TVH: Army wife & hysterectomy need advice!!

Just goes to show how differently we recover.

I have to let you know Ambitious, that my 9 year old has really stepped right up and been a tremendous help since my hyster. He is now fully responsible for the dishes. I hope that your older kids will be the same way and really pitch in to help out. As for walking them to school, that might turn out to be a great thing. I walk everyday and that has been the only real exercise I've been cleared for. I moved quite slowly for the first couple weeks, tho. (but I had TAH, so your mileage may vary there).

As for the little one, I really think you may want someone to come in for awhile to help you and the little one out. If DH is there for 2 or 3 days, then great, but if he can't be, I'd be calling in all favors if I were you. When mine were that age, they kept me really busy, and after your op you want your very first priority to be your recovery, at least for a little while.

I would be honest with your dr about your concerns. Every woman's surgery and recovery is unique, so I don't think it is fair for her to generalize in the way you described. Plus, God forbid, should any complications or delays in your recovery arise, that can change the whole game. Those stories are all over the forums. I do not wish to frighten you or be negative in any way, but I think that pre op women (who will be responsible for caring for kids afterwards) need to be prepared for some of the possible outcomes. But do not sit and worry pre op (as I did) because that is not productive either. I hope my opinion helps. Good Luck to you as you move forward on your journey.

Thanks. Yes, he went with me for my pre-op and I am having the fertility specialist here that is the OB/GYN for our clinic she is performing my TVH at < >. Not everyone likes our hospital, but I delivered there and had a great experience. I am at Fort Bliss, Tx. My husband wanted a note for his unit to grant him leave, because they are training to go back to Iraq this fall. So, him getting time off is like slim to nothing, but the 1st sgt since he is getting out in the beginning of May he is trying to save my husband some leave, so he is going to let him not put in his leave packet and let him report a couple hours aday or just a call in, so I hope that works out. We have pretty much a new unit since my husband returned from his year deployment April 20, 2010. The new COC is awful!They are either not married, or the ones that are they do not care enough about their family because as you know too the Army is first and family is second. The unit we had before the CO would have made sure he was home and so would the COC to care for me and the family. They were better than what we have now. I wish you the best in the rest of your recovery too. I am hoping that mine goes as well as what I have heard so far and if you walk to and from already and in that short of time that is great! Thanks so much.
Husband and I are going to walk to the school everyday after the first week to see how far I can get to and from until I actually make it all the way. I will definitely be up and moving.

Ambitious, walking is great for you mind you I hated having to get up at first! The hospital had me up and walking the same day as my surgery just short walks around the hallway. If you feel yourself get tired or if it is too much then stop and sit down! Also don't expect to walk like you normally do I went from a fast walker to walking slower then a turtle lol

That is great the unit is trying to save him leave days we had to get a note as well because my surgery was right at the beginning of a field project so they wanted documentation, it was almost a big issue because do to OSHA regulations they can only say that I was having surgery and will have a 6 week recovery and his unit wanted specifics. I took it upon myself to call his E7 and tell him that first off what kind of surgery is non of his business however if he feels that much of a need to be in my personal life before granting my husband the time needed then fine, and went on to explain the surgery needless to say that wasn't the smartest thing to do however I have talked to his E7 before and was told to call him since it was my surgery and not my husbands.

I have had the same issues with our unit, we have been with the same brigade his whole military career however they switched him to this unit and it has been hell ever since! We are working on a job change so hopefully he wont have to deploy with this brigade for a 3rd time!

As Debware87 said yes we do all heal differently and even though by 2 weeks I was back to work full time (desk job) I still have been taking it slow and have bad days...today being one of them! I have learned the hard way to try not and over do it and even though I am tired of everyone having to do for me I need to suck it up for a few more weeks.

I don't have time to read all the responses but I go have to chime in and say I disagree with your doctor. I am 5 weeks post op TVH with posterior repair (rectal hernia). I had one overnight as an outpatient that turned into another overnight as an inpatient. I have a 3 and 6 year old so when given the option to stay I took it.

