What a Beautiful attitude...God Bless You Sister!!! I pray mine goes as well one week from tomorrow. Not scared or nervous..Excited N anxious Bout sums me up.
Ok as promised, I'm back with an update (my original post was on page 7 under the name of 'Penelope'....I decided to register on the site this time around).
My surgery was on Monday, Feb 27, 2012. Had my 2 week check-up today, and am feeling AWESOME! I've been cleared to take a water aerobics class and Yoga class after the 4 week post surgery mark. My doctor is just so happy that all is going well. The pathology report indicated that I was not only dealing with large fibroids, but had endometriosis as well. That explains why things had become so painful and my periods were beyond unbearable. Talk about double whammy!
Here's an account of things so far:
- I still have my ovaries and cervix. The uterus (an enlarged one at that) was removed laparoscopically. Four incisions were made. One had to be a little larger than normal, due to the size of my uterus.
- Went home from the hospital the same day. My surgery was longer than normal, due to the size of the uterus and amount/size of the fibroids. It was over 3 1/2 hours.
- Took Vicodin and Aleve, Monday night through Wednesday for the pain. By Thursday, I only needed to take one Aleve at night. My doctor was impressed...lol.
- Made sure on, Tuesday, to start slowly walking around the house five minutes at a time...throughout the day (yes...even through the pain...this is important). Nausea from the anesthesia was still an issue on Tuesday, but was gone by Wednesday.
- By Sunday night, I was able to go for a 1/2 mile walk with my hubby. Took one Aleve before bed.
- Sleeping and eating well is important for the body to heal. I took lots of naps the first week, stuck with eating soup, orange juice, protein shakes (Orgain), crackers, yogurt and applesauce.
- By Monday, March 5th, I was done with any type of pain pills. Kept taking the Ducolax stool softener (constipation was still a bit of an issue at this point). Was able to go for another short walk with my hubby.
Basically, after a week of laying around, eating well and getting in some movement/exercise, I started feeling fantastic! That's a real blessing. I only wish I'd done this sooner. Can't express to you all how much more like myself I feel. It's nice to be back! Even returned to work on Monday the 12th (granted I work in an office...so I can sit or walk around whenever I want).
The doctor did tell me that since I'm still producing hormones, the time of month in which my cycle would normally happen, I will most likely still get my usual symptoms (tender breast, moodiness and maybe some spotting). Funny, I told her that this is that week, which is probably why my breasts are their usual tender self and my patience isn't the best...lol. The only good thing about it, is no longer having to deal with major bleeding. Heck, I'm not even spotting.
Since the surgery, I've been able to reincorporate using my exercise bike for 20 - 30 minutes...two - three times a week and am now up to walking 1 1/2 - 2 miles...two - three times per week (albeit both of these things are done a lot more slowly than usual). What a difference a week makes!! Diet wise, I've always been a healthy eater, so I didn't really have much to give up there. Well, maybe not having that extra glass of wine with dinner anymore...lol.
As for weight gain, I must admit that when first 'Googling' everything I could find on what to expect after a Hysterectomy, I was quite scared about what things would be like. But, I have actually lost 9 pounds. Less than 10 pounds to go and I'll be back at my original (before the hormones got all out balance and I stopped being as active) healthy weight and back into my favorite pairs of skinny girl jeans/clothing.
So, to all of you out there getting ready to have surgery, I just want to wish you a hardy GOOD LUCK and stay positive!! Sending lots of well wishes your way!
Remember, that each person is different. You don't have to be 'bad experience number...whatever or horror story number...whatever'.
Adding my two-cents' worth. I had a total laparoscopic hysterectomy on March 6th. BEST THING I EVER DID FOR MYSELF. After suffering 5 years of perimenopause which got progressively worse and more dangerous (culminating with a 37 day period in Dec-Jan followed by 3 short periods in quick succession in Jan-Feb), I finally saw a gynecologist and we discussed options. The never ending periods are dangerous for me, as I tend to run the thin line of anemia anyhow. I was offered the option of ablation, IUD or hysterectomy. I chose the latter, thankfully. I am 47, never had children and no desire to, so it wasn't a tough choice. I don't believe in half-measures and trying out other things over and over before ending up with the actual solve months or years down the road.
The surgery itself was seriously, no big deal at all. Could have been an outpatient procedure. Minor discomfort from the incisions. Now, the Co2 gas they pump you full of...unless you INSIST on being allowed to get up and start walking ASAP after the anesthesia wears off, you may well have a terrible experience with it like I did. My surgery was at 7:30 AM. I was not allowed to get out of bed until the following morning, and by then it was far too late. I looked like a parade balloon, and it HURT. Constantly. Badly. Took 6 days to eventually work all the way out. Don't let the nurses make you stay in bed - you can and should make them let you up, whether it takes grumpiness, insistence, witchiness or tears. But don't let them tell you 'no.' Also, make sure they get the foley catheter out asap. Drink water post-op like it's going to be declared illegal. You'll be dehydrated from the operation and the breathing tube anyhow, so this won't be hard to keep up with. Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk. If you start getting gas pains, lie on your back in bed and slowly pull your knees up to your chest, one by one. Keep going. Eventually you'll start to pass the gas. A 37-year nursing veteran told me that trick, and it worked, along with drinking VERY strong coffee. Gets the mail moving quick.
