Preparing for Hysterectomy Surgery & Recovery

I've been reading up on suggestions of things to have, to help you through recovery.  Below are some of the things I found, that may be useful and have purchased for myself.   Of course, once I am going through recovery, I'll let you know how much each one did actually help. 😉  **Always ask your doctor first before trying anything.  These are just some of the ideas I've read that were useful for other women who had a hysterectomy.

• A soft comfortable robe.  Whether you are staying in the hospital for a few days or fully recovering at home.  A comfortable robe is nice to have walking through the hospital halls, especially while wearing the hospital gowns that tend to want to open up in the back flashing everyone you walk by. 😮 It's also nice to wear at home when you need to do your walking around, but aren't up to getting dressed. 
• A Pair of Slip on Slippers.  You will definitely want a pair of soft comfortable slippers that are easy for you to slide on to your feet.  Good for when they make you start walking around at the hospital.  Also, great for going to and from the bathroom or walking around at home during your recovery.  This way you would not have to bend down to put them on.

• A Tummy Binder.  I have read that using some sort of tummy binder helps with healing and swelling of your belly.  It is useful for any hysterectomy you have, but especially if you had an abdominal one.  I purchased one that included cold/heat packs and a mesh pocket to slip them in.  That way I can have the cold/heat packs on my belly even while walking around.  Some women like using them, others prefer not too.  I figured if for some reason I didn't end up liking it, I could still use the binder and packs for back aches as well.  But, I wanted to have it handy just in case it does really help.  I purchased mine online through the hystersisters store.  You can purchase binders at Walgreens, CVS and other places as well.  I'm not sure if they have the pockets for the cold/heat packs though.

• Eye Mask & Ear Plugs.  If you're staying in the hospital for a few nights, you may want to have an eye mask and ear plugs handy.  Hospitals can get pretty loud and you will need as much rest as possible.  It's also good if you have a snoring husband or young children around.  That way you can block out as much noise and light as you can to keep resting.

• Hot Water Bottle.  I read somewhere that putting ice cubes and water in one of these and putting it into a pillow case and lay it on your belly helps a lot.  Also, when you want to apply heat, putting hot water in it will do the trick as well.  I have a heating pad I will use for when I want to use heat on my belly.  But, if you don't have a heating pad, this will work great as well.  I bought one for myself off of Amazon, but you can find them at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and other places as well.

• Nightgowns/Night Shirts & Comfy Clothes.  You will want to wear things that aren't tight around your belly.  A night shirt or gown is good to wear while recovering, you can just slip it over your head.  If you choose to wear pants, you may want to get baggy sweats or shorts that are loosely fitting.  You want to be as comfortable as you can.  This is the time your husband/boyfriends big shirts/sweats come in handy. 😀

• Small Pillow.  A small pillow is good to use between your tummy and the seat belt for car rides.  Also, a good protection to have from small children or pets that may try to come around your belly.  It will also help to hold it on your belly when you have to cough or sneeze.

These are just a few ideas that I found, that could be very useful during recovery.     

Fibroids & Appointments

10/25/2018

I am 46 years old, wife & mother of 2.  I am scheduled to have a hysterectomy on November 14, 2018. 

I thought maybe if I did a blog of my journey, it would help other women going through what I am.  A few years ago, I created a blog when I got braces as an adult and surprisingly others reached out to me and told me how much it helped them reading my blog.  I am hoping this blog does the same, even if it's just one person.

Here we go...
In 2015 I was starting to have an achy feeling when I would go for my runs in my lower abdomen.  I also noticed I could feel a small bump in my lower belly when I laid on my back.  I made an appointment to see a gynecologist (it had been a few years).  During my appointment, while she was doing the pelvic exam, she felt the bump and said it was probably a fibroid.  I had an ultrasound which confirmed it was a fibroid.  I then had a hysterscopy done to make sure it was benign.  Instead of her scheduling an appointment with me to go over results and my options.  She had her nurse call me to tell me it was benign and that she wanted me to start taking Provera for several months and she didn't explain why or what for.  I picked up my prescription confused on what exactly the medication was to do for me, was it to shrink my fibroid, get rid of it, or what??!!.  So I researched the medication myself and read all the side effects and reviews on it, which were worse than what I was currently dealing with, plus it would do nothing to my fibroid.  So I decided not to take it.  I also decided not to go back to her, because I did not like how she didn't go over anything with me, especially my options.  I figured I could handle heavy periods once a month and the low pressure feeling in my belly.

