No Date: New, scared and anxious about pending LAVH and dropped bladder

Hi ladies!! I can't tell you how thankful I am that so many of you are on here for support and encouragement. I have been reading posts for two days, since my appt. with the gyno. I'm 35 and have 3 kids. After a failed ablation in 2007, plus much pain and too much bleeding, a hysterectomy is my last viable option. During my appointment, it was also discovered that my bladder has dropped and will also need to be treated (and is causing me problems). My gyno said a Pessary was not a good solution for me and mentioned I would need a mesh to hold my bladder in place. I'm concerned about all the things I have read about the risks and outcome of this procedure. My Dr. scheduled me to meet with a Urologist in two weeks. Both procedures would be done at the same time. I'm looking for others that can provide some feedback. I'm looking for as much information as possible so I can take back questions. I'm also interested in knowing the length of the hospital stay, level of pain and how long it takes to recover. I'm really scared at this point. I feel like my body is falling apart and I have already had several surgeries. I just want to make sure I make the best decisions and I want to be armed with as much information as possible. After my appt. with the Urologist, the surgery will be scheduled. My Dr. decided that a LAVH would be the method of choice for me. Thank you!!!

Hi,
I am about 36 hrs post op and feel great. I had the LAVH with a few complications but all went well. I came home 26 hrs after surgery and need very little pain meds, virtually no bleeding just a little sore. I think the worst part is the heart burn/sore throat from the tube they put down my throat. I was terrified before and relieved after. I also had a failed ablation and was in a great deal of pain. I am so happy a got this done, I feel great.

Oh that's a relief and I'm glad you're happy with everything and feeling well overall. Thank you so much for sharing with me. That's encouraging. I hope you have a speedy recovery and congratulations for the extra joy in your relief.

I am exactly like you! I am 34, three kids, failed ablation...blah blah. THe only diff is that I didn't have the bladder prob. I had a LAVH last week and I feel AMAZING! I was so nervous beforehand. I cried when they had trouble with my iv, because I was so wound up. Let me tell you, it was all unnecessary. It was one of the easier surgeries that I have had - esp compared to a section. For me, the ablation was worse than this.

Educate yourself wisely, without delving too much into horror stories. You'll scare the bejesus out of yourself - likely for nothing.

My advice to you is to make sure that you are not responsible for taking care of children for a little while. I had to go to my parents to get out of the house. Being in the house makes me want to help out and do too much. At my parents, I could relax and have them help me out - plus, I could truly relax and not feel like i had stuff I needed to do.

Oh! Now to your actual questions. I stayed overnight and left at about 9 the next morning. Pain was seriously non-existent. I would describe my "pain" as discomfort, not pain. They had e on a dilaudid drip after surgery and I slept the whole day after I had it done. It was heaven. No pain and all sleep. FAbulous!!

My back hurt worse than anything and swelled up a bit. It lasted about 5 days. I am 8 days out today. I took one pain pill yesterday and none so far today. I am still taking the motrin, as my doc said to take it whether I felt I needed it or not. I am moving slower than normal and still restricting my activities - like housework and lifting. Otherwise, I am doing really, really well. I tire a little easier than normal, but that's to be expected. Bending down is uncomfortable still, so I try to do that only when necessary - and from the legs. I am off work for 6 weeks and off restriction (pending check-up) at 2 weeks. I haven't bled except right after the cath and packing came out - and that was only in the toilet. I haven't even needed pads. Hooray!!

I feel like this is one of the best things I have done for myself. I understand now why one friend's reaction when I told her of my impending hyster was "Congratulations!!"

Good luck, friend!

I had a TAH with bladder repair w/mesh as well as rectocele repair. I had surgery Friday March 19th and came home on Monday. Other then night time I did not take my narcotic pain meds I only took the motrin. I did have pain for the first 48 hours but after that it has been very managed. My only problem is constipation but I had that issue before surgery as well.

Thank you SO much for replying! I really appreciate everything you have said and for taking the time to be so thorough. I go see the Urologist on Tuesday so I will see what he says as well. This site is wonderful and so are the people that make it great!

