Recovery Progress Reports for Hysterectomy dates Dec 12-Dec 18,2011

glad to see I am not alone with the BM drama - I really never expected something so small to be so painful and now I am getting the hemmorhoids also! I will say that I have been using fennel oil (certified therapeutic grade) to help my body expel gas - works like a charm. I actually diffused it at the hospital to get things moving and now just rub a little on my abdomen when I start to feel the gas pains.

Yesterday marked one week since my surgery on 13th. TVAH. Got all my stitches out & path was clear. Had a few spastic bladder issues & infection & put me on antibiotics; was annoying but no big deal. No hormonal issues at all. Slapped a big ole hormone patch on my bottom during surgery & so far no men symptoms. I was able to remove the big patch & stared on .1 vivelle dot. I pray this will be all I need & keep menopausal monster away. My worst complaint is the abdominal pain surrounding gas & BM. Drank & still drink tons of water & taking Colace stool softener is helping. GasX strips that melt in mouth are fast acting & help too. ( I keep an insulated themos of water with me at all times). Aside from being let go by a long time & major client (siting financial) & in a short email less than a week post op (who was aware I was recovering) --- the TVAH in all hasn't been so bad. It is best to recover without stress like that! So recommend not checking emails before going to bed -- I'm an independent marketing consultant so I feel compelled to stay connected in case there is a client need. I made the mistake pre-op of telling folks they could reach me via email a couple of days after surgery. Don't do that for all those planning hysterectomies --- give yourself 2 weeks at least! ! take care sisters!

Ugh, My dr office just called to tell me I have a bladder infection-not sure why or how, but at least it's not my kidney problem like they thought. I've been taking Cipro so she said that should cover it. I see Dr on Friday-I cannot even imagine being released to work after new years so soon! I'm telling my dr straight forward I am taking my full 6 weeks. I'm so exhausted/week/emotional, other than shower and laps of walking I am spent to the max-I have a sit down desk job also, but I did read in the booklet we get from here that sitting to long is not good either, so I'm not rushing it and even thinking of cutting hours a little bit when I do return.
Today I feel like an alien sucked up all my energy and to think I woke up this am feeling I got the best nights sleep yet, I just don't get it, but pain is better a little each day.

When I complained of my nurses care I did not have any expectations of being their one and only pt. I expected to be treated like a post op pt that had other daily medications that I needed which during the pre nurse interview I did gave them all prescribed meds I take how much and how often. Before going into surgery I also stated when was the last time I had taken the meds prior to surgery so when it took over two hours to get my prescribed medications at bedtime and some help getting back into bed ( finally made it to the chair but still had not walked the halls) since I had an IV in left and cath hanging off the right and oxygen so I needed help getting anywhere. I know it takes some time when ringing the call button I also had a phone # to reach my nurse or PCT on. I tried not to call unless I really needed them. I also know that at shift change time not to expect too much but never knew if you're getting an 8 hour shift or 12 hour shift person. When someone new came on they sometimes did not leave their name or how to get a hold of them other then the call light. I just finished a health care communications class and knew when I was getting the care and when I was not. As I stated the hospital I was in has had a lot of "growth" in the last couple of years trying to attract more Drs and pts. Think some of the staffing has not caught up with the growth. When I had my first son there 12 years ago it was still a small community hospital. It has also merged recently with another suburban hospital which also made have had something to do with it.

I'm so thankful of my nurses esp after reading your not so pleasant experiences, first of all I am sorry you didnt' get great nursing care. I will be sending my three shifts something to thank them now-I'll have to send my boys to the store tomorrow and to drop off something by Friday.

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Originally Posted by kathy1970 Ugh, My dr office just called to tell me I have a bladder infection-not sure why or how, but at least it's not my kidney problem like they thought. I've been taking Cipro so she said that should cover it. I see Dr on Friday-I cannot even imagine being released to work after new years so soon! I'm telling my dr straight forward I am taking my full 6 weeks. I'm so exhausted/week/emotional, other than shower and laps of walking I am spent to the max-I have a sit down desk job also, but I did read in the booklet we get from here that sitting to long is not good either, so I'm not rushing it and even thinking of cutting hours a little bit when I do return. Today I feel like an alien sucked up all my energy and to think I woke up this am feeling I got the best nights sleep yet, I just don't get it, but pain is better a little each day.

I imagine I will be exhausted as well but I need structure in my life. I need to get back to routines to feel better. The group I work with are great so I won't have to lift anything, won't have to do stairs even. I can get up and walk around whenever I need to if sitting is too much. Kinda hoping my chair has a bit of a recline setting though. I don't feel like I will be pushing it but if once I get there I feel I came back too early believe me - I will take more time. I am not feeling emotional and have been exhausted for so long maybe I am just so used to feeling this way it feels normal! It was more the pain I was worried about and it has been pretty tolerable! Another week and a half I think (hope) I will feel great! We all just have to listen to our bodies. I know every day is different but I think by then there will be more good days than bad

Day 5 post op. Pain wise, doing very well. I get a twinge if I move the wrong way or do too much, but I've only had the Voltaren and I haven't needed anything in between.

