Newly diagnosed

Hi Ami17 and welcome to the site no one really wants to be on!  Waiting for the operation is difficult as once you know the enemy is in there you just want it out!  I was very lucky and had my hysterectomy very quickly but hopefully you won't have to wait too long. In the meantime get prepared by buying some Windease for the trapped wind you are likely to get for a short while afterwards and Movicol in case of problems with constipation. I also took arnica tablets to help with the bruising from the blood thinning injections.

I was allowed home the day after the operation but you need to take it easy for a few weeks. Try to keep mobile and go for short walks every day to build up your strength. Listen to your body and don't overdo things. Absolutely no lifting anything heavier than a kettle for a few weeks. You will probably need to have blood thinning injections every day for 4 weeks. I injected myself and it was ok but, boy, was I glad to finish the course!

I'm sure some of the other ladies will give you more advice and support but if you have any questions we'll do our best to answer them. 

Take care

Nannasuki xx

Hi Ami,

Sorry you find yourself here.

My advice is to keep yourself busy while you wait. Get your house up together because you won't be able to do much for a while. 

Pack your bag ready. I suddenly got a call to go in (they had a free slot). I had no bag packed, no respectable nightie to wear. It was panic stations!! I was lucky in that I had keyhole surgery, which was quite marvellous! 3 small holes, and that was it!! I still had to go carefully, but the recovery was fairly quick. I walked each day, a little bit more than the day before!! And, as Nannasuki says, no lifting or carrying heavy bags, no hoovering. I was lucky in that it was caught early and I only needed the operation.

I went away in our motorhome after 3 weeks as I was stir crazy! I took things carefully, and the break did me good. I would say I was 'normal' fitness after 3 months, which is what the consultant told me.

My one tip about hospital is to take a dressing gown. I had to walk miles down corridors to the theatre in a hospital gown that had lost the lower ties! I was very grateful to have my dressing gown on!! I didn't find the food too bad (years of school dinners!), was amazed by all the new gadgets they had, and the staff were very good. I had 2 nights in because my bladder refused to empty. (I had trouble back home and went back on Day 4 to get checked out!!)

Any questions, just ask. Good luck xxxxx

Thanks for advice . The team have a meeting tomorrow to discuss cases so hopefully get a call soon . Just feel sick all the time and not sleeping as just want operation over then I would know what dealing with on road to recovery . 

I think everyone here has had the sick feeling and sleepless nights!! I have to say, I was dreading the whole thing, as I am in my 70's and the last time I was in hospital I was in my 20's!!! Things are so much better these days, and the tests, etc are amazing. I was a bit shaken having to WALK to theatre, instead of being pushed on a bed! It was weird seeing the operating theatre as 50 years ago you never saw it (not that there was much to see). The whole experience was far, far better than I imagined. xxxx

Thank you .It helps knowing others felt like this while awaiting operation .It such a shock when get diagnosed then you have no control over the next few weeks while waiting on a date .I never been good without control of my life   Trying to  stay calm

Hello Ami17.  I remember that feeling of having lost control of events.  I had about 3 weeks after diagnosis before I went in for surgery, and I used that time getting my home in order, which gave back that feeling of control.  I cleaned, re-arranged furniture, shopped, and arranged help for the recovery time.  Diagnosis was a shock to me too, I really didn't expect there would be anything very wrong with me.  I wrote a list of all my household jobs and got stuck in, and I think it kept me sane because I was so busy.  Good luck with everything.  I had my surgery in October 2017 and so far so good.

Glad you now on recovery I wish you well  I am getting house cleaned and bag packed .hope I get date soon 

Hi

The shock of a diagnosis and then the worry of waiting for tests and operations is something all of us on here have been through and you will find lots of support.  I was diagnosed just before Christmas (great Christmas present!) and had a total hysterectomy exactly 6 weeks ago.  My operation was keyhole and the small external scars healed pretty quickly.  I still get some twinges internally and can feel fatigued if I try to do too much in one day but I can say that the recovery process went a lot better than I'd feared.  Do you have any particular worries or questions about the operation or recovery that we can help with?

NannyAnny was spot on with the dressing gown suggestion!  I had a long walk to the operating theatre too and also lots of walking back and forth to the loo once on the ward.  They don't like to let you stay in bed these days!   Someone mentioned the post-op anti-coagulant injections - I only had those for 5 days after discharge although some women have them for longer.  It seems to vary a lot depending on your existing health or the preference of your surgeon.  Don't get too worried about them though, they're really not too bad. Luckily I heard about them in advance on this forum so it wasn't such a surprise when the nurse sprang them on me in the discharge lounge!

Have you been given a provisional grade/stage for your endo cancer?  

Sending you good thoughts.

xx

Thanks ladies only got diagnosis of grade 1 last Wednesday . Had a biopsy under general  anesthetic 4 weeks ago . All been told will be radical hysterectomy in 2-4 weeks . Cant tell stage till after operation  Multi team meeting today so Hope hear in next few days . Didn’t know about injections thanks for advance warning . Will get bag organised as have said will take a cancellation . 

Hope your recovery well on way 

Thanks for advice x