Hyster way back on 2/2/04

Hello dear women,

I have tried so hard to deal with my hysterectomy on my own. My surgeon says that I should be fine now. Everyone says that since I had my surgery in February of this year, I should be 100% fine. But, I am not. I am a lot better, and I have very little pain. But, there is still some healing going on internally, and though no one else can see it, I can. It makes me feel crazy, because no one can see it!

I am 37 and had a complete hyster in February. It will take some time to tell my whole story. It is hard for me to talk about. I had to have it due to endo and then some other damage inside from when I was a little girl. I had terrible pain all the time, and had times when I could not walk. I was told at 21 to have a hyster, but, put it off. I even put this one off, but, I felt I had to do it. I was a major healing for me. I was off work 8 weeks, and for most of those weeks, I could barely walk. What took most of my surgeon's patients, two weeks, always took me double.

The irritating things are that I still have a swelly belly. I have always loved to exercise and do dance aerobics. I try to go 4 times a week now. But, then I get the dreaded swelly belly, and my jeans that fit fine yesterday, don't fit today. And, I promise, I have been eating healthy? Does this happen to anyone else???

And does anyone have problems with bowel movements and constipation and bloating. My uterus was stuck to my bowels, and had to be cut off.

But, still it has been almost 8 months and I am still having these little nit-picky problems and my doc says, hey you are just fine.

I keep saying, doesn't it take a year or more, for the body to heal and redefine itself and get used to itself. This was major surgery. I mean geez, it had a whole bunch of stuff taken out of it. I do have to wear an estrogen patch. That got mixed up too, but, he finally got it right. I am on the lowest dose of estrogen in patch form , and I use a progesterone cream.

I am dying to find support. Is anyone out there? I am trying so hard to do this right!

Ethna

Hi Ethna - I'm so sorry too hear that you are having a tough time!

I'm a bit behind you - TAH w/extensive work due to invasive endo on March 23rd, 2004 - but I too have days when the dreaded swellies come back. From what I've read through out the support threads on this site, everyone heals at a different rate; some people take six months to a year to feel completely fine (or at least healed). I've also read that the HRT therapy can cause bloating and constipation.

For me, I still get twinges and the swelly belly when I've overdone it, my shape isn't what it used to be, nor what I'd like it to be...but given the alternative pain, bleeding, etc. that I had before the surgery, and the fact that I can still find attractive clothes that make me happy and feel good about myself...I guess I'm doing better than most...

Have you considered getting a second opinion to put your mind at ease? How do you feel other than the swellies and the slight pain?

I had a tah/bso in Feb 2004 too. I still have pain. I walk 2 miles a day but if I power walk or run, which means I am bouncing things around, I have pain afterwards. I also have pain when I stretch and when I mow the lawn. I still get swelly belly too. I am not at the weight I want to be at either. I am not comfortable with how I look. I am not content. Matter of fact, for the first time in my life I have some depression and anxiety issues. Both my surgeon and a second opinion both agree that these issues are due to low estrogen. I have been on the v dot patch since March and we have increased the dose a few times but it still isnt good enough. Maybe you need a second opinion. I got one and it helped some.

Hi Ethna

It is frustrating isn't it when you think you should be completely healed and it should all be a distant memory, and yet it's not. It took me about 16 months for my tummy to not be tender anymore. Even now at over 2 years post, if I lift anything really heavy I get a sore pinched niggly feeling in my lower abs. I usually do this when I'm gardening unfortunately, and this happened yesterday so here I am sore again. I think I'm stuck with it quite frankly. But that said, most of the time now I do forget I've had a hyst but it's taken a long time to feel like that.

I didn't have my hyst because of endo though. I've read on the site here that just because you have a hyst it doesn't necessarily mean that your endo can't come back. Hopefully someone with more knowledge of this than me will come along to explain this better. It's just a thought though if you do continue to experience pain. Adhesions are another possibility.

If you're not happy with how you're feeling I agree with the other ladies that a second opinion would be a good idea.

I hope you start feeling better very soon.

Thank you so much, my dear hyster sisters! It was so hard for me to come here! I hope that smilie came through.

It did help me just to talk to you. I should say that I am doing better than I have in many years. I am able to exercise 4 times a week, and walk my dog a mile on half days. I am still the size I was pre-surgery, it is just that my shape is different. I guess I was just not prepared for the changes in body type and also the length of time that my body would take to heal.

My doctor did release me to do exercise quite a long time ago. But, he did say that my swelly belly could last a year. And, I know that what takes other women a year, takes me even longer. I guess this is a time to really love, and pamper my body, but, that is so hard to do, for me. I am not someone who loves and pampers their body! I have struggled with body issues for so many years.

The second opinion is a good idea, too. I can go see my regular doctor who is knowledgable and very holistic, and she likes me!

Thank you for answering me!

Ethna

I had a TAH Feb 13, 2004 (kept ovaries). At six weeks post op my OB/gyn (not my surgeon) proclaimed me completely healed. Of course I knew she was full of you know what. But if she had said the same thing at 6 months post op, it would have shaken me up a bit, because I don't feel like I am there yet. (and it would have made me feel like something is wrong with me)

I am very close to being completely healed, but I still have occasional swelly belly--my incision area is some times 'tender' and if I lift something heavy, I can feel it (maybe not right away, but later)

I did not have any complications, but I know I am not 100% yet. I have also had a little more constipation than normal and sometimes a little bloating. I had a really big fibroid and think my innerds are still getting adjusted to their new space.

They did tell me it would take some time for my bladder to retrain itself (the fibroid caused me to have to pee all the time). I'm just assuming that my bowels are retraining themselves too.

Since my fibroid was so big, I expected that my stomach would be alot flatter, well it is not as flat as I expected. But when I take my hands and squeeze the fat on my belly, it still hurts a little, so that tells me that it is still swollen sometimes.

I feel I heal at a pretty normal rate, and I am just starting to be able to occasionally forget about the surgery. If if takes you longer to heal, you may not be feeling that for a few more months.

Good Luck to you.
Jenny