I'm back from hospital !

Hi everyone, I'm not sure if you remember me but I discovered this board on the 8th November, the night before my operation. I was sooooo scared and was pleased to find the board as it gave me some re-assurance to think that other people were thinking about me and sending me some positive thoughts.

Well it all went very well. I am feeling fantastic at the moment.....I feel just so proud that I eventually got the operation done and to be honest the whole process was nothing compared to what I was imagining...Don't get me wrong I have had a little pain but believe you me it is nothing compared to child birth and the pain I felt after that for two weeks. (Although this was bearable with strong pain killers)

This time I have just been on parecetemol every now and again when it hurts....and I was on morphine the first 12 hours.... Just to remind you of my situation I was EXTREMELY scared, nervous about the operation and was TOTALLY CONVINCED that I was going to die....I have been treated for post traumatic stress syndrome this last year to help me prepare for the operation as a result of a massive post partum bleed I had just after giving birth two years ago. For some reason, my brain had a connected going back into hospital again for this op with the pain, fear of dying (which I very nearly did just after giving birth)....I went into hospital for this operation last year but had to come home due to a MASSIVE panick attack...... but thankfully hypnotherapy and counselling made me realise that what happened in child birth is NOTHING like this operation....my bleeding was due purely to child birth ...this new operation was a PLANNED operation with EXPERTS on hand and ready to help in the VERY UNLIKELY event of a problem.... I have been so happy with everything.....the pre=med (was wonderful) I was laughing going down to theatre ! (I would recommend this everytime !!!) I went in on the day of the operation so I didnt have to try and sleep in a strange hospital bed on my own in fear.....I recovered very quickly from the operation, wasnt sick, met some lovely ladies on my ward and laughed a lot ( it hurts to laugh !!!!! lol) my cut has healed amazingly well, the stitches were taken out on day 5 and I was allowed home from hospital. The main symptom I have now is I am very very tired.....and I've got no energy....but I'm told this is normal and that i need to just take it easy. Oh yes, I forgot to add on day two and three I had bad chest pains (not agony but a little uncomfortable) so they treated me for a blood clot on the right lung - they did a chest x ray and it did show air under the diaphram....I had a full cut ....I panicked a bit then I told myself to calm down and luckily the next day the pain had gone......they continued to treat me with heparin injections just in case and these stopped the day I came out of hospital... I am now lay in bed at home on day 7 still very tired....have the odd twinge and have to be very careful when I'm moving about...the worst is when I have to cough...! I sit up and put a towel across my cut and put a little pressure on my tummy to keep everything together...it hurts ....but its bearable... Sorry I am going on but just wanted to tell you all my experience in the hope that it helps someone.....I am a true wimp and my pain threshold is very low but I have been absolutely fine....with the pain..... The worst part of all of this has been the build up and the FEAR...fear is a terrible thing and it can make you feel terrible.....I was sat for hours thinking about all the disasters that could go wrong...hypnotherapy helped me to be more positive about the whole process and it truly got me through.....I also had a lot of prayers said for me and I'm convinced this helped me. I just want to say a BIG thankyou for all your lovely messages I saw before I went for the op, it really helped me to think people cared and were sending me good wishes. I can honestly say I've learnt a big lesson about life and me...and I have finally been able to trust someone else totally and just let go ......and believe that the experts can make me better....and learn to deal cope with any set-backs (not had any really !) as they happen and not as I imagine them (there is a BIG DIFFERENCE)! Good luck to all those ladies due to have their operations, I can recommend the following :- hypnotherapy, talk about how you are feeling with a counsellor, keep telling yourself you are ok and you can get through this.....have a pre med (fantastic stuff!) ., take someone with you to the hospital and let them stay with you until you go to theatre...... see this as another life challenge which will help you to grow as a bigger and better person.....My other biggest fear was leaving my two year old son with mum and dad for a week as I am a single mum....but that all went really well and when he came to see me in hospital neither of us cried (as I imagined) we were both fine and just very glad to see each other every day....! GOOD LUCK AND KEEP SMILING ......XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX YOU WILL BE FINE XX

smilebright, welcome home glad you found this site as i was a month before surgery, i was terifide of the opp like you, all the thoughts you have before surgery are scary, but now you are through the worst the waiting.
Rest, take it easy, and dont do to much,and most of all keep coming back we have all been through the same thing
Di

Welcome home, !! Take it easy and get lots of .

Hi Smilebright,

Welcome home and make sure to rest and pamper yourself now. My prayers are with you that you have complete recovery.

Good luck and have a terrific day

welcome home Princess SmileBright.... @;*)
Heal up good, keep us posted on ur recovery....
gentle hugs to U....

HOME Smilebright ! Remember to get plenty of rest and to drink plenty of fluids and do not over do it!
Remember to !!

's
Barb

for you SmileBright & thanks for being so honest and sharing your fears.... my hysterectomy was Nov 8, so 8 days ago. We are only a day apart on surgery days!
I was absolutely petrified before too, just a little different fears - all to do with being under general anaesthetic. First fear, what if i don't wakeup? Second fear was throwing up right after abdominal surgery because of the anaesthetic and/or the pain meds (that's what happened the other 2 times i was under general anaesthetic). My coping strategy was to talk about it (sounds pretty wimpy eh?) I told everyone who would listen in the hospital beforehand about those two fears, and they were fantastic, very calming and encouraging and supportive.
Anyways, thank goodness it's all finished and and now we just have to get healed up!! Take it easy and blessings on you for a quick recovery.

Sebby

Just wanted to say back! Glad your feeling good. Take it easy and remember to