I'm back too!

My surgeon was able to just take my ovaries and tubes so I still have that wonderful uterus. My endo was moderate rather than severe but my left ovary had some cysts on that in his words looked funny. I woke up in oncology but there was no mention of the big C since. He says wait for the pathology.results. He managed the surgery through 5 portals and cut out all endo he could find. they have put me on oxyconton and morphine for break through pain so I feel pretty good. I just got home and they have sent me home with both oxyconton and oxycodone for breakthrough. The names are so similar how do you guys not get confused??? Anyway, I'm pretty tired but I thought I'd let you know I survived and have two weeks off work to recover.

I just wanted to thank you PAlady for putting into words some of my fears and allowing me to ask him the right questions before he started. I'm glad I questioned his decision to take out my uterus now.

Plus he stitched up my hernia so thanks to you guys I got that fixed up too. You're a wonderful bunch of people and I just wanted to say a generalised thank you for all your support leading up to this surgery. I feel great to have it behind me, just cross yourfingers the pathology comes back ok.

Goodnight for now, golitho

Weclome back Golitho, nice that the surgery seems to have gone good for you!
I hope you have a speedy recovery, but at the same time wonder if 2 weeks is enough time off...
Now, don't you rush things, little steps for now and I hope you got a support staff at home to help cook ect...
my fingers and prayers will be with you as far as the results...
Now rest up...
hugz and lots of soft fuzzy ones....
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Golitho)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
hugz...

Don't be surprised if you are still more tired than usual when it's time to go back to work in two weeks. It takes a while for the body to heal. You had a lot of work done inside that will take time to heal. Take it easy and rest when tired. Slowly increase your activity everyday but don't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk (or less if your doc ordered it.)

If your doc didn't prescribe it already, you may want to start a stool softener ASAP. Pain meds are constipating and you don't want to strain after surgery.

I am glad everything went well, you should feel a bit better every day now.

I didn't know you can keep your uterus if they take your ovaries.

 

   Dear Golitho,

 

     Good morning! *soft huggs* I am ever so glad to hear from you! I am also relieved they were able to "save" your uterus. It must be a huge weight lifted off your shoulders, but, my heart and prayers in the hopes that pathology comes back with a "negative". You have been through so much already! In anycase, I wont chatt your eyes off, just wanted to stop by with *warm huggs* And try to relax the best you can (you are always so busy!!) Take care and stay strong!!!!

 

*warm huggs*

   dani

Golitho,
Just a few random thoughts.

First, you may NOT need HRT. So I'd lean on your specialist's opinion for now. Afterall, you can always start a low dose later. And if your menopausal symptoms aren't severe, it's not worth HRT anyway. Many women get through this without severe symptoms. I remember after the bleeding from my fibroids calmed down (and that was only for a couple of years), which indicated my hormone levels were dropping, I had a very brief time with what I'd call mild hot flashes. They only lasted a few months, and were hardly noticeable. I just noticed I kept taking my sweater off and on and needed to wear a lot of twin sets! LOL But some women, of course, have severe symptoms, and if you get those HRT for a time limited period may be worth it. It sounds like you're more afraid of what might come than what is presently happening? Menopausal symptoms won't kill you! And again, they may pop up much later, and then you can decide what to do. For milder symptoms, there are a lot of natural remedies. Reading Dr. Christianne Northrup's book The Wisdom of Menopause can be helpful. It's a few years old, but she gives many details on natural approaches - including the pros and cons - and perhaps this would help you to feel you had choices (just like you did with the surgery).

As far as the constipation, I had a huge problem with that after my lumber fusion surgery, and thank goodness for my community nurses, who suggested sepositories. And they really helped. This was after the laxatives and such weren't working. I don't think it can hurt to try them, but you might ask your doctor, or if you have home visits from nurses (or can get them) they can help greatly with these things. One thing you don't want is to strain. BTW you may have more pain/problems with one side if that's where the cysts were, and more internal work had to be done. Remember just because you can't see the sutures doesn't mean they're not there!!

Hope some of this helps a bit!

Hugs,

PaLady

Glad I can be of some help! Yes, trust your body re: the HRT. Remember you can start it later and if you can go through some mild symptoms without it, all the better.

As far as the constipation issues, I'd call your surgeon's office (probably make sure his nurse knows what's going on) and ask. You know I didn't request community nurses at first. I didn't think I'd need them, but I had a minor infection around my incision so then I asked them to come (insurance paid) and they were like angels. They were the ones who noticed and helped with the constipation - because it became a huge problem for me. They should have never let me leave the hospital in that shape, but that's history now. So if you have any option for a community nurse (visiting nurses, etc.) you might want to ask about it. They really know about all this stuff. But I would think your surgeon wouldn't want you to wait until you have to strain, so I think it's worth even calling the "on call" physician over the weekend to ask.