Post surgery, I could not possibly be happier. I have lost somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds so far, and still going. I wasn't HUGE prior to the surgery, but I'd slowly gained around 45 pounds over the 5 years of perimenopause, after having been 145 pounds most of my life. I am not exercising per se, other than walking on my lunch hour at work (I went back to work 1 week after surgery). My eating has changed drastically, though. I don't crave the carbs and sweet stuff any more. I mostly want veggies and fruit, and sometimes very rare beef. The weight is falling away with really, no effort. If I had to hazard a guess, I would be inclined to think that much of post-hysterectomy weight gain, is from hormone fluctuation and depression. A hysterectomy can be a devastating thing, if it was not the solution you wanted or hoped for. I looked forward to mine, and have not had a second of regret. Depression makes us reach for the comfort foods, most of which are laden not just in calories but carb-heavy. I am not a doctor or scientist however, so that is simply a layman's unresearched opinion/hunch. Your mileage may vary.
The surgery itself was seriously, no big deal at all. Could have been an outpatient procedure. Minor discomfort from the incisions. Now, the Co2 gas they pump you full of...unless you INSIST on being allowed to get up and start walking ASAP after the anesthesia wears off, you may well have a terrible experience with it like I did. My surgery was at 7:30 AM. I was not allowed to get out of bed until the following morning, and by then it was far too late. I looked like a parade balloon, and it HURT. Constantly. Badly. Took 6 days to eventually work all the way out. Don't let the nurses make you stay in bed - you can and should make them let you up, whether it takes grumpiness, insistence, witchiness or tears. But don't let them tell you 'no.' Also, make sure they get the foley catheter out asap. Drink water post-op like it's going to be declared illegal. You'll be dehydrated from the operation and the breathing tube anyhow, so this won't be hard to keep up with. Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk. If you start getting gas pains, lie on your back in bed and slowly pull your knees up to your chest, one by one. Keep going. Eventually you'll start to pass the gas. A 37-year nursing veteran told me that trick, and it worked, along with drinking VERY strong coffee. Gets the mail moving quick.
Post surgery, I could not possibly be happier. I have lost somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds so far, and still going. I wasn't HUGE prior to the surgery, but I'd slowly gained around 45 pounds over the 5 years of perimenopause, after having been 145 pounds most of my life. I am not exercising per se, other than walking on my lunch hour at work (I went back to work 1 week after surgery). My eating has changed drastically, though. I don't crave the carbs and sweet stuff any more. I mostly want veggies and fruit, and sometimes very rare beef. The weight is falling away with really, no effort. If I had to hazard a guess, I would be inclined to think that much of post-hysterectomy weight gain, is from hormone fluctuation and depression. A hysterectomy can be a devastating thing, if it was not the solution you wanted or hoped for. I looked forward to mine, and have not had a second of regret. Depression makes us reach for the comfort foods, most of which are laden not just in calories but carb-heavy. I am not a doctor or scientist however, so that is simply a layman's unresearched opinion/hunch. Your mileage may vary.
I am 47. I am 5 days post op hysterectomy (only uterus). I kept my cevix and ovaries. I decided to go with the hysterectomy after a 3.5 year failed ablation and fibroids. It was really nice not having a period for over 3 years and I was not about to go back to that. I Feel great except for some heart burn and low back pain which I think is from the gas and some constipation. Stepped onto the scale 5 lbs down woohoo. It really wasn't bad at all I have only taken 1/2 a vicodin here and there and some ibuprofen and stool softeners. I stayed in the hospital 2 days which was perfect. I was ready to go home.
