PTinAZ wrote:
Hello ladies, My wife is having a hysterectomy in a couple weeks for endometriosis. Would anybody be willing to post their recovery stories or any info on how the experience was? Or maybe have had some friends go through it?
Thanks in advance!
CB
Hi - I found this thread in a google search and thought I would chip in - firstly, my username here gives you a clue that I'm an unfit person so your wife's experience may be quite different to mine. Also, I was 61 at the date of operation and that too will make a difference.
I had an abdominal hysterectomy two years ago on the 25th January. (I'll never forget 'cos I missed my haggis and neeps - just got toast that evening.) The operation in my case was as a result of a diagnosis of polyps which turned out to be cancerous. The day after my operation, I was given the diagnosis of stage 1b cancer which required chemo and radiotherapy.
The operation itself went really well; the last painkiller I took was on the morning after the operation - because while my abdomen was tender and it was awkward to move, I wasn't in pain. Many women experience it like this - although obviously it differs from person to person. I was pleased to get the staples out a few days later at home (district nurse attended to do this)
I was told to do nothing and lift nothing for 12 weeks (probably an age related thing) but I was well warned that doing too much too early could open my wound and cause lots of problems. Also, because I'm a total dill when it comes to anaesthetics - I felt really tired for ages 8-) I was told to lift nothing heavier than a cup of tea and I stuck to that for several weeks and then gradually started doing more. So, for once in my life, because I did as I was told, I had a good recovery. (My niece, who had a baby by C-section, did too much too early, opened her wound and then got an infection which took ages to clear up so keeping the wound healing well is imperative.)
We did several things to prepare for me being out of action; by chance, we had upgraded our downstairs bathroom to have a walk-in shower. Then, because we had a spare corner, we brought a bed downstairs for the first couple of weeks as well - possibly a bit excessive but it was much appreciated by me. Hubby was out at work during the day and because we life in a rural spot, it meant I could heat up a cup of soup and make some toast without having to negotiate a tricky staircase. We also have a comfy recliner chair which let me snooze in comfort :)
Peppermint tea is great for helping dispose of the after-op wind problem. The other issue for me was a requirement for Sennokot (or similar) to get things moving. Some women have issues with sudden, medically induced menopause and take HRT but her consultant will keep her right on that.
I really hope your wife's operation goes well and that it clears up her problems with the endometriosis. If she's anxious, I know that there are support groups on the web for women having a hysterectomy and I joined a private facebook group form women who have womb cancer and consequently a hysterectomy.
Best
Margaret