The time has come!

[Kimberley]

I'm getting a hysterectomy. Undoubtly, I have uterine septum. The uterus is suppose to look like an upside-down triangle. The top part of my uterus is dipped so low it looks like 2 seperate uterus chambers. SOOO, in order to stop the irregular/heavy monthly cycles, the only option for me is a hysterectomy.

I'm looking to get it done the last week of November. Boss said I can make the time up at the end of the school year so I won't get docked in pay.

No more monthly cycles and no more kids... :)

Who has had this done? The doc wants to do it abdominally. More recovery time but he thinks that's better so he can get a better view of my lower organs.

[cindy0721]

oh gosh..... I hope everything comes out ok...I too am irregular but Im in my 20's I hope its not what you have..... how did they diagnose you with your yearly pap ?

[cindy0721]

doctors here find out your irregular they put you on that lil pill and thats it ..you get your period in 7 days and voila./. but it doesnt fix the problem...

[RLC12345678]

My mom and grandmother both have had hysterectemies. They said it was the best thing they ever did. Both had it done through the abdomen.

Best of luck with your surgery! I am sure you are making the right decision. You will be on the road to feeling so much better in no time!

[Kimberley]

oh gosh..... I hope everything comes out ok...I too am irregular but Im in my 20's I hope its not what you have..... how did they diagnose you with your yearly pap ?

My yearly came out normal. I had to have a sonogram of my uterus because during the initial exam, the doctor noted that my uterus was so tilted he could not feel it. It was during the sonogram that you could see the large dip in my uterus. Technology is amazing in this day of age.

[Kimberley]

November 27th @ 7:30 a.m.:eek:

[magnolia]

I had mine done in December of '97. I was in what the doctor said was "early stages of pre-cancer" - I had no problems whatsoever with my monthly cycle, just abnormal paps!! My uterus was also tilted, as I like to say, in the "back 40" somewhere!! Mine was done vaginally, left my ovaries - nothing wrong with them so he left them in and I'm glad he did - no hormone pills/shots for me, yet! I was back at work 2 weeks after having mine but....I was manager for an OB/GYN clinic here in town (not one of the docs who did my surgery) so my doctor let me go back to work knowing I was in good hands with physicians near all day if anything should happen - they sent me home each day for the first 2 weeks back at noon but paid me for the whole day - they were GREAT during that time:) Only problem I had was 6 weeks post-op, a cyst developed on one of my ovaries and ruptured - severe pain!!! Spent the week-end on the couch or in the bed but otherwise, have been fine ever since - and feel great! And don't let that myth about gaining weight after a hysterectomy bother you - I LOST weight after mine, actually lost too much and doc said if I hadn't stopped losing or at least gained a pound or 2 by 6 month check up, he'd have to run tests on me. I went from 132 pounds down to 117 in 2 months - I'm now at 125 and am staying in that general vacinity.

You'll do fine, I know you will:) And you'll feel so much better after you've had a chance to recover from the surgery! I'm here for you if you want to talk - just pm me and I'll get you my email address.

[Kimberley]

did your diet change after surgery? I'm a little worried about weight gain. Lord knows I don't need to add anymore!!!

Can't remember if I mentioned it or not but doc wants to do an abdominal hysterectomy.:(

[Mandy]

I have heard from a lot of woman that had it done, they are all happy and relieved! I bet you will feel a lot better afterwards :) :) Best of luck!! :thumbup:

[magnolia]

did your diet change after surgery? I'm a little worried about weight gain. Lord knows I don't need to add anymore!!!

Can't remember if I mentioned it or not but doc wants to do an abdominal hysterectomy.:(

No, my diet didn't change other than I couldn't eat! I didn't go on to explain (cause I thought I had "yakked" enough), but the doctor thinks the anesthesia played a HUGE role in the intial first few days after surgery. I won't lie, I was one sick "puppy" the day after surgery - couldn't eat, all I could do was puke! And when I started back eating, all I wanted was chicken noodle soup. For almost a week after surgery, that's all I ate - soup and maybe come jello so my stomach literally shrunk from not eating so when I did eat, I couldn't eat much before getting full. I had mine on the 19th of December, just a few days before Christmas - I couldn't even enjoy Christmas dinner, was full after just a few bites and I was real weak feeling for about 10 days post-op. I'm the type, if I don't feel good, I just don't want to eat. But I also think something else was going on to cause that much of a weight loss in that short period of time. When I went in for 6 month check-up, I had gained 2 pounds so no further testing was done.

