Day 17
Erghh its raining AGAIN! I had a bad night last night, I think the realy strong pain killers are having an odd effect on me, when I was dropping off I kept thinking I was going to stop breathing so I didn't let myself go to sleep...silly I know. There is another downside, I think I'm better so I'm a bit rough with moving and realise I am in pain when for instance I lift my leg to simply put it into my trousers and it really hurts :(
Tummy cramps are under control with the two lots of pills I'm taking which is a godsend. I am getting irritated with the housework (I mean the real spring cleaning sort of housework) that needs doing. It's really hard to ignore it!
I watched the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at the weekend, it really touched me that film, I think it is one of the best I've seen. I thought, yes I would like to do that.....helped make me feel positive and has a real feel good factor. I absolutely love Judy Dench and Bill Nighy.
Monday, 2 July 2012
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Day 13
So I cursed myself yesterday - I had a flippin migraine last night! I guess the HRT might not be the right sort after all, but I will deal with that another day.
I went back to visit my consultant today and he examined me - so there was I clinging on to the wall for dear life, he said that sometimes with an examination the blood clot will pop and I will miraculously feel better, well needless to say it hurt so much that he gave up on that idea. He has added another couple of days onto my antibiotics and given me some new pain killers, like I don't have enough already :D
They will see me again early next week to see how I am and if nothing has improved they will need to operate via keyhole AGAIN to drain it so the nasty old blood does not do serious harm. I am hoping it will clear itself as the thought of more keyhole gas in me is not appealing whatsoever. BUT, the pain right now is not fun at all so either way I hope it soon clears so I can start to feel human again.
Tomorrow it's Rose-Anna's prom and I really wanted to feel well for that......I will try to get that positive vibe back.
So I cursed myself yesterday - I had a flippin migraine last night! I guess the HRT might not be the right sort after all, but I will deal with that another day.
I went back to visit my consultant today and he examined me - so there was I clinging on to the wall for dear life, he said that sometimes with an examination the blood clot will pop and I will miraculously feel better, well needless to say it hurt so much that he gave up on that idea. He has added another couple of days onto my antibiotics and given me some new pain killers, like I don't have enough already :D
They will see me again early next week to see how I am and if nothing has improved they will need to operate via keyhole AGAIN to drain it so the nasty old blood does not do serious harm. I am hoping it will clear itself as the thought of more keyhole gas in me is not appealing whatsoever. BUT, the pain right now is not fun at all so either way I hope it soon clears so I can start to feel human again.
Tomorrow it's Rose-Anna's prom and I really wanted to feel well for that......I will try to get that positive vibe back.
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Day 12
So I have been to the hospital yesterday and today and I have a vault haematoma, that is a bruisey sort of thing, it may need to be drained or it may dissipate on its own, I have a further visit to my consultant tomorrow evening for him to decide the best course of action. I am told this is why I have been in pain and I have had a temperature, hence this is why I haven't been on here. I really have felt quite unwell, nausea, flu like symtoms and such pain when going to the loo. The radiologist tells me it is because the haematoma is pressing on all the nether regions which in turn causes the pain. Not fun I tell you.
The good news is all this poorlyness is helping with the weight loss, I know controversial but I don't care "every little helps".... isn't that some superstore strapline?
So I think I have also started to notice the HRT, I have spots darn it! My surgery asked me to make an appointment with them to discuss all future options as there are alternatives to HRT which might suit me more being a migraine sufferer an' all that, so we'll see.
If anyone has some good advise I'd love to hear it?
So I have been to the hospital yesterday and today and I have a vault haematoma, that is a bruisey sort of thing, it may need to be drained or it may dissipate on its own, I have a further visit to my consultant tomorrow evening for him to decide the best course of action. I am told this is why I have been in pain and I have had a temperature, hence this is why I haven't been on here. I really have felt quite unwell, nausea, flu like symtoms and such pain when going to the loo. The radiologist tells me it is because the haematoma is pressing on all the nether regions which in turn causes the pain. Not fun I tell you.
