the couch for the day. Sometimes clots tend to form. I know I was even a few weeks out a I had a gush of clots which freaked me out completely but was told that was normal. Call and just give an update...but rest..rest...rest. We tend to do more than we even know once we get home. Good luck and everyone here if you need them thinking of you today!

I spotted for 2.5 weeks. My dr said it's normal, doesn't mean every woman does. But some do! I wouldn't worry. But if it ever gets heavier than spotting or you get severe pain or a fever then you should call dr ASAP
But either way, if it makes you feel better to ask your dr, you should. Peace of mind always helps recovery, you don't want stress

Called doctor's office -- Nurse wanted me to watch it for a few hours. She called back just now and I was happy to report that it's no longer red blood but pink, and less of it. No more clots so far.

She said if it picks up again, to come in first thing tomorrow to get examined. Better not to go into the weekend with a bleeding issue.

Praying that I don't have to go in. I can't even imagine how much an exam would hurt right now!