I am already bored to death lol and I have 6 weeks off. I have 3 incisions 1 on each side and 1 in my belly button. My doctor said they had to go through my belly button due to me being short waisted haha. I am 4'11". I also have a small bruise under each breast. I am not sure why, but I will ask at my follow up appointment on Thursday. I thought I would be in agony but if it weren't for the dermabond on my tummy and the bloating from the gas I feel pretty normal. So far with the results I have, I would do it again. Good Luck to All
I am already bored to death lol and I have 6 weeks off. I have 3 incisions 1 on each side and 1 in my belly button. My doctor said they had to go through my belly button due to me being short waisted haha. I am 4'11". I also have a small bruise under each breast. I am not sure why, but I will ask at my follow up appointment on Thursday. I thought I would be in agony but if it weren't for the dermabond on my tummy and the bloating from the gas I feel pretty normal. So far with the results I have, I would do it again. Good Luck to All
In two days it has been 1 year since my hysterectomy. I will be 52 in July. I can tell you it was the best thing I have done. I can not believe I lived so long with all the pain and discomfort from endometriosis and fibroids, etc... so happy to have all of that behind me. Ablation did not work for me either. I had a full adominal hyster, but kept my cervix. I am 5'3" and small boned but had gained weight with all the issues. Since my hyster a year ago I have started to lose the weight again. I am currently 114, I was up to 124 before my hysterectomy. I would like to see 105 again, but 110 will be good and I am on my way. Don't hesitate to have this surgery, you will be grateful once you get to the other side.
Surgery update: I had a vaginal hysterectomy on Jan 11th. It was the best decision ever! I was in the hospital for 3 days and was made by my doctor to stay home for 6 weeks to recover fully. Aside from the boredom all went well! I feel so much better....I am not sure how to explain it other than to say that my abdominal area feels lighter..no more bloating nor pain. I didn't gain any weight however; my body got "softer" during my time off. I feel good and am looking forward to a healthier me! Do not be afraid of surgery..put your trust in Jesus...that he will guide the medical staff...and you will be Healed!
Taina, it sounds like your hormones are not adequate, either you should start hrt or need it adjusted. Also, anyone with pcos, as i have will have a very hard time finding the right estrogen brand and you may have to change dosages several times. I had my hysterectomy dec 28, 2011 and have been on vivelled dot, estrogel, and am now on the estrace pill. Finally i feel more normal. I went through the terrible yelling at kids and hating life, numbness in hands, 10 straight days of migraines with more to follow. I considered the total hysterectomy at 33 to be the worst mistake of my life at one time. Exactly 7 weeks post op, after feeling absolutely wonderful, i suddenly became extremely depressed, teerful, hopeless, dreaded getting out of bed, sometimes would here my family up in the morning and would lay in bed wishing i didn't have to get up and face them, couldn't wait to get back in bed after getting up, severe fatigue, memory loss, back pain, bones and muscles hurting, just sick and icky feeling, migraines all day for days on end, and just down right felt mean and was mean and angry. I called my dr., if you want to call her that, who said she'd have to call me back in a few days because she didn't know what she wanted to do, yet. After over a week of no returned call, i went to see my pcp and they changed the delivery route of my estrogen (it is now 4 weeks or more since i called my obgyn and i still have heard nothing from her sorry self). I am now taking estrace and was fine on my dose for about 2weeks and then the headaches started again so my dose was doubled. I took both pills in the morning and the headaches got increasingly worse and always started at about 1pm every day. I decided maybe i was getting too much at one time and started taking one in the am and one in the afternoon and have been doing great so far with no headaches. So it is very important to work with your physician and your dosing to get max benefit from hrt. By the way, i have lost 40# since my hysterectomy and have been on hrt. Don't let drs immediately put u on antidepressants after hysterectomy if you are having emotional issues because they should try to adjust your hrt and if that does not work then discuss antidepressants. That was one recommendation of my obgyn for my issues. Oh and she is no longer on my payroll. I suffered with pcos since my sr year in highschool and was treated for depression for 15 years and didn't have anything other than a hormonalimbalance which i could not convince any dr of until i had my third child and a pa listened to me and ordered bloodwork for pcos which i tested positive for. I have had migraines for years that were worsened by the constant hormonal imbalance, my hair would get extremely thin and then thicken a little (now my hair looks great and everyone notices that it is full and thick), weight gain was horrible and impossible to lose. Once diagnosed and treated for pcos with metformin, i lost close to 100# in one year nearly effortlessly. I began having more difficulties after my 3rd child as i was diagnosed with fibroids and later endometriosis and after my 4th child (and last she was born july of 11), i had an enlarged uterus which caused my already horrible periods to be a nightmare of clots, anemia, weeks long, changing super plus tampons sometimes even every 10 to 15 minutes for hours on end. I was pretty convinced before i planned my 4th child that i would be having a hysterectomy because i couldn't take anymore of the hormonal rages from pcos (and the never ending pms). So i did it. My hormones are more adequate now and i still have fluctuations and lows but i'm working through it and it's getting better. Mostly, i am soooo glad i had the surgery and when i feel it was a mistake is when i'm having issues with my hormones which i am aware of and i get the doses adjusted. I am planning on seeing an edocrinologist for the pcos as it is an endocrine issue instead of a reproductive issue, i have since found out. I will try to keep you posted on my struggles with pcos and hrt from total hysterectomy. I hope i have helped someone with my lengthy information.
