Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy aka lsh

Kelly2006 · Newbie Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 78

Has anyone had this surgery? I'm curious as I'm scheduled to undergo it in the next couple of weeks and want an unbiased opinion about recovery times, symptoms, pain level, or anything else someone would like to share with me.

For those that don't know what I'm talking about - it is a hysterectomy done by laparoscopic means through your obdomen with fast recovery. It leaves the cervix intact and so too the ovaries. They won't do it if there is any hystory of cancer.

Thanks in advance, Kelly

happy i did it · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 10

I had LSH on 5/16/06 because of large, painful fibroids. I was in the hosptial one night. The most discomfort I experienced was from the gas used to fill the abdominal cavity for the surgery. The pain from that lasted for several days, but it was not unbearable. I had and still have no pain at all in my vagina. Since my surgery was less than two weeks ago, I haven't resumed sexual activity yet, but I don't think there'll be any problem--everything feels the same as before. I've had some bladder pain, but that is because my bladder can fill up totally now whereas before it was constricted by the fibroids. It just needs to get used to having all that room! (I was worried that it might be a bladder infection, but a test showed no infection.) I hope this helps. Good luck!

Kelly2006 · Newbie Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 78

Thanks happy i did it for your response!

How large were your fibroids. I have an 8cm one, I'm sure its sitting right on my bladder and is now causing me to have periods every 2 weeks. I can hardly wait for the surgery.

Were you able to lift things right away or has it taken some time? I have a 3-year old boy who is very impatient with me as I'm just getting over a broken foot (did this on Feb 20).

I will certainly be glad when I'm fully recovered and can get back to doing normal things and a life....

Cheers, Kelly Rolling Eyes

happy i did it · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 10

Kelly,

Your doc will recommend that you don't lift anything heavier than 20 lbs for at least two weeks after surgery. Do you have family or friends who can lend a hand? You're going to need lots of help, and you'll be grateful for it. You'll be very tired for the first week.

I'm 50, so my kids, who range from 25 to 18, and my husband have been a great help. I just accepted that not much was going to get done around here for a few weeks other than meals and laundry. We hired a housekeeper to clean the place for a while.

My largest fibroid was the size of a softball and pressed on my back, causing constipation and pain in my back and legs. It was so large that it pushed my uterus into my bladder. I had about three walnut sized ones and LOTS of little ones, also. My uterus was the size of an 11-week pregnancy at the time of surgery. I had a great deal of pain for several years, but my doc wanted to wait to see if I'd kick over into menopause, which would cause them shrink. The pain and bleeding became such a problem that I couldn't work for the first two days of my period every month. I couldn't leave my house, so it interfered with vacations, too. We decided we would not wait any longer for nature to take care of the problem. The first thing I noticed after surgery was that there wasn't anymore pain or pressure in my pelvic area. I had my ovaries removed, too because of my age, and I'm on HRT for a while so he onset of menopause will be when I'm ready.

I don't think you'll regret this. But your 3-year old is going to wear you out if you don't get some help for the first couple of weeks. The tiredness you'll feel is not like post-delivery tirednss--it's worse.

Let me know how it goes for you or if you have any more questions. When is your surgery scheduled?

happy i did it · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 10

I forgot to add--I'm lifting small things now like laundry and my laptop. Just be careful that you use your legs to do the lifting, not your back. Also, I have a two-story house. I have been able to use the stairs since I came home the day after surgery. I feel better every day, and I'm planning to do some backpacking with girlfriends--the Systerectomy Club--in about a month!

By the way, my name is Terry Smile

Kelly2006 · Newbie Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 78

Hi Terry, thanks for the update.

Yeah, I understand about the bleeding. Mine has been so bad for so long and its gotten worse in the last few months. I thought it was bad before. I don't dare leave the house for 3 days. I won't elaborate beyond that....

Thanks for the update about using your legs to lift. I guess we'll have to get help for awhile because I'm just getting back on my feet and right now any pressure on my feet - hurts. I broke my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal at the joint in my left foot. You know the story about breaking my foot is bad when you are asking for help from the ambulance driver to help you come up with a story. I actually slipped on the 2nd step going UP stairs, yes upstairs - how lame.....

Anyhow, nobody where I live has had this surgery and another surgeon is coming over to teach my Gynie on this particular technique so there's nobody I can obtain information from other than the doctors. Its always good to get first hand advice and experience from a woman that has gone through it herself.

May you have a speedy recovery.

Cheers, Kelly Wink

happy i did it · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 10

Kelly,

I'm curious—I don't know the story about the broken foot and the ambulance driver!

I remembered something else. Go to medlineplus.com. Look in the lower right corner for "Surgery Videos," and click on the link button. Scroll down to "Women's Health." Click on the link, "Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy" that was performed at McLeod Health in on 11/29/05. It's about an hour long, and you'll need RealPlayer to watch it. You can see the entire surgery and listen to women who have already had it done. I watched it two days before my surgery, and it really gave me comfort knowing exactly what was going to happen. I live in California. My GYN learned this procedure from another doc in the same medical group who has done hundreds of them. I talked with both of them before surgery since they would both be present for the surgery. My GYN can't do it by herself until she logs a certain number of hours working with another doc who has achieved expert status or whatever they call it, and she's assisted him in many of these procedures.

Be sure to ask your doc for pictures. (I got a sheet with three photos of my insides before and one after.) You can put it on the refrigerator!

