TAH: Abdominal Surgery

Hi Ladies, I have been through so much in the last year! Hysteroscopy in Feb and Lap in March, 6 mths of Lupron, and now this.. UGH! So after finally getting an ultrasound and seeing the MD yesterday we have decided to have abdominal surgery. My pain is mostly on my left side from tube, partial ovary and endo. She would like to go in and remove the tube, ovary and any endo she can see. She also mentioned that she may remove the uterus if there is any sign of endo. So I really won't know what happened until I wake up. Also I do not have any pd time off from my job. So that is a struggle trying to figure out when i should get this done. She mentioned to me that recovery would be 4 weeks min and a huge maybe 3 weeks to go back to work. I'm trying to get this done maybe the end of Nov. I told her all this anxiety is killing me and I just need to get on with my life. I thank my husband and daughter for putting up me. How long would I be in the hospital?

Any advice would be helpful....

Cathy

I had a TAH BSO (at age 46). I was in the hospital for 3 1/2 days. I was out of work for 3 weeks from a desk job. I returned to work only part time for another 4 weeks and that was tough, tough, tough. After that I could do full time but not any OT.

Recovery from a hysterectomy can take a while. And you will need help around the house with cooking, dishes, laundry, cleaning, shopping, driving, etc. You will be quite exhausted, and will need to rest, rest, and rest. It can take literally months before you start to feel better. You need to SLOWLY move back into your life and listen carefully to your body if you are pushing too hard.

Also, is your doctor an endo specialist. From what I have read, that is important.

I'm so sorry to hear that you have gone through so much. I can understand you being stressed out and anxious! You have a lot going on.

Having any kind of surgery is scary, and for me, the more invasive, the more scary. Abdominal surgeries take a long time to recover from. I had a TAH/BSO in May of 2011, I was in the hospital for 4 days and I was off work for 12 weeks. I also had excision of endometriosis at the same time, so that played a part in my long recovery, not to mention that I was a slow healer. General rule for abdominal surgery is 6 weeks off of work (depending on the type of job you have). You will likely have some pretty strict restrictions as well. My restrictions were no bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, reaching, or lifting more than 8 pounds for 8 weeks (again, I was a slow healer).

Have you seen an endometriosis specialist? With endo in the picture, this would be something that I would seriously consider. An endo specialist would likely be able to do this surgery laparoscopically rather than abdominally. Also, an endo specialist is highly skilled in recognizing and removing all of the disease, which is your best chance at some relief. Please check out our Endometriosis Support forum. There is even a list of some specialist. Maybe you could find one in your area.

A second opinion is always a good idea. Even if you cannot see an endo specialist, I would highly recommend that you seek another opinion. You may be able to find another that would be willing and able to do a less invasive type of surgery. Even though I feel great now and my surgeon did a wonderful job, I still wish that I would have been able to have a less invasive surgery. Recovery was not easy and it felt like it took forever. I did make it though and like I said, I feel fabulous, but boy oh boy, I wish it could have been different for that 12 weeks! If you have the chance to have a less invasive surgery, I would definitely do it!

I know you are ready to put this all behind you and I can totally understand that. I have been there. But please, take the time to get another opinion and do some more research so that you can make the best decision for yourself.

and

Sorry for the late reponse! I was out of town since my appt on Tuesday and wow did it feel good to be away... Anyway, well my doctor does this kind of surgery all the time from her response to my question . I asked her if she could do this by lap or vaginally, she told me no because of the endo. She removed half of the tube and 2/3 of the ovary in March (lap). So she said by doing it laprascopically she would not be able to take the whole tube with the ureter in the way. We don't know if the endo is on my tipped uterus. She said if she see's any endo on the uterus it's coming out. I guess the scary thing is that I won't know until I wake up! I need to schedule this for around Nov when my hubby is on vaca. I will call the office tomorrow and I want to ask them about the hospital stay. I'm just scared of course!

Thanks,
Cathy

Hello Sisters!
I had my surgery on Oct 22nd and wow what an experience this has been. I was going in thinking I was going to have a TAH which ended up being an Laparatomy with removal of the left ovary/tube, endo removed on bowel and right ovary (severe endo). MD said the surgery went well and surprisingly my uterus looked good so she left the uterus. I would say the worst part of the whole thing would the first two weeks. So glad my mom came to help. I wouldn't have been able to do it! I'm now at 4wks post op and I think I'm ready to go back to work. LOL I have caught up on ALL my tv shows. I have my post op appt on Monday the 19th. If I get the clear to go back to work I will be going back to work straight from my appt. I have been through alot this year with a having a hysteroscopy, laporoscopy, Lupron/pill (CRAZY) and now this.... So I have been feeling great really besides the swelly belly, but that's normal. I was having some nausea on Sun/Mon and to realize that I believe my body is getting back to some what normal.... I believe I was ovulating... Had a lot of "mucus" yesterday (sorry tmi). I haven't ovulated for 8 mths due to pill and Lupron. Should I mention this to the MD on Monday at my appt?

Hi Boo2002!

Glad your doctor left your uterus - so, just an oopherectomy not a hysterectomy.

Please let your doctor know what is going on - it probably is okay, but you want to confirm that.

Good luck and happy healing!

Hi,

That's right just an oopherectomy(Endo,OC), done by Laparotomy. I am thankful she did not take my uterus, but at the same time i wish she would have... Endo is in my family my younger cousins have even had a hysterectomy. So i'm sure I will be back in, in about two years. :/ I'm looking forward to seeing her on Monday!

Thanks so much for replying!

This site is GREAT!

The less invasive da Vinci surgery can have problems, too.
Check it out on YOU TUBE.
they unhook everything, then pull your uterus and other parts through your vagina.
That is hitting and touching or affecting several nerves, bladder, and bowel parts on its way out.

I know that the healing time is longer, but it may be worth it.

There are pros and cons to everything.

Do your research before the surgery.

My outcome was not good after the daVinci surgery.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Boo2002 Hi, That's right just an oopherectomy(Endo,OC), done by Laparotomy. I am thankful she did not take my uterus, but at the same time i wish she would have... Endo is in my family my younger cousins have even had a hysterectomy. So i'm sure I will be back in, in about two years. :/ I'm looking forward to seeing her on Monday! Thanks so much for replying! This site is GREAT!

Just keep in mind that a hysterectomy may not cure endo. I have read that you really need an endo specialist to deal with this disease.

Good luck and happy healing!

(((marestail))) is right. A hysterectomy is NOT a cure for endo. There is no known cure. Even if your uterus is removed, you could still have endo issues if any of the disease was left behind.

Was your doctor able to remove the endo? That would definitely be a good question to ask her at your next appointment. Also, ask her what method (if any) she used to remove it.

Excision with an endo specialist is your best option at getting relief from the disease, so if it is possible to consult with one, that would be great! Hopefully your current doctor was able to remove all of the disease and you can go on to live a pain free life.

I'm glad to hear that you were able to keep your uterus. That is great news. I hope you are healing well and your recovery goes smoothly!!