Hi Snan! I know exactly how you feel. I am having the exact surgery ! I am very nervous now that i have my date(May 19th). I have read so much on here and im glad i found this site! I think im more worried about the sling than the other . I am keeping my ovaries and cervix. My doctor says he will go in first with a small camera and scope everything out first. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will be done Lap. He told me i will stay overnight and if all goes well , home the next day. Question for those who have had it done. Do they shave you for the bladder sling? Doctor told me they use glue to close incisions for sling not sutures. Good luck Shan , and if its any consulation please know you can contact me anytime as i know how you are feeling too!

Hi Shannonian,

re>the length of the hospital stay,
I had a LAVH/BSO at 8:30 am. they start your "clock" at the moment you arrive "upstairs in your room". I think I got up to the room at 10 30 am. They said I would be in the hospital until they were sure I was peeing by myself, was passing gas and could walk around a bit. The nurses were great in my hospital and they told me take as long as I wanted that day; that I wouldn't be charged another day until midnight. So I started going to the bathroom on my own (well they were there in the room) 24 hrs after surgery, walked the halls a couple times and then went home about 2pm. I probably could have forced it to go home by noon, but why rush!!


RE:level of pain
everyone is different, but it really wasn't all that bad for me, I was on a diluadid drip and just kept pushing the button whenever i got uncomfortable. the next morning I got off that and was given a hydrocodone and then took that every 6 hrs for the next couple days. It really wasn't bad. (I swear I had a laparoscopy years ago for my tubes tied and I was much worse. I think cause it was outpatient surgery and I was home before the anesthesia got out of my system.) I really was prepared for being much much worse. My family couldn't get over that i could shuffle out to the kitchen that night for dinner. Granted I went right back to bed, but I was up!


RE:and how long it takes to recover.
again everyone is different.
there is so much good info on this site, I highly recommend you keep reading as much as you can.
I have heard that you can be tired for one year after surgery like this. That scared me. However, I have been tired for the last 7 years so it can't get much worse! HA

I am just about 4 wks post and I am up yet but take it easy, I get lunch and dinner for the family, but need help at the grocery store.-pushing the cart, doing all that unloading etc. Today I went to a store and was tired of the walking after just 30 minutes. but I rested abit when I got home and then felt better.

I really can't believe it has been as easy as it has been.
Hope it goes as well for you,
keep reading and good luck.
I've been recommending that people keep a little notebook by them when they read this site; jot down all the little things that sound good to you, then put them into play. it will be so helpful!!

I love Pineapple juice now and it is all from an idea in the members hints!!!



Sue

oh
re: shaving
ask the dr. everyone is different. At my hospital for the LAVH they use a clippers and just trim you reallllllly close! that was much better than shaving! (don't do it yourself they don't want you to cut yourself)

Hello and welcome~
I am scheduled for surgery April 13th (didn't think the day would come). My situation is a lot like yours. Three kids too! I am having the DaVinci surgery along with the bladder surgery and entrocele repair! My bladder is prolapsed, so is the uterus which has adenomyosis, along with "very large" ovaries and cysts that do not go away..and then the wonderful entrocele (insult to injury if you ask me).

The uterus, cervix and right ovary are going, the left ovary will stay if it looks good. I am going in at 5:30am with surgery at 7:30am i will stay the night and go home the next day once i can pee on my own and have bowel sounds.

I am worried the most about the mess and sling part of the surgery, but keep telling myself that most people do not post if they are having a "good outcome". I think this is my biggest worry of it all. The horror stories are enough to make you want to run. BUT i do know someone that has had the same surgery and they are doing great and running marathons!

It is a lot to take in and you have made a good start by coming here and posting your first question. Believe me you will have about 1,000 more. Wishing you luck!!!

It's such a comfort not to be alone and to have others to talk to that understand. I appreciate you SO much!! Congrats to those that just got out of surgery and it's good to hear you're doing well!

I went to the Urologist today and he confirmed what the Gyno said. I do need to have the bladder and Uretha repaired with a mesh net and also some sort of tape. He said the success rate is an average of 8-10 years and would want to get it done again in the future. Yikes! But hey...I (like you) appreciate the fact that there is at least a solution to a would be problem we don't want to have. ;o) I'm looking at the bright side. Your feedback definitely helps. I'm really looking forward to the positives of having the hysterectomy.

The Urologist is going to get back to my Gyno. My gyno will then file for approval and then schedule my surgery. I imagine it will be in the May timeframe.

daisyforest....Good luck on your surgery. I'm thinking about you right this moment as you are probably in recovery at this time. Please let us know how you made out. Hugs!