Fast forward to 2018.  I continued to have the achy pressure feeling in my lower abdomen, especially when I ran.  My periods started to get worse lasting 10 days with my heavy days needing Ultra tampons and a night time pad and changing it every 30 minutes.  I also passed huge clots with bad cramping.  I could see the bump a lot more in my lower abdomen when I laid on my back.  Some days it seemed to stick out even further than others.  I would get fatigue during my periods with headaches.  But, I would still continue to run on my running days.  I could tell a huge difference on my running days on my periods.  Sometimes I could barely make 3 miles.  On days I'm off my period, I could run 7 miles or more no problem.  My lower abdomen would ache more when I had to pee.  Once I would pee, the pressure wouldn't feel as bad.  2 of my friends recommended me to see their gynecologist.  They swore by him and they both had hysterectomies performed by him (he's a surgeon as well). 

On September 24, 2018 I had my gyno appointment.  The nurse took all my info.  Once the doctor was ready for me, they sent me to his office.  When I say office, I mean his actual office, him sitting at his desk and I sat in a chair in front of him.  This was much better than talking to him, sitting in a gown on the exam table.  He asked me what brought me to see him.  I told him all my issues I was having.  He couldn't understand why my 1st gynecologist prescribed me a medication that wouldn't even shrink a fibroid.  Even if she had, it would grow back. He went over options I would have, to treat a fibroid.  He explained to me that these were temporary options, because in most cases the fibroid's grow back.  He said since I'm 46 and no longer want children (I had a tubal ligation after my 2nd child in 1998, so having more kids was not an issue.)  Also, with all my issues I was having, pressure and aches in lower abdomen, heavy bleeding, bad cramps, huge clots, pain at times during sex, anemia, he said a hysterectomy would be my best option to get rid of the fibroid and the problems I've had with it.  He then said that since I'm slim that he may be able to feel the fibroid during the pelvic exam.  He told me to go to the restroom 1st, because he would be pressing a lot on my abdomen. Luckily I was able to pee, because when he said he would be pressing, boy did he ever.  I went into the exam room, changed into the gown and the doctor and nurse came in.  He did the pap smear 1st.  Then he started the pelvic exam which was very uncomfortable.  At times I would tense up, because of the sharp pain when he pushed.  He told me to relax, then the nurse came by my head and then he started pushing really hard and I about flew off the table.  I said "I'm sorry", because I know I'm supposed to stay relaxed.  He said no, you are a very good patient.  I said I am?  Thinking hello??!! I just about flew off this table!!!.  He asked me if I knew what he just did.  I said ummm no.  He said he just rotated my uterus.  I was like what?!  He said my uterus was turned around so he rotated it back.  He then said again that I was a very good patient, because most patients he couldn't do that unless they were put under.  Yikes, no wonder I almost flew off the table in pain.  He then had me get dressed and meet him back in his office.  There he explained that it felt like I have a pretty big fibroid and that my uterus felt enlarged.  He said he wanted to do an ultrasound to get a better idea.  But, if the fibroid was too large there was a medication I could take for 3 months to help it shrink enough down, so I could have a vaginal hysterectomy.   I then scheduled to have my ultrasound done.