My doctor has 30 years experience and is very much up to date but conservative. No lifting much for 6 weeks! I don't see how you can take card of a toddler alone and not lift. Not to mention recover with a toddler in the house.

I had issues for 3 weeks post op. Nothing major. Bladder infection, took forever to poop, bleeding, 2 rounds of Antibiotics that I had every side effect with including vomit.

I'm the 'fast healer' but not this time around. I was told I could drive at 10 days. AS IF! When I had to drive it was exhausting.

Now, your doctor could be right. We all have hysterectomy surgery but every one if us is different and so is our surgery. I'd say plan for the worst. Get as much child care as you possibly can!!! I really can't stress that enough. My 3 year old has seriously slowed town recovery. Unless he is physically removed from the house he is all over me. You can probably be alone just yourself after a week but that's it.

Good luck!

I had an LAVH. We arrived at the hospital at 6:15 am, and were home at 4:30 pm, same day. The biggest thing is that while you don't want to overdo it, you have to get up and walk. As scary as it is initially, it helps tremendously. This is something I learned with my C-Sections and found it just as true for this surgery.
I was clear to drive 24 hours post-op and I went to work on day 3. I went to church the morning after my surgery. I didn't work full days that first week, as I did tire easily. But you will definitely need to recruit a friend or relative (or multiple) to help with the kids, errands, meals, and the like. Sounds like it will be particularly important to try to find some temporary assistance for the little one. It may be expensive, but if only for a week or two, maybe a nanny or other child care arrangements.
I truly believe that a lot of how your recovery goes is based on your attitude about it. My thoughts were basically that I didn't have time to let this run my life. And while I'm still more comfortable (on day 13) in stretchy pants, I'm experiencing no pain, but being careful about not picking up heavy things. And I'm cautious when doing things like loading the dishwasher.
Good Luck to you!

I had TAH with both ovaries taken too. I went in on Wed and was out on Fri and that was with surgery taking a bit longer than they thought it would (I think they were calling over ppl over to take a look at the size my ovary was with the cyst in it. Doc said I was the talk of pathology ) but I was out.

Only know how Navy is, but shouldn't be too different with Army, contact hubby's friends wives, the wives club, family support person. I understand that at times the guys just HAVE to report, but there is help out there for you. I'm thinking you would have some type of help for the 2nd week at least if not more.

Good Luck and thank you and your Husband for what you do!

I had a TVH was out the next day but in two weeks no way could I have taken care of children. I think everyone is different as my friend had an abdominal surgery and she was back to work in less than 3 weeks. I am over 50 so I think age is a factor, it took me longer than the average to heal the doctor said, I was a little lagging behind but his stats were that a 40 year old would be at least 80% by week four. Hope this helps

Thanks ladies. Yea, I do have one friend who can maybe help, but so forth of daycare for 2.5 hours is $10.00 and my husband works long hours and we cannot afford daycare. It is too expensive. So, I have to do what I can do with the baby here. It will work out for the best I am sure. I just have to try not to over do it. I will call hubby home if I need. Not sure how it is going to work out, but I have to manage. It has always just been my hubby and I. We do not have family but 1800 miles away. They cannot come down to help. as they have their own financial burdens back home. Thanks Red Heart for the info also. I am hoping that it all goes well and I can have a speedy recovery too. I will be up doing things as soon as I get home. I will keep myself busy with certain things. I had taken off of school so I can rest as needed, but I have sewing and scrap booking I can do. I need to catch up on those anyways.

I had mine done on the 14th. Hysterectomy complete with bladder, rectum, and perineum repairs. I had surgery 7am on Friday, I was released the evening on Saturday. My husband leaves tomorrow to go out of town for a week. So I am only 2 weeks out. I was up and driving at day 10, not long distances or major roads...and I was walking...Your older kids will NOT be the problem, it will be the youngest one. You should recruit help to come help with the baby during the day if you can. At least for the first couple of weeks. If you can get her to crawl up on the couch and sit beside you, then you can still entertain her, but you're going to be at a loss if you have to do much more than that.