HysterSisters Articles for Hysterectomy

SHARING IS CARING

TAH/BSO on March 11, 2009

From the Abdominal Hysterectomy Stories Articles List

I am 4 weeks post surgery today and I have to say that I am doing pretty great.

After 3 years of endo pain and terrible headaches since puberty (among other gyno issues) I decided that it was time to stop playing with temporary fixes. I hated the lupron shots and I fell into a depressed state each time that I did them because I knew that it was never going to be a cure. I needed to feel that I was taking control of the situation and was ready to end the reproductive chapter in my book of life because it had been nothing but pain. I really feel that it was the healthy thing for me to do for my mental state as well as my physical state. Now I feel that I can get on with life and move forward.

My trip to the castle was a positive experience. I followed the advice of other sisters here and asked the anethesiologist for the "cocktail" so that I would not throw up after surgery. I didn't even have a bout of nausea to complain about. My doc had to to a good bit of work on my bladder and bowel and I had some intense pain from bladder spasms. I told the nurse the kind of feelings I was having and she gave me a suppository along with my pain meds and it helped almost immediately. After that my pain was manageable with morphine and toradol. I went in on Wednesday and was doing so well, I was able to come home on Friday. The worst thing about the castle was the leg "warmers" that they put on your before your surgery and doesn't come off until the next day when the catheter comes out. I understand that they massage the legs to keep clots from forming but they made my legs itch and the sound of the pump kept me from resting well.

My best advice is to walk as soon as they will let you. It will help with gas and believe it or not, will help with pain.

When I got home I developed a cough. That was no fun, I called the doc and she called me in some meds and once that was over I was off the narcotics and was feeling tender but overall great. I would say that at the 2 week mark, I was feeling better than before the surgery. And I am very happy to report that I haven't had a headache since I have been off of the narcotics. Headaches were a daily thing for me so I almost don't know how to act.

At my 2 week check up, my doc discussed with me the findings of the pathology report. She said that what she had thought was an endometrioma on my left ovary was actually a dermoid cyst so she was happy with our decision to take both ovaries as there is a 15% chance of a cyst on the other ovary. I had severe adhesions thought the abdomen and mainly involving the bladder and bowel. We had already decided before the surgery that I would not do HRT for 6 months after the surgery to give me better odds for a cure. I am using an anti-depressant to help with the menepausal side effects. I still have hot flashes but it is not as bad. I will trade it any day of the week when I think about what I felt like before the surgery. I am glad that I did it.



SHARING IS CARING

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