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TVH 11/13. . .it wasn't bad
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11-29-2000, 09:15 AM
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TVH 11/13. . .it wasn't bad
Hi everybody! I had my surgery at 1:30 p.m. 11/13 and got to come home about 9:30 a.m. 11/15. It was a vag. hyst. with removal of both ovaries and tubes. . .everything went. What everyone says about waiting being the worst part is absolutely true!!!! I am back at work this morning 2 weeks after being released from the hospital. I'm just here for half a day, but I have had absolutely no problems with recovery. Have had no pain since about the 4th day after. Because it was vaginal I think it makes the recovery a lot easier. My doctor is a big proponent of walking to help with the soreness, so I was up walking the hospital halls the morning after surgery. He asked that I take 3 walks the first day (the walking DOES help). He has encouraged me to keep walking at home, but to only do as much as my body tells me it can handle. He also told me I could go back to work as soon as I felt like it as long as I had an arrangement to leave when I got tired. The worst pains I had were the gas pains that everyone talks about and I handled those with Gas X and a stool softener (tips I got from this site--thank you, thank you). Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that the waiting truly is the worst part. After it's over, you will get a little better each day. Good luck to all of you. Cathy
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11-29-2000, 09:24 AM
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Posts: 4,330
Hysterectomy: September 2nd, 1999
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TVH 11/13. . .it wasn't bad
Cathy,
Good to hear from you again. Glad that all went so well with your surgery. Remember, you still have ALOT of healing going on inside, take it easy. You only get one chance to heal right.
Best of luck in your continued recovery.
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11-29-2000, 10:20 AM
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TVH 11/13. . .it wasn't bad
Wow, good to hear your doing so well. My Vag. Hyst. is scheduled for December 22, 2000. Reading your post made me feel a little better. I really worry about the pain. By the sounds of things it won't be as bad as I think it will. I do have to go home the day of my surgery which I am not looking forward to. In Canada, Vag. hyst. are only considered day surgery. Nice eh? Well thanks for the positive comments.
Tracy
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11-29-2000, 10:42 AM
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TVH 11/13. . .it wasn't bad
Hi, Tracy. I'm sorry to hear that it's considered a day surgery there. I think I could have made the trip home the next morning. I was sore, but as I said, the walking sure helped with that. I was a little weak, too. At about 4 days post-op, there were times when I could not tell that I had even had surgery! But, after I got home I did absolutely nothing for a little over a week. I can do my work from my home, so the doctor told me I could start that just as soon as I felt like it. I started working about 2 hours a day at home 9 days after surgery (I do office work). I would quit when I got tired, and take a nap. I quit needing a nap about 12 days after surgery. I still can't lift, push or pull anything heavy for 6 weeks and have been very resolute in not doing that. I catch myself now and then reaching to pick up something that I shouldn't and make myself stop. I've found that walking (I am up to over a mile a day now--but you should only walk until your body tells you to stop) and drinking lots of fluids have been very helpful in my recovery. I have really enjoyed different fruit juices and I have read here that others have experienced the same thing. The nurses told me to drink cranberry juice for the bladder. They served it to me in the hospital and I have continued to drink it at home. All in all, I have had very little discomfort and I am so happy I had it done. I'm still having to take iron pills to build my hemoglobin up to normal, but already feel better than I did before the surgery. To let you know, I had 2 small fibroids and now the doctor thinks adenomyosis. I haven't talked to him to get the path report, though. At any rate, whatever I had was causing me lots of problems and now I'm looking forward to having my life back. I wish the best to you and hope you have an especially speedy recovery. Take care, Cathy
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11-29-2000, 11:24 AM
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How much help will I need?
I am scheduled to go in for my pre-op appointment next Monday. LAVH/BSO (possible TAH) for endometriosis. My DH can only take one week off of work so we are concerned about how long I will actually need someone else at home with me. I have a 9 year son who can help me out a lot when he is home from school, but I also have a 2 year old son who is really full of energy!
Thanks so much to all the sisters that have posted here. You all have answered so many of my questions and eased a lot of my fears!
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11-29-2000, 11:40 AM
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TVH 11/13. . .it wasn't bad
Cathy,
I am glad all went well for you... I am scheduled next Wed.(12/6)for a TVH..I am scared and nervous, but with your speedy recovery it sounds like a breeze. I am looking at my down-time too! I am a waitress/bartender and the only source of income in the family and can't afford all the down-time...but if I keep my spirits up and keep to it I too feel I can be back to work in no time..
