Newly diagnosed, waiting for scan results

Hi M1ssy 

It’s good to see things have moved on and your staging doesn’t seem to have changed as you’re able to have surgery. Not long to wait and it will soon be over! 

It’s always a lot to take in when they tell you everything and you get the details, but they need to make sure you know exactly what’s going to happen. 

Hope you can enjoy a lovely holiday weekend and relax before you have your op. Take it very easy afterwards and don’t try to do too much. And let us know how everything goes when you can. Wishing you all the best! 

Sarah xx

Hi M1ssy 

Im so glad you have been given your new date now, its good to have dates and plans in place. 
It is an awful lot of info to take in, and I can remember not taking half of it in, but like SarahH21  said they have to give you ALL the details so you know exactly what to expect.  You will be fine

Post Op you must really take it easy, like REALLY easy.  This is major surgery and unfortunately duento where it is we have to be so careful while healing.  

Please keep us posted on how you are getting on post surgery, and i’ll try to help in anyway I can, having gone through the same surgery

Sending you all the best vibes and have a lovely bank holiday wkend

Kath xxx

Hi SarahH21 and Bubbsy80 

Well I'm home!  Had the op on Tuesday.  It took 6 hours unfortunately.  I had an infection and antibiotics after the Lletz but it didn't clear up.  Unknown to me, it went up into my womb, so no wonder I'd been feeling so rubbish.

Suffered with low blood pressure, passed out, had a seizure on Weds, so that was fun.  Thank god my friend and her daughter were visiting when it happened.

I didn't think to ask - how long do I keep the compression socks on?  I'm trying not to freak but my right ankle is puffy compared to the left.  

I've got yo inject my tummy in a minute and I'm dreading.  After all that's happened this week, I can't believe this is the thing that is reducing me to tears. 

Hi M1ssy 

So glad to hear you have had your op and are home now.  You poor thing you have definately been through the mill havent you! Im so aorry to hear you have been so poorly and hope you are starting to feel a bit better as the days move on? 
Did you have open abdominal procedure or laprascopic?
I was in hospital over a week after my open adominal surgery but i too had an infection which knocked me for six, several times while in hospital. I was on the cusp of having to have a blood transfusion but thankfully picked up enough not to. Scary times but like you i got through them and got back to recovering again. 

Conpression socks is personal preferance i think.  Mine came off before i left hospital but i think its up to you, however if you are finding you have puffiness maybe seek some advice next week before removing them!?
As for the injections, i found it best to lie down, get a nice big pinch of the fattiest part of the stomach.  Deep breath, stab and push.  It took me a few big breaths before i had the nerve to do it, but once id done it, it honestly got easier each time.  It will sting for a few seconds, thats normal and the natural reaction is to rub the area after but dont, you need to leave it, they recommend not to rub the area after injecting.  Your tummy will look like a bruised peach but it does go eventually. 
You are on the road to recovery now, let your body heal, take advantage to just slow down and rest now. Drink lots of fluid and try to get up and slowly moving every couple hours just to keep the joints moving.  
Keep us posted and sending lots of positive thoughts for a speedy recovery

Take Care 

Kath Bubbsy80  

Thank you so much Kath.  It has been a bit full on with plenty of ups and downs..  I've been fine emotionally, but today it's all just hit me I think and I can't stop crying. 

I think now the op is done, my head is rushing ahead to getting the results next week.  When I saw a member of the surgical team this morning she talked about getting the results and planning the next step, and that just set me off.  I know they can't be sure, but the consultant was pretty confident I wouldn't need any more treatment.   But then again, they didn't find the tumour during the Lletz and they told me it was all fine.  But it came up in the biopsy instead.  

I've done the injection and it wasn't as bad as I expected.  I think the thought is worse than the reality.  Xx

Hi again Bubbsy80   Forgot to say thst it was open surgery.  I wasn't quite antipacting how long the scar would be!  

Well you are definately not alone with the emotional and physical ups and downs.  The emotions will be like that for a while, if you need to let it out, let it out, have a good cry/release it always makes me feel better! Plus your hormones will be all over the place, as my dr put it…”most ladies go through the menopause gradually over time, you have been chucked off the cliff” i thought it was a good analogy

Dont rush too far in your head, just try to take it as it comes, no point over worrying about what you dont know yet! (Easier said than done i know all too well) 

If you need further treatment then deal with it once you know and not before.  I was told that id probably only need surgery but once they get in there things change, margin sizings arent what they expected etc. and so ive had to have a course of radiotheraphy, which im nearly at the end of and its going ok.  So if you do need more treatment, remember its not the end of the world, sometimes its for the purposes of future proofing your body and making sure any last traces are zapped for good. I found that quite comforting regarding the future. 
Im glad you managed the injection, its not natural to purposefully stab yourself is it, its a weird one at first and then just becomes part of your daily routine.

As for the scar…i know….its a good un isnt it! I definately wasnt expecting such a big scar.  However its a reminder of the fight and hopefully the win for us.  Im a larger lass but I for one wont be hiding it, i’ll be showing it proudly when i eventually get on that long overdue holiday at the end of the year ️️️

Take it easy and here anytime

Kath xx

Hi M1ssy 

Good to hear you’re through the op, but not so good having all the other stuff to deal with afterwards. You’ve had a tough time indeed. 

I couldn’t do the injections myself, I don’t know why but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it, and I’ve had 2 courses of them after surgeries, so you’re very brave! My partner did mine for me, and my stomach did become really badly bruised after each lot. This took several weeks to go away for me. You can also inject into your thigh if you want.

I had to wear my compression socks for a month after each surgery, so you should check with your CNS to see how long you need them for-you should have been told before you left hospital. I had open abdominal surgery twice but in the same place each time, and I actually have difficulty finding my scar now-it’s just a silvery line from my belly button to my pubic bone and very neat! Its amazing how it fades in time.

Try not to think ahead about the results-you have enough to deal with for now without anticipating worries ahead of time, and you don’t know yet if you’ll need any more treatment. Hopefully not, but if you do then just deal with it then, and take one step at a time. 

Focus on gently recovering for now, and taking things easy. It’s not something you can rush really as you can’t see what needs to heal inside. But please keep us posted with how you’re getting on 

Sarah xx

Hi M1ssy

With hindsight I think I had fatigue running up to my cervical cancer diagnosis.  For many years we always  took about 2 weeks off work in the summer and went away somewhere for about a week.  In the summer of 2016 I remember saying to hubbie that I couldn't be bothered to go away and just wanted to potter around at home - which I did.  Also, about that time, and maybe even a year before, I recall saying to a friend that I felt I really needed to slow down.

Morning SarahH21  & Bubbsy80  Kath

Day 6 post op.  Still feeling low smd grumpy, but the swelling seems to be going down and the pain is easier, especially now my bowels are sorting themselves out.  

I'd like to try and get downstairs today, but not sure if that might be a bit much.  I'm sick of my bedroom though!

Is it normal to have a headache post op?  I've had one since yesterday and it doesn't seem to go with pain relief which is worrying me a bit?  

Rachel  x