Pre-Op Hysterectomy: Open House Chat Thread - Today Aug 02, 2020

Welcome!

This special Pre-Op Hysterectomy: Open House Chat Thread is for YOU if you are having surgery this week. This thread chat will help you meet others who are having surgery the same week as you, calm your anxiousness, and help answer your last minute questions.

To get started, please introduce yourself, sharing a few things about yourself and your upcoming hysterectomy. Tell us what concerns you have as you prepare for your surgery.

Have patience! Because this is a "COME AND GO" event, check back here during the day for replies with answers, support and hugs from new friends. Our post-op members will be stopping by, too!

As you get to know the other members having surgery this week - you will be meeting up again, after your hysterectomy, in a special thread created just for this week's surgeries in the Post Op Hysterectomy forum.

Please note this thread will close at 11:59 PM Central Time.

Tomorrow I’m having my hysterectomy. I’m 27 years old and have 3 kids. All of my pregnancies with my children were really bad and it has lead to really bad female issues. I have struggled for the past 4 years or so. I am excited about my surgery tomorrow because I am excited to feel better. I am having a laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy and hoping to remove Fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix but keep at least one ovary. My main sadness about tomorrow is since Covid-19 is so bad in our area that I have to go alone. I’m a little afraid and sad and anxious but excited to get this over with! I have to stay overnight but once I get settled in a room I can have one visitor. Either my husband will come if my kids are being good for my mother in law who graciously came to stay with them while I’m having this done or my mom will come. I’m excited about that at least. I hope you all do well with your surgeries!

Hi everyone! I'm 49 and my surgery is on Wednesday the 7th. It will be a robotic laparoscopic assisted hysterectomy, removing cervix, uterus and tubes. I'll keep my ovaries. I was put on the schedule last Tuesday, so I have only had a week to get wound up and anxious, which is a relief. Some people wait months and having anxiety for that long sounds awful.

I'm a big sci fi fan, so having robotic surgery is very exciting for me. The future has arrived! I'm relieved we have had so many advances in medicine and that I benefit from it all.

I'm a bit concerned about recovering alone. Due to covid, my regular support people can't be there for me in person. But I've made arrangements for a very reliable, stable friend to call me every day at 3, with very specific instructions on what she should do if I don't answer after repeated tries. That has relieved my worries greatly.

I'm delighted at the prospect of not bleeding any more. Three out of the last four months I have been bleeding heavily and continuously. I have always hated how messy the whole menstruation process is, so I'll be glad to be shut of it.

Good luck to all of us!

Hello! My name is Shanna and I am having a total hysterectomy via Da Vinci on Friday. I’m a proud momma to our first daughter in Heaven, Brenna and our 10 month old, Makenna. I have struggled with fibroids since my early 20s. My paternal grandmother had a hysterectomy in the 60s due to fibroids as well as her daughter, my aunt, in the early 90s. Unfortunately, I guess it runs in the family!
I used to have cramps to the point I would be sick and eventually, my irregular bleeding transitioned to very heavy with large clots, causing me to be anemic. After several hysteroscopies/DNCs, I had a Da Vinci myomectomy in November of 2011 to remove 3 large fibroids (after Lupron they were estimated to have shrunken in half...at surgery they were 5cm, 3cm and 3cm.). That surgery went very well and was pretty easy. However, by spring, I had grown several new ones.
I took Lupron for the next year to keep growth at bay. I met my husband in 2013 and we married in 2017. We got pregnant within a month of our wedding. A dream come true as I had always wanted to be a mommy. I’m the oldest in my family, and all my siblings had kids or some on the way. Being I was 39 and had a previous myomectomy, I was watched closely by a specialist. Unfortunately, on April 23, 2018, my dad passed I’m his sleep from a heart attack. Less than 2 weeks later, our sweet Brenna was stillborn. My grandfather passed a week and a half after Baby Brenna and I developed blood clots in both legs. I was assured that our loss had nothing to do with my age or previous uterine surgery. In fact, no reason was found. After 7 months on Xaralto, I was transitioned to Lovonox injections and we started trying again. I was thrilled to find out we were expecting again in February. My second pregnancy was rough emotionally and physically. My fibroids grew and would ache so badly some days! I had gestational diabetes and kidney stones. After a 6 week stay in the hospital due to Makenna’s heart decelerations, I went into early labor at 32 weeks. Not wanting to risk uterine rupture due to my previous myomectomy and emergency c-section, my doctor didn’t mess around. I was rushed into surgery and our sweet girl, albeit small, was born healthy!
My wonderful doctor, who delivered our firstborn when I walked into the labor and delivery unit with no movement advised me that I needed to have a hysterectomy. I have 9-10 fibroids that she has been able to count, with the largest 9 cm. I absolutely trust her guidance. Due to my history with clotting, she has sent me to a gynecological oncologist to do a Da Vinci since there is less risk.
My concerns are:
1. I was told that with fibroids, the bladder sometimes has issues draining after surgery, since it suddenly had all sorts of room, lol! If that’s the case, I might have to come home with a catheter and that freaks me out.
2. The pain. How bad is it?
3. Sex after having a vaginal cuff. I’ve been assured it’s just as good, but it still concerns me.
4. My largest fibroid is in the back of my uterus. If the doctor isn’t able to remove the uterus vaginally, she will have to make a vertical abdominal incision. I really don’t want another scar but also, concerned with pain and recovery.