Thanks for the kind words!

Hugs,

PaLady
p.s. That book should be available at your library, or used copies on amazon.

Hi Golitho,

So glad to know the surgery went well and you are doing well. It still blows my mind some of the surgeries they are now able to do by way of laproscopic surgery. My hysterectomy was an open abdominal surgery, but my gallbladder was done by lap. Only off two weeks? Gee, my surgeon made me stay home 6 weeks from the gallbladder. He said not to confuse the surgery because it was done lap, its still considered a major surgery.

Everyone has their thoughts on HRT. Some need it, some don't. Some potential things to look  out for is vaginal dryness, hot flashes, fatigue, mood swings, lovely things of this nature. I didn't have hot flashes, I had heat waves that started from my toes and went on the way up lol. It was awful. My surgeon was an idiot and did not put me on anything so I suffered for one stinking year. I finally discussed it with my PCP one day and he was floored that I was not placed on anything. He took care of that real quick,lol.

The reason you need to be walking is to wake the bowels up and get them going, walk get them going. Also you know the walking will also help get rid of the gas. The gas used to blow you up during surgery can become very painful if it becomes trapped, so walk in your home as much as you can.  you probably might consider a stool softener at this point, something like Miralax, you sure don't want major constipation going on. Again, walk gal, wake the bowels up.

Take care and let us know how you are coming along. Don't worry about the house, it will be there for later. Remember you just had major surgery-be kind to yourself. Hugs.

Thanx again for your combined wisdom! I agree it seems silly to take HRT if I don't need it but if the symptoms become too much I have it to fall back on.
As for the BM they said the opiates are probably constitpating me but just to carry on with the gentle laxative, they don't seem concerned. Told me to walk so I will go walk, do the hall shuffle! I forgot about the gas, probably the cause of some of these cramps I'm getting. They also said drink lots of water, which I also forgot about, so all in all a good phone call,
thanks for your care, golitho

Hi Golihto...... glad to see you back.... my fingers crossed for you too....

Color the tops of you prescriptions bottles with magic markers in different colors so you don't get confused:)

Feel better!

As you heal, if you notice something like fishing line sticking out of a port, don't worry. You may not want to pull on it though. I had a tiny bit sticking out and pulled it, and pulled it, and pulled it some more. I ended up with about two inches sticking out and then got a bit worried and called the surgeon. I started to imagine that I was unraveling my insides! She recommended I just snip it off.

It's the disolvable stitch material and won't hurt you.

Something else that you may want to try is adding more yogurt into your diet right now. The probiotics will help with both the constipation and the prevention of infection. It was something that was suggested to me when they had to go in and do an emergency appendectomy. They suggested at least 16oz of yogurt per day to help with getting the bowels moving again. And yes, the walking is critical for the same reason. Those muscles help to stimulate the bowels to work.

Sorry, just a random thought, but figured it might help intervene before having to try suppositories.

I feel quite overwhelmed with all this attention! Thanks everyone, Decided to go back to my normal meds today, thats how much better i feel. Even managed a walk around the block with DH. So finally managed to go. I'm a bit crampy, seemingly I have a mixture of dissolvable and real stitches because he did stitch up my hernia. Thats why I have 5 ports instead of the normal 4, extra one up by my left rib so they could see to stitch the hernia. That was near my belly button.

Had my first hot flashes last night, not too bad. I'll ask my doc about clonodine, Splashdancer. I think if I can manage without HRT it will be better for the endo. We shall see anyway. I'm going to try and get that menopause book PAlady mentioned. Funny being thrown into it so suddenly, next phase of my life coming up!

I'll get the yougurt too, Piercings. I actually was craving yougurt yesterday. Maybe my body knows more than I do? I love the idea of pulling out the fishing line, Dagger..ouch..must be pretty tickly for you, PAlady. Thnks for your thoughts Pete and WhiteBeard. I feel quite well amazingly. The oxycontin wiped out all my hip and knee pain, it's only just coming back to me now but I can't stay on those meds. Thanks too Draka for the tip on marking the tops, I had to keep putting my glasses on to make sure I was taking the right pill from the right box! My left side is definately had more work, really like a stitch pain quite low down, if it gets too much I'll take another endone but I'm going to try and tough it out a bit today. I don't want to get too soft.

I'm mad I know, lots of love to everyone, you have been my little life line these last  2 weeks. golitho