Question about vaginal packing

I mentioned to someone that I was having a hysterectomy - and she said that the thing that she remembered the most about her's (12 yrs ago) was the amount of packing that they kept pulling out of her. She said that the day after surgery, they showed up by her bedside and said it was time to remove the packing and just started pulling and pulling. She couldn't believe how much gauze there was "stuffed up there".

Do they still do this???

I'm having my hyst due to a prolapsed uterus, cervix, have a cystocle, will need a bladder sling & vag vault repair. Now, doesn't it sound like "yanking" all of this gauze out would kind of "undo" some of those repairs? Sounds to me like there would be a more "delicate" way to do this than just pulling foot after foot out of you at your bedside??? I do tend to bleed a lot during surgery, so I'm wondering if i will need "something" like this too??? Or are there better ways to control bleeding now?

My preop appt is not until the day before my surgery and that is next Wed. so I don't really have much time to go & I can't wait until Tues to find out this kind of thing. So any experiences anyone out there could discuss would really be appreciated!

I've been so busy with trying to get things wrapped up at work that I haven't had time to think about the surgery. But all of a sudden I'm really worried about this! Help!

My boss had her hyster a couple months ago and she said she was *packed* full off gauze. But she did say, that was not bad at all. Maybe a bit uncomfortable, but it didn't cause her any pain.

I think it depends on the type of surgery you have.

I had a TAH and had no packing anywhere. Maybe vaginals are different.

I did not have any kind of packing.
Call your doctors office and ask --

people sometimes think that they are helping by giving you the horror stories of thier surgeries instead of sharing the good news. It is ok to be informed -- but sometimes they go to far.

Call you ddr office and ask them -- it will help sit your mind at ease.

Hi Michelle - I too am having a TVH with AR, PR, and bladder sling for prolapsed uterus - My surgery is on Monday- I forgot to ask at my appointment this past Tuesday about the packing. I'll try to remember to ask on Monday, however, I think I'm supposed to be in the hospital two days, so by the time I get home, you'll be in there - I'm really nervous about having four procedures at once, and really hope the pain is not really bad.

Here's hoping our surgeries go perfectly!

I'm not worried so much about having the packing, or having the packing hurt. I'm more worried that someone "less experienced than the Dr." will be removing it, and damage the repairs done. Granted the person telling me about this was less than tactfull, she did not make it sound as if it was done very carefully.

Oh my - something else to worry about I'm stopping at my Doc's office before pre-op Monday - she's going to hit me after question #572

Hi Michelle,
I had a LAVH/BSO three days ago, and I didn't have any packing anywhere. I have an incision inside my navel, which is covered with a small bandage, and I have two tiny incisions down low, in the "bikini" area, which are each held together with little steri strips. I have stitches inside my vagina, which are supposed to dissolve on their own - so far, just the tiniest bit of bleeding and no discomfort from the stitches. My abdomen feels a bit swollen and bruised, but I'm resting a lot and walking around the house a little bit, and I feel much better than I thought I would three days after surgery. All the ladies who tell you that waiting is the worst part are right - it really is! Best of luck on your surgery, and I wish you a very speedy recovery.

Take care,
Voyager54

Thanks for the update on your condition, Voyager- I'm having a TVH with possible lap assistance, anterior/posterior repair and bladder sling - have been really nervous - am having on Monday - good to know you feel better than you thought! Gives me a little relief! I have moments when I think, "do I really need to do all of this??"

Thanks-

Sandy

I had LAVH/BSO 5 weeks ago. There was no packing. It is amazing how great you will feel in 5 weeks. I have never heard of that but it may depend on how you do in surgery or your doctors practices. I had a young doctor and she may learned new updated procedures over the older doctors. I just know that I trusted her completely and felt very confident that she would do wonderful work, which she did. Good luck with your surgery!!!