Before I had my surgery, I was not much of a sweets eater at all and still don't eat many to this day - give me veggies and I'm happy:) I didn't crave certain foods after having the surgery, and I don't exercise anymore now than I did then. In my opinion, and it's just that, my opinion, I think some people think that a hysterectomy means they are gonna gain weight so they figure, why not indulge and enjoy - and that indulgence and enjoyment adds on the pounds. If you eat like you do now after your surgery, you shouldn't have any problems in that department - you may gain a pound or two but don't we all from time to time! But like I said, this is just my opinion - not proven in any way.

For the betterment of your health, this is something you need to have done so put all your focus and energy into that and in getting better afterwards. Everything else, you can worry about later. BTW: both my sisters had abdominal hysterectomies - and they did fine:) And you will too!! Please don't hesitate to PM me or post something here if you want to talk - I'm here for ya:)

[rivermom]

Good for you!!! You will find that this is the best thing you've ever done!! I had the surgery almost a year ago. I also had issues inside and the hysterectomy was my only option.

Remember to give yourself atleast 8 weeks down time w/ help. You MUST have help because you will need a lot of rest. I am a strong stubborn sort and thought I could jump up in no time and get back to my normal activities, NOT!!! So, as long as you have plenty of help everything will be fine.

[Janet]

You are going to like it afterward so much. No monthly thing to worry about!!!!

I had my hysterectomy about 4 years ago. I had a tumor about the size of a small watermelon. I have a scar from just a little above my belly button to right above the hairline. My scar is hardly noticable because the stitches were used on the inside, but glued on the outside.

I love not having that creepy monthly visitor anymore. You'll love it too.:) :)

[khardy57]

I had a hysterectomy and ovary removal when I was 34 (right before my 35th birthday) I had endometriosos very badly and my colon and vagina had grown together. Needless to say, I was in extreme pain and spent mother's day that year in the ER at my local hospital. It was the best thing I ever did and I don't regret it. I had an abdominal incision because my colon had to be re-sectioned, so I took a full 6 weeks to recover.

You'll be fine. If they take your ovaries, make sure you have some sort of plan for hormone replacement. I slept with ice packs, and still do at times because of hot flashes. I still have them at times even though I take hormones, so I still use the ice packs in summer.

Here's hoping you have an uneventful surgery and speedy recovery!!

[Marilyn]

Kimberley, it's going to be fine. You are going to feel much better after recovery. I had a complete (ovaries and uterus) hysterectomy in 1995, in December, just before Christmas because that's the least busy time at my work and my daughters would be home from school for the holidays. I've worked forever and wanted the time with them. My incision is a bikini cut, across the pelvis rather than belly button down. It hardly shows, and this was my 4th bikini cut abdominal surgery. My husband suggested they just install a zipper :D .

Recovery was very easy, they gave me hormones on the operating table through my IV, so never missed a beat until recently when they took me off the hormones due to breast cancer potential.

If they can leave you ovaries, that would be best. I was over 40 and at the time, the rule was that if you were over 40 the ovaries go, too.

It's sooo nice not to have periods!!!!! My only complaint is that orgasms are not quite as intense as they were before. They said this was a potential side effect. It's not that much of a change though once you get used to it.

Don't know who your OBGYN is, but Dr. Jaynes did mine.

Keep in touch, and call me if you want to talk.

P.S. Weight gain after surgery was not a problem. Actually at first you lose weight after surgery because your body uses so much energy to heal. I've gained a bit over the years, but I think it's due to age and just getting lazy about watching the diet.

[Kimberley]

Marilyn, Dr. Hicks will be doing my surgery. He's with the woman's clinic. Not much of a personality but he's answered all of my questions so far.

He's doing the bikini thing so hopefully, the scarring won't be too bad. Leaving the ovaries, too.

Why on earth did you need 4 surgeries? OUCH! I could not imagine. Cute about the zipper part! I'd smacked my husband...lovingly, of course!;)

[Marilyn]

Don't know Dr. Hicks. Is he the son of the Dr. Hicks who was the cardiologist? If so, his father was a wonderful man.

