I've survived! Day 3 and counting... - Hysterectomy Message Board

Lil'Pea · 09-15-2005, 10:26 PM

Hello everyone. I have JUST gotten home from the hospital, and the first thing Ihad DH do is plug in my laptop so I could write you all. My surgery was tuesday morning, and its so odd to me that I am already back at home and its only thursday night! Crazy!

The surgery went amazingly well...I DID ask for a 'happy shot' when i first got there, and boy did that ever help! I truly didn't care what they did to me after that. The doc said that there were no signs of Endo, but he sent off all my 'stuff' to pathology and the findings were Adenomyosis. We had no idea that I had this of course, but I knew in my gut (no pun intended) that something was wrong with me and that's why I persued the surgery. I knew that having the surgery would relieve alot of pain issues for me even if my insides were totally healthy. BUT it was a relief to find out that I needed the surgery aside from that. It just goes to show you that you should listen when your body is trying to tell you something.

SO far, my recovery is going pretty well. Last night, I had a little 'freak out' moment where i couldn't breathe in because the gas pressure/bloating was so bad. It hurt terribly to breathe. So i panicked a bit, but it soon passed. I had a really hard time with the 'passing gas' thing. it took forever. Just one of those little things in life that we all take for granted until you can't do it! I never thought I'd be laying in a hospital bed praying 'please God, just let me fart!'...LOL

I was up today and did alot of walking and sat up in my chair for most of the day. I am definitely feeling the affects of that now. I am tired, sore, and feel like I ran a marathon. It still hasn't totally hit me that I will not have any more painful periods. Its still so surreal.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. It really helped me get through it. I'll keep you posted on my continuing recovery.

Oh yea, they started me on the Estradiol patch, so we'll see how it works. So far, so good.

Lil'Pea

djl · 09-16-2005, 01:08 PM

Hey Lil Pea !!!!
Congrats !! You got threough it !! It will all be up hill now !! The worst is over !! I too had the Adenomyosis...at least now you now it wasnt all in your head !! I tought I was going crazy when I was dealing with my problems too !!
Make sure you walk it is VERY important !! But still take it easy at the same time..It has been 4 months since mine and I still get the feeling of being hit by a Mack truck !!
My insicion area stil to this day bothers me...it does take time !!
If you have any questiions just ask !!
Lots of love !! And hang in there

Lil'Pea · 09-16-2005, 01:43 PM

Thank you! Isn't it funny how much it helps just to talk to people that have gone through or are going through the same things?? You guys have been such a help to me.

I am trying my best to keep moving....my DH just went to pick me up a walker cuz we have small animals around that like to get under your feet. Also, as i'm sure you know, it is very hard to stand straight up without support. This gas pressure is killing me the most! Who woulda thought that THAT would be the worst of all of it?? lol...

I am having a lot of pain today, but tolerable. It helps to have the laptop to distract me, and also it serves nicely as a 'splint' against my stomach when i need to cough!

So its been four months for you? Has the reality set in yet that you won't have any more periods? What did they take out?

I know what you mean about thinking its all in your head. I mean, i knew I had more pain than a normal person should, but I was simply acting on gut instinct that there was a 'condition'. It was a relief to hear the doctor say 'it turns out you REALLY needed this surgery'. He knew I needed it for pain relief and some scar tissue, but no one suspected what they actually found in there. Plus, it makes it easier to deal with knowing that I would have had to do it eventually anyway.

Oh yea, i think i had my first 'night sweat' last night. Yuck. But i am one of those people that always expects things to be FAR worse than they are...then I am always pleasantly surprised!

Well, i am off to get soem rest....

djl · 09-16-2005, 03:03 PM

This sight is great and so are the people !!

The best thing for the gas is to walk. Also try some peppermint tea. That might help too.
When you cough or sneeze it will hurt like you know what !! So make sure yiu put a pillow on your abdomen for support. It will help but still will hurt like you know what !!lol

Did they prescribe you any pain meds??
Also, correct me if I am wrong, did you mention in one of your posts about IBS ?? This actuasly might help iut. I always had problems with diahreah during my period and the last year I had problems with constipation too. Since my surgery I am a heck of alot better.

I had my uteris, both ovaries and falopian tubes removed. I wasnt only dealing with Adenomyosis I was also dealing with massive cysts and clusters of cysts on my ovaries. Possibly PCOS. When my doc opened me up, my uteris was a mess and my iovaries were enlarged a full of cysts, so he decided to take them out too. My uteris was enlarged and looke like it had 2-3 c-sections, I never had a c-section, it was damage from the Adenomyosis which pathology confirmed. It was pretty bad.

Get rest and ANY question please ask !~!

Lil'Pea · 09-16-2005, 03:49 PM

Yes, I did mention IBS. I am hoping too that this will help. I have read that some women are getting releif from this surgery. I also struggled with problems around my period and the last two years with chronic constipation. Awful.

I am taking Vicoden for the pain. They wanted me to take percoset, but it makes me too nauseous. So Vicoden and Ibuprofen when needed. But of course, Ibuprofen is also a little hard on the stomach. Peppermint tea is helping quite a bit with the gas-very good suggestion. They should give it to people in the hospital cuz those anti gas tablets they were giving me were a joke!

Its funny that you mentioned sneezing. I havent' yet, but usually i do often. I have been sitting here just waiting for that first sneeze and i know its gonna be awful! i have a pillow on my lap constantly so i am always prepared. But yes, the coughing is quite painful! Its amazing what they can do to the body isn't it?

Wow, it sounds like you were really messed up in there. I bet you are so relieved to have had the surgery! How is your activity level now? Do you work?

I am glad for you that you were able to get this done and hopefully have a great result from it. It almost renews my faith in the medical community!