Hysterectomy on Tues - Advice please

Hi there,

I had an abdominal hysterectomy and kept my ovaries about 11 / 12 weeks ago also due to large fibroids.  I know its different for everyone but in my case I had absolutely no bleeding whatsoever.  It wasnt nearly as bad as I expected really. I had a catheter for the first 24 hours and after that I was able to move around a bit, but I was very nervous of the wound for a couple of weeks - especially after the stitches came out. 

My husband had the first week off as we didnt know what to expect.

I must say the thing I found the hardest and the most unexpected was the absolute exhaustion! By lunch time every day I was fit to collapse and that lasted for about 8 or 9 weeks. 

11 weeks on now and I feel back to normal and the scar is fading nicely.

Tummy is still a bit sore and numb in places but I think that's normal.

Gosh thats bad timing for your son to be ill as well :-(

Best of luck for Tuesday. Try not to worry too much if you can - you'll have your life back in no time.

Jenny x 

Hi Iam due for hysterectomy hopefully on the 6th April but mines more complicated as have to have two surgeons as very mangled up in side having abdominal also two way cut did you have to wait long for ur date all the best for your op

Sorry to hear about what's going on and your son with chicken pox! Things never happen at right timings butttt we always manage to make it work

I'm kind of in the same boat as you.. I will be having my hysterectomy in April. I've had 2 csections to deliver my kids. So I know what the healing process is for that. I'm assuming it's similar besides the uterus being taken out.

As far as your questions, the bleeding I had after each c section( might be different because of the after birth and blood from pregnancy) I had to wear the huge pads that went from front to back and the thickest pad you could get.

To be safe, get medium sized pads and a package of the big pads.

As far as the bathing with the stuff you listed, I never had a bath( only shower) because I was too afraid of infection.

Another thing, I have this abdominal Velcro wrap( the hospital gave me) to wrap around my incision on my belly to help with pain and pressure. I'll tell you, that made it so much better!! If you could ask the hospital for one I really recommend it

Good luck and it will all be okay!! Just remember you will feel so much better afterwards!! I know surgery is scary but don't stress about it. You will have some good medicine to help you and your family

Thanks ladies,

Jenny - it's great to hear about your recovery👍I've read and been warned about the exhaustion so I know I need to listen to my body, especially as I never normally sit down, always doing something!

How big were your fibroids? Did you try any other treatment first out of interest?

Annie - sounds like you have a lot going on inside. If I'd waited for an NHS op, the waiting time should be 18weeks but they're way over that at the moment. We've decided to use some savings and pay privately (gulp!!) My fibroid wasn't even detected two years ago and now it's 8cm so it's grown fast and my quality of life has really gone downhill with awful bladder pressure, frequent urination and getting up several times in the night. Ovulation is now awful, migraines with dizzy spells and daily tummy cramp. I love the gym but have had to stop exercising.

Kristin - thanks for the tip re Velcro wrap👍I will shower rather than bath too.

Have been reading through the pre-op hospital leaflet and now scared myself even more with all the complications and risks.

Just hoping my little boy isn't too poorly the next two nights. He's smothered in spots today....

Thanks again.

As someone else has said, it is the tiredness that is the most debilitating. I had no problem with wound. No stitches and a clever  plaster that let you shower. Hopefully you will get that too. One thing that did surprise me was the size of my swollen stomach (10 weeks in and this is still the case). I still can't wear pre op knickers. My suggestions is to buy yourself some big knickers a size bigger than usual. Hysterectomy association sell, support knickers which are expensive but can come all the way up to bra if you want and are very comfy. Good lu.k

The worse for me was the wind and constipation, I tried peppermint capsules, peppermint tea, ducolax, and eventually lactulise worked. It made me feel ill until I could go. Your bowels go into 'sleep' mode' after the anaesthetic and it takes time to start working again. I was tired but couldn't sleep. I more than 2 hrs at a time, think it was because of have big ovaries removed so surgical menopause hit me like a brick! I also had a spinal which I didn't know I was having until I went to theatre and when I woke up I had no pain. I worried myself terribly before the op but the waiting was by far the worst bit, not forgetting the drive home, OMG, I felt every bump in the road and that was very uncomfortable I can tell you. I had swollen belly for a good 6 months, it takes time. Good luck x