Pre-Op Hysterectomy: Open House Chat Thread - Today Aug 09, 2015

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Originally Posted by grey_wolf While it's normal to be nervous, before you know it surgery will be over and you will be beginning your recovery journey. Keeping yourself busy will help with the pre-op nerves . So if you find your nerves are getting the better of you, try to find something to distract yourself....maybe some fun activity you enjoy doing; or some special treat for yourself; or reading to your little ones; or playing games with your kids (including the fuzzy, four-legged ones); or just spending time with your family; or finishing any last minute preparations; or thinking about how wonderful it will be to wear light colors anytime you want, being able to wear pretty panties without worrying that they'll be ruined, being able to go on a vacation when you want to without trying to plan one around that time of the month, not having a vacation disrupted by that time of the month, not having to map out the location of all the bathrooms when you go on an outing; or by planning some fun trip once you are recovered; or ...._______________(you fill in the blank). Ladies, you can do this!

All those positives about life without my hemorrhaging period are what keep me going forward with this surgery when I get so nervous I want to back out!

Bowel prep story,

While I was doing mine the wait was awful and I was posting back and forth with two other sisters. Each of us hoping it would work, afraid if not they wouldn't be able to do our long awaited surgery. It seemed really intense and the funny part was that it just seemed so normal. When I finally had success I just started laughing. My DH thought I was crazy. He wouldn't talk about a BM if it killed him. And here I was posting my success as incouragement for my sisters. Sisterhood really is a liberating thing.

Hugs,
Anndy

We are so glad that you found us before your surgery. Remember that we are here for you . . . you are not alone.

Several of you have mentioned the bowel prep . . . that part of the your surgery that no one looks forward to. I tried to look on the bright side (yes there really is one) . . . it helps your doctor to see what s/he is doing during surgery, guards against any complications arising concerning your colon, and . . . it helps you not to become constipated right after surgery. (that is a big plus). My prep was Mirilax with Gatorade. . . I made sure it was cold and drank it straight down. No matter what kind you are drinking, you want to just get it done. I had unscented baby wipes for before and after surgery. I also had witch hazel in a spray bottle. Both are very soothing and with all the trips you will be making, it will help you from getting so sore.

The anesthesia . . . I have had a number of surgeries over the years and that is what I have always dreaded the most. This time I talked to the Anesthesiologist and he adjusted the meds. Be sure to let your doctors know your fears and anxiety . . . they can give you something right away to help.

Best wishes on your surgeries. We will see you on the other side. Please join ((Anndy)) on your Recovery Thread. That is where you can connect with each other again, ask your questions, encourage each other, and be encouraged. Look for it at the top of the Post Op Forum.

to each of you.

Well, this is it for me tonight. I've drank as much water as I could and now I'm headed to bed. I'm ready for the most dreaded part of my surgery (the IV) to be done and over with. I know it's a silly and small fear but for me it looms larger than anything else, even the dreaded cancer diagnosis.

Good luck everyone! I'll be thinking of you all this week--see you on the recovery side! <3

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Originally Posted by Night_Owl5 Well, this is it for me tonight. I've drank as much water as I could and now I'm headed to bed. I'm ready for the most dreaded part of my surgery (the IV) to be done and over with. I know it's a silly and small fear but for me it looms larger than anything else, even the dreaded cancer diagnosis. Good luck everyone! I'll be thinking of you all this week--see you on the recovery side! <3

I'm with you on dreading the IV!! I have tiny veins that are impossible to find and I've come close to fainting from being poked so many times! Sending you hugs and I hope your IV is easy for you this time!

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Originally Posted by HeartinSF I'm with you on dreading the IV!! I have tiny veins that are impossible to find and I've come close to fainting from being poked so many times! Sending you hugs and I hope your IV is easy for you this time!

Ditto for you! May we both have "one stick" success!

To all those in the "Dreading the IV Club" I remember well the days of switching arms and even switching nurses to take blood. The one thing I have learned about the IV's is to try to relax (I know, that is hard when you are nervous) and to remember that these nurses do this multiple times a day and are good at what they do. Hang in there ladies . . . you can do this.

to each of you. We will see you on the other side.

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Originally Posted by chris52 Hello Everyone! I have put off this hystorectomy for a good while (years) my reason for this was fear of the unknwn. I can't be the only one who has heard some of the changes we ladies may or may not face after surgery. My concern is hot flashes, mental fog and sex life. 08/11/15 is my big day and I'm so nervous. My Doctor said he is going to do a complete hystorectomy, I will post everything I can think of as soon as I sit up so untill then well wishes to everyone.

There are a lot of unknowns with this surgery, and I think this is one of the hardest things. Your profile states that you plan to keep your ovaries. If this is the case, hot flashes and mental fog aren't likely as these are typically menopause symptoms.

Intimacy is a big concern and something I was worried about too. Some of my concerns were dryness, shortening of the vagina or that it would feel different to my husband. But I notice no difference in my natural lubrication or in the length of my vagina and hubby says it feels just the same to him. Some women say sex is better post op, some say worse and some say it's the same. I do have changes in my post op sex life which I've had to adjust to.

10 Concerns About Intimacy Post Op

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Originally Posted by HeartinSF I'm with you on dreading the IV!! I have tiny veins that are impossible to find and I've come close to fainting from being poked so many times! Sending you hugs and I hope your IV is easy for you this time!

Ask the nurse to wrap your hand in a blanket from the blanket warmer. The heat dilates the veins and makes them plump up. This always works for me!

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Originally Posted by Kittysams Hi Ladies, my name is Catherine. I'm 41 and live in NC. I am having a robotic assisted laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy on AUG 12 due to uterine cancer. A little background, I went to the gyn in May because my husband and I had been trying to get pregnant for over a year without any luck (my insurance started May 1st at my job). During the exam the dr discovered a large mass growing out of my cervix. He scheduled a surgery to remove the mass, do a d & c, and a hysteroscopy. Well before I could have the surgery the mass came out by itself while I was a work. I'm a nurse so the first thing I did was to put it in a sterile cup and add sterile saline until I could get it to their office the next morning. It turned out that the mass was a benign endocervical polyp. He went ahead with the surgery to make sure that there were no more polyps or anything else. During the surgery he noticed that at the openings of both fallopian tubes the tissue looked like cauliflower. It turned out to be endometrial adenocarcinoma. So now I have to have a complete hysterectomy. I'm having a hard time dealing with the finality of not being able to have another baby. My husband and I have only been married for 13 months. Although we each have a child from previous relationships, I really wanted us to have one together. When we learned of my diagnosis he told me that it didn't matter if we had a baby or not as long as he had me. I know I am thankful for the wonderful son that I already have, but just knowing that there's no chance that I'll ever be pregnant again is hard.

I am very sorry about your cancer diagnosis. Please check out our GYN Cancer Articles and feel free to post in the Cancer Concerns Forum. We have amazing women here to walk this journey with you.

I'm also sorry you weren't able to have another baby. The finality of hysterectomy can be difficult. I had always wanted another baby. Even though at 43 I knew it wasn't going to happen, there was still a chance. My fertility made me feel sexy and feminine, and I was very sad to lose it. It's ok to grieve this loss. It does get easier with time, although I still have my sad moments.

Remember you are never alone.