The good news is all this poorlyness is helping with the weight loss, I know controversial but I don't care "every little helps".... isn't that some superstore strapline?
So I think I have also started to notice the HRT, I have spots darn it! My surgery asked me to make an appointment with them to discuss all future options as there are alternatives to HRT which might suit me more being a migraine sufferer an' all that, so we'll see.
If anyone has some good advise I'd love to hear it?
Saturday, 23 June 2012
Day 8
Really not good, my tummy pains are worsening by the day, I dread going to the loo. I have looked on line and this is fairly normal apparently and something they don't tell you in hospital. It is very difficult to feel positive when you dread each visit to the bathroom. Some forums say it can take up to 6 weeks to feel normal again :(
I am tired and listless and finding it harder to be motivated....mmm this is not how I wanted it to go.
On the brighter side my lovely friend Emma came to visit me today and brought lunch and cheered my up all day. Love her!
I have constant belly pain currently and the stupid paracetamol and Ibruprofen that I can take aren't touching it, I wish there was something stronger I could take but my stupid body seems to react very badly to most stonger things.
Sorry no positive stuff today, maybe tomorrow
xx
Really not good, my tummy pains are worsening by the day, I dread going to the loo. I have looked on line and this is fairly normal apparently and something they don't tell you in hospital. It is very difficult to feel positive when you dread each visit to the bathroom. Some forums say it can take up to 6 weeks to feel normal again :(
I am tired and listless and finding it harder to be motivated....mmm this is not how I wanted it to go.
On the brighter side my lovely friend Emma came to visit me today and brought lunch and cheered my up all day. Love her!
I have constant belly pain currently and the stupid paracetamol and Ibruprofen that I can take aren't touching it, I wish there was something stronger I could take but my stupid body seems to react very badly to most stonger things.
Sorry no positive stuff today, maybe tomorrow
xx
Friday, 22 June 2012
One Week today since operation.
I had a bad day yesterday, very poorly belly and a bad headache all day so spent most of the day in bed. I did have a visit from one of my oldest friends and that cheered me up.
Today I feel fine, I actually had a reasonable nights sleep. I weighed myself this morning as the poor scales have missed me, they are used to me visiting once a week but that has not happened in a couple of weeks as the run up to this op was stressful and then of course this last week I've kinda been outta sorts :)
Well I have lost weight, but this I fear may be temporary as I really haven't been eating properly for a few weeks now but of course that will pass and I have not been exercising. I am now supposed to start taking little walks, and build up to 10 minutes then 15-20 and so on. I may start today by wondering up to the shop and back but will have to buy domestic stuff and not get tempted to buy yummy snack food which my tummy is starting to persuade me to do! This is not now an excuse to just eat and forget I need to keep in shape!
Yuk, I did not realise Allbran goes mushy if you leave it....bleugh yukky.
I'm having my stitches out today which will be lovely as they have been itching a bit and I'm one of those annoying people who can't leave well alone, so it is really hard not to scratch..I mean reallllllly hard!
Well it's 9am and I am going to go and have myself a positive day............
I had a bad day yesterday, very poorly belly and a bad headache all day so spent most of the day in bed. I did have a visit from one of my oldest friends and that cheered me up.
Today I feel fine, I actually had a reasonable nights sleep. I weighed myself this morning as the poor scales have missed me, they are used to me visiting once a week but that has not happened in a couple of weeks as the run up to this op was stressful and then of course this last week I've kinda been outta sorts :)
Well I have lost weight, but this I fear may be temporary as I really haven't been eating properly for a few weeks now but of course that will pass and I have not been exercising. I am now supposed to start taking little walks, and build up to 10 minutes then 15-20 and so on. I may start today by wondering up to the shop and back but will have to buy domestic stuff and not get tempted to buy yummy snack food which my tummy is starting to persuade me to do! This is not now an excuse to just eat and forget I need to keep in shape!
Yuk, I did not realise Allbran goes mushy if you leave it....bleugh yukky.
I'm having my stitches out today which will be lovely as they have been itching a bit and I'm one of those annoying people who can't leave well alone, so it is really hard not to scratch..I mean reallllllly hard!
