Scared, having a hysterectomy

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, now in ED.

Ok, here goes. I have had my RN for 5 years, worked med/surg, telemetry. ED, and am currently working rehab as a a traveling nurse. I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2001, and am scheduled to have a hysterectomy on May 21. I am terrified. I know, sort of, what to expect, but have no experience with this, other than cases gone bad. Thats what is scaring me, I know what can go wrong. It is one of those instances where a little knowledge is dangerous. My doctor is excellent, I trust him as far as I can, but would like some advice as to what to expect. My doc is planning a LAVH, with the possibility of a TAH, depending on how bad teh scarring/adhesions have gotten. I am a very active person, and can't see being off work for 6 weeks, as is suggested.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

first, take a deep breath...

i had a tah/bso eight years ago, and found a great website (not sure it still exists) called hyster-sisters! lots of good support, although some bimbos were there, i found a lot of fellow nurses!

you will need six weeks off if you have the tah...stock up on movies you wanted to watch, reading you've meaning to do, and stock the freezer ahead of time. also, ask your doc about hrt--i got my estrogen patch put on in the or [my gyn was female:bow:] and it really helped.

good luck!

((((:heartbeat))))

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, now in ED.

Thanks, have already discussed HRT, had not thought about gertting the patch in OR. Great idea.

I will probably end up having to have the TAH. I probably know more about endo than most PCPs. Its gotten really bad, my gyn agrees, but also agreed to try the LAVH.

Will do a search for the site you mentioned

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I had a LAVH 9 months ago and I am telling you, it is the best thing I could have done! I won't say it was an absolute cake walk, but 9 months out I feel better than I can ever remember. I am no longer fatigued due to chronic anemia from heavy cycles and the mind numbing pain I felt every month is gone forever :yeah:. As the previous poster said, you should look into Hystersisters.com. It was a great source of information and support for me before and after my surgery. Believe me, when your doctor tells you to take 6 weeks, take the 6 weeks. You have to build back up slowly and it does take several weeks to just get over the fatigue after a major surgery like this. Good luck and let us know how you do!

Limik

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Oh yeah, a quick P.S. to my post, I had both endometriosis and adenomyosis, my uterus was enlarged, and my doc was still able to do the LAVH. It's amazing what they can do! The recuperation time is shorter with a LAVH than a TAH.

Limik

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
i feel better than i can ever remember. i am no longer fatigued due to chronic anemia from heavy cycles and the mind numbing pain i felt every month is gone forever :yeah:.

amen to that!!

i don't miss the "labor pains" every month. i never knew i had endometriosis--surgery was for an ovarian mass [dysplasia-i'm fine]! i thought everyone had "cramps" and took 1200 of motrin every four hours to stay vertical!

really--plan on taking the time off. you'll heal faster and feel better.:onbch:

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Also had a TAH-BSO for endo. Wished I had the hyst when I was 20, because endo can be such a "life-wrecker". Also went on hyster-sisters, they have lots of great advice, and do just plan on taking off 6 weeks. It's a major surgery, and a major recovery. Also use the patch (vivelle dot), it's enough to cure hot flashes and total insomnia, but not enough to re-start the endo.

Best of luck to you! You'll likely wonder why (and HOW!) you ever waited this long to do it.:yeah:

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

My mom had a TAH at 39 and said she wished she'd gotten it done 10 years earlier - she had really bad fibroids.

If I can be so bold as to suggest one thing - a backscratcher for your hospital stay. Not to scratch your back - though you may want it for that too - but to scratch your legs at first, esp if you have a TAH. I had a pt once that said she got that tip from Hystersisters, and agreed that it is the best. (Most of our TVHs are up and around in a matter of hours and do great.) Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health.

I work on a women's health med/surg floor in a metropolitan hospital. Three quarters of my patients are hysterectomies. In my experience, all the posters are 100% correct when they say "take the 6 weeks". Many hysterectomy patients underestimate that this is a major surgery, requiring a few days in the hospital and extensive attention to recovery. You will probably be directed to not drive or lift anything over 10 pounds (about a gallon of milk) for at least 2-4 weeks. Plan accordingly and make sure you have a good support network in place. Someone else will have to attend to the dishes, laundry, and vacuuming for a while (darn, huh?). If you smoke, use antidepressants/anxiety meds or sleep aids, be sure to address these medications before surgery as well as coordinating HRT with your doctor.

