Recovery Progress Reports for Hysterectomy dates Jul 23-Jul 29,2012

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Originally Posted by accounting chic Can anyone help clear up the menopause after hysterectomy question?

Ok, here are my thoughts on it for you. Since you still have your ovaries, they should continue to produce estrogen and you will hit menopause at the average expected time(also think about family history). You may notice some symptoms in the next few weeks, because ovaries sometimes go to sleep after this type of surgery and need a while to wake up.

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Originally Posted by accounting chic Also, what can I expect with going back to work on Monday or Tuesday next week. Due to a job layoff earlier this year I unfortunately do not have time off. I had the DaVinci surgery so am hopeful this will help with my recovery. Many Thanks ! Gayla

I think it stinks you have to go back to work so soon!! Things you should expect are tireing more easily, being uncomfortable sitting or standing for longs periods of times and low attention span. Please rest when ever you can, prop your feet, have other people do any lifting heavier then a gallon of milk and if you aren't feeling well , go home.

Even though you had Davinci, you still had major surgery. Even though the methods are different, we all have the same things done inside and this equals a lot of swelling and a lot of things that need healing. I have seen on here too many times women who have had Davinci and were told by there drs this is basically a miracle surgery and they get doing things to soon and hurt themselves. PLEASE, just listen to what your body is telling you. HUGS!!

Good morning ladies - hope you are all well today. Can you believe that for some of you this is nearly the end of the first week! I am so sorry to hear that some of you may already need to return to work - that really stinks! Luckily in the UK, we are not allowed to work / drive / lift / have sex until the first pre-op assessment at 6 weeks. Due to complications, I was 8 weeks at home and then went part-time for a further 2 weeks. If you do have to work or do activities, please be extremely careful and rest as much or as often as you can. I have always remembered and kept in my head something I read on the site:
At 6 weeks you are 40% healed, at 6 months you are 70% healed, at 12 months you are 100% healed.
I ensure I stick to every rule there is as I know that further surgery would be worse 2nd time around.

Anyway, have an amazing Saturday wherever you are - we are in the trust of Olympic fever here in the UK.

Happy healing

Sue xx

Surgery on Tuesday 7/24 via the Di Vinchi method. I am feeling pretty good. I am resting quite a bit and walking around to get the gas out. I wonder how long the gas will cause discomfort? I wanted to check in to see how others may feel at the same stage of recovery.

Hello all, my surgery (Robotic Radical) was Wednesday 7-25, came home on 26th with a catheter in, has to stay in for a week! Pain is still bad-stomach feels strained. Incision started leaking terribly so went to ER, they said it's normal! It leaked and filled gauze pads for about 14 hours!

I can't believe I'm on the other side!!!

I wanted to post something sooner but wasn't feeling up to it till now. I had my TAH on Tuesday 7/24 at 12:30pm and got home from the hospital yesterday Friday 7/27 at about 3pm.

Those of you I chatted with in Pre-Op days will understand my excitement when I say I WAS ABLE TO KEEP ONE OVARY!!!!!

I was very anxious about this. I am 36 and wanted to keep natural estrogen for a few more years if possible and had long talks with my doc about preserving my right ovary if at all possible (we knew keeping the left was not an option).
Although I had read up and prepared myself to deal with surgical menopause and HRT if need be, I had my fingers crossed that I'd come out of surgery with one ovary. So that was great news. Surgery went well, I had a lot of pain day 1 but they finally figured it out. I was up walking and peeing ahead of schedule and everyone (docs, nurses, visitors) kept saying you look so good doesnt even seem like you could have possibly had major surgery. I felt great the first few days. Now that I'm onto day 4 Im feeling more stiff, sore, a bit sad, and definitely more TIRED so now I'm slowing things down A LOT.

Glad to be home and I'm prepared to listen to my body and take it easy.

Hope all of you made it through A-OK.

update: i had my LAVH (well that's how it started out) on July 24, turned into an ABD incision. My uterus was very long and deep with a fibroid, none of which would fit thru the Lap hence the ABD incision. kept my ovaries. lost the uterus, fallopian tubes and cervix. I'm home after 4 days in the hospital. I have swelling in my extremities (hands and feet) and of course swelly belly. passing gas is very difficult but did have a small BM this morning which made me feel a TON better. should I be concerned with how i'm still swollen? I don't have any d/c from incisions, stabs or vagina. no fever. drinking plenty of fluids and walking. i know progress will be slow but was wondering if i'm making mountains out of molehills. I can sleep for a few hours at a time and pee without trouble. i'm still on pain meds, have other health issues which i'm sure play a role in the recovery. Husband and son away for 2 weeks, maybe that's weighing on my mind. have my 13yo daughter helping and plenty of people calling/coming by. i don't know how I will tell if something is going to go wrong.
please help asuage my fears :O

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Originally Posted by tlpoch Surgery on Tuesday 7/24 via the Di Vinchi method. I am feeling pretty good. I am resting quite a bit and walking around to get the gas out. I wonder how long the gas will cause discomfort? I wanted to check in to see how others may feel at the same stage of recovery.