Wishing you all the best this week ladies! Thanks in advance for your advice!

I am having my surgery on Wed. Aug 5th. Thanks for this thread. I do have a few questions left. I've seen people say it's hard to get in and out of bed. I have a taller than normal bed with a remote that lifts the back up behind me (or the feet can be elevated).

One friend who had this surgery told me it's best to lay flat on your back as often as possible for the first 2 weeks (other than when walking or going to restroom / eating etc) to give the insides the best chance to heal without 'scrunching') like if you sat straight up in bed. Have you guys noticed that helps? Or did any doctor mention it? I've never seen anyone else talk about it.

I want to be able to read books on my tablet to pass time. I do find it hard on on my wrists to hold those above me. Did you guys get any devices that helped hold a book over your head? Either electronic or printed book?

I hope my higher bed and remote will help so I can lift myself some when trying to get up. We'll see...

I do have a stool for in the bathroom. Does it stay below your feet while knees bent and lifted or do you use it out in front of you with legs straight?

I have a choice to be picked up in an SUV or a car. Which would be easier to get in and out of? I think I'll sit in the back and avoid the seat belt either way. I'll have my HysterSisters pillow to hug either way. The ride is about 20 minutes home. My sister said after her C section her ride home for 5 minutes was awful. I don't look fwd to that part.

Right now the plan is to start my surgery laparoscopic with the doctor having permission to switch to abdominal if needed b/c of tumor and uterus size. The hope is a 23 hour stay once in a room. Has anyone had that short of a stay after abdominal? I hear it's more common if it's laparoscopic.

Curious what people felt like eating over the first few days. I did a lot of pre-cooking of soups. But curious with my last 2 days of prep here if there's anything else I should do to make it easier on my mom. My husband has been staying in another room b/c he just got back from traveling and we want to make sure I stay clear of COVID. (And never ever ever do I want to retake that horrible test!!!) My goodness. This is a terrible time to be getting medical care, isn't it? But my surgery was supposed to be in June. But COVID close downs delayed it.

Thanks for any advice.

Hello everyone! I am 41 (42 on the 12th) my surgery is scheduled for Thurs August 6th. I've had just over a month to prep and fret about my surgery. I have really bad bleeding due to larger fibroid and the other procedure they were going to do they couldn't do once they started. I am having laparoscopic vaginal assisted hysterectomy (keeping ovaries) and will have to stay over night in hospital, I have never had to stay as a patient in a hospital and ours currently does not allow any visitors so I will be completely alone for all of this.

My biggest worry isn't for me but my husband who has a long list of health issues (dialysis, leg amputation, in wheelchair and a few other issues). I really am his full time care taker on top of working full time. Once I am home I won't have a lot of help so I am making meals my husband can toss in microwave to warm up for us both. I also have to work the full 7 days before my surgery in order to get time off to do this, which means I have to meal prep before or after I work all day. I could really use a day or two to get caught up and rest .

