Freaking out about Complete Hysterectomy

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  • nancyluvspink
    nancyluvspink Member Posts: 102
    edited September 2010

    Lynne - You've come a long way.  I am happy you are recovering.  I had a total hysterectomy in 2007.  Just this year, I went to my gynecologist (really wasn't sure why) but I did.  I asked her if I had a cervix.  How stupid was I?  I didn't even know if they took it or not.  Never thought to ask.  She laughed and told me No.  The rest of the day, I kept saying to myself, I don't have a cervix, I don't have a cervix.  I didn't notice any difference, so I guess thats a good thing.  It was just one more thing that I didn't have to worry about getting cancer in!  Now I am wondering if I have a "omentum", whatever that is.  Keep taking your pain pills.  Sendings lots of hugs Smile

    Nancy

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  • happymom8285
    happymom8285 Member Posts: 205
    edited September 2010

    Lynne--HALLELUJAH!  That is such great news and what a relief, right?  I had no idea they took 22 nodes.  Yikes!  Do you know what, if any, the implications are for taking those in that area?  Is LE a real concern?  Well, I guess it always is. 

    Twylight--I did not have any incisions whatsoever.  GYN went right through the vagina and was able to get it all out.  He had warned me that it might not be possible and if it wasn't he would have done the small incisions like so many others have.  But, thank God, everything came out just fine.  It was amazing.  I had some discomfort, but I guess because there were no incisions, I didn't feel too bad.  Like Lynne said, take your meds.  It's foolish not to, as pain makes the healing process go so much slower.  And the stool softeners a good idea as well.  I did have gas, and things were wacky for quite awhile.  High fiber foods will help as well as copious amounts of water.  :)  Will be thinking of you as Oct 13. rolls around.

    Nancy--that really is funny!  On the bright side, you've been walking around without a cervix and didn't even know it, so you had no need to stress before hand like others have.  Have you had any problems with prolapse?  I know that's a big concern.  My total hys. was in 2000 and I've not had any trouble. This is what I learned about the "omentum".  There's the greater is a mass that sits in front of the stomach and the lesser sits over the liver.  Both become repositories for fat.  "Beer belly"  Cortisol is one of the hormones where it's stored. (The stress hormone) When you lose weight, the omentum shrinks.  If it becomes inflamed it can lead to diabetes, HBP and hardening of the arteries.  So, we all have omentum.  Some bigger than others. Frown I had never heard of it, either.

    Blessings...

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  • Klassyklaws
    Klassyklaws Member Posts: 20
    edited September 2010

    Hi Ladies I am having a total mastectomy. Just reading all the posts it seems there may be a misunderstanding about the cervix being "a thing of its own" It is part of the uterus so it cant be left. What seems to differ is wether they take the top 1/4 inch of the vaginal canal and put a lid on the vault so to speak. I am having that done., The ovaries will go laprasoplically and the uterus will exit vaginally. I am looking forward to not having to worry about ovarian cancer anymore, but am so surgery shy after my train wreck bi-lateral mastectomies. Fingers crossed it all goes well.

    And last note here in Australia and particularly in Newcastle if you are BCA1 or 2 (i am 1) they dont offer to take uterus they only offer to do ovaries. You have to ask for uterus to go or they leave it as it a hassle according to them and adds risk to the surgery. all very interesting when you are trying to make an informed decision. Good luck hystersisters.. Kell xox

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  • happymom8285
    happymom8285 Member Posts: 205
    edited September 2010

    Hi Klassyklaws, when did you have your BMX?  And when is your hysterectomy scheduled?  Hope everything goes well for you....aussie, aussie, aussie, oy,oy,oy. :)  I have friends in Perth and Victoria.  Hope to visit someday!!

    Keep us posted!

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  • Wren
    Wren Member Posts: 324
    edited September 2010

    Ladies... I made it through the hysterectomy, but wow, that first two weeks was difficult... Even though it was DaVinci Laparoscopic, I still had a lot of pain and swelling.

    I am much better now, thankfully.

    It is good to hear that you all are doing OK too...

    Agreed, take the pain meds and stool softeners, drink liquids, and rest rest rest.

    I could not sit for the first two weeks without pain, but it's better now.

    Hugs!

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  • Lynne3times
    Lynne3times Member Posts: 53
    edited September 2010

    Hey Wren, So good to hear from you, I was wondering about you. I agree those first two weeks are difficult. My doctor told me that even though the incisions were laproscopic it was still MAJOR surgery and underneath a LOT of surface area was affected. What is going on inside is no different than if we had a big huge incision across our bellies. Wren if you work are you back to work yet? I am not but am guessing that next week I might be, even if it is for 1/2 days

    Don't worry Klassy, it still is not as bad as Bi-Lat. Sorry to hear that you had a train wreck of a surgery on that front. Is it anything that can be remedied? I hope so. Good luck with your surgery and let us know how you make out.

