New & need lots of info-kinda long, sorry

Hi Everyone, I am new here & have read some posts for about 5 days. I have to have a hysterectomy very soon, within 2 weeks or less.Part of the waiting is that the secretary is on vacation. My pre-op is on Monday. I don't know very much about all of this and don't know all the abbreviations that you guys use, etc. All I know is that my uterus is falling out to be very blunt. It is just about to the worst stage which I don't want to happen. I am very nervous, scared, not liking the thought of all this. If I really think about it I literally feel sick to my stomach and feel like I'm gonna pass out. I am one of those that can stand other peoples stuff , but not my own. I also have panic attacks which adds to the regular nerves one would have. The waiting is causing alot of anxiety. I have a ton of questions but instead of listing them all I thought you lovely ladies could just give some advice, anything and everything. And maybe it would help others too that haven't asked yet. My husband wants to know..."how long was it after the surgery, where they could take care of themselves and go outside maybe in a car?" I just copied this from his email. I think he means drive. I do have an old stick VW so it hurts worse to drive that. Ya know, no power anything! I am trying to get ready but it hurts just to walk, it just came on so fast. I had an ultrasound but don't know the results yet. I feel like my life has just come to a huge STOP for a while & I don't like that. I am used to lifting & doing anything but now can't do hardly anything at all. I certainly don't want to find my uterus outside of my body. This is also a huge hardship financially. How many meds will I have to get besides paying a huge chunk to the hospital? Should I buy anything to bring to my pre-op to show my doctor? Sorry this is so long, I don't have anyone else to ask. Thank you in advance.......not sure if I'm suppose to put my real name.

I understand your anxiety, I saw the doctor got the results and was scheduled for surgery 2 weeks later. I dont know about the meds or anything. But I wanted you to know you are not alone in your feeling of shock. We have all been there or are there with you right now! s. If I were you I would go to the post op site and read what they are going through. That might help you know what to prepare yourself and your hubby for. And just so you know I am still trying to learn the silly abreviations :P.

Well I had my hysterectomy on 6/27/07. I had it removed through a bikini line incision, it was due to large fibroids, and an even larger uteris. Just some back ground for you, I came home in two days, I had surgery on a Wednesday am, home by Friday night with all 20 staples, those came out a week later not problem at all, I was off all painkillers by Thursday am, still today I have only needed some advil once in a while, so for me pain wasn't that bad. If you have stairs, stay off of those for at least a week, you don't realize how difficult the stairs are until you have this surgery, it was first on the list of what NOT to do, and now I know why. And don't lift anything for at least a week, and even then start small, like a gallon of milk small, I'm 7wks and anything heavier than the small bag of kitty litter and I know it. Stick with walking at a slow pace for a few weeks, remember this is major surgery, take your time with everything. You may want to rethink driving your standard for a while, those are a lot of work with muscle you won't have back for a few weeks. My biggest thing still is the soreness right under my belly button, but it gets better every day. I hope this helps, this is a great web site so ask away, I have found the silly things I thought of someone has already asked so I definately didn't feel alone going into the surgery and even now that I'm done I like to help someone else if I can. Good Luck

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Originally Posted by yogipooky I understand your anxiety, I saw the doctor got the results and was scheduled for surgery 2 weeks later. I dont know about the meds or anything. But I wanted you to know you are not alone in your feeling of shock. We have all been there or are there with you right now! s. If I were you I would go to the post op site and read what they are going through. That might help you know what to prepare yourself and your hubby for. And just so you know I am still trying to learn the silly abreviations :P.

thanks for your reply, I found out the last day of July and because the secretary is out it is having to take longer than it would have. And as of today at 5 my sonogram results were not at my doctors office so I'm concerned about my pre-op on Mon. I wanted to put my first post on the main page but am having trouble getting things right here. I hope I am doing this one right. Everyone that responds means alot to me. thanks, jenny

I understand what you are saying. I am scheduled for a partial hysterectomy on 9/4. I have a history of endometriosis with 2 previous laps. I wanted to have another done but my doc said that I should have this done. I have been getting the laps every two years. I just reach a point and know that I need cleaned out. He said that I could end up with scar tissue with repetitive surgeries and that adhesions could worsen my pain. So, this time I have opted for the partial. I worry about what will happen after. I do have to climb steps to get to my apartment and then after that I can stay put. I also have a trip to NY planned for the end of September that is for work. I don't know if I will be able to do that since my surgery is just three weeks prior. I will have to drive. I am just scared. I am a bit sad at the thought of never having a child. I guess it is all coming at me and when I share it with my significant other..he thinks I am being silly. I told him that all of this was going through my mind.

