Ooph and hysterectomy schedule for 9/11... any tip

hi5

It's getting closer and I am starting to wonder what I can expect. Anyone out there had these surgeries? I was told no vacuuming or lifting of anything over 10 lbs for 6 weeks but can drive as soon as I have range of motion.
I would like to hear about others' surgery and recovery experiences.

Thanks

hi5

I decided to bump this up and hoping to hear from those of you who have had this.

Chelee

I can't help you when it comes to having a hysterectomy...but I DID have an ooph. That was a piece of cake compared to both mastectomies I had. Laparoscopic of course. I was in and out of the hospital the same day. Fast recovery and no major pain. The gas they put in you can make your shoulders a little sore...but that doesn't happen to everyone. And its really not bad.
I know I was a tiny bit sore when I got home...but seriously...I was up and moving around with no problems. Day 3 I was doing everything with no problems...couldn't even tell I had it done by then. Now if your having a hysterectomy...I KNOW for sure there is more recovery time involved in that. So that other ladies will have to help you on that one. Good luck to you.

Chelee

Calico

I had mine done last year in Feb. and I thought it was easy. I also had a bladder lift and therefore stayed overnight with a catheter.
After leaving the hospital I walked 2 miles and every day thereafter. Maybe taking the pain meds on time and pampering yourself will make it easy on you too. I didn't miss not vacumcleaning and had my family do that for a while.
Hope all works out, try not to worry (easier said than done, I know - I am a big chicken ) but I really am happy I had it done.
Hotflashes were barely more than during chemo even though Gyn promised me a lot.
I was in the middle of radiation treatment when I had mine done, didn't want to waist time....

God Bless

Anonymous

bcinBC---are you having it done laproscopically (LAVH)? or abdominally? Mine was the latter--I couldn't drive for 3 weeks and no heavy lifting for 6 weeks. There is a big difference in the recovery time between the two procedures.

hi5

Thanks for your tips. I am having both the ooph and the hysterectomy done laproscopically. Calico..you had your done during rads??? OMG...wasn't that hard on you? What restrictions did you have? they say no vacuuming but you can do other things can't you? what about driving? awb: How come yours was abdominal> They figure they can do mine laproscopically so in the hospital one night and then out the next day. You said you couldn't drive for 3 weeks..do you have an auto or standard?

Thanks for all your input, everyone

Calico

Mine was done vaginally assisted laparascopically (omg spelling?)...well, through the tummy with the laparascope and then through the vagina, no incisions, just the tiny 3 or 4 cuts.
No hard labor, just pampering and being spoiled, walking is good.
No it wasn't hard with rads, I just was mad that I couldn't do rads that day, I was nauseated from the anesthesia and they gave me something for it, that made me so woozy that they didn't let me go to the other building for rads...Wasn't a big deal. I just made up for that day so I got all 25 rads as planned.
Just take the rest the doc says you need to take and listen to your body.

God Bless

Calico

My car is an automatic, I was driving my daughter to school after 3 days....just carefully....

No lifting was the same, no sex obviously, that took longer than the gyn said, needed more healing time I guess...

God Bless

Anonymous

mine couldn't be done laproscopically as the ovarian cysts were too large (8 cm) and the gyn suspected ovarian cancer, so needed it done abdominally for both reasons. Fortunately, everything turned out benign. With the abdominal approach, I was advised no driving at all for 3 weeks. I used a pillow between me and the seatbelt even as a passenger for quite a while for comfort.

Fireweed

I had both years ago for reasons unrelated to breast cancer. Not bad at all! I was home in 24 hours and never had much pain. I was driving in 3 days and back at work in 8 days. I was tired, though, and would have benefited from more time off and more naps.

Traci-----TripNeg

bcinbc,

I have an appt to schedule mine.....hopefully, it will be soon because I want my ovaries out!!

I googled because I know nothing......and came across a site just like this one! It's pretty cool. All the girls in there either had hysterctomies or are going to.

www.hystersisters.com

Good luck girl. I'm right behind you. I'm trying to find out about the robot one doctor told me about. lol.