Well it's 9am and I am going to go and have myself a positive day............
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Day 6:
So woke today feeling somewhat ill. Had another rough night, decided to sleep in a bed last night, good idea yes? Well sort of...I kept having very hot sweats...oh and here it starts....but when I took the quilt off I went freezing cold so there I was tossing and turning all night, so yes Mike was not a happy chappy (although he was very polite about it) I also had a really upset tummy this morning to top everything off and felt sick. Well I guess ou can't have it all.
So came down for some breakfast to be sociable with Mike and burst in to floods of tears and sobbed and sobbed, I mean snot and everything, I said to Mike "I'm trying to be so positive as well and it's not working" (boo hoo) :D ...that'll be another hormone thing wont it.
So I had to make a decision, ruin my day with feeling awful and go back to bed and feel sorry for myself all day or get up and snap out of it, I thought in my wisdom to try the latter.
So off I trotted (metaphorically speaking since I can't trott just yet) instructed Rose-Anna to sit nearby whilst I showered, my hair felt hideous! I got dressed in day time clothes and even a bra! Go me. My wisdom paid off as I was starting to feel better already, even better still when I dried my hair and brushed and brushed it! I moisturised and plucked my eyebrows....yes I was feeling human again. What a feeling and I hadn't even had gaviscon.
To top all this off it is a lovely day today so I went to sit outside and instructed Rose-Anna how to hang washing on the line as until now I hadn't really seen how she does it, well lets just say she needed a little mummy guidance :)
Guess what, my lovely friends from work sent me a beautiful bunch of flowers today, could this day get any better?
So I've been taking Arnica and my Manuka honey each day without fail and I think it really does help, the bruising has really come out. the only thing I still struggle with is my appetite in that there is not much of one, but it will come.
I was reading an interesting article on line about Evening Primrose oil which I have lived on for years now but was unsure if I still needed it. Well did you know that its brilliant to take anyway as it is not just for hormone balance. But in said article it also talks about issues with lots of other things including endometriosis, well it seems that I could have been a lot worse if I had not been taking that then.
It can help with Diabetic nerve damage, MS, Osteoporosis, IBS, Raynauds disease, Chronic Fatigue and others.
Well here's hoping for the day to get better and better...see you next visit.
So woke today feeling somewhat ill. Had another rough night, decided to sleep in a bed last night, good idea yes? Well sort of...I kept having very hot sweats...oh and here it starts....but when I took the quilt off I went freezing cold so there I was tossing and turning all night, so yes Mike was not a happy chappy (although he was very polite about it) I also had a really upset tummy this morning to top everything off and felt sick. Well I guess ou can't have it all.
So came down for some breakfast to be sociable with Mike and burst in to floods of tears and sobbed and sobbed, I mean snot and everything, I said to Mike "I'm trying to be so positive as well and it's not working" (boo hoo) :D ...that'll be another hormone thing wont it.
So I had to make a decision, ruin my day with feeling awful and go back to bed and feel sorry for myself all day or get up and snap out of it, I thought in my wisdom to try the latter.
So off I trotted (metaphorically speaking since I can't trott just yet) instructed Rose-Anna to sit nearby whilst I showered, my hair felt hideous! I got dressed in day time clothes and even a bra! Go me. My wisdom paid off as I was starting to feel better already, even better still when I dried my hair and brushed and brushed it! I moisturised and plucked my eyebrows....yes I was feeling human again. What a feeling and I hadn't even had gaviscon.
To top all this off it is a lovely day today so I went to sit outside and instructed Rose-Anna how to hang washing on the line as until now I hadn't really seen how she does it, well lets just say she needed a little mummy guidance :)
Guess what, my lovely friends from work sent me a beautiful bunch of flowers today, could this day get any better?
So I've been taking Arnica and my Manuka honey each day without fail and I think it really does help, the bruising has really come out. the only thing I still struggle with is my appetite in that there is not much of one, but it will come.