With the Laproscopic procedure, I see gas pain radiating to the shoulders as the more common complaint. If that happens, ask for heat for your shoulder and get mobile. Many say the gas pain is worse than the surgical site pain.

Most of our surgeons use staples to close abdomional hysterectomy incisions and a few use the on-Q pain marcaine system that injects a local anestetic into the incisional site for added pain relief. Those seem to work well. I would also recommend that you talk to your doctor about anesthesia options. Some of our patients/physicians choose intrathecal morphine (kind of like an epidural) for pain control during surgery versus traditional general anesthesia options. I have seen a lot of vomitting (not fun after hysterectomy) with intrathecals and personally would not choose that form of pain control for myself, but it generally holds well for most women and allows for a more gradual onset of post-surgical pain rather than waking up from the general with excruciating pain that then needs to be caught up with. Definitely worth looking into your options at the very least.

I would also recommend checking out the Hyster Sisters site. It should help you to know that your feelings and fears are not unique and that there is support out there.

And talk to your friends who have had the procedure. You might be surprised who has and hasn't. They can load you up with good advice as well as let you know that you are not alone in this. People often focus on the physical part of this procedure, but is intensely personal and emotional as well. If you do not explore your feelings about it before hand, you may have a lot more to deal with after your surgery, while you have too much time on your hands and too little to do. Post-surgery is not the time to start adressing your feelings since it can lead to depression and regret. Let this be a positive start to a new pain/bleeding-free life by being honest with yourself about what this means to you in your many different roles as a mother, woman, sister, etc.

Take care and hope this works out well for you and your life.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, now in ED.

Thanks everyone. I will definately have to check out the website. I am trying to deal with my emotions prior to going in. I really don't like going to the doctor, and surgery scares me to death. I have had 5 children, one stillbirth, and had a tubal after my last son was born in 1997. I wanted the hysterectomy after the initial diagnosis, but no one wanted to do it because of my age. The physical part of recovery doesn't really bother me, other than being down for 6 weeks, the emotional part will be the real torture. My husband tries, but he has a "wee bit" of an alcohol problem, and may soon be an ex. I have a fairly good support system otherwise, so that will help, and the kids are old enough to pretty much take care of themelves.

Post surgery I will at least be busy mentally. I started back for my BSN online,(in my 5th class) so I can do that, and I need to recertify for ACLS, and PALS. I can do those while I'm off work, right? That shouldn't be to hard. Its just the mental part of dealing with the idea of surgery, and the aftermath that has me reeling right now.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all your advice. It will be priceless, I'm sure

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Thanks everyone. I will definately have to check out the website. I am trying to deal with my emotions prior to going in. I really don't like going to the doctor, and surgery scares me to death. I have had 5 children, one stillbirth, and had a tubal after my last son was born in 1997. I wanted the hysterectomy after the initial diagnosis, but no one wanted to do it because of my age. The physical part of recovery doesn't really bother me, other than being down for 6 weeks, the emotional part will be the real torture. My husband tries, but he has a "wee bit" of an alcohol problem, and may soon be an ex. I have a fairly good support system otherwise, so that will help, and the kids are old enough to pretty much take care of themelves.

Post surgery I will at least be busy mentally. I started back for my BSN online,(in my 5th class) so I can do that, and I need to recertify for ACLS, and PALS. I can do those while I'm off work, right? That shouldn't be to hard. Its just the mental part of dealing with the idea of surgery, and the aftermath that has me reeling right now.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all your advice. It will be priceless, I'm sure

I would check with your facility about the recert for PALS and ACLS while off. If you are on short-term disablitity you may not be able to do that. Especially if your job pays for it.

I was off for maternity leave and on STD, I have a job that I could have done some of my work at home on the couch with a laptop and they wouldn't allow it, because if I got paid for it, then I didn't need to be off work.

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
i would check with your facility about the recert for pals and acls while off. if you are on short-term disablitity you may not be able to do that. quote]

and i'd like to add that academic type work may not be such a great idea, either. the "post-anesthesia fog" lasts for weeks, or longer!! i am an avid reader, had 3.9+ gpa through two degrees, but after surgery watched a lot of tv, because at first even harlequin romances were too hard for me to follow!!! :selfbonk:

if you expect it, it won't be such a shock or scare you into thinking they did a lobotomy as well!!:sstrs:

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