Hysterectomy

Hello Fuchia

Welcome to the online community. 

I am sorry to see that you have just been diagnosed with womb (endometrial) cancer.

Being diagnosed with cancer and the testing and waiting for results is an anxious time. It is good that you have met your Macmillan nurse and been given the booklets that will explain a bit about womb cancer and how it is treated. 

Your testing seems very like mine was- first a biopsy, then the results from that, then a scan- then waiting for results from that. I was told myself that these results then went to a Multi disciplinary team who looked at the whole picture to decide on the best way forward before seeing me and discussing everything with me and recommending treatments. It is hard to wait but I understood it took time behind the scenes so to speak. I found that after the meeting with the oncologist, who by then had all the information, that things progressed very quickly. I saw the consultant on the Friday lunchtime and by Friday afternoon I was having all my presurgery checks. I had a covid test on the Sunday and my hysterectomy was on the Monday morning. There is variation between hospitals but I was lucky in that my treatment was started very quickly. 

It is normal to have a scan after the biopsy because they need to pinpoint where exactly the cancer is to guide the surgeon for both the operation and for what treatment is best. 

My hospital was fine with someone accompanying me to appointments. 

I had a friend take me to the hospital on the day of my operation but went in on my own. I think there is variation but mine was last year so covid was still around. It is something to ask at the meeting perhaps. 

On the day of my operation I took an overnight bag- when I arrived it had a label put on it and was put in the nurses office. The nurse looked after them and then they were taken to the ward for after surgery. At my hospital there was a ward with just chairs where you went to wait for your operation. Afterwards I was taken to a different ward. 

You have asked about mobility afterwards- I was fairly healthy before my surgery. I went down for surgery around mid day. By the time I got back to the ward it was early evening. I was given a spinal anaesthetic for pain relief as well as a general anaesthetic. The spinal took a few hours to wear off. It was about 11 at night when I stood up for the first time. I walked to the toilet at around 5am after I had my catheter removed. I was able to walk up and down the ward- fairly slowly and was not too uncomfortable. When I got home later that day I was ok to move around the house but was told not to lift anything heavy, no hoovering etc. No baths - just showers. I was ok with just paracetamol after 24 hours. On the 2nd day I was ok to walk around my garden. Just generally took it easy for around a week , then felt able to move around more.

I hope this helps but if you need any further support please do let us know. There are lots of lovely ladies on here who have been where you are now. Hopefully on Thursday you will find out what the plan is and then have a better idea at what is happening. Please let us know how you get on.

I will pop a couple of links here that you may be of help in the meantime.

Womb cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

Hysterectomy for womb cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

Jane

Hi Fuchia, welcome to the group! I had my diagnosis in November 2021 and my hysterectomy in January 2022. I wrote a diary thread at the time starting from the day I went in for my op and you might find it helpful. Here’s a link: https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/womb-cancer-forum/f/diagnosis-and-treatment/232566/hysterectomy-day-and-after---diary?pifragment-13906=1

i chose to get a taxi in on the day as I needed to be there for 7.30am and we are an hour away, For me I preferred to get a taxi and leave my husband at home in bed and there to look after our dog. Even if he had driven me in, he would have had to drop me at the door and then drive home again so I didn’t see the point! When I arrived, I joined the queue of all those due to have procedures that morning and we were then assigned day beds while we waited our turn. My belongings stayed with me when I was waiting and after my op a nurse brought them up to the ward with me. Re post op mobility, j was super keen to be up and about - as soon as my catheter was out (6am the morning after surgery) I was out of bed, gently walking around rhe ward , walking to the loo amd back, and sat in a chair by the window rather than being in bed. When I was discharged I walked the 5 mins to the car, then when we got home I went for a gentle 5 min walk near my home. I didn’t need any pain meds once I was home and just took a couple of paracetamol at night just in case. Recovery can vary from person to person but generally speaking mobility post op can be quite good! 

Thankyou fir your information. Do you drive and did you have any problems afterwards. Glad to hear about your recovery which has reassured me

 Did you get the all clear afterwards from the hospital

I am very grateful for your information

 Glad to hear everything went well for you and the recovery time seems good. I'm the only driver in the family but have an automatic car so hopefully I can drive after a few weeks.

