TVH: Army wife & hysterectomy need advice!!

Hi all,

I went to my pre-op today. Mind you I have a sort of young doctor, she was in the Army as a physician. My husband needed to drop a leave packet for my Feb. 14th surgery date and she informed me my hospital stay will be release that day or the next day. Anyone else have this short of stay for a TVH? I am not having my ovaries removed, but uncertain about the tubes. I had the "essure" procedure, so not sure if they are coming out, or just the tube that I was having issues with for the pain endured during menses. That will be determined at the time of surgery. She said I will be driving by 1 week and that I can care for my 19 month old who would be in my care all day. I have a almost 10 and almost 9 year old whom I walk to school around 3 city blocks. She also said in the 2 week time I will be able to walk them to and from school and I will be back to normal activities by a couple of weeks. My husband was trying to take leave to help me out with the kids and everything. I am lost for words as my husband. After being recommened to view this site and get support I went to her with questions and with her having to type up a letter to my husband's unit and her being ex-military it is the military morals of "suck it up!". Any advice for if I should just take it easy, but do what I can as my husband is going to have to report to his unit within one week of post-op? I cannot believe that she stresses "major surgery", but she acts like it's child delivery.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to respond to my cry for help!

I had a LAVH
I think the short hosiptal stay is fine. But not so sure on her expectations on your recovery process. My gut feeling is thats the "suck it up" mentality. Each person is different in recovering. I think you should get all the info you can find about TVH and take each day yourself as you feel. Dont let her expectations over rule how you feel. I am sure this site has plenty of info for you re: TVH, just take some time and look around here...

I just had my TVH Monday, released Tuesday evening. I really feel good. I'm quite shocked. Off narcotics, using Extra Strength Tylenol switch in Motrin every 6 hours. I was walking a few hours post op. I posted a full story in the forum. Hubby is staying home tomorrow and then he is back to work. I am able to do pretty well on my own but my children are older 15, 18. You take care!!

Thank you ladies. I really appreciate the comments. I have been viewing the site. It is very helpful. I will do my recovery as I can and do it as I feel I am able. It just seemed a bit odd to me that it would take so little time with so many stitches inside the vagina that it would be a release so early in as little as hours later to the next day. I am glad both of your recoveries went well and will check out your full forum. Thanks again sisters.

Good luck to you Ambitious! I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the recovery.

Hi, I'm actually celebrating my 6 month post-op today. Woo hoo!!
I had laprascopic TLH with BLO (I think that's the abbreviations) I had my surgery at Walter Reed Army Hospital in DC. The military definitely does things differently from the civilian world. I was in early in the morning for my surgery and was out late in the evening the next day. I was stunned! I had extensive work done from previous adhesions and just couldn't imagine that I was ready. I was scared to go home. What if something happened? (Make sure you get good contact information to reach them 24/7 after you are discharged). I was much more comfortable at home. My DH was here to help, but was back at work 2 days post op. My children were with my parents for a week and my wonderful woobie dog was my companion. I sat in bed a lot, which led to considerable water retention and leg swelling. The best thing you can do truly is to get up and walk as much as you are able. Don't overdo it, but don't vegitate either. I had to go in with all of my questions in hand, I also had a list for DH to ask while I was in recovery. You WILL need him there at the hospital tobe an advocate for you, regardless of the type of surgery it's always good to have someone to help you. They let him stay the night in my room. Thank God! I was in rough shape. In the end, I would say the worst part was figuring out how to compensate for my hormone loss. I went on Climara patch and have recently added Pro-Gest cream 2x daily. I was noticing a lot of the symptoms of progesterone deficiency. Hopefully, with keeping your ovaries, you won't have to deal with those sort of issues. Best of luck to you. I'm happy to answer any questions I can.

I am from the uk I had my op TAH ovaries left in. My op was 6th jan 11 am at to be in at 7.30am. And left 5pm on the 8th. It best for you to get home and be mobile but you need to be looked after

Also no driving for 6 weeks and no house work chores in the uk we are not covered by car insurance if you drive before your allowed to. I am 3 weeks post op and not allowed to pick anything up that is heavier than 5lb or 1500kg. Not sure what your dr has told you but I am no where near allowed to do anything you mentioned and have stayed at my parents for past 3 weeks whilst my partner has done the school run and cared for boys age 16 and 4 and the dog. But may be different rules apply

Mine was a LAVH, on a Tuesday afternoon and went home on Wednesday evening when my hubby got off work. My hubby spent the night in the hospital with me, as I wasn't fully alert til about 10 pm. I was at home by myself the first 2 days...as I got released from hospital much sooner that I had expected. Hubby had vacation during weekend/week following. My youngest child was 17 at the time of surgery so I didn't have the young child to worry about. Maybe the older children could help you some with the younger child when they get home from school til hubby gets home...just a thought.

I had very little pain and only used the script pain pills for the first week, to make sure I didn't have any uncontrolled pain...from then on it was advil or tylenol. I was up and going pretty early in my recovery. We went for a car ride on day 4 to watch our grandson play soccer (it was a 2 hr round trip car ride with stops to walk around during it). I felt so much better than I had expected to during the recovery period. Hope you have an easy recovery and remember to only do what you feel like doing....maybe some of your friends or neighbors could help you out during the day if needed. Just trying give you some ideas for help.I do think the Dr. is expectiong too much of you in the early recovery time...best of luck for surgery and during your recovery.

Yea that is what my doctor said to in the beginning before it became a military issue with my husband needing a note to be here to help me. Debware 87 I was not allowed to drive until I was cleared to do so and I was not allowed to clean the house. Then she told me that I need to make friends to help me out. I was like OK! I have one that has been here through deployment and all and she is working now. She is not as accessible as she had been. We helped each other out. We're 1800 miles away from family. My older children cannot lift the baby who is 25 lbs. She also told me too that I was not allowed to lift the baby, but now she said I can get onto the floor to change her diaper or have her to come to me. Yea, she does not operate that way. She wants me to pick her up and sit with me. So, it will be a challenge for us both. I am sure we will make it through this and have a great recovery. Thanks sisters for your comments. It is great to know that I have a great family here at HysterSisters. Thanks you sisters and I wish the best for you too. I will update when I have surgery and let everyone know how my experience goes and if I find any tools to help care for a child while hubby is at work. <3