Glad to hear it all went well with you
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11-29-2000, 12:22 PM
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To Cathy
My TVH/BSO is scheduled for 12/26. Yours is an encouraging story! I too have multiple small fibroids and possible adeno.
May I ask about the ovary part--did you wake up with the patch? What kind? Has that gone smoothly? Any hot flashes or other symptoms? Is the patch o.k.? Are you still on patch or pill? Also--what did it feel like when the vaginal packing came out? What did you have for pain in the hospial? Any nausea?
You didn't know I was going to ask you for a book, did you! I'm interested in your experience, since you've recovered so nicely. Continued good recovery to you, and Merry Christmas!
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11-29-2000, 03:45 PM
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Hyster Sister.
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Posts: 4,293
Hysterectomy: July 6th, 2000
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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To vica71568
Dear Vickie A.,
I am very glad Cathy is doing so well, but just a caution. Her recovery is not over yet, and she is back to work sooner than the norm. Total recovery for all the work done internally is several months. I'm glad Cathy is watching the lifting, pushing, etc., but lots of rest with feet UP is what will best get your recovery off to a good start.
When considering going back to work early because "you can't afford not to", remember that you also cannot afford a setback that would delay your recovery even more. You only have one chance to heal properly from major surgery, so give yourself every chance to do it right!
To Adavis 25,
I would try to have someone help you with your little one into the second week, too, especially if you end up with a TAH. Another sister with a 2-yr-old worked out a system where she wouldn't have to lift him by having him climb up on the bed for his diaper changes.
My very best to all...
Linda
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11-29-2000, 04:17 PM
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TVH 11/13. . .it wasn't bad
Music Lady Linda,
Thanks for your input. I just had a friend offer to come stay with me during the day for 4 days after my DH has to return to work. I was thinking about the diaper changing thing and I'm guessing that my "recovery room" will be the couch in the living room so it will be very easy for my little one to climb on up for his diaper changing. My bed is VERY tall and can be hard to get in and out of when I am cramping bad so I do not think I will be able to use it for a while after my trip to the castle.
Thanks again!
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11-30-2000, 08:29 AM
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TVH 11/13. . .it wasn't bad
I have had minor procedures before (tubal ligation and D&C) and have had little or no discomfort, so I think that my system must just handle things very well. I am generally very healthy and maybe that has something to do with it. I posted my progress so as to encourage those of you waiting and didn't intend for it to make any of you try to do more than your body will allow. My doctor told me to listen to my body and if it was telling me "stop," then stop. That is what I've done. I'm back at work 1/2 day, but when I get home, I take my walk and then sit with my feet up for the rest of the afternoon. That seems to be working well for me, but everyone is different. Someone asked about my hospital stay. In recovery, the nurse put 2 Climara patches on and I wore them until the day I came home. That day, I changed to a Climara patch that I wear for a week at a time. I worried about the hot flashes and mood swings, but for me they just did not happen (I am 45). The patches give me just over .1 mg/day. I have been wearing them since the 13th and just have not had any problems. I also had a demoral pump from about 4:30 the 13th to about 9:00 a.m. the 14th. They removed the IV and cath. at that time and started me on a pain pill. I can't remember the name, but I was told it had codeine (sp) in it. I was sent home with that same pill. I took a few after coming home (at night), but haven't had to take anything in a while. I didn't have any packing, so I can't answer that question. My mother did and said it was somewhat uncomfortable when it was removed, but not unbearable. My MIL stayed with me the afternnon I came home and my mother was with me the next 1 1/2 days. I don't have small children, so I could manage for myself. The doctor told me I could get up and make a sandwich or make coffee or do things like that right away. My intent when I posted was to give everyone who is still waiting encouragement. I didn't intend for it to make anyone try to do anything before they should. And, I hope that hasn't been the case. I know when I was reading posts before I went in, the positive ones helped me a great deal and I tried to focus on those. Since my recovery has been a positive one, I wanted to pass it along. But, please listen and abide by what your doctors tell you. My wish for everyone of you is that you have a speedy recovery. Please write me if you have questions. My e-mail is upland@yft.net. Love, Cathy
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