Mine was also daVinci and on the same day. I posted this same question in the post op general forum and was told several weeks. I'm hoping it's not that long! Right now I use Gas X
2-3 times per day and walk a small loop several times a day thru my kitchen and living room. Never realized just passing gas could feel so good! Best of luck in your recovery. Btw - if you haven't tried it Tylenol PM is great for taking at night!

Hello everyone,
I had my hysterectomy on the July 26th. I was fortunate enough to get the robotic assisted surgery. I slept through part of recovery and when they woke me up I did not feel in any pain at first. Then in like one second I felt like I was pinned down to the table with the cath and the iv and everything else that I had a major anxiety attack, they ended up having to call a code blue. Luckily they were able to get me oxygen and were able to cancel code blue before half the hospital got to me. I then was settled down and they wheeled me to my room. I then had another anxiety attack when they lifted me from one bed to the other, I could not handle the pain. Once settled in my room and everything I was doing much better. I ate chicken broth and then an hour later was able to eat half a peice of toast. About 10 oclock i was able to walk a little. I barely slept the whole night.
The next morning they took all my vitals and some blood work. Everything came back good so they took my cath out and were allowing me to go home. I still am unable to eat very much without feeling very sick so I am sticking to softer foods and toast at this time until my stomach can handle it. I am resting as much as possible but trying to get up and walk about every hour to 2 hours just to keep my blood flowing. It still hurts very much moving around or getting in and out of bed. I just am hoping each day that passes will get better.

First let me pray for all of you on a speedy recovery. We all have shared our stories and given each other advise along the way..hope this helps those to come. My Oophorectomy was on July 25 th, and all went well. My surgery began at 0730 a, and was not complete until around 1230 p. My gyn, saw severe endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and on top of that scar tissue had completely fused ovaries, tubes and bladder. He removed all endo he could safely, but contacted two gyno oncologist collegues to assist. They tackled the endo that had invaded my rectum and colon. I had an overnight stay where the staff kept me comfortable with plenty morphine, demoral and ibuprofen. Dr also has given me an injection of Depo Lupron to help combat any residual endo tissue. Catherter removed and within a few hours able to go on my own. Gas passed later that night, and I felt alot better. I am now at home resting and have finally slept off some of my anesthesia, cause now I can hardly sleep. Very sore, so be prepared to have someone assist you for a couple days. So glad this is finally over and hope my life can return to normal now. I will continue to pray for all my sisters and keep you updated on my progress.

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Originally Posted by coley27 Hello everyone, I had my hysterectomy on the July 26th. I was fortunate enough to get the robotic assisted surgery. I slept through part of recovery and when they woke me up I did not feel in any pain at first. Then in like one second I felt like I was pinned down to the table with the cath and the iv and everything else that I had a major anxiety attack, they ended up having to call a code blue. Luckily they were able to get me oxygen and were able to cancel code blue before half the hospital got to me. I then was settled down and they wheeled me to my room. I then had another anxiety attack when they lifted me from one bed to the other, I could not handle the pain. Once settled in my room and everything I was doing much better. I ate chicken broth and then an hour later was able to eat half a peice of toast. About 10 oclock i was able to walk a little. I barely slept the whole night. The next morning they took all my vitals and some blood work. Everything came back good so they took my cath out and were allowing me to go home. I still am unable to eat very much without feeling very sick so I am sticking to softer foods and toast at this time until my stomach can handle it. I am resting as much as possible but trying to get up and walk about every hour to 2 hours just to keep my blood flowing. It still hurts very much moving around or getting in and out of bed. I just am hoping each day that passes will get better.

So sorry to hear about your experience at the hospital, kinda scary! I had my hysterectomy on Tuesday, 7/24. Yesterday was the first day I could really stand to eat anything other than toast for the day. Don't rush it, you will feel a little better each day. Yesterday was also the first day I really actually felt like moving around, and was more comfortable getting in and out of bed. I see things piling up, but I am forcing myself to leave everything alone & focus on recovery. Hugs to you & all my best for a speedy recovery.
Gayla