    Happy, thanks for the well wishes, yes it was definitely a huge relief. As you suspected, LE is a side effect of the lymph node removal and coincidently, the side that had the most LN removed (15) is the side that I also have numbness on the top of my thigh. Initially, I thought it was just sleeping wrong or something, but I don't think it is, it went from the top of my thigh to my knee, it is slowly getting better and only extends now to the middle of my thigh, so I think there might have been some nerve damage done during surgery that is slowly healing. I was so carried away by my good news w/the Dr. that I forgot to tell him about it, I see him again in a few weeks so I will tell him then even if it has gone away just to be sure that it is nerve damage and not signs of LE. (which would suck)

    When I asked what the omentum was and what it's purpose was my Dr. said that it is used for fat storage when man used to be hunters and gathers. Since he removed the bottom 3rd, I am guessing that it is the "lessor" part that Happy explained about, maybe he took it just to be sure as PET scan showed cysts on liver. I didn't question that part too much because #1 I was upset and crying like a baby when he told me he wanted to do that because even though I didn't know I had an omentum, I immediately grew quite attached to it! I was just sick of having more body parts removed. #2 I subsequently read that it was common to remove part of it as well for BRCA gals. #3 I was even more concerned about the cervix being removed.

    Nancy, you cracked me up about not knowing about your cervix, that actually gives me tons of hope that I won't miss mine either!

    Take care ladies, Lynne

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  • happymom8285
    happymom8285 Member Posts: 205
    edited September 2010

    Lynne, you won't miss it.  Won't even know your cervix is gone.  The equipment might be removed, but the playground is still there. Wink

    My gyn said of the thousands of hysterectomies he's done, no one has ever asked for it to be put back!  Laughing

    Sounds like you're getting your feeling back...yay.  Nerves take so long to heal. 

    Glad you're feeling better, Wren. 

    Keep us posted, Klassy.

    Keep well, sistas.

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  • TiffanyF4
    TiffanyF4 Member Posts: 171
    edited September 2010

    You are very funny happymom8285 you have a great attitude about everything. 

    I had a my goods taken out in July and other than hot flashes I would never ask for them back either haha! I had exploratory surgery because I am BRCA1 positive. It really wasn't bad just walk walk walk even just around the house don't lay around too much it makes your really sore and can also cause blood clots, pnuemonia, and all kinds of nasty stuff :)  I am fortunate to have been finished with childbirth I had a tuble ligation after my 2nd pregnancy. So it was a win win situation for me but I really could understand it being a tough thing to decide to do.  I from time to time feel like my "womanhood" has been taken my breast are both gone and all my reproductive organs but I just remind myself that the soul of a Women is the most beautiful powerful thing and that I will never have to have that taken from me!

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  • happymom8285
    happymom8285 Member Posts: 205
    edited October 2010

    Ok ladies, I would like an update from everyone!  How are you all doing?

    TiffanyF4, I'm the same as you.  Told my DH I'm now completely neutered.  haha.  But I'm still ME!  That hasn't changed.  And that can't be neutered!  You are sooo right!  I'm sorry your BRCA1.  I really felt I should be with all my maternal side history, but I'm not.  I still think there's something genetic there, it just hasn't been discovered yet!

    Hope everyone is doing well!!!

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  • ddmotz
    ddmotz Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2010

    Hi ladies...I am new to this site and am so glad that I have found it!!!   I am just 45 and this past year I found out that I am Brca1 positive.  My mom, her mother and an aunt all were diagnosed with bc in their 40s.  We do not have a history of ovarian cancer.  My mom is a 30 year survivor !!! for which i am so thankful!     A big hats off to all of you ladies on this site!  Your sense of humour is great too!  

    Of course, now my dilema is what do I do with all this information to prevent BC!!  It is overwhelming and sometimes very scary!  I have been getting excellent care at the Breast Health Centre in Calgary, AB for the past 8+ years.  I get my yearly mammograms, and for the past 3 years have now started getting MRIs.  I do not know what to do about the big decision to have my breasts removed and reconstruction done at the same time or if I should have my ovaries removed!  I wish there was an easy answer.  Reading some of your experiences though is very helpful.....i am very worried about surgically induced menopause!!  If I go that route,,,,please tell me there is life after that!!   Has anyone had reconstructive surgery using the DIEP or TRAM flap procedure? Is it best to have your ovaries removed first or your breast removed first!!???  I am leaning towards the ovaries as I  am understanding that will reduce your risk of BC by 50%?  my biggest fear if I go ahead with having my breasts removed is that I will be the patient who is going in completely healthy with no sign of BC...but when all is said and done, that the surgeon will find BC lying in there somewhere!!    Hoping that there is someone out there who can share more of their experience and shed some more light on this for me.  I have been on the computer so much researching and just trying to figure out what to do.  Thanks for you help and again,,,so glad I found this site. :)   Cheers

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