: ) Traci

mcdds

I had mine done laproscopically July 23rd.  They went in thru my belly button and then 3 other incisions.  2 for the cameras and then one low in the pelvic area.  Mine was done as a day surgery - I was home that afternoon.  The biggest problem I had was trying to pee the first 24 hours.  I had to pee before they would release me from the surgery center- couldn't at first but then finally went.  Took a lot of concentration to go for a few days after the surgery.  Had to sit and relax. 

My post op visit was 8 days after the surgery and he basically released me for whatever I felt up too.  The pre op paper work said wait 2 weeks before resuming most activities so that is what I did.  Continued to have some gas pains and bloating feelings for several weeks after the surgery as well as some internal twinges but nothing major. I just took it easy.

I felt like the worst part of it was the pre op cleansing of the bowels.  Had to drink some kind of liquid laxative - sodium something.  Lemony flavor - yum - NOT!   It did the trick though!

I just got my pathology report and it said everything was benign.  Just endrometriomas (huge blood filled cysts) on the ovaries which apparently were beginning to adhere to my colon. 

Good luck -

Carol

hi5

Well my surgery was rescheduled for Sept. 13 so tomorrow is the day.... I'd appreciate some last minute suggestions from those in the know.  Thank you.

Anonymous

Gas-X works great for any gas pains, colace and senekot work wonders for any constipation (pain meds are notorious for causing constipation), drink lots of fluids to keep things moving, take pain meds--don't be a hero! It's a good idea to walk a bit each day, but also take it easy as you may find yourself more easily tired out than you expect at first. Give yourself time to heal.

Calico

bcinbc,

hope you are out of the woods and not in much pain

God Bless

emmakeating55

I"ve just been here reading the posts.    My surgery is scheduled for the 25th of Sept.  One of my friends had just her uterus (fibroids)removed and went to St. Thomas three days later!  She's 9 years younger and thin and in very good shape.  I'm not, although I do play golf and walk about three to four miles 3xs a week.  I'm still fighting fatigue at times from rads and chemo, but feeling very positive. Thank you all for all the info!

Traci-----TripNeg

bcinBC,

Just checking in to see how you are doing!

Please let us know you are o.k.

I scheduled my hysterectomy today for 10/3.

Traci

hi5

I came back ( as my initial name) When I was asking questions re.  ooph and hyster I was on as bcinbc.  Anyways...IT'S DONE!!!! I went in last Thursday, the 13th and was out early on the 14th.  I really hadn't been given any info. so just played it out.  I had the catheter out and peed with no problem but the gas!!!! OMG... that was the worst.  I purchased an excellent stool softener and stayed away from the prescription painkillers.  Most of the pain was the gas pain.  I drove the 2nd day after surgery ...I have a 5 speed and had no problems but believe I have overdone it and not getting enough sleep so am feeling a bit wiped out now.  Good luck to you who are scheduled for it.  No problem.

hi5

I came back ( as my initial name) When I was asking questions re.  ooph and hyster I was on as bcinbc.  Anyways...IT'S DONE!!!! I went in last Thursday, the 13th and was out early on the 14th.  I really hadn't been given any info. so just played it out.  I had the catheter out and peed with no problem but the gas!!!! OMG... that was the worst.  I purchased an excellent stool softener and stayed away from the prescription painkillers.  Most of the pain was the gas pain.  I drove the 2nd day after surgery ...I have a 5 speed and had no problems but believe I have overdone it and not getting enough sleep so am feeling a bit wiped out now.  Good luck to you who are scheduled for it.  No problem.

Traci-----TripNeg

Thanks for the info.

I hope mine is as easy as you described yours. And, thanks for the heads up on the stool softener. Did you start taking those right away? Why no prescription pain killers?

Traci

hi5

Traci:

I didn't take prescription pain killers... Tylonol 3 with Codeine because they bind me so took regular tylonol.  didn't need much.... couldn't tell if some pain was from surgery or constipation.