u/mallowme

I’m 16 dpo and feeling decent. Finally stopped all pain meds except when needed and mostly just feel pain when I’m overdoing it. We had a visit to my son in college which necessitated eating out and sitting in chairs/booths. Sitting up straight is still a problem, and I guess I wasn’t surprised. But I return to work in a week and am curious how long it’ll persist. I did buy a lumbar cushion to help with my desk chair and can cut hours as needed.

I was at a cross country event for my son in a camp chair as I’m 2wpo and I didn’t want to push it. I saw a casual acquaintance from my job and after a “well don’t you look comfy” comment I quickly explained I’d had surgery. After she acted very concerned, I explained hysterectomy (figuring it’s fairly routine and most people know someone who’s had one-to put her mind at ease.)

I think the first words were actually, “I tossed a few organs.” To which she replied I believe in keeping all of those. Um, okay, weird…I was just trying to be to be light hearted. Then after explaining hysterectomy she launched into keeping her body in tact as intended and how she’s the only person in her family who has gone through natural menopause. I explained that mine had to go, they weren’t good. She kinda brushed that off. Before I could launch into the “Well they were trying to exit on their own”(prolapse) rebuttal we were interrupted thankfully.

I didn’t know people could feel that strongly about my uterus.

Edit-typos make me crazy

Wow-it was a lot. Got home yesterday about 4. Surgery lasted 4.5 hours. He told me 5 in his office, I was told 3.5 yesterday morning, and then it was 4.5 in the end. 😆

I knew it was a lot, but I’m a medical geek and love reading the notes. I did not expect the detail or amount of cutting that would be involved. I’ll spare details for squeamish people, but just know it’s not just a hysterectomy. I’m sure endo warriors end up with a slightly different often extended amount of cutting. I’m basically sore from crotch to waist.

Then there’s the cuts, eventually scars. I’ve never seen lap scars like mine. I basically have a messy dashed line of 5 cuts across my belly button level. With of course that as the center but I can’t even see that cut with the swelling. It’s there though, dermabond didn’t work as well in there.

The rewards are already coming though! Aside from pain, I can’t really feel my vagina. Like it’s supposed to be? And I got out a mirror to peek, and almost cried. I’m not ugly anymore.

Good luck to those working on your journey. And if you end up in surgery, know it’ll be worth it. I can already promise that at less than 24 hours out. And thank you to those who went before us and shared!

My neurologist is going to hit me with a new treatment plan for migraines as soon as I’m into recovery from surgery (long story short-I ignored migraines for decades and she’s super annoyed for me that not much has helped yet).

PT called today to schedule and I put them off until 2.5 WPO. Any reason I shouldn’t be able to? I know it’ll probably wear me out, just thinking it’ll be my “activity” for the day. Scheduler didn’t seem to think it was a problem but she probably doesn’t have much for reference.

My hysterectomy and sacrocoplexy is in 2 weeks, already had a urethra lift in January. Immediately after my urethra lift I began experiencing constipation like never before that is just barely managed not by Metamucil plus MiraLAX daily (on drs orders). Hysterectomy could’ve been done in January but neither me nor my doctor realized how much the uterine prolapse was bothering me at the time.

When I pressed my surgeon (Urogyn) about the constipation, he insists it isn’t related to my previous surgery. He did say it’s possible my small rectocele is part of it and will evaluate during my hysterectomy and possibly repair it. Splinting does help some (only started more recently, don’t know how long ago I maybe should have) and I’d guess it’s maybe 2 inches long and maybe 1 inch wide?

I’m so over the constipation and I theorize that surgery itself (anesthesia etc) started the constipation with an already present rectocele and made it worse. Pair that with starting migraine meds a few months later and it has had no chance to get better.

Anyone have a similar situation and end up repaired? It’s in my surgical list and I think I’ll be so disappointed if it’s not repaired. I trust his judgement, but am hopeful for the “quick fix” rather than another referral and more appointments with gasto.

I’m scheduled for full hysterectomy (keeping ovaries), sacrocoplexy, and possible rectocyle repair. I previously had a urethra lift in January which helped with some symptoms but not perfectly. I’m mostly just at the annoyance point but my PC gave me the advice that I don’t have to wait until I’m miserable and I realized he’s right. I think I’m most nervous about the rectocyle because if that’s not bad enough to repair/causing my problems, then I have more medical journey ahead of me. My gut hurts daily.

So anywho, if you’ve been there or supported someone who has, what’s the best advice you’ve heard? I’m off 2 full weeks, a 3rd I can work as much or little as I want from home (office work) and then going back full time but have understanding coworkers for my library job. I did buy an abdominal binder yesterday.

Edited to add robotic laproscopic procedure if that changes anything. My doc is good and knowledgeable, but for my urethra lift gave me a short estimate on time off I needed from work/running and did so again this time. I’m a little worried I’m going to be miserable going back to work but am low on PTO. 😬