I was reading an interesting article on line about Evening Primrose oil which I have lived on for years now but was unsure if I still needed it. Well did you know that its brilliant to take anyway as it is not just for hormone balance. But in said article it also talks about issues with lots of other things including endometriosis, well it seems that I could have been a lot worse if I had not been taking that then.
It can help with Diabetic nerve damage, MS, Osteoporosis, IBS, Raynauds disease, Chronic Fatigue and others.
Well here's hoping for the day to get better and better...see you next visit.
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Day 5
So I find it vaguely irritating that I can't do anything....I'm quite impatient and I know that Mike's gone to work thinking "she is going to do stuff and I have no control over it" But I know that everyone has said to me, "YOU CANT DO ANYTHING" although my memory of what my consultant told me was not quite that. I'm sure he said I could lift a kettle, but Mike says not.. Is it me hearing what I want to hear?
I had a bad night and although the pain from tha laparoscopy is dissipating now my back really hurts with all that over compensating. That Tens machine is pretty good though, can't believe I haven't bought one in all these years of shoulder pain and Mike moaning at me because "I'm not a professional, I don't know how to make your back better!" Shhhsssshhh though cos I reckon I still need a back rub every now and then.
So in the leaflet given to me by the physio it talks about "exercise and getting fit after your hysterectomy"
One of the first things you have to start doing is your pelvic floors, well its hard to feel motivated to do any exercise but needs must and so on. Well Mike read this leaflet from front to back so knows exactly what I am supposed to be doing and when, how annoying is that? Well anytime I need to cough or laugh or blow my nose or do anything for that matter...this little voice pipes up from nowhere....."Floors!"
"OK, thank you, lol, every other thing, it's "Floors" anyone would think he has a vested interest lol.
It's all very weird this, I have some real shiners on my belly, this would suggest that I was really punched around in my unconsiousness and I have no idea about it (thank goodness) but my body is reacting and recovering from this and I have no recollection of why. When you hurt yourself, your brain sends messages to your body to tell you it is in pain and you need to stop, this happened a year ago when I fell down the stairs and tore a ligament, I cried like a baby and stopped everything quite literally. But this is different, if you are uncouncious who is controlling your brain to tell you to stop and recover? Mmm interesting.
I still look pregnant with all that gas or what ever it is left inside me, how ironic is that?
Mike told me to ask Mr Louden when I came round "How soon can I think about starting a family?" I must admit it is funny and I was going to do it but I was unconsious when I came round??? so didn't see him and when he came to see me the next day I was too sick, so I have decided I will ask him when I go for my follow up in a month. I bet he has been asked it before and it's not even funny to him but oh well you gotta do something to keep yourself entertained don't ya?
So I find it vaguely irritating that I can't do anything....I'm quite impatient and I know that Mike's gone to work thinking "she is going to do stuff and I have no control over it" But I know that everyone has said to me, "YOU CANT DO ANYTHING" although my memory of what my consultant told me was not quite that. I'm sure he said I could lift a kettle, but Mike says not.. Is it me hearing what I want to hear?
I had a bad night and although the pain from tha laparoscopy is dissipating now my back really hurts with all that over compensating. That Tens machine is pretty good though, can't believe I haven't bought one in all these years of shoulder pain and Mike moaning at me because "I'm not a professional, I don't know how to make your back better!" Shhhsssshhh though cos I reckon I still need a back rub every now and then.
So in the leaflet given to me by the physio it talks about "exercise and getting fit after your hysterectomy"
One of the first things you have to start doing is your pelvic floors, well its hard to feel motivated to do any exercise but needs must and so on. Well Mike read this leaflet from front to back so knows exactly what I am supposed to be doing and when, how annoying is that? Well anytime I need to cough or laugh or blow my nose or do anything for that matter...this little voice pipes up from nowhere....."Floors!"
"OK, thank you, lol, every other thing, it's "Floors" anyone would think he has a vested interest lol.