Thanks for the speedy recovery wishes. Be sure to post a comment when you get home from the hospital and feel like it. What's the date? I'll be watching for you.

Smile

T

p.s. Can you tell I've got nothing but time on my hands??

Kelly2006 · Newbie Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 78

Yes, I know the feeling about time on your hands. I have become a master at Sudoku puzzles, now I'm crocheting hats like crazy this is after reading books and newspapers.

No, the story about broken foot is just that I slipped on the way up on the second step and broke 3 bones in my foot. Its not a fancy story like I broke my foot while skiing and wrestling with a bear and ended up hitting a tree! Its nothing fancy like that. The diagnosis has been way more interesting...

The night I did it - the dr thought I had 2 broken bones and referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon. I saw him 4 days later and he said I only had 1 broken bone. One week later, the OS told me they didn't see any broken bones (I was still not walking on it because it hurt too much). He then said he might have to do surgery but wanted to send me for a CT scan 4 days later. The CT scan (at about 3 weeks post injury) showed I had 2 broken bones at the joint. They put a cast on it for 3 weeks. When they took the cast off they sent me for more x-rays and I asked why are you x-raying from the 2-4 metatarsal. The OS said I think you have 3 broken bones at the joint. I find that hilarious to go from 0 broken bones to 3! When I had the cast on, I could hardly go to the bathroom and back to the couch without my foot swelling so much with intolerable pain. At least I'm hobbling around these days but it has taken so long. I sometimes wonder how the Hysterectomy will affect my foot and whether that will set me back.

I'm not sure I want pictures of my innerds on the refrigerator. It might put me off eating food!

My surgery is on June 16th and I promise to give you an update when I feel up to it. Thanks for all your help and information from one more experienced than I. I did watch 2 videos of women that went through this same surgery and it seemed pretty straight forward and then the women also had their own comments but I wondered whether their comments had been truthful and not beefed up to boost the drs marketing plan.

You'll have to tell me about your backpacking experience as I probably won't be doing that any time soon.

Cheers for now, Kelly Laughing

happy i did it · Newbie Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 10

Hi, Kelly.

One more week to go! How are your feet treating you?

I thought I'd give you an update. I saw my GYN last Wednesday (5/30) for my checkup, and she said I'm right on track. I see her again on the 16th for the four week check.

I've been feeling real good for about four days now. One of my best freinds told me that my voice sounds like the old me is back. I feel like I'm really getting my energy and my mind back. That was the worst part for me, I guess. I didn't realize how MUCH the surgery and anesthesia would just knock the daylights out of me for awhile. It just seemed so wierd because there's been no pain since the first week post-op, but my energy level was so low, and my brain wouldn't work right. I couldn't think of words I wanted, and I would forget if I'd just done something like lock the door or the reason I went up or down the stairs.

A friend of mine whose father was a cardiologist told me that fatigue and diminished brain function are things people who have major surgery for the first time don't realize will be a factor. It's especially true for someone whose had something like the LSH. There's so little post-op pain and discomfort, but the brain has still had a major assault--it knows that something important was removed from the body, and that it (the brain) was not in control for a few hours. Anyway, it passes with time. You're younger than I, so you'll probably bounce back faster.

I'm going on a short day-hike next Thursday (5 miles), but I'm not ready yet to carry a 30 lb. pack uphill any distance. That may have to wait a few more weeks.

I'll be thinking about you next week. Drink lots of water and juice for a few days before the 16th to get yourself well-hydrated.

Are they taking your ovaries? If so, are you going to do HRT? I'm on the Vivelle Dot patch. It's so easy--I forget it's there. I'm going to do it for at least a year or two, then maybe taper off and let Nature take her course. I guess the only noticeable reaction to it is that I feel mostly calm now, rather than mostly like a raging psycho-b****!

E-me when you can!

Terry

Kelly2006 · Newbie Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 78

Hi Terry. Thanks for your recent update. I think you made perfect sense - brain or no brain as the other doctor said.

I met with the pre-surgery booking nurse and she told me that I can't carry anything heavier than 5lbs for 6 weeks. Urghhhh...

I can still hardly wait for the surgery because my abdomen is so painful these days and my back is killing me. It didn't hurt like this one year ago...

Anyhow, the pre-surgery nurse was concerned about my foot because the circulation is taking its time coming back. She told me to stay off my foot more and get some Ted Stockings to help with it. I get some orthotics on Wednesday - which I hope will help with the inflamation.

She also told me to do some exercises such as:
- deep breathing exercises
- how to cough
- leg exercises such as:

- Pull your foot up and push it down.
- Make your feet go around in big circles.
- Press your knees down onto the bed so that your heels come up slightly. Hold for a second or two and relax.
- Bend your knee and straighten it and then do the same with the other.

Thanks for the tip about the water. How were you with the anesthesia? You're the only one I know that has gone through this - not even my Mom has gone through this. What do you think about the above exercises?

No, they won't be taking my ovaries - thank goodness. I can't imagine going through that on top of everything else.

One tip I can share with you or suggest, take 2 tablespoons of Walnuts to help with inflamation (they also give you Omega 3s which are suppose to be good for you). Don't ask me any more than that about vitamins.

Are you still bleeding - the preop nurse said I could bleed for about one month. Were you really heavy?

Thanks again for ALL your help and support. Believe me, I really do appreciate it. Happy hiking! Cheerily hobbling along... Kelly Laughing

Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy aka lsh

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