5-wk PostOp

Hello Everyone:

I figured I'll go ahead and introduce myself to the group--I just registered yesterday but have been reading all your helpful and interesting posts for a couple of weeks.

I went into the "castle"(?) on Jan. 17 through Emergency and had TAH/BSO on Jan. 19. I am 48 yrs. old and had been dealing with a constant fever for three weeks at that point. Turned out to be an abcess that involved the uterus and ovaries!! It had been several (ahem...27) years since I'd been to the OB/GYN, so I am submitting this for anyone else out there who is like me, as well as to "tell my story."

Anyway, had the TAH/BSO, then had to stay in for a week due to high WBC and fever. I was on three antibiotics IV several times a day and finally got rid of the high WBC and fever. My DH claims it was my IUD that caused the problem but the DD says he doesn't know.

I am now five weeks post-op and I have had very little problems. I cannot figure out why, but am glad for it. I had, essentially, no real pain after surgery--just discomfort to turn in bed, etc. I had the NG tube in my nose until the first morning after surgery and was told this was to minimize the effects of nausea; also had a Foley's catheter until the next morning. As soon as both of them were removed (the DD removed the NG tube; nurse removed the catheter) I was up and walking. I walked once an hour for about 10 minutes from the time I woke up to when I decided enough was enough at around 8PM every night. The only problem I had was my body just didn't like IVs and I was having to get a new site every day, sometimes twice a day. I finally was convinced to get a PICC line on the 22nd and things went much better with that.

My DH was just a dream through all of this. I was scared to death--all this came on very quickly and as you can tell, I was not a doctor/hospital friendly person. I had never had stitches, broken bones, etc., so all of this "stuff" was just totally new to me. When I went into emergency, it was unknown what was causing the fever/WBC, so I had X-rays, CT, and sonograms. The sonogram revealed what "they" thought was fibroid tumors. That's what ended up being the abcess once the surgery was done. I was glad the DH is also the surgeon and wonder how many other people have that circumstance.

I have the shelf, hopefully that will go away. Oh, I did get a really bad cold the first week after I got home, so had loads of coughing and sneezing!! That was quite the experience. I never took any pain meds after the first night (they made me take shots of Tora...something-or-other). But, when I was coughing and sneezing I was thinking I would but never did.

I also have one question. I was supposed to go in for an appt. on Tuesday, but I am here in the Dallas area and the doctor's office has been closed. I'll be going tomorrow. At my incision, there is "hardness" under the skin. Is this normal? I wouldn't bother the group with this, but haven't been able to ask the doctor!

Thank you all for the list, for your kindness I've seen, and for being there . I don't feel very experienced but I'll try to help anyone I can!

Kim, Welcome to Hyster Sisters. I'm glad that you found us and that you've been reading all the different posts.
It sounds like you are doing well.
I had some hardness under my incision that my doctor told me was just healing tissue. Make sure and mention it though.
Take care and let us know how the doctor appoinment goes tomorrow.

Hi Kim:

Sounds like you've been through a lot! Especially for a sister who hasn't had much hospital/medical experience. And it sounds like you're coming through with flying colors. Good for you.

I have the same: I have a very hard "edge" along my incision just under the skin. And then just above that, I have what you describe as a "shelf" - where maddeningly, the panty elastic always goes - and then I think maybe the panties are making the shelf. :-) Any way, I've assumed that this is normal physiology for a healing abdominal incision down low.

Have a nice day.
Linda.


TAH, big fibroid, incision through old horiz C-sect line

Sorry to bug everyone, but I forgot to ask a question. My DD started me on 1.25mg of Estrogen (Premarin) daily. I didn't get to ask him why (didn't think to when he gave me prescription).

But, I was in castle for nearly a week after TAH/BSO, and didn't have any hormones there--did fine and didn't have any mood swings at all. Never have been a mood swinger, so wonder if I really need HRT. If he's doing it for bone density, is there anything else I could ask him if we could do?

Hi Kim:

Your Dr may feel that you need hormone replacements for more than one reason - as you indicated, bone density? Prolonging menopause and it's effects? (your ovaries are gone?)

Hormone replacement should be discussed with you - (You & your doctor) - the pros and cons.

This website has an excellent forum: "Hormone Jungle". Go there, and you'll get more advice.

Good luck!

Linda.

Kim, Here is the link to the Hormone Jungle. The ladies in the "Jungle" are really good. Go ahead and ask them all about your HRT treatment and what they might suggest.

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/for...p?s=&forumid=5