Morning all,
Can I ask a possible daft question.
But I had a total hysterectomy 2 days ago and im about to be discharged today (I hope) drom hospital. Was kept in longer as I went into urine retention.
But having had a pee this morning im determined to get home, (i do keep forgetting about not lifting heavy stuff - whoops typical nurse and i can do it i dont need any help!)
So I have 2 issues/ queries.
I have suffered with lower back pain for abiut 5 years, nothing really shifts it and I have it all day every day. But since my op, I have had no back pain
Has anyone else had this? Is the uterus a cause of back pain. I did have PCOS before I had the whipped out.
Biggest issue is that they have said i cant have HRT
Mine was stage 1a grade 2 on the mri and biopsy and it is not a genetic one.
Im 47 and started with rather severe depression recently,(am waiting for sertraline for that) and so now having gone 48hrs im wondering why I cant have them.
Has anyone else been given them if it was and oestrogen type of cancer?
Many thanks
X
Hi Niamh
I am sorry to hear that you had urinary retention after your surgery. Hopefully now you have been able to pass urine they will let you go home. I know for me I had to show them I could pass urine before being discharged and they did a quick bladder scan to make sure that my bladder was emptying. I was told it was routine.
Regarding your questions;
Good news that you have no back pain. I did have some back pain around a week before surgery that was unusual for me but I put it down to lifting something. It did resolve after surgery so may have been connected. It could also be partly due to the pain relief that was given. I would mention it to your CNS if concerned.
I understand your worries regarding HRT. I was told that HRT is not normally given after endometrial cancer in case it raises the risk of recurrence. An important factor is whether your cancer was a hormone positive one rather than the genetic factors. The grade of cancer is also important.
At the moment you have a provisional stage and grade of cancer and this will be finalised when you have your post op results. Mine came through at around 3 1/2 weeks post op.
When these come back, this would be the time to ask whether there are any forms of HRT that could potentially be used but this would be on a risk vs benefit and individual basis. So for example a stage 1a and grade 1 cancer that is not hormone dependant may in certain circumstances be thought of as less a risk if HRT is used. The form of HRT is also important. It may be a case of giving it some time and seeing whether you do have troubling symptoms and then talking it through with your doctor to make an informed decision. Sometimes other treatments can be offered instead. It sounds as if your doctor is not recommending HRT and there will be a reason why. I think once your final results are in, that would be a time to discuss why.
I did not notice any menopausal symptoms after surgery however I did go on to have chemo so that may have masked things a bit.
I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with depression on top of this. Hopefully you can start the sertraline quickly and that it has an effect.
If it would help, once you are home, perhaps consider giving the Support Line a call and talk things through.
I hope that they let you go home today- I felt so much better once I was home in my own surroundings. Just take things easy and listen to your body.
Do let us know if there is anything you need.
Jane
