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Ne's avatar
Ne
Member
10 years ago

Hysterectomy Done - Side Effects

Hi Ladies

Well it is now just over 1 week since my full laparoscopic hysterectomy and I am not recovering as fast as I thought I would (physically or mentally).  Apart from feeling very fatigued, I feel much more emotional and very sad, more sad than when I had a mastectomy and I can't shake this feeling of emptiness as if a part of my personality was removed with my ovaries!! Bizarre right??

I don't want to bore you with all the side effects so I will list them here in order of most discomfort:

1. Trapped air after laparoscopic porcedure (worst pain ever and lasted 5 days)
2.  Post op nausea that probably is only just now starting to ease up
3.  My belly button incision is the most painful from 5 incisions and started getting infected after day 7 so I started having chills and ended up going to the dr.  Currently on antibiotics and Bactroban to clear that up
4.  Hot Flushes!!! (OH MY WORD!!, RESPECT FOR ANYONE WHO LIVES OR HAS LIVED WITH THIS!!!) they are THEEEE worst!  They actually kicked in almost immediately after surgery and even with Magnesium and sleeping on a chillow pillow, I can not settle down to get decent sleep at all.  With my sheets on I get too hot and without them I get cold, just not sure what I'm gonna do because I have not had a proper night's rest and it makes me feel run down and depressed!  

I am really hoping my lack of sleep ability is due to the hormone imbalance since surgery and not just the hot flushes because I really would love some decent sleep.  Also hoping I can shake this sadness because I am just not my bubbly old self.  My hair has started growing back (baaaaaah! says the sheep) Gosh they don't joke when they say you can get Chemo curls hey??  Gosh, they are the tightest, fullest curls I couldn't ever gotten with the best curling iron if I wanted to.  Will have to post a photo!  Wondering if they will eventually ease up, because trying to style this fro is just not possible (not that I am ungrateful for hair as opposed to being bald).

Anyway, the best news out of this whole thing is, IT IS DONE!  no more food for cancer and to top it all off, they didn't find any cancerous activity in any of my cells in any part of my ovaries, cervix, fallopian tubes or uterus when they did tests after surgery.

So now I get to relax (hopefully go back to work by Monday) till Christmas for a short two week break.  I hope you are all well and looked after and just want to thank you for your support xxx

Hugs Rene

 

7 Replies

  • holly1981's avatar
    holly1981
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hang in there Rene!

    You are doing such an awesome job and are providing much inspiration to those of us journeying along behind you! 

    The hot flushes are the worst huh, I have been getting terrible ones since starting chemo, soaking night sweats the lot! I have started taking 'restavit' before bed, it's an anti-histamine type thing you can get over the counter that was suggested to me by a chemo nurse and I do find it helps to give me some better sleep when I really need it! No good being too tired all the time as I was getting to emotional and depressed just from sleep deprivation!

    You are through the worst of it now though hon, good days and bad days, they will come and go but you are still the amazing lady you were before all this happened!

    Huge hugs, Holly xx

  • adean's avatar
    adean
    Member
    10 years ago

    I had hysto in feb but was given 8 weeks of work , don't rush back to soon even driving the car lifting a washing basket and vacuuming are usually a no no, my surgeon gave me a list of things not to do, unfortunately the hot flushes go with the territory, lol welcome welcome. Adean 

  • June1952's avatar
    June1952
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hello Rene

    I was different as I had an 'old-fashioned' surgeon who did my operation via an enormous zipper across my belly above the pubic zone.  (He wanted to be able to see anything else untoward).  I did as I was told and did not even lift my cat for the 6 weeks - I had no problems afterwards.

    Listen to your body and act accordingly - rest when you need.

    I keep a tall glass of iced water (and I mean full of ice blocks) beside me and as soon as I feel a wee bit warm I sip - don't drink too much, just sip.  I find that really helps the hot flushes.

    Your are still YOU, with or without the bits, so try to rest, relax and spoil yourself with little treats (not food unless you really like sweets, then just one very good quality choc !).

    Christmas is coming so take time for YOU.

    Hugs

    Summer  :-)

  • jaycia02's avatar
    jaycia02
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Rene,  

    Woohoo, another obstacle conquered and that finish line is a little closer. 

    You'll get through this as well,  but you do have to give yourself a little time to bounce back. You've mentioned an infection plus a massive change to your hormones and needing to recover from another surgery all at the most chaotic, tiring and potentially stressful time of the year. I'm 3 months ahead with the hyster + bso and I thought I was going great guns yet got all teary last week for no apparent reason and actually told a very startled work colleague that I miss my estrogen. I can smile now about it but I was serious at the time. 

    Over the next few weeks try and see if there are particular things that make the flushes worse, in my case it was heavily processed foods, if I eat clean most of the time, do some exercise daily and stay hydrated the flushes etc are quite manageable. Your triggers may be totally different. Sage tea was recommended to me for night sweats, I found no benefit but it is supposed to help with the sweats in 2/3 of people, it's non invasive and worth a try. And I second the suggestion to sleep with a fan on,  the air moving seems to make a big difference to comfort. 

    Keep us posted on how you are going,

    Jen x

  • iserbrown's avatar
    iserbrown
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Rene

    Be kind to yourself. Time for healing, rest and relaxation.

    Take care 

    Christine xx

  • Cook65's avatar
    Cook65
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Rene

    dont be so hard on yourself. You've had major surgery. I'm not surprised that you are emotional. It's just one more thing on top of everything. The anaesthetic alone can make you feel like that. Just take things easy and allow your body some time to heal. I hope you have a wonderful break over Christmas. Take care. Karen xox

  • rowdy's avatar
    rowdy
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi the hot flushes are the pits. I can cope during the day but at night it is covers on covers off. I haven't found anything that helps the broken sleep. I sleep with a ceiling fan and try not to drink hot drinks late but still getting them. Hope you have a nice break over christmas I will be working the lot,as I work on public holidays.

    My hair grew back really curly but has now settled, a bit thinner and a couple of places not growing back.Fantastic news no more cancerx