My hysterectomy - how it was in hospital

Hello everyone

I've posted a couple of times with questions about what happens before going into hospital.  Well last Tuesday I went in for my hysterectomy, came home the following day and now I'm recovering.

I thought I'd share what happened so others have an idea of what goes on.

I was booked into the admitting ward at 7.30am (urgh!) and everyone there was very kind.  I was answering the same questions a dozen times over though as each area had their own forms to be completed.

Each patient for surgery has their own large cubicle area where they are seen to by each department.  It does get rather noisy though with everyone talking.  You are in a private area though, you're not looked at by any other patients.

I was given plenty of opportunity to ask any questions and I had a good long chat with the anesthetist. I have restless legs syndrome which can be exacerbated by general anaesthetic.  He listened to what I had to say.  I also saw the surgeon and nurses did my obs.

I was lucky(?) in that I was first on the list and it wasn't long before the theatre nurse came to get me.  Again, repeat questions and we walked down to theatre which wasn't that far.

When I got there, there were 5 people in the anaesthesia team, again all very welcoming.  I mentioned that there was no music playing because at the other hospital where I had my hysteroscopy, they had music.  So they asked what I wanted to hear and I said Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb.

I then had to remove my underwear and shoes and onto the bed.  They explained what they were doing as they were wiring me up.  Although I do wish they wouldn't say "sharp scratch" when the needle goes in because it's not!  But I drifted off to sleep to Pink Floyd and the next thing I know I'm in the gynae ward.  I don't remember being on the recovery ward. 

I've had my uterus, ovaries, cervix and fallopian tubes removed all done by robot.

After I was moved to the ward, I had 15 minute obs and just spent the time dozing.  I had very little pain.  I felt that I was winded and really wanted to pass that. That was the discomfort.  I had peppermint tea which didn't really move things along though.

The surgeon came round later in the afternoon to say that all "went excellently" (his words) and that my organs have gone to pathology and we'll get some results in 2-3 weeks.

My friend came to visit and that was it really until the evening when I had my dinner and again, I was feeling fine.  I started to get a bit concerned actually, because I didn't have much pain.  I was offered paracetamol which I took, and also codeine which I refused, because I do have problems with that drug but I didn't feel I needed anything else.  So I asked the nurse how long the drugs I was given during the surgery would take to get out of my system - about 4 hours.  I was expecting a lot of pain but there wasn't any.

Unfortunately the other ladies on the ward were a bit noisy when asleep, so I didn't get much. But there were 1/2 hourly then hourly obs until morning.   I was discharged home about 3pm.

I was given Fragmin which I need to inject each evening for 28 days.  That's to stop any blood clots.  I've got to wear the TED stockings too but only until I'm at my usual mobility. 

I was wandering around my flat bent slightly as I was concerned about everything moving around, but I moved slowly and spent the time between the sofa and bed.  Again it was just discomfort rather than pain - like I'd spend the previous day working in the garden and had overdone it, which is a familiar thing with me.  I was very tired, but it was a strange kind of tired because of the general.

So I'm at day 5 after operation and I feel fine.  And that's where I think the danger lies, because it's very easy to overdo things.  I've not needed any paracetamol today and I just spend my days watching telly and pottering about.  I don't have the concentration at the moment to read a book, but I look at news online, catch up on social media etc.

I had some slight bleeding which was a worry because it was more than the post-menopause bleed I had nearly a year ago!  But that's cleared up. 

I believe having robotic surgery makes the recovery faster and less painful as the robot arms can move in ways that the surgeon and their instruments can't.   I have 5 small wounds which are starting to itch as they are healing.

I have knocked myself a few times, the bathroom sink is at the right level of one wound when I went to brush my teeth! 

As much as I'm wanting to say I'm recovered, I'm not.  I'm just without pain.  There is a lot of healing to go on inside and outside, and I have to admit I am bored at the moment.  I am hoping in the next few days I am able to concentrate a bit more so I can read and do some other things.

I hope that this gives some reassurance to those who will have their surgeries soon.  For me, I don't like not knowing what's going to happen.  So if you want to ask any questions, I'll do my best to answer.

Pendle.