Total Hysterectomy, Scan says BSO

Hi  and a very warm welcome to the online community

I'm sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and that you need a hysterectomy. I haven't been in your position but I can understand your need to find out as much as you can about your options and to find out what others have done in your position.

I'm not going to be much help as I had a different type of cancer but I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies. By replying to you it will bump your post back to the top of the page where it'll hopefully be seen by people who can tell you about their experiences.

I realise that you might not see this reply before you go for your appointment today but make sure that you ask everything that you want to before you leave. Don't worry about asking lots of questions as you need to understand what is going to happen and why they're recommending a hysterectomy if you think that there may be other options.

Do come back and let us know how you get on today.

x

Spoke to the Macmillan Nurse, who was there when the consultant gave his diagnosis, this morning. At the MDM they discussed my case and decided total Hystermacy is the best chance of it not spreading. I have resigned myself to having this now and going to focus on the recovery and getting back to work (Company Director with no financial help from Government is a BIG worry).

Pre-Op assessment was fine but they couldn't answer any questions about the surgery and see surprised I was so well.

The wait to get the news and grade about the op will be a nightmare.

Hi

I'm glad to hear that you got chance to speak to a Macmillan nurse yesterday and hopefully it's clearer now why the consultant wants to do a hysterectomy.

Waiting for the results after your surgery is always a very stressful time but hopefully you'll find lots of support from the other members of this group to help you through it.

You might want to give the Macmillan Support Line a call on 0808 808 0000 and speak to one of their financial guides to see if you are entitled to any financial help while you're not able to work. It's free to call and they're available Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

x

Hi Latchbrook,

I did ring the helpline, While the guys on the phone were absolutely wonderful, the “help” offered by our government is disgusting considering I’ve worked since I was 16.  £70 a month for universal credit about £18 a month off the council tax, absolutely no help to pay my mortgage, would probably be pathetic if I got it anyway. I am on my own paying everything, no partner to help

It's great to hear that the guys on the helpline were good but not good to hear how little you're entitled to especially as it's not by choice that you're not working and have cancer 

Hi swift as an arrow, I saw your post and that you were worried about your operation and recovery and thought you might want to know my experience of the operation, I'm 38 and had a hysterectomy in august 2017 for womb cancer. I had my womb, ovaries, tubes and cervix removed by open surgery. The next morning I was up and showered and dressed on my own, slowly, but I managed it, I was home after two nights. A cushion is great for supporting your belly when you get up and down and in the car home to absorb the bumps. Also for your hospital bag I'd recommend bigger sized pants for the post op bloat, windeez for the wind, lozenges for the dry throat, ear plugs for the noisy hospital and something to keep on top of your bowels, take action if you don't go, I waited too long and it was sore. Slip on shoes / slippers are good so you don't have to bend down.

I was surprised at how well I felt and I only needed ibuprofen and paracetamol for about a week when I got home. They sometimes give you surgical stockings to wear after the op, if they want you to wear them for a while, see if you can get two pairs for washing.

I went back to work after three months but if I had to I could have probably done some office work for a few hours a day from home after a week or two. I was driving my automatic car locally after three weeks (it was six weeks before I could have done the manual one, check your insurance, with the dvla and with your gp before you drive after the op) and getting out a bit. 

Please feel free to ask me anything else about the op, I know what an anxious time it is waiting and how much it helped to hear other people's experiences 

lots of love

xxx

Hi Arla,

Many thanks for taking the time to reply. You did so well .

I have some compression pants for surgery (they are big) so hoping these will help. Have ear plugs, eye mask and cushion thanks. I would be very happy if I was home after 2 nights they said probably about 5. Might not pack quite as much then and get Mum and Dad to bring more stuff in if I need it. I have read about the wind why do you think that is? I guess they let a lot of air in!

I contract work so wouldn't be able to work from home at the beginning, I would have to be in the office . They said you can drive when you can do an emergency stop due to pressure on your stomach, forgot about the gears as that would have an impact too.

You are young 38, I am 52 and don't feel ill at all. 

Did you have anaesthetic or epidural, how did you feel when you came round?

xx

Hi,

I think they use air to inflate things, and I think the bowel might go to sleep a bit too, whatever it is it's a literal pain lol, windeez does help though! I had a general anaesthetic, they were trying to give me an epidural too but couldn't manage and I had a deal that they would stop if they couldn't do it easily. I was supposed to wake up with a morpheme pump too, but I didn't get that either, I was really surprised at how little pain I had, I just took what they gave me when they offered and only needed the ibuprofen and paracetamol at home.

I took enough clothes for a couple of days and swapped over dirty for clean ones each night, there's never much room in the wee lockers. I planned for five nights so it was a bonus getting out earlier, they were willing to keep me another night at least, so I got to choose and didn't feel rushed, just a bit nervous. 

When I came round I was sleepy but I was chatting on and off with my husband and having water, I felt not too bad, but I was sick a bit as I have sickness as a reaction to general anaesthetic (it happened to me when I was a kid too) they sorted me out quickly though and I didn't have anymore sickness after that.

I went in to the pre op unit at 7-30am, got taken about 11am and was in the ward about 3.30pm/4pm. By evening visiting I was more awake and chatty. I slept quite well but the nurses are in all night doing checks so don't be surprised if you are woken by a blood pressure cuff! 

Xxx