However, I ended up getting in to see my family doctor because I am really worried. First of all, my white count has been a bit up since day 2 post op and I've been on Cipro. I've had a low grade fever the whole time and it continues.

When I got home, I felt a burning sensation 'down below', and when I checked with a mirror I saw a lesion about 1/2 an inch in diameter on the outer labia, toward the back. It looks like a 'rub spot' sort of thing, I thought maybe pads or the catheter tubing had rubbed the spot a bit raw. I have been cleaning it and applying polysporin ointment to it every time I use the bathroom, but it doesn't seem to be helping and I think I should have seen some improvement by now. It really hurts. Then today a new development--some kind of weird, red, raised up rash in my groin area and on the front of one thigh, these dots. It doesn't itch, but there are all sorts of funky infections a person can pick up in a hospital and now I'm freaked out.

My doctor didn't look at the lesion, but he did see the rash. He said it sort of looks like yeast or fungal, but he is surprised it doesn't itch. He prescribed another oral antibiotic which I am to overlap with the Cipro, plus some kenacomb ointment for the rash and he said keep doing what I've been doing with the other lesion. I'm going to add cleaning the lesion with peroxide. That stuff kills anything, no bug survives it.

I've also had some blood drawn for testing for hemoglobin and white count.

I had had a followup re my hemoglobin levels anyway scheduled for next week. I'm going to keep that appointment because it's really hard to get in to see my family physician. He sees 60 patients a day, which I think is just awful!

I'm really worried about this, envisioning all sorts of terrible things.

If it wasn't for this, I would say my progress has been remarkable, other than that I tire very quickly.

Day 10 (surgery on 12/12): I have one more day of belly shots (have history of blood clot so have to take shots for 10 days to prevent another blood clot). I will be SOOO thankful when the shots are done! I'm running out of spots on my belly that aren't already sore from the surgery.

Most of the bruises are healing OK - even with the belly shot meds. Still have a nasty bruise down by the mini-lap site that is a nasty purple color. I'm hoping it is able to start healing once the belly shots are done.

I did more walking today which was good but I am really tired tonight. Any I'm pretty sure I have a terrific case of swelly belly! Laying down seems to help that - just wish the dog didn't think my laying down was her cue to come up, lay down next to me and put her head on my belly. Love her a lot but....Yikes! She doesn't understand why I push her away from my belly. I just get those puppy dog eyes saying "What? I always do this."

As for pain, I'm doing good. The Ibuprofen is handling it just fine. Hubby is being super fantastic even when I ask him to do things that he isn't comfortable doing - like checking my mini-lap incision and my purple bruise. The look on his face the first time I asked was absolutely priceless - and he still did it!

The big test is going to be traveling. I have my pillow that I will use and will take the pain meds with just in case I need them. Thankfully, we are only going to travel about an hour away and the weather is suppose to be fantastic for Christmas. That works well in that I don't have to do any cooking for the Christmas meals. My hubby's idea of a Christmas meal would be pizza rolls!!!

So...tomorrow I take it a little easier so I don't push things and will try and keep swelly belly down - at least a little bit less than tonight.

Little update at the end of day 5 from me.

I am feeling well. I am still taking Toradol every 6 hours with 2 regular strenth tylenol at the same time and sometimes a couple more tylenol inbetween. I have the same sharp twinges that I have read so much about along with just general achiness - all manageable with position change, walking around a bit and heat pads. I had my first BM on day 4 and another today. It's a drawn out process to just relax and pass stool but it is soft and not overly painful upon exit. I take 2 stool softeners morning and night drink tons of water and eat a high fibre diet.
My nurse is coming to remove the foley cathether tomorrow and leave me to void on my own for the day. I hope I am sucessful. If not then back in it goes for another 3 days. Not the end of the world.
I have great care here at home and literally am not lifting a finger. My hubby is great.
I nap morning and afternoon and can usually sleep 7 - 8 hours at night (due of course to the catheter)
My swelly belly is impressive still.... big big belly - looks weird!

I have the 'big belly' thing, too.

Hubby just had to talk me down from a crying, hyperventilating panic attack as I imagined myself with a 'staph infection' down below. Hubby reminded me I'm on 2 antibiotics plus the ointment, give them a chance to work. I've decided if that lesion has not improved by Friday, I'm going in to see some medical person. I should have had the doctor actually look at it, so stupid of me to waste an appointment this way!

I've got Kenacomb ointment, it covers lots of things, so hopefully it helps. I should be grateful I have no signs of infection inside.