surgery July 28

Hello all! I just posted on the options board, but then realized that I should be in the pre-op board.
I just schedule a TVH for 7/28. I've already had one ovary/tube removed so now everything else will come out. I have a few questions. I work in an office where we manage student housing at the Uof Michigan, so I asked my dr. if I could go back to work 2 weeks post-op, and he said yes but that I wouldn't be 100%. Is that realistic? Other people have said no way. I do sit at a desk but that time of year is really busy with people moving in and out.
What is it like post-op? I'm getting kind of nervous, but I've been having problems for a year and I just can't do this anymore. I have cysts, and just this week, found out I have uterine prolapse, which actually I don't even understand. I have had terrible pain, and tried hormones, and those don't work, so tried stronger hormones. Don't work. It seems to me that I've tried everything else, and my Doc agrees, that this is the best choice for me. I can't live my life on pain meds anymore. I'm tired, and depressed. I want to live a "normal" life. So if anyone has any advice for my post-op, I would greatly appreciate it. I have a 4 yr. old son at home too, so I'm wondering if I'm going to need a lot of help. My husband is wonderful but can't miss any work, my mom will help as much as I need her, should I expect that she will have to be here with me when my husband can't be??
Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated!!! I'm so glad I found this site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shelli

My job is extremely physical so my doctor said that I'd be out the entire 6 weeks, no negociations and possibly more. I think I'll be able to go back at 7 weeks as that is when he has my appointment scheduled. I will probably go back half days for a couple of weeks as I work in the heat and that takes it out of a healthy person. He said if my job wasn't so physical and if I were the type to back down, he would have let me go back sooner. I am actually doing better than most of my friends thought I'd be doing. Just remember, what you do now can effect you for years to come so be sure to focus on healing and take it as it comes. If you aren't ready don't force yourself, your body will tell you if you aren't ready.

Hi Shelli, I had a tah/bso last summer and there is no way I could have gone back to work at 2 weeks. I know that you won't have an abdominal incision with a TVH but you will still have lots of internal stitches. Sitting at a desk and dealing with lots of students will probably be rather difficult for you at that time. I think that you should consider giving yourself more healing time before you return to work. If you do return, maybe you should try half days at first.
Also, could you please go to your profile and add your surgery date. That way you'll be on the best wishes list for that day.
s

I just wanted to wish well with your surgery and recovery.
We share the same surgery date. I hope we both have a speedy recovery without any complications.
I'll be thinking of you!

Regards.

Thank you all so much for your advice, and support. Its so nice to have found this site!! My husband is very supportive, but there is nothing like having people who are going or have been through this. I do have another question, that I didn't ask my Dr. about, does anyone know what happens if I'm having my (last) period on my surgery date, will that change things? Will they still be able to perform surgery??? I didn't think about it until today, that I will most likely start July 25, that is if it's on time, which it usually is not, but knowing my body it will be this time just because of surgery! Today I'm a little more nervous than I have been. I keep thinking its just like any other surgery I've had, but it's not. Am I still going to be the same person when I wake up? I hope I'm different, meaning better. I was so happy just to get my date, there are so many things I'm thinking now that I wish I would have asked my Dr. not that I can't call or go in and talk to him, but I don't know if I will have general or regional anestesia (sp), I kind of hope its regional, because I don't like general. I don't like waking up and being in so much pain I feel like I'm going to throw up. But do I really want to be awake??? AHHHH so many questions. Thank you thank you thank you....
And to MX5 99 I wish you the best, I'll be sure to come here as soon as I can to see how your surgery went. You're in my thoughts....

I was completely and utterly out, but then I've never had any problems with that. I don't think I could be still if I knew that someone was cutting on me even if it didn't hurt! Believe it or not, I definately know the answer to what if you start! I was in full flow for the third time in that final month. I told them when I went into the prep room that I had started and would that make any difference. They said "Nope, none at all, guess Mother Nature wanted to say goodbye huh? Just relax, sweetie, this is the last one you will have." The only way I felt different is the pain from the surgery itself and from the medications. Any differences that I feel is recovery related and will pass, ie tiring easy, gassy, swelly belly, irritablity when achy, and the inability to sit or stand for long, but we know that will all pretty much pass with time. I myself am not mouring the loss of Aunt Flo.