I forgot to mention that i, too, had debilitating pain most of the time and was unable, at times, to stand up straight from a sitting position, bend over and stand back up without pain, and sometimes would have to shuffle, benf over, to my bed and scream in pain to lay down in order to relax and make the pain stop. I spent many emotional moments crying because i was in my 30's and felt like i had little quality of life prior to my hysterectomy. I am nearly pain free now and waiting for my complete recovery.
I have just recently found out i have cervical cancer and i have a choice between radiation or surgery ( hysterectomy) i have no idea which direction i should go and im a mother of 4 so i dont need any more children. i really want to lose weight so i was hoping to kill 2 birds with one stone and receive treatment aswell as losing the extra baby kilos. i have 3 weeks to decide what i want and im leaning towards the radical hysterectomy. But 2 questions: i have a wonderful husband and i want to be able to continue a sexual relationship with him without him missing out for the rest of our marriage. Will i be normal eventually again or not?????? what does the scar look like, is it a big smiley face or some other shape lol??? Im not scared of this decision i just want to make the right one :))))
Yes, I am a 48 year old woman, who after my hysterectomy lost about 25 pounds. I am back to where I was in my early 30's when I struggled to keep on enough weight to wear a size 3. It might be hormones, but it might be that I just feel much better without the heavy periods, cravings, and mood swings.
Well, hysterectomy doesn't have to mean a big scar. I had a TLH 3 weeks ago (Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy) and I have 3 nigh-invisible scars, each under 1/2 inch. One on the lower left, one on the lower right of my abdomen and one inside my navel. Vaginal hysterectomy won't leave scarring either. Only the old traditional hyst. leaves a scar, and it's not particularly horrible or anything. Yes, you can still have a terrific sex life post-hysterectomy, and in fact, it might well improve. You will still orgasm - I've heard the lie that you can't, thrown around by people who don't know any better. The sole difficulty may well be waiting the full 6 weeks post-operation, before resuming sexual intercourse. You MUST, however. Nothing in there until 6 weeks have passed and you are cleared by your doctor.
thankyou Cindy and Marcia i wasnt all that worried about the scar but just thought id throw that question in lol. Im more interested in losing weight and finally putting out for my husband hahaha, hes been so supportive but it must be killing him :))))))
Thanks for the post and am I grateful to find this site!! I am scheduled for surgery 04-17-2012 and I "was" terrified - not because of the surgery, because of the horror stories I heard in regard to the weight gain. Past three years pap and biopsy have come back pre-cancer and after 3 leep procedures we are doing the hysterectomy. Okay, back to terrified... THE WEIGHT GAIN! The past 2-3 months I have gained weight and in areas I didn't know you could gain weight and my stomach looks like I am pregnant. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your stories as I now know this can be a positive versus a negative and I will so welcome the weight loss. Single, 52 and hating my body at the moment and because of this, don't even want to venture out of my home! Wish me luck and I will keep you posted on my progress!!!
Good luck, and remember that every woman's experience is going to be different. You should join the HysterSisters website and forums - I guarantee you will find answers to every question you ever thought of and a LOT more. A positive attitude and patience are going to be your best friends. I hope you are having a laparoscopic or vaginal hysterectomy; the down-time and pain are much less. You WILL be bloated immediately after surgery, but don't worry. That goes away on its own. As soon as you can, get up out of the hospital bed and start walking! The Co2 gas they pump into your abdomen never gets let all the way out at the end of surgery, and it can cause a lot of distressing pain. Drink lots of water post-surgery, and be sure to start eating same day as your surgery, afterward. You won't want to, but some broth will help get the mail moving again, as will strong coffee. If you have gas pains, slowly pull your knees one at a time up to your chest, alternating. That and walking will make the gas expel much faster. Post-surgery, request a complete surgical transcript from the hospital for all days from surgery to discharge, including pictures and video if applicable. You'll want to know ALL of what was found, and your doc will NOT tell you everything at your 2-week checkup - not because s/he is hiding anything, but because they might not consider some things important. I had a whole laundry list of stuff that was in there, that explained my incessant back pain and hormonal imbalance.
Good luck, and remember that hysterectomy is not an end, it is a beginning! I'm still thrilled about mine, and it will be one month on the 6th since I had it done. Been many years since I felt this good physically and emotionally.
Good luck, and remember that hysterectomy is not an end, it is a beginning! I'm still thrilled about mine, and it will be one month on the 6th since I had it done. Been many years since I felt this good physically and emotionally.
I m very grateful to find this site,eveything i have read has been terrible,im two weeks post op abdominal hys. and have lost 11 lbs. prob. due to not wanting to eat much and stomach has shrunk,and.. having bowel movement problems,but im hoping this weight loss thing continues,im really not craving carbs as much at all,will report more when my six weeks are up.