Aug. 29 surgery date and scared

Hello again!!

I'ver been finding that pain is a very individual thing. What you feel post-op may be in fact better than what you are feeling now. While I only had pain during my periods and shortly thereafter, it was very intense. My periods where heavy beyond belief(two super plus tampons and an over night pad soaked in less than 15 mins.). The post-op pain now is a breeze. Amazingly plain tylenol and motrin have been able to hold it at bay. I can remember(?) being totaly zonked on pain meds for the seven to ten days of my period. If you are lucky enough to get a PCA pump right after surgery you will, more than likely, find that you wean yourself off the thing faster than the medical team ever could.

It terms of getting back on your feet again, give it at least six weeks. You won't be able to lift anything over ten pounds so watch out for those laudry baskets. You don't want to delay or setback your recovery by dong too much soon after your surgery. By taking really good care of yourself after surgery, you maintain a good recovery. Don't over do it or try to be supermom because you may end up setting yourself back weeks.

My 4 year old is a bit put off because I am unablre to 'uppy' her but I've given into extra cuddling time instead. It seems to have worked so far.

Noel

Hi there - we have the same surgery on the same date! I'm pretty nervous myself but I have been reading up on everything for months and find that the more information I have, the better I feel. I've also talked to as many women as I can find who have had the surgery, and I believe that the fear is worse than the reality. My 62 year old neighbour just went through it three weeks ago and she's doing fine.

This is a great site, and I'd suggest you go through the pre and post op information that's on the home page. There are lots of other resources on the internet as well.

I also try to stay focused on the reason I'm going through this: I won't have horrible periods anymore where I bleed out and end up in the hospital...YAY! That's no way to live. I have a large fibroid that is pressing on the nerves of my back, so I also have a numb leg from time to time. I'm looking forward to getting through this and getting on with my life.

Good luck, and be brave...

Hey Twilight, it will only get better!!!! I have suffered for more than 10 years. Multiple Laps, D&C's, etc. Horrible, painful periods. You will be more than happy with the way that you feel after the surgery. It is MAJOR surgery, and yes you will feel some pain, may be a lot. But well worth it in the long run. My only concern, is that your doc may be taking a very drastic approach. You are way too young to have a TAH, unless he has done tests to warrant such a radical surgery. Have you had any laparosticopies or D&C's to find the cause for your pain? If your doc has not done these diagnostics first, then I would seriously reconsider your decision to have such radical surgery and consult another doc for a 2nd opinion. Many of your problems may be cured by other treatment, or less radical surgery. You need to get all of the information that is available for your own situation.

Yes I have had a lap and the results were Endo. My grandmother had a partial hyst. My mother and aunt had TAH/lso. My mother was 33 and my aunt was 27 like me. Back when they had theirs it was just "female problems" And then my sister had to have a TVH/BSO 5 years ago and she was only 33. The Endo had totally taken over her colon, bowel and everything.

I had the lap done in 98. They removed the endo and then put me on meds for 6 months which stopped the pain. Then I got pregnant with my 3rd child and there was still no pain for that 9 months. I then nursed him and was periodless for 11 months with no pain and as soon as my periods came back the pain came back with a vengence. I went to the ob/gyn then and he said back in March that I probably should have the hysterectomy but he put me on pills for 6 months to see. We even went to our family doctor thinking that it might be irritable bowel syndrome or spastic colen. None of the meds worked so he had an ultrasound done and found a golf ball size cyst on my left ovary. That is when I came to grips with the fact that the endo was back. After we found the cyst I went to another ob/gyn doc to see if he thought the hyst. was called for and he did. About 2 weeks before the surgery with him I went to the emergency room with HORRIBLE pain and bleeding for 16 days. The doctor there wouldn't even show up. Well the cyst had ruptured. We thought maybe that was the end of the pain. But no such luck. We decided that since that doctor was so uncaring and insensitive that we would go back to the original doc and that is when he scheduled the surgery for 2 weeks later. The most intense of my pain is on my left side. It started out just with my periods and has changed to all the time now. I think it is the cysts that are caused by endo and the adhesions.

Thank all of you for concern, your answers to my questions, and your support. It has been a blessing for me to have all of you. Thanks again.