Vaginal hysterectomy upcoming and scared!

I'm 22 and I know nothing and I am having a vaginal hysterectomy Friday March 7th! What is bowel prep?

faye2003 -- have you had a pre-op appointment with your doctor, or do you have one planned this week? If you don't have a pre-op apptoinment, you should call your doctor to find out if he/she wants to see you before surgery. Most doctors want to do a pre-op appt. to go over all the surgery details, get questions answered, etc.

Bowel prep is basically taking a laxitive to clean out your entire intestinal track the day before your surgery. Some doctors want you to do this and some doctors don't. So, you need to find out if your doctor wants you to do this because if he/she does want you to do a bowel prep and you don't do it, your surgery will probably be cancelled and rescheduled.

Good luck!! Call you doctor this week if you don't have a pre-op appointment scheduled!!!

Hi faye2003 and

We’re happy you joined the Hystersisters community! There is a ton of solid information on the site, and the members have unlimited cyber-hugs to dispense and experiences to share with you at every stage of your journey to good health!

If you haven’t already done so, please do yourself a favor and register to receive Hysterectomy Checkpoints. It’s one of the best features of the site, in my opinion -- designed to accompany you through the entire hysterectomy experience from start to finish, and beyond!

My best advice is to prepare yourself for what’s ahead by reading the Pre-Op Articles. Here are a couple I think you might find particularly helpful:

Coping With Pre-Op Anxiety and Fear

What to Bring to the Hospital

Through the years, hundreds of women have shared their personal suggestions in Hints for Your Hysterectomy that you also might want to check out.

Rest assured you have come to the right place. Best wishes as you prepare for your trip to the Castle!

How Bad Is This Going To Hurt?

	Quote:
Originally Posted by faye2003 How Bad Is This Going To Hurt?

Are you referring to the bowel prep or the surgery?

If you are referring to the bowel prep, it doesn't hurt... you just are in the bathroom A LOT. Although, I do recommend buying some flushable wipes (I used Pampers Kandoo) because your bottom gets pretty irritated after the 4th or 5th trip to the restroom! TP becomes painful.... so that would be the only painful part if you don't have some gentle flushable wipes.

If you are referring to the surgery... well, as long as you are on top of your pain meds, and the doctor and nurses in the hospital have a good plan to manage your pain, the pain is not terrible... but if you don't manage your pain well, then the pain can be unbearable at times.

Hi, and welcome. It's natural to be scared about a hysterectomy. I certainly was, and I'm more than twice your age. The best advice I have for you is to examine exactly what you're afraid of, then research all of those issues here and at other reliable sites. Web M.D. is a very good one. It has a lot of information on every aspect of a hysterectomy in language that anyone can understand. It also helps to write down any questions you think of so you can ask them of your doctor. Don't be afraid to do that -- part of his/her job is to make sure that you get answers to every question that concerns you, and that goes for the other medical people you deal with. You have a right to know this information since you're the one having the surgery.

As for the pain, it wasn't as bad as I expected. Yes, it hurt, but I was never in tears or on the verge of crying from the pain. Just take it easy when you move and use your meds according to the schedule your doctor gives you. Within a few days of the operation I was able to start cutting back on my Darvocet. After those ran out Ibuprofen did well for me.

You'll read a lot here that "waiting is the hardest part" and I think that's true. Once you've had your surgery you will feel a great deal of relief and can focus on your recovery. Remember that everything you are experiencing someone here has been through before, so ask us anything. Someone will know the answer. You'll do great!

Good Luck Friday. I'll be thinking of you, dear girl. Take your pain meds and don't be a stoic. Follow the doctor's orders and wait, wait, wait for your healing.

Hang in there. You are not alone.

Jena

My Husband Dosen't Understand Why Im Scarred!

take it easy, keep on top of your meds, do exactly as the doc says.

i am 4 weeks post op from a TVH, and feel pretty good, actually no pain, other than once in a great while if i overdo it, and tylenol does the trick then!!!
read all you can on here and relax & take it easy!!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by faye2003 What Is Bowel Prep?

Bowel prep is a process of cleaning out your bowels, or intestines, of feces. Some doctors prefer their patients to have empty bowels before surgery, hence the prep, or cleaning. It involves either using suppositories or drinking a substance that forces your bowels to evacuate.

Basically, you use the suppositories or drink this stuff that gives you diarrhea for a couple of hours. Combine that with a clear liquid diet and you're clean as a whistle.

If your doctor wants you to do this procedure/process, she or he will let you know.

Roberta