Hi Fuchia, the official advice following a hysterectomy is not to drive until the consultant says you’re fit to do so. This is to allow the effects of the anaesthetic to be fully out of your system (which can take much longer than you think as it can affect your concentration) and also to be sure you have the ability to operate the car without anything pulling inside, and to be fully able to do an emergency stop if needed. *If you drive before you’re fully fit your insurance is invalid*. It’s a little bit of a grey area as being fully fit will vary to some degree in different people. We have a driveway area in front of our house, so, a couple of weeks after my op I started just gently getting into the car, sitting there and getting out again, to get myself used to that movement. Just once or twice a day. Then I introduced starting up the engine, putting my feet on the pedals, trying the handbrake etc. Then a few days later starting the engine and gently moving the car forward and back - still in my driveway. My initial drives were literally less than half a mile up the road to the woods, so that I could take my dog for a walk. After a hysterectomy you’re not supposed to walk your dog on lead for several weeks afterwards. My dog happily walks off lead when we’re at the woods, so this is why I wanted to drive - so that I could walk him and not have to keep leaving it to my husband to do. My local shop is also only half a mile away so that was my next foray. I didn’t do any main road or motorway driving til I was 6-8 weeks post op. We do live in a quiet area roads wise so that’s what made it easier for me to do little trips and gradually build up. I get cabin fever if I have to stay at home, so it was important for me to resume driving, but I’d advise caution and checking with your medical team

Hi Fuchia-

I am a non driver but think it is something I would have needed to avoid for a few weeks. I was able to cope with a 5 minute walk to local shop a week after my operation with my son on hand to carry the bag. I was wobbly but desperate to get out. After a couple of weeks was ok to walk around 5-10 minutes from home. I did this as part of my recovery. It did help but it was slow and steady. I found I had some discomfort from where I had to give myself injections into my tummy and there was a fair bit of bruising. I was able however to do a lot more than I thought I would be able to- as long as I didn't overdo it. I went in a car as a passenger after a couple of weeks and it did feel a bit uncomfortable with the seat belt across my tummy and I did feel every bump in the road!

After the operation I had to wait around 3 weeks to have my pathology results back. They were partly delayed due to the long Easter weekend. They came back as not brilliant so I had to have chemotherapy and the external beam radiotherapy. That treatment is finished and am now on check ups every 12 weeks. It is normal after the surgery to have pathology taken so they can work out if any further treatment is needed. 

Good luck

Jane

Hi and welcome to the community. Each hospital will have its own rules regarding personal belongings etc. I was able to have someone accompany me to appointments. However, with respect to surgeries they could only come to the door of the ward not inside.

in my hospital we were put in a 4 bed ward before surgery and each bed had a cupboard next to it on wheels. So bag could be left there - the literature did advise not to bring valuables. Then when we were returned to the ward usually a different post-op one our cupboard would join us.

As for mobility it depends. As a catheter is entered there’s no need for loo and bowels are asleep themselves after general anaesthetic. Usually by the  next morning the catheter is removed and the nurses will encourage sitting up, going to loo (though output May still be measured ) and moving about. 

As I have mobility issues and had complications during surgery it took a little longer for me to get around on my own with my walking sticks but I got there! 

Thank you so much for the information this has been very useful and much appreciated.

Hi MarmiteFan59, you messaged me a few weeks ago. Thank you so much for your advice. I read your link on your recovery. I’m 4 days post surgery, discharged yesterday evening. Not feeling too bad & managed to get out for 2 separate 5 minute walks today. Will try to do same tomorrow too & increase over next few weeks. I was very emotional & scared when you messaged me & I wanted to let you know you gave me a great comfort & definitely felt a bit calmer afterwards. Hopefully will continue to recover & have review with surgeon in 4 weeks to go through histology report.  

Sending hugs & many thanks 

Hi Maisie63, it’s great to hear from you and thank you so much for your kind words. That’s honestly made my day for a whole host of reasons and has meant a lot to me. Very well done for doing the little gentle walks - it will aid your physical recovery and also help you emotionally too. We’re all different and it’s important to listen to our bodies - but that can sometimes mean doing a bit more if we feel like it, not just resting when we need to (which is obviously also very important). Hoping that you go from strength to strength and that the 4 weeks goes quickly.