Pre-Op Hysterectomy: Open House Chat Thread - Today Dec 04, 2016

Welcome!

This special Pre-Op Hysterectomy: Open House Chat Thread is for YOU if you are having surgery this week. This thread chat will help you meet others who are having surgery the same week as you, calm your anxiousness, and help answer your last minute questions.

To get started, please introduce yourself, sharing a few things about yourself and your upcoming hysterectomy. Tell us what concerns you have as you prepare for your surgery.

Have patience! Because this is a "COME AND GO" event, check back here during the day for replies with answers, support and hugs from new friends. Our post-op members will be stopping by, too!

As you get to know the other members having surgery this week - you will be meeting up again, after your hysterectomy, in a special thread created just for this week's surgeries in the Post Op Hysterectomy forum.

Hi Everyone, I'm 41 years old and I am having Endometriosis resection and TLH this Friday 9th Dec. My last laparoscopy was in June this year for severe Endometriosis and I was in a lot of pain afterwards. I am very anxious about this surgery as the pain was horrendous in June. I am also my husband's carer as he has unmanaged epilepsy so I am worried about being away from him but I have family members that will be with him twenty four seven.

Hi everyone, I'm Lisa, 40 years old (41 next month!) and having a TAH on 12/9 for fibroids. I haven't been going through anything near what I've seen being posted here, just horrendous cramps every month. I was originally diagnosed with two fibroids, one 2cm and one 10cm, but my MRI showed that the large fibroid was actually a cluster of smaller ones. I have no plans to have kids so I decided to opt for the hysterectomy right out of the gate rather than try various stop gaps and hope that they didn't come back.

This is my first surgery, first anesthesia, and first hospital stay. Apparently I decided it was either go big or go home. I am nervous because I don't have any prior hospitalization as a frame of reference, but I think I'm actually more nervous about how much pain I'll be in during the recovery.

Anyway, enough rambling, I'm looking forward to meeting all of you and hope that we all have easy, relatively painfree recoveries, and can enjoy relaxing as much as possible <3

I'm 37 yrs and having laparoscopic hysterectomy on Tuesday dec 6. My 1st major surgery other than my gall bladder removal or c-sections. my biggest. Fear is not being able to care. For my. Kids. My son is 13 and homeschooled my daughter is 5 and can't. Stand to be out of my sight. And will have to deal without me for 3 day then of course. I. Have the dr. Who tells me all the dangers of me being a without the proper meds. And scared the crud out of my and my family.

He everyone,
My name is Jennifer and I'm 36. I am having a hysterectomy and endo removed from my diaphragm on Friday 9th Dec. I have 2 sons, 4 and 6. I have PTSD from a traumatic C-section and surgery and am very anxious about Friday. I'm hoping the anxious lead up is worse then the actual thing??? Struggling to mentally make it through to Friday. Helps to know there are others out there having a similar week to me!

I am 50 years old and have a 9.7 cm fibroid that is posterior and causing me pain and constipation. I have waited 4 years post menopause and it hasn't shrunk in size. It is interfering with my quality of life. I work in the medical field so not being in total control tomorrow causes a great deal of anxiety....

Hi I am 37 with 10 and 6 yr old girls. I am having a TAH tomorrow with a BSO and will be starting hormones in the hospital. I had 2 csections, and a BSO with a 10cm dermoid cyst 2 yrs ago. This time a cyst was found on my right ovary back in the spring and had a surgery scheduled for Aug 10. It was cancelled a week before because if insurance and then the cyst shrunk although I was still having daily pain. My Mirena was taken out and then I had major bleeding each Month and had to be put on meds to control it. Been on pain meds for months and insurance still not paying for it. I have had to pay 1400 out of pocket just so they will do it. I just hope she finds something really bad so it justifies to my insurance. I am tired of having pain everyday since the beginning of summer. I have gained a bunch of weight. I am very nervous about being put to sleep and not waking up. After that I feel I will be ok.

I'm 41 and having surgery on 9th due to uterine prolapse. It was diagnosed in April and I've waited all this time to have surgery as Im a teacher aide and needed to wait until school hols. I was sick for a while without realising what was wrong. Its been a long time coming but now its approaching fast and I feel anxious and unorganised. This week is busy at work so it should take my mind off it. Trying not to have any expectations.

Hello everyone!

I just turned 52 last week. I am having a total abdominal hysterectomy on Dec 8th for post menopausal bleeding and fibroids. This year has been rough as I am otherwise in excellent health, however dealing with the bleeding and the uncertainty of what is going on has me quite anxious. The bleeding started after I stopped taking bio-identical hormones prescribed by my ob-gyn. I have since switched Dr's! I believe what happened is that I just wasn't the best candidate for the bio-identicals because of my history of fibroids and what seems to be estrogen dominance. So here I am needing to do what I have been trying to avoid for many years as my fibroids never caused me any pain or irregular bleeding. I've been on Provera since October and it has stopped the bleeding completely. Just stopped taking it this past Thursday and the concern is that the heavy bleeding will return before my surgery, and I am slightly anemic due to the blood loss. In any case, I have been preparing myself physically, mentally and spiritually. I trust my surgeon and know that all will go well! This is my first surgery and first hospital stay! I don't have children, so I've never experienced any kind of extreme pain, so that also has me a bit anxious. Though taking it one day, and one moment at a time helps a lot! Sending light and love to everyone here having surgery this week. We will make it through this and will be even better than before!!!!

Princesses:

I'm just stopping by to cheer you all on.

For some of us, the scariest part is waiting for the big day, but we are here to cheer you on, You are stronger than you think - you can and will do this! Have confidence in yourself and in the skill of your surgeon. Try to think of the big picture - any that this surgery will one day be a memory that symbolizes your strength.

It really does help to keep busy doing things you enjoy and surrounding yourself with positive friends and family. You are in the home stretch. Staying positive can help reduce stress.

Take care and know you are not alone on your journey:

Soon you will be on your way to recovery and encouraging those in your position now.

Travel light for the hospital and remember comfy clothes and shoes to wear home from the hospital. Also remember a small pillow to wear under your seatbelt for the ride home. Additionally, this pillow will also help cushion the blows of little people and rambunctious pets, coughs, laughing and sneezing. You may also benefit by having several small pillows available for resting in bed. Sometimes, for those of us not used to sleeping on our sides, a long body pillow may prove the most comfortable. Today is a great time to double-check your "recovery nest" to make certain you have the items you need at your fingertips. Getting out of bed can prove a bit challenging at first, so you may want to have a bed rail, or, a sturdy chair or small table to steady you as you get up. Remember those non-slip slippers for marching around the house. Have light reading next to your bed and your favorite movies. And don't worry about anything you didn't get to clean or errands you didn't get to - concentrate on all you have accomplished to get this far.

We will be with you on your entire journey, so please be sure to join your Post Recovery Progress Report after your surgery.

Hugs to all!