I've actually had more than 4, that's just the number of major abdominals. Two were C-sections. I hate filling out one of those questionaires in the doctor's office. They always want to know about surgeries and the dates. I need to put the list in my Palm so it's handy and I don't have to wrack my brain each time.

I hope I've had my last. Get tired of general anesthesia. You lose the time your under. It's not like sleeping. It's like you blinked and a couple of hours passed. It's weird.

Oh, one thing Dr. Jaynes has always told me. After surgery they usually put you on a morphine pump for the first day. Use all the morphine the pump will let you have. A nurse got after me one time for using so much. The thing will only let you have a certain amount, but I think she got tired of reloading it. Dr. Jaynes came in to check on me and ask how my pain control was going, and I told him about the nurse. He said to ignore her, they don't need any martyrs in this hospital :D . I hit the button on that pump as many times as I wanted after that.

[Kimberley]

Well your doc sounds pretty good. I've heard (haven't confirmed) that with Dr. Hicks and c-sections, he only prescribes ibuprofen and tylenol for pain. UM, I don't think so. The morphine pump sounds MUCH better. I guess I need to call his nurse to verify this.

I had a doc in Wichita Falls and he was wonderful. Delivered both of my babies and he knew that I have a low tolerance to pain. With daughter, I had only dialated 1 1/2 cm. Got my epidural. Son, I was at a 4 and got it. God bless that man!!!

I've had surgery twice in my life so I know about losing time. It's a strange feeling...really.

Don't know who Hicks is related to. I've only seen him twice. He was referred to me by my cousin. Tall, handome cowboy looking guy.

[Tiger Lily]

Good luck with your surgery Kimberly...as everyone said, you will LOVE not having a period anymore. I had mine right before I turned 30. I had cancer of the cerevix that had begun to spread into the uterus & was given a week to prepare for surgery. I can never preach enough to my friends how important regular paps are. Although mine had moved past the 'pre' & into the 'actual' cancer, it was so early that the surgery alone got rid of it. I hate to think that had I waited for my pap that I may have had to have radiation or anything yucky like that.

I think the results vary from person to person, but I will share my outcome.

I did gain weight.....but that may also be the age thing, being in my 30's now. I always weighed about 125 & now its usually around 132-134. Oh well:)

Sex, not a problem. The 'O''s are the same as ever. It was scary to have sex the first few times, but all was o.k.

Recovery- mine was minimal. I was able to have the surgery vaginally, which has a lesser recovery time. I was out of the hospital in 3 days & back to work the next week. I wasn't supposed to work so soon, but I work for a family business & I literally sat on my butt. I was always given the option to leave if I wanted to, but you know how us women are!! Energy was definately lacking though & I would go home & be done for the night. Pizza anyone??:)

Ghost cramps - still have these once in a while. But they aren't so bad when you don't have the rest with it!!

I wish you the best. I'm confident that you will be pleased with the outcome. Feel free to ask any questions at all, I'm not at all shy & would be happy to share. I guess that's obvious by the length of my post! Sorry to blab so much:)

[khardy57]

Yes ma'am, that morphine pump is a wonderful invention!!! If I didn't hit the button my husband did. He said he didn't even want me to think about pain!

[Sherry Lynn]

Can we all just say a "Hallelujah" for Morphine......:p

How long will your mom be able to stay with you? I hope it's for a good while... otherwise we're going to have to call your MIL!:eek:

HUGS!

[Janet]

Kimberely, have you made your appointment for the last week of November? Don't be worried about it at all....life after hysterectomies are wonderful. No more of that evil little friend coming around every month. So much nicer!!!

[Kimberley]

I have to go to the hospital on November 22nd to preregister.

[Janet]

Well you know you'll be in our prayers. I was lucky that my son was home from school. It was during the summer time. Good thing I taught him how to do laundry and cook, because he was an excellent nurse for me. He would fold the clothes on the bed next to me and I could help. He was wonderful and I know he would do anything for me. I just let a lot of things go and he and his dad did things that HAD to be done. So I let him do most whatever he wanted to do to give him a break, but he didn't take advantage. He didn't want me wanting for nothing.