I know I will be tight for cash as I work perdiem as a nurse.
But have income coming in on a monthly basis that covers the bare necessities. I have good insurance so I don't foresee that being a problem. I am worried about how long it will take to get back to usual business.

I am with you and know your concerns. So, even though I can't offer you any after surgery advise, I wanted to let you know that someone here is going through what you are.

Best wishes to you.

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Originally Posted by athenafdm127 I understand what you are saying. I am scheduled for a partial hysterectomy on 9/4. I have a history of endometriosis with 2 previous laps. I wanted to have another done but my doc said that I should have this done. I have been getting the laps every two years. I just reach a point and know that I need cleaned out. He said that I could end up with scar tissue with repetitive surgeries and that adhesions could worsen my pain. So, this time I have opted for the partial. I worry about what will happen after. I do have to climb steps to get to my apartment and then after that I can stay put. I also have a trip to NY planned for the end of September that is for work. I don't know if I will be able to do that since my surgery is just three weeks prior. I will have to drive. I am just scared. I am a bit sad at the thought of never having a child. I guess it is all coming at me and when I share it with my significant other..he thinks I am being silly. I told him that all of this was going through my mind. I know I will be tight for cash as I work perdiem as a nurse. But have income coming in on a monthly basis that covers the bare necessities. I have good insurance so I don't foresee that being a problem. I am worried about how long it will take to get back to usual business. I am with you and know your concerns. So, even though I can't offer you any after surgery advise, I wanted to let you know that someone here is going through what you are. Best wishes to you.

Have you told your doctor your concerns for not having children? I'm so sorry your going through this. And I don't think the stairs are a good idea, can you stay with someone until you can climb the stairs? I would tell your doctor all of the concerns you have told me. Now I feel spoiled, I have no stairs except on the porch. Make sure that you are completely certain of this. Someone wrote to me on my email and I think that driving that soon is not good & they said no stairs. I would feel so bad if you injured yourself having to do these things too soon. Maybe someone else on this site can tell you more on no stairs or driving since I haven't done mine either. Sounds like we are in the same boat..sort of. Please take care....jenny

Hello,
I just had my hysterectomy July 3. It all went well. It was done vaginally, had the bladder sling done a rectocele repair, (that has to do with rectum area), still learning it all too. He also did a vagina cuff so i had stitches all in vagina, made it all tighter, better....lol Anyway, I had to come home with the catheter for a few days, I was able to take it out myself, no problems. Didn't need much pain meds. after the first week. The most painful was the constipation, Fleets enema helped with that along with daily stool softeners. I haven't had any complications, just had my 6wk checkup and he said its all healing ahead of schedule. Just take care of yourself and have alot of help around the house, I mean with everything. It hurt to sit up, so you will want to lay back alot. Take everyone up on any offers. Esp. for food for the family. I thought mine could handle it. Ha! LOL!!! Just take it easy and let your body heal. Don't lift or strain at all and you will be fine. Hope it all goes well and you should do fine. Many, many women go thru this and it goes well.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by athenafdm127 I understand what you are saying. I am scheduled for a partial hysterectomy on 9/4. I have a history of endometriosis with 2 previous laps. I wanted to have another done but my doc said that I should have this done. I have been getting the laps every two years. I just reach a point and know that I need cleaned out. He said that I could end up with scar tissue with repetitive surgeries and that adhesions could worsen my pain. So, this time I have opted for the partial. I worry about what will happen after. I do have to climb steps to get to my apartment and then after that I can stay put. I also have a trip to NY planned for the end of September that is for work. I don't know if I will be able to do that since my surgery is just three weeks prior. I will have to drive. I am just scared. I am a bit sad at the thought of never having a child. I guess it is all coming at me and when I share it with my significant other..he thinks I am being silly. I told him that all of this was going through my mind. I know I will be tight for cash as I work perdiem as a nurse. But have income coming in on a monthly basis that covers the bare necessities. I have good insurance so I don't foresee that being a problem. I am worried about how long it will take to get back to usual business. I am with you and know your concerns. So, even though I can't offer you any after surgery advise, I wanted to let you know that someone here is going through what you are. Best wishes to you.

