Re: Hysterectomy - Post Op.....My experience
From: ann (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed Jan 12 05:00:16 2005
HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING! I AM 4 1/2 WEEKS POST-OP FROM A
SUPRACERVICAL HYST WITH APPENDIX AND LEFT OVARY/TUBE REMOVED. ALSO HAD
ENDO EXCISION.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I THOUGHT THAT I'D BOUNCE BACK SO FAST, BUT I'M FINALLY
ADMITTING TO MYSELF THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.
MY HUSBAND LEFT THIS PAST SUNDAY FOR 2 WEEKS WITH WORK. THANK GOODNESS
MY MOTHER WAS ABLE TO FLY IN FOR THE 2 WEEKS. I HAVE TWO BOYS, AGES 3
AND 6 AND NO FAMILY IN THE AREA.
I DID TREAT MYSELF TO HAVING MY HOUSE CLEANED. IF YOU CAN SWING THIS, I
TOTALLY REC. DOING IT. WHEN I READ THAT YOU SCRUBBED THE KITCHEN
FLOOR...YOU'RE GOING TO HURT YOURSELF. EASY FOR ME TO SAY BECAUSE ONE
OF THE HARDEST THINGS HAS BEEN TO SIT BACK AND LET OTHERS DO WHAT I
USUALLY DO OR TO LET THINGS GO FOR NOW.
FYI, I AM STILL ON MY PAIN MEDS AND COMING OFF SLOWLY. I HAD SURGERY
WITH DR. COOK AND I HAVE REGULAR CALL IN TIMES TO SPEAK TO HIS RN
LINDA. SHE IS COACHING ME ON THE PAIN MEDS. YOU SIGN A PAIN MEDS
CONTRACT WITH THEM BEFORE THE SURGERY. I AM STILL ON OXYCONTIN AND
PERCOCET FOR BREAK THROUGH PAIN. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF COMING OFF
THE OXYCONTIN AND AS I DO SO, THEY SAY THAT PAIN MAY INCREASE AGAIN AND
TO FILL IN BREAK THROUGH PAIN WITH PERCOCET. THEN, WHEN I NO LONGER
NEED PERCOCET AT THAT LEVEL, I COME DOWN ANOTHER STEP FROM THE OYCONTIN.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY STORY TOO AND HELP ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE. AFTER
READING YOUR STORY, IT REALLY DID HELP ME TO FEEL BETTER. I ALSO THINK
THAT I FINALLY GOT IT THROUGH MY THICK HEAD THAT I HAVE TO TAKE IT EASY.
I'VE HEARD THAT RECOVERY TAKES 3 TO 6 MONTHS AND THIS MAY BE TRUE.
THANKS AGAIN,
ANN
At Tue, 11 Jan 2005, Tracy wrote:
>
>Hi Mel,
>I just wanted to let you know that I'm 4 weeks post op from a total
>abdominal hyst w/right ovary removed too. I had surgery on Dec 8th and
>back in for ovary on Dec 9th. I am more tired now than I have been
>throughout my whole recovery! I think it's just finally catching up with
>me. I know you said you were itchy...the Morphine made me feel sooooo
>itchy. A lot of the drugs can do that. I've been off of the pain meds
>(Darovcet) for about 1 1/2 weeks now. I haven't been able to get off of
>the couch for the past 3 days. I took a pain pill this morning and felt
>wonderful. I scrubbed the floor, cleaned the kitchen, and cleaned some
>more. I was like <a style='text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 3px double;' href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=24&k=wonder woman" onmouseover="window.status='wonder woman'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">wonder woman</a>. That's the first time my floor has been
>scrubbed since before my surgery. Yuck!!! I was so worried about
>becomming dependant on the darovcet that I wasn't taking it anymore.
>Turns out that maybe I do still need it. I just took one pill instead
>of the usual 2. I still have pain in my abdomin. I can feel the
>stiches pulling and itching internally. I suppose it's like when you
>have stiches on the outside healing except that you can't scratch them.
>I feel like there's a burning ball of fire where my right ovary was but
>I think it's just the healing process. Check out this website
>http://www.hystersisters.com I've found it very helpful. You would want to
>look in the post op forum. The girls there are so nice and helpful. I'm
>sure they'd like to hear your story. I have really used their emotional
>support because it's like nobody else understands. You can check out my
>story in I think dec posts. It's too long to type again. I'll just
>tell you that my hyst almost killed me. Good luck and just wanted let
>you know that you're not alone. This recovery is a nightmare!!!