On October 11, 2018 I went in to have my ultrasound.  I had to drink at least 32 oz of water an hour and a half before my appointment and not pee.  Luckily they called me back right when I got there.  They did an internal and external ultrasound.  I was able to go empty my bladder before she did the internal ultrasound.  Once I was done my doctor came in to go over what he saw.  He said that my biggest fibroid measured over 15cm and that I had multiple fibroid's.  He said that my uterus was enlarged and that my bladder was being pressed and he showed me how a bladder should look and mine definitely looked squished.  Which explains the pressure achy feeling and always having to pee.  He suggested that I take Lupron for 3 months to help the large fibroid shrink down, so he would be able to do a vaginal hysterectomy.  He said he may still be able to do one now, but I would have better odds if it was shrunk down at least by 30%.  I already knew I did not want to take the Lupron injections.  After reading about it and I have a friend who had to take them years ago and caused her nothing but problems.  He said for me and my husband to discuss it over the weekend and decide if I want to take it or not.  I had already seen what this medication could do, loss of hair, "temporary menopause" which most woman said it continued even after getting off the shots and much more.  My husband was looking to see what exactly the medication was.  Apparently it originally was used for men as a chemotherapy type drug for prostate cancer.  Once we read that, we both agreed that I absolutely do not want to take this medication.  We were going camping for the weekend, so I decided to put it behind me, enjoy the weekend and deal with this on Monday.  

On October 15, 2018, I called the gyno office and let them know I absolutely do not want to take Lupron, that I needed to know what are my next steps.  She said she will talk to my doctor and give me a call back.  Around 10am she called and said he wanted to do another pelvic exam to see if he feels he can still do a vaginal hysterectomy.  I was able to go in at 2:15pm that day because they had a cancellation.  He did the pelvic exam and did a lot of pressing again.  He said he felt that 80% he could do the vaginal hysterectomy, because my uterus was mobile and my fibroid's were more towards the top of the uterus.  He said that he would have the OR ready for an abdominal one just in case he was unable too.  I told him I understand and I agree and that I just want to get this done.  He said he wanted to do blood work to get my blood count since I loose so much blood.  They took my blood there.  I then went to his admin and she scheduled my Pre-op appointment for Monday, November 12th and my surgery for Wednesday, November 14th.  A few days later I got my blood test results and my Hemoglobin was in red 11.2L and my Hematocrit was also in red 34.8L.  Which this meant I am anemic.   I take an iron supplement everyday along with a vitamin C and multi-vitamin.  But, when I went camping that weekend before the blood test, I forgot to take it with me, plus I was on my period.  So, I think that may be why my levels were low.  I'm hoping they will be back to normal when they take it again at my Pre-op.  

So now is the fun waiting game.  I have 2 weeks and 6 days until my surgery.  I have watched and listened to many videos on U-Tube about hysterectomies.  A friend of mine recommended a site called Hystersisters (link below), which is amazing.  It's women who are having or already had a hysterectomy and their own experiences.  I'm sure I will continue to read and watch videos until the day of my surgery.  I am really hoping I can have the vaginal hysterectomy, but I'm feeling like I will probably end up with the abdominal one, because of how big my uterus and fibroid is.  But, we'll see.....

https://www.hystersisters.com/

I am nervous and scared, but I'm also excited and cant wait to get this done and hopefully feel much better.  A big plus will be no longer having a period!!!  No more going to the bathroom every 30 minutes, worrying that when I start gushing am I leaking on my clothes.  No more waking up 2 to 3 times a night because of gushing and hoping to make it to the bathroom before it leaks over the pad.  No more worrying about plans being made when it's my time of the month.  No more tensing up during sex because in certain positions it feels like I'm getting punched inside.  Hopefully no more running without feeling exhausted and a lingering heavy pressure achy feeling in my lower abdomen, which makes me feel like I have to pee.  

October 21, 2018 I ran my last 5k race before my surgery.  I have ran at least a 5k, 10k or half marathon race once a month for exactly 2 years now.  It's bitter sweet right now, because I had already signed up for one in December with my daughter and her boyfriend, but I wont be able to run it.  That is going to be really hard.  But, I have to keep reminding myself, this is for my own good and once I fully recover, who knows I may end up running faster and farther than I ever did before, because I wont feel so exhausted and achy while doing so.

I know I just typed a book lol.  But, I just wanted to catch you all up on where this all started and where I am at today.  I will continue to update this blog on info I come across, my Pre-op appointment, surgery and my recovery.  Until then, I hope this helps someone going through the same thing.💜