Best of luck to all of us this week! I know once it's over with we will all feel much better!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Poppy471 Hi everyone! I'm 49 and my surgery is on Wednesday the 7th. It will be a robotic laparoscopic assisted hysterectomy, removing cervix, uterus and tubes. I'll keep my ovaries. I was put on the schedule last Tuesday, so I have only had a week to get wound up and anxious, which is a relief. Some people wait months and having anxiety for that long sounds awful. I'm a big sci fi fan, so having robotic surgery is very exciting for me. The future has arrived! I'm relieved we have had so many advances in medicine and that I benefit from it all. I'm a bit concerned about recovering alone. Due to covid, my regular support people can't be there for me in person. But I've made arrangements for a very reliable, stable friend to call me every day at 3, with very specific instructions on what she should do if I don't answer after repeated tries. That has relieved my worries greatly. I'm delighted at the prospect of not bleeding any more. Three out of the last four months I have been bleeding heavily and continuously. I have always hated how messy the whole menstruation process is, so I'll be glad to be shut of it. Good luck to all of us!

Best to you! My surgery is Tuesday!

Jkirkman11....So sorry you have to go alone. Where do you live? They are letting the same visitor for visiting hours be with me as they prep me for surgery, and a short visit in recovery. Then they have to leave til the 1-5pm visiting hours. And then stay over night alone. I remember when my father had heart surgery my mom and I were allowed in his room the entire time over three nights. I slept on the floor 1/2 way under his bed, and mom slept in the chair. I hate the idea staying alone from 5pm - til discharge HOPEFULLY the next day within those 23 hours. We'll see... I hate having to ask for things. So I wish someone could stay all night.

I'm curious what everyone packed... Especially if it's something NOT on the suggested list to pack.

I so appreciated the list this site provides. I followed it, plus added a small power strip just in case I need a little extra 'distance' and more plugs for phone / music player and iPad. I also loaded up a small music player with sleep noise sounds like rain and ocean waves and packed my earphones. Not only will the sounds maybe help me sleep they also have a nice calming effect. I tried a 'headband' style bluetooth headset you can sleep easily with it on, but it didn't work right. It kept having fuzzy interference. So that was disappointing. (It doubled as an eye patch to block out light too.) I thought it would help me block out the noise and light around me overnight. But I'll have to use old fashioned headphones with cords. (At least if we sleep on our back they stay in anyway.)

I think that's all I'm packing that wasn't on the normal list.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by myowncoffeeshop Hello everyone! I am 41 (42 on the 12th) my surgery is scheduled for Thurs August 6th. I've had just over a month to prep and fret about my surgery. I have really bad bleeding due to larger fibroid and the other procedure they were going to do they couldn't do once they started. I am having laparoscopic vaginal assisted hysterectomy (keeping ovaries) and will have to stay over night in hospital, I have never had to stay as a patient in a hospital and ours currently does not allow any visitors so I will be completely alone for all of this. My biggest worry isn't for me but my husband who has a long list of health issues (dialysis, leg amputation, in wheelchair and a few other issues). I really am his full time care taker on top of working full time. Once I am home I won't have a lot of help so I am making meals my husband can toss in microwave to warm up for us both. I also have to work the full 7 days before my surgery in order to get time off to do this, which means I have to meal prep before or after I work all day. I could really use a day or two to get caught up and rest . Best of luck to all of us this week! I know once it's over with we will all feel much better!

Yes! We all will feel better! Surgery is Tuesday. YOU take good care of YOU!

Hi, Everyone! I'm soon to be 54 and as I've told most of my friends, my "inside plumbing" has rarely been a good friend. Endometriosis, many laparoscopy for that, infertility, fibroids, ovarian cysts....and on and on. Still some bleeding, and cramping. It's time for it to go!

My main surgery concern is the gas they fill your stomach with that settles in the shoulders afterwards. Just will fight through it.

I have no idea what post surgery and the weeks after will hold. Hope to rest when I can. All I DO know is I'm ready!

Stay strong sisters!