New Here - womb Cancer

Hi Rosie

Welcome to the group. I am sorry to hear that you have had a diagnosis of endometrial cancer. I think it is a good plan to focus on the practical things at the moment. 

My diagnosis was in 2022 and I had surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

I did a big tidy up and clean at home before surgery and also did a big shop. I made a comfy area downstairs and put a small table next to the sofa so I could reach everything. I moved a comfy footstool and got a v shaped pillow/cushion. After surgery I found it more comfortable to sit with my legs up. I didn't have a hysterectomy pillow and didn't find that I needed one- the v shaped one and normal pillows were fine. 

I used my normal shower gel and didn't find it particularly different to having a shower normally. I wasn't allowed to get the wash the incisions but was allowed to let water run over them and then pat gently dry. I did feel a bit achy for a couple of days but still managed to step over the side of the bath. 

I didn't need to sit on a cushion for the car journey home and had little pain after the surgery. I was able to move around and walk pretty normally. Just had to be careful of twisting side ways or lifting anything too heavy. 

I had no dressings on and the incisions for keyhole surgery were around a cm each- I had 4. They were sealed with surgical glue and the instructions were just to leave them alone. 

I did have some light pads for after the surgery in case I had any bleeding, but I did not. 

I found lose, comfy clothes the best. Nothing too tight around your tummy as it can feel a bit uncomfortable. For me the bruising from the anticoagulant injections were more painful than the actual surgery. Slip on shoes are good as then you don't need to bend down. 

Hope this helps a bit. I am sure some others will come along soon and make other suggestions. 

Good luck for the 27th.

Jane

Hi Jane2511,

thank you so much for your lovely reply, that’s really helpful and encouraging, great advice about having a tidy up and small table, legs raised etc.

I've got myself a V shaped pillow and a grab hand thing to help so your tips are great. I must admit to dreading the anticoagulant injections.

thanks Jane2511 take care too.

Hi Rosie, welcome to the womb cancer group. 
I am sorry to hear that you have had a diagnosis of womb cancer.

you will find lots of really helpful support and advice and information here. 
I had diagnosis of womb cancer in December and hysterectomy in January. I had to give myself blood thinning injections for 28 days after. I had very little pain after the op, just felt very tired. 

I was dreading the injections but in fact once I got the hang of it, it was ok. I did end up looking a bit like a badly drawn dart board but it did not hurt that much. 
like Jane I wore loose and comfy clothes after my hysterectomy. I found sleeping with a pillow between my legs helpful as I sleep on my side. 

I made sure I ate little and often and didn’t have big meals and drank lots of water. 
wishing you all the best 

I hated the Nora Batty stockings more than the injections. I had a lovely nurse at hospital who got me to do the first one under her brilliant instructions and think that helped.

Hi Rosie, welcome to the group and to this rollercoaster ride! I had my hysterectomy 4 years ago when I was 62. Thankfully hysterectomies have come on in leaps and bounds thanks to technology, and the op is not generally such a big deal as it used to be years ago. Could I ask what your general health and mobility are like? I’d never heard of a hysterectomy pillow and had to look it up - even after looking it up I can’t imagine I’d have needed or used one. Travelling home in a car was fine too (an hour’s journey) and I wouldn’t have needed to sit on a cushion or to have one between my tummy and the seat belt. My husband had brought one just in case but my tummy wasn’t sore. In fact as soon as my catheter was out at 6am the following day I didn’t need any pain relief at all - and was up out of bed and either walking around the ward corridors or sat in the ward armchair by the window. At home I didn’t need pain relief either and just took two paracetamol at bedtime the first two nights just in case. All I really had was an occasional slight “pulled muscle” sensation on either side of my abdomen and it wasn’t an issue for me. Re showers I just used ordinary shower gel. And didn’t need any dressings at all - my wounds were dry and uncovered when I came round from surgery and so they stayed uncovered. You may find this packing list thread helpful re your hospital stay: community.macmillan.org.uk/.../best-3-things-to-pack-in-your-hospital-bag-for-your-hysterectomy

Hi NickyCros,

thank you for your great info, I’m already feeling like the community is a great place for the info I need and I’m so grateful already for the replies.

I appreciate the advice about eating little and often and drinking water, I do tend to drink lots of water so I’m definitely keeping going on that one. I tend to sleep on my back so it sounds like a pillow under my knees might be the best thing too. I hope I’m right on that.

Did you find you slept ok? Did you need to visit the loo in the night at all ? 
We have a little cat who loves to do kneading (making biscuits it’s often called)  on my tummy in the night so I’ll have to think about a solution for that one.

I hope you’re doing well now, thanks again for your kind reply.

Hi Waidh,

Thank you, I’m sure I’ll receive some guidance like yourself. Glad to hear they helped you with them. I’m not keen on the stockings either.

all the best and thank you 

Hi again. My cat doesn’t do the kneading at night, but I had a cushion handy for when she wanted to crawl on me and do kneading during the day. Saying that I had a huge wound which I was being very careful about xx

Hi MarmiteFan59,

Thankyou very much for your lovely reply. This is a great forum.

My mobility isn’t amazing, I’m 65 and use a walking stick but only for reassurance, as I’ve had some back pain in years gone by but I’ve recently lost over 3 stone with healthy eating etc.

ive been going for a 10 - 15 minute walk every evening and weekends so I’m hoping that will help.

Thanks for all the reassurance and the link,

feeling very grateful, take care.

I’ll do the same thanks Waidh, she’s a complete velcro cat.