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How badly does this hurt?
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06-04-2001, 03:49 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 55
Hysterectomy: June 11th, 2001
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How badly does this hurt?
I have had surgeries before, and known others who have had hysterectomies, but thought of myself as one who did not need "pampering", so to speak. However, well meaning friends and relatives keep telling me how badly I will feel and how Iwill not be able to take care of myself, especially the first few days. Please let me know if I am expecting too much of myself. I am 45 years old and have a helpful husband, but YES, I do worry now about the amount of pain from the surgery. Is it unbearable?
My surgery is June 11th and will be a total hysterectomy because of heavy bleeding every 18-21 days (7 full days every time) and anemia. No fibrioids that I know of and no cancer, thank God, just tired of bleeding and recurring yeast infections, probably from the constant wearing of pads.
Please advise.
Suzanne
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06-04-2001, 04:00 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 88
Hysterectomy: May 25th, 1992
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How badly does this hurt?
Hi Suzanne... I had a c-section with my son 10 yrs. ago, and I think it hurt worse... I had a TAH on 5/25/01, spent 3 days in the castle, and am home feeling pretty well. I tire very easy, but as for the pain, I quit taking pain meds the 2nd day home. I take 1 at night to sleep, because I toss and turn alot, and get a slight pinch now and again, but find the pain is very bearable. More of a nuisance... just like all those pads!! lol I take motrin now and again, but am feeling pretty good. Hope this helps, and lots of love, and a speedy, painfree recovery... REST!!!!! Love,
Sue
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06-04-2001, 04:07 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 55
Hysterectomy: June 11th, 2001
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How badly does this hurt?
Thank you for the speedy reply. I was concerned because my doctor also tells me I will have a morphine drip. I am getting really scared. I had a tubal ligation done about eighteen years ago and the worst was the gas that was throughout my whole body from the surgery. does that happen again, too? Would you say the pain is like unbearable, I have not had a ceasarean, so don't know how to relate. Please tell me that my friends are exaggerating.
Suzanne
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06-04-2001, 04:22 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 244
Hysterectomy: May 30th, 2001
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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How badly does this hurt?
Sue,
Pain is very subjective. Pain is perceived differently by each one of us. We live in a time where the health care system is working very hard at controlling our pain. You will probably be asked a zillion times in the hospital "On a scale of 1-10 how is your pain". I had a TAH/BSO on 5/30/01. Right after surgery I was hooked up to a morphine pump that I could control (I believe many ladies here have had it). I didn't like the way it made me feel but the nurses were right there to give me another kind of pain med. Now at home, I am taking Motrin 800mg every 8 hr. if I need it. I was also given a prescription for Percacet but have only used it at night to help me sleep. The 1st day after surgery when I was able to hobble around my room and go to the bathroom, I described the pain to friends like this: Remember the phsical fitness test way back when, when you had to do as many sit-ups as possible in a certain amount of time while your partner held down your feet??? Well, multiply that by 5. BUT! The next day it didn't feel that bad and has progressively gotten better. Another thing that you can do prior to surgery, is to learn deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation or visual imagery. These are other ways to manage fear and pain without drugs. Good luck to you !!! You will be fine!!!!
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06-04-2001, 04:47 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 27
Hysterectomy: May 24th, 1992
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How badly does this hurt?
Please don't anticipate having severe pain! Everyone is different.
I didn't know what to expect at all, but it wasn't as bad as
everyone had said. The morphine drip helped the first day
but I became disoriented from it and felt really 'spacy' with it.
After it was removed and I was given a milder pain medication
I felt much better. The morphine drip is great for the first day
or so or if you have no reaction to it, use it as long as they
want you to. They do keep asking what level your pain is at
and sometimes it's hard to respond to that.
Some pain is more of a discomfort than an actual pain, to me any
how.
I think well-meaning people give their opinions which vary greatly.
Ever since the word got out that I was having this surgery,
everyone either has had one or knows ten people who have
had them! Well-meaning advice was given out, but not always taken!!
Hang in there!
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06-04-2001, 05:28 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 185
Hysterectomy: May 14th, 1953
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How badly does this hurt?
Suzanne:
As you've probably noticed by reading these posts, we sisters have varying degrees of pain.
I did have quite a bit of pain the afternoon of my surgery. I, too, had a morphine-type pump, but it didn't ease my pain--it only made me sick to my stomach. Thankfully, my doctor had ordered Torodol to be given by i.v. (morphine was in my epidural). Once the nurse gave me anti-nausea meds and the Torodol, I felt much better! After that, pain was very mild. They kept the pain-pump going until the next day - I think I would have been ok with just the i.v. meds.
Like someone said, don't anticipate having severe pain. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised. And now, 3 weeks post-op, I've kind of forgotten that pain. Just like you do with childbirth!
Good luck to you with your surgery!
Dianne
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06-04-2001, 06:17 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 3,099
Hysterectomy: March 5th, 2001
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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How badly does this hurt?
Hi Suzanne!
I was very worried about pain before my surgery, because I had had many procedures, and had a myomectomy, and was dreading the pain.
I have to say that I was amazed at how little pain I had!! Pain management has come a very long way, even in the 12 years since my myo...I woke up and was asked immediately to rate the pain...it was maybe a 6. Felt like a burning crampy kind of thing. I had the morphine pump...(see the pre-op board for several current threads on the pump) and was also give a shot of Toredol. The pain went to a 2, and never went over that.
After the first 24 hours on the pump, I went to 800 mgs of Motrin, and never needed anything else. There was very little pain!!!
Everyone is different. We all find the fears that trigger us...maybe for you it's the pain. But the reality may be very different that what you're fearing, so please try not to build it up in your mind.
Hang in there!
Karen
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06-04-2001, 06:27 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 4,577
Hysterectomy: March 22nd, 2000
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How badly does this hurt?
Sue - I had morphine pump too..pain in hospital was managed by that.
Please discuss take home pain meds with dr. prior to surgery. I was discharged with prescription for pain medication (percoset - 1 refill) and ibuprofen 800 mg (2 refills). I took them AS PRESCRIBED for the first couple of weeks. Then tapered off pain meds and used ibuprofen in between. I had pain...no doubt about that..but it was managed with medication. Everyone is different...but it's better to have pain medication and not need it, then to need it and not have it.
Things that will cause pain besides gas are: laughing, sneezing and coughing...be prepared for that
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06-04-2001, 06:40 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 9
Hysterectomy: May 30th, 1992
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ouchies
HI Suzanne,
The Sisters are right in that pain is subjective. I'm 5 days post-op from a TVH, woke up in the recovery room with no pain and had a morphine pump. I only used the morphine pump every 30 minutes for six hours at the suggestion of the nurses who didn't want the pain to get ahead of me. I also received Tordol, but that brought on dizziness and vomiting so no more doses of that!
I came home the next day with Percoset and took one that night before I went to bed. I woke up the next morning with what felt like menstrual cramps, took one Motrin and have been fine every since.
I asked lots of questions to both the anesthesiologist and my surgeon, making sure they knew I was concerned about nausea and pain. They were terrific, and made notes in my chart and I received great care. This site provided me with the knowledge I needed to ask those questions, and to know what I might expect.
I know I am very fortunate, and feel such deep compassion for many of my sisters that have suffered much more.
I think pain management is a priority for most health care professionals. This was a thousand times better than my c-section 16 years ago when I had to beg for a shot of morphine and nausea was routine. I also had a vaginal procedure for my hyst, and didn't have to deal with the incision site.
I just wanted to share my very positive experience.
You're in my thoughts and prayers.
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