>Tracy
>
>At Tue, 11 Jan 2005, laura wrote:
>>
>>Hi Mel,
>>That is quite a story~I hope you feel better, but chances are, it won't
>>be soon enough! I am 12 weeks out from a partial laparoscopic vaginal
>>hysterectomy (uterus gone, ovaries intact). While my surgery has some
>>minor complications (staph infection, catheter problems) it was not as
>>big of a deal as your situation.
>>I found myself, like you, wondering when I would get my energy back. I
>>would know when I had pushed it too far because I would get so tired I
>>felt like I couldn't move - the most tired I have ever felt. This was
>>not good when it happened to me in a mall but luckily my friends were
>>there and they took me home right away. I would get so tired I burst
>>out crying sometimes. I listened to other women who had hysterectomies
>>and they all said it takes a long time. It did take longer than I
>>thought it would. It was a much bigger deal than I expected!!!!
>>I had night sweats and insommnia, too, but now I sleep pretty soundly
>>for 10-11 hours a night. That seems like a lot but I figure I must need
>>it. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for you! The best part
>>is, when you remember back on the experience it won't seem to be as long
>>as it seems right now. Please take care and rest!
>>Laura
>>
>>At Mon, 10 Jan 2005, Mel. wrote:
>>>
>>>I had severe endo. and had a hysterectomy (uterus, 1 ovary and also 4
>>>inches of colon removed) on Dec. 3rd. I was in the hospital for 8
>>>days. Had regular anestecia and they also gave me an epidural for pain
>>>(for after surgery - I had it for 3 days). Woke up sick and my chest
>>>totally itched. (That was kind of funny - I had evryone scratching me)
>>>Had a horrible time in the hospital - the antibiotics made me sick, had
>>>to change several times. Had 6 different IV's put in, in 3 days. They
>>>were giving me Phenergran for nausea thru my IV and it was blowing my
>>>veins - they finally stopped and gave me something orally. But this was
>>>not the worst part.....since I had an epidural and a catheter in, I did
>>>not get out of bed for a couple days. When I finally got up out of bed
>>>to use the bathroom - to have a bowel movement, my husband and the
>>>nurses, in total shock, noticed my tush. My tush was totally blistered!
>>>OMG! They called the doctor in and she said it was a yeast
>>>infection....either from betadine (or whatever they used to flush me out
>>>-to pressure check my colon) or it was from the major antibiotics they
>>>were giving me. On the 3rd day after, they took me off the epidural and
>>>put me on a morphine drip for a day. But boy, I could totally feel my
>>>tush now! It hurt so bad - no position felt good! They sent a wound
>>>specialist to see me (she actually took pictures!) and then finally on
>>>my 6th day, they got me some good medication to put on it. But it still
>>>hurt so bad. I also was having a fever during this time - so they
>>>couldnt let me go home until me fever broke - a week later.
>>>
>>>Anyway, I made it home after 8 days. Came home with catheter. (since
>>>the doctor "unhooked" my ureters to clean them up and make the surgery
>>>easier) The catheter was ok - just more of a nuisance. My family made a
>>>joke out it with me carrying it around in a bucket - haha. Doctor took
>>>it out a week later. My tush was still the worst, it hurt more than the
>>>incision - it finally got better a week later - YEA! (OH...also, I have
>>>a numb area from the surgery... the skin from the top of my knee to the
>>>top of my thigh.)
>>>
>>>Now comes the recovery....Its been hard. Pretty sore and SO TIRED!!!
>>>You can tell when you have overdone it - you get totally wiped out!
>>>Didnt sleep well. I was scared to have my first real bowel movement. I
>>>did end up getting constipated, even tho I was taking Metamucil twice a
>>>day. Took Milk of Mag. - solved the problem.
>>>
>>>Today, Im so glad I had the surgery - no more periods and endo - YEA! -
>>>but.....Im still not sleeping well, going to sleep so late even tho I
>>>take half an Ambien - sleeping pill. My (vertical)incision is healed,
>>>but Im still a little sore. My thigh is still numb. My bowel movements
>>>are still crazy - now Im having diarrhea - maybe its because my
>>>abdominal muscles are out of whack and trying to heal? (I did have IBS
>>>before???) But Im still SO TIRED!!! I walk a little bit, but it takes
>>>all my energy to do so. Im not working (thank goodness), so I spend my
>>>time mostly at home. I do drive now to take my kids to school, and I
>>>have been out on a couple SHORT outings, but its so tiring! How long
>>>does it take before your not so tired????? How much do you have to push
>>>yourself?
>>>
>>>Sorry this was so long. But if it helps someone - great. I would love
>>>to hear from POst Op. people. How long did it take you to not feel so
>>>tired? Did you have to push yourself? Was your bowel movements out of
>>>whack too? Numb areas? etc......
>>>Thanks and take care,
>>>Mel.
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