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Can't have LAVH, want it,must have abdominal!
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07-22-2006, 01:52 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 17
Hysterectomy: August 4th, 2006
Ovaries: Undecided
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Can't have LAVH, want it,must have abdominal!
Thanks to all the Hyster Sisters (past & present) who have made such a wonderful resource. I finally, after 7 months of continuous heavy bleeding despite trying several meds, that I am going to have (hopefully) a subtotal hyst. w/ poss. ooph. My dr. thinks I have a fibroid, tipped bicornuate uterus, tiny pelvis, endo, and maybe persistent ovarian cyst which makes the abdominal type necessary (and more conservative treatments not helpful). Fine, I'm ready to let it go!
My main freak-out is that its going to take longer and hurt more and poss. cause an infection having the abdominal rather than the LAVH. I've already missed so much work and had so much pain and fatigue, I just don't want any more. Does anyone have any words of wisdom to get me over this mental hump? I know ultimately a bit of time won't matter in the long run, but I can't seem to calm down dreading the additional time, etc. I just found out Friday that I am having this in 2 weeks (yay, boo), and I know I can cancel, but....help, please!
Qbecgrl
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07-22-2006, 01:59 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 184
Hysterectomy: June 15th, 2006
Surgery Type: TAH/SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Can't have LAVH, want it,must have abdominal!
I had the same fear...but might I suggest a couple of things. With the TAH the doctor can get a REALLY good look around in there because you are opened up. S/he can be sure that you don't have additional problems (or take care of them if you do) and can be sure to get ALL of the things taken care of that you mentioned for good. In addition, you can get infection with ANY kind of hyst, so your doctor will take good care of you. You will get IV antibiotics and if you are worried about it, ask for an additional rx after leaving the hospital for a few days, in the case of major surgery most doctors are happy to oblige. And finally, IF you feel fabulous you can always do a little work from home or go in half days or something earlier than six weeks...you might heal more quickly than you think. However I recommend taking that six weeks to heal really well. Imagine the sick days you will save by taking them all in one chunk for the surgery!
PM me if I can help in any other way!
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07-22-2006, 02:07 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 174
Hysterectomy: February 24th, 2006
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Can't have LAVH, want it,must have abdominal!
Okay take several deep breaths. Reading your post I could hear the panic. LOL I know I wanted an LAVH, but the size of my uterus, fibroids, and cystic ovary made it impossible. I thought a vag hyst would be easier, because I already gave birth vaginally. But it did not go my way so I did panic. I only had 2 weeks to prepare for it also. It seems so overwhelming. It may take longer to heal, but it is worth it in the long run. A tah gives the dr more room to work. Your "cookie" won't hurt. LOL Ummmmmm...I am tryng to find positives for you, but since I don't know how a lavh is I can't really compare. Just tell yourself how nice it is going to be to not be in pain, no more AF, and to live life for a change. (Something we are not able to do when our female organs do not cooperate.) Just hang in there we are here for you.
Jaclyn
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07-22-2006, 10:20 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 445
Hysterectomy: December 28th, 2004
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Can't have LAVH, want it,must have abdominal!
If you don't feel comfortable with your gyn's choice of surgery, you can always get a second opinion from another gyn. It's possible your gyn does not have the skills to perform an LAVH.
By the way, I had an LAVH and my "cookie" didn't hurt after surgery. The incision site is at the very top of the vagina which has very few nerve endings. The abdominal cavity is inflated with gas so that the surgeon can see the internal organs and structures with the laparoscope.
As I said before, if you are not comfortable having an abdominal hyst and think you are a candidate for an LAVH, please seek a second opinion.
Good luck to you!
Carol
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07-23-2006, 04:20 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 63
Hysterectomy: August 8th, 2006
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Can't have LAVH, want it,must have abdominal!
Qbec-
I too had to struggle to overcome my fear of having an abdominal hyster., it hasn't been easy, but finally I've just come to realize that it needs to be done this way. I have no scars, so the idea of someone cutting into my belly truly frightens me at times, but then I try to calm myself down and list all the women I know who had C-Sections and I relax.
We women are a strong bunch, a little incision in our bellies will barely register. Yes it stinks that we may have to take extra time off from work( and play) but in the long run, the results will be worth it.
That's my mantra- "it will be fine, it will be worth it."
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07-23-2006, 10:43 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 320
Hysterectomy: July 18th, 2006
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Undecided
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Can't have LAVH, want it,must have abdominal!
You can do this! I am a big wimp regarding pain, yet I have had two c-sections (14 years ago and 11 years ago) and my TAH was 5 days ago. The hardest part will be the first time you get out of bed in the hospital-it does hurt. But it just gets better after that. I walked a lot more this time in the hospital than I did with my c-sections, and 5 days later, I'm amazed at the difference in how I feel. Don't be a hero and try not to take your pain meds-you get them for a reason, and the better you feel, the more likely you will walk(which will help with gas and just make you feel normal faster) Following hystersister advice has definitely helped me so far! Best of luck!
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07-23-2006, 10:52 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 17
Hysterectomy: August 4th, 2006
Ovaries: Undecided
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Can't have LAVH, want it,must have abdominal!
Thanks to all of you who answered! I am trying hard to calm down and breathe. I think my fears come from 2 places: 1) I work in retail and am lucky to even have health insurance, let alone take a ton of time off for sickness. If I lose my job, I'm sunk financially and insurance & health-wise. That is really scary. 2) In addition to all of this lovely bleeding and pain since Dec., I also had my gallbladder removed in March laparascopically. Now THAT was a lovely surgery--I swear I've had hangnails that hurt more. I was back to work in 3 days and felt FANTASTIC (the bleeding had stopped for a couple of weeks, maybe because I basically stopped eating to stop the gallbladder pain. It worked. What a great diet (not!). Anyway, I'm pretty much a type-A, hyperactive control freak who has not cottoned to being confined to a couch for 6 months, and I think I've just hit the wall in terms of patience. I want it out, but I don't want to go through HAVING it out.
As far as a second opinion goes, I think it's not a bad idea. I do like and trust my doctor quite a bit (this after visiting 2 bad bad men, one of whom bordered on abusive), and I do believe him when he tells me I have a seriously narrow opening, which would have prevented me from delivering children vaginally. Other doctors have told me I have incredibly tiny nasal and ear canals, and I seem to have narrow outlets all around, so I'd rather not have some doctor forcing that sucker out unless there's some technique I don't know about that another dr. could do.
Anyway, I'm taking every hour as it comes and trying to look at the long term pic of feeling SO MUCH BETTER and getting my life back after the healing is over, and trying to not dwell on all that could go wrong and stink about the surgery. Much thanks again to all who answered, and you all have my best wishes for successful healing!
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07-23-2006, 12:44 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 1,066
Hysterectomy: October 3rd, 2005
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Can't have LAVH, want it,must have abdominal!
I was unable to have a vaginal procedure, and my TAH went just fine. As someone above said, the only really bad time I had was the first time I got out of bed, that was the evening of my surgery, to stand for just a minute. My pain was never really bad. My staples came out just before I left the hospital, at noon on the third day of my hospital stay. My healing took place without a problem. Occasionally I would feel a little tugging sensation near the edge of my incision, but it was just enough to notice it, nothing really bad. I took advice here and got some support panties that held my stomach in, and that made me feel perfectly secure. My scar is fading now, and I'm really enjoying my life. Do talk with another surgeon if you have any doubts about it, but if it has to be a TAH, don't worry about it.
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