At three weeks, wow, i don't know if i would go on a trip. I was just so completely exhausted in the 3rd and 4th weeks. Everyone is different, but it may really be tough on you. I read how some women got back to golfing at 3 weeks, maybe she was in great shape already. I am a little over weight so I didn't have all that energy. I did drive around that time, but to even go to Walmart and push the cart hurt my stomache and just exhausted me. Hope this helps. This is a major surgery so be careful and take care of yourself........

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Originally Posted by Beth1969 Hello, I just had my hysterectomy July 3. It all went well. It was done vaginally, had the bladder sling done a rectocele repair, (that has to do with rectum area), still learning it all too. He also did a vagina cuff so i had stitches all in vagina, made it all tighter, better....lol Anyway, I had to come home with the catheter for a few days, I was able to take it out myself, no problems. Didn't need much pain meds. after the first week. The most painful was the constipation, Fleets enema helped with that along with daily stool softeners. I haven't had any complications, just had my 6wk checkup and he said its all healing ahead of schedule. Just take care of yourself and have alot of help around the house, I mean with everything. It hurt to sit up, so you will want to lay back alot. Take everyone up on any offers. Esp. for food for the family. I thought mine could handle it. Ha! LOL!!! Just take it easy and let your body heal. Don't lift or strain at all and you will be fine. Hope it all goes well and you should do fine. Many, many women go thru this and it goes well.

I'm pretty sure mine will be done vaginally as well. And my doctor mentioned a bladder repair. I do go to the bathroom alot, just thought it was part of getting older or menopause!! I wasn't paying enough attention. And she (doctor) said she would give me the type of catheter that I can take out myself since I am about an hour and ½ away. I have read about constipation & will keep stool softners around. One thing I have experienced is that when I make juice in my juicer, it really makes ya go. I haven't read that anywhere here. It really cleans ya out. I realize that not all of us have juicers but borrowing one for awhile could help someone as well too. I'm not real good with this site yet. Can other people read all this? and how do I post something on the main page? thanks and good luck with your recovery ~~jenny

	Quote:
Originally Posted by rose398 Well I had my hysterectomy on 6/27/07. I had it removed through a bikini line incision, it was due to large fibroids, and an even larger uteris. Just some back ground for you, I came home in two days, I had surgery on a Wednesday am, home by Friday night with all 20 staples, those came out a week later not problem at all, I was off all painkillers by Thursday am, still today I have only needed some advil once in a while, so for me pain wasn't that bad. If you have stairs, stay off of those for at least a week, you don't realize how difficult the stairs are until you have this surgery, it was first on the list of what NOT to do, and now I know why. And don't lift anything for at least a week, and even then start small, like a gallon of milk small, I'm 7wks and anything heavier than the small bag of kitty litter and I know it. Stick with walking at a slow pace for a few weeks, remember this is major surgery, take your time with everything. You may want to rethink driving your standard for a while, those are a lot of work with muscle you won't have back for a few weeks. My biggest thing still is the soreness right under my belly button, but it gets better every day. I hope this helps, this is a great web site so ask away, I have found the silly things I thought of someone has already asked so I definately didn't feel alone going into the surgery and even now that I'm done I like to help someone else if I can. Good Luck

Thanks for all the good info. I am making lists this weekend so anything helps. I have no stairs. I'm glad your on the mend. I don't have all my results yet so I will know more hopefully on Monday. So far my uterus just doesn't like me anymore. I am not good at asking for help but I guess that will change or I will not say No anyway. Everyone on this site is giving me such good advice and it sure helps the time go by....thanks again & much luck with the rest of your recovery~~jenny