It's all very weird this, I have some real shiners on my belly, this would suggest that I was really punched around in my unconsiousness and I have no idea about it (thank goodness) but my body is reacting and recovering from this and I have no recollection of why. When you hurt yourself, your brain sends messages to your body to tell you it is in pain and you need to stop, this happened a year ago when I fell down the stairs and tore a ligament, I cried like a baby and stopped everything quite literally. But this is different, if you are uncouncious who is controlling your brain to tell you to stop and recover? Mmm interesting.
I still look pregnant with all that gas or what ever it is left inside me, how ironic is that?
Mike told me to ask Mr Louden when I came round "How soon can I think about starting a family?" I must admit it is funny and I was going to do it but I was unconsious when I came round??? so didn't see him and when he came to see me the next day I was too sick, so I have decided I will ask him when I go for my follow up in a month. I bet he has been asked it before and it's not even funny to him but oh well you gotta do something to keep yourself entertained don't ya?
Monday, 18 June 2012
Day 4
Monday: We're up early since we haven't actually really been asleep, Kristina is doing her morning getting ready for work routine and I decide it will be a good idea to get to the chemist today to try and help the number 2's along and to get a tens machine. Mum lent me hers last week for shoulder/back pain and it cleared it nicely and the tension I'm feeling on my back right now is a little annoying and on top of everything else I could do without it so I think it will help and a good investment for the future (with my sedentary job I often get shoulder pain RSI, those mice have a lot to answer for I tell you).
So up we slowly get and I have some honey on crumpets, I might actually get obsessed with this honey business, it might be my new hobby. Oh yeah and some prunes....bored now!
Rose-anna is going to school to pick up some papers, she is a little quiet and I think it is because she only has one more exam and that is it for her school, its a sad time, my youngest child has now finished school, but we have prom to look forward to. By the way, we never had prom or year books, its very American but its nice and would have been lovely if we had something like that, all we have are memories and some of those are probably very worped by now.. they even write all over each other shirts, we looked forward to burning our uniforms that was the excitment of finishing school for us. (I never burnt my school uniform, I just chucked it, but it still meant the same thing)
So Mike is not going to work today as it was a horrid night and I'm still pretty weak actually and he will take me to the chemist.
So got Dolco-ease and a tens machine and picked up my amytriptaline for my migraines, she asked me to fill in the paper for next time but I said I wont as I am hoping not to need this anymore....here's hoping and waiting, I will check with the doc though and who's to know if the HRT I'm prescribed will not give me migraines anyway. Obviously I'm hoping not and he has prescribed a patch which is better and shouldn't give me migraines. It is something I am sadly obsessed about, having suffered the damn things since I was 13.
I get a call to say the HRT is ready so Mike goes to collect it, I have to read all the instruction leaflet before I start it and its a mamouth essay! So FYI- I only need 2 a week, so on goes the first one and I will update you as time goes on. By the way, until now and since the op I don't think I've had any hormones at all...I didn't feel any different.....Mum says of course not, its not an overnight thing silly, well I don't know do I, after all I have never had this before. Maybe I should read that helpful link about menapause she sent me after all....?
I'm gonna have a nap know as I am really tired.
Monday: We're up early since we haven't actually really been asleep, Kristina is doing her morning getting ready for work routine and I decide it will be a good idea to get to the chemist today to try and help the number 2's along and to get a tens machine. Mum lent me hers last week for shoulder/back pain and it cleared it nicely and the tension I'm feeling on my back right now is a little annoying and on top of everything else I could do without it so I think it will help and a good investment for the future (with my sedentary job I often get shoulder pain RSI, those mice have a lot to answer for I tell you).
So up we slowly get and I have some honey on crumpets, I might actually get obsessed with this honey business, it might be my new hobby. Oh yeah and some prunes....bored now!
Rose-anna is going to school to pick up some papers, she is a little quiet and I think it is because she only has one more exam and that is it for her school, its a sad time, my youngest child has now finished school, but we have prom to look forward to. By the way, we never had prom or year books, its very American but its nice and would have been lovely if we had something like that, all we have are memories and some of those are probably very worped by now.. they even write all over each other shirts, we looked forward to burning our uniforms that was the excitment of finishing school for us. (I never burnt my school uniform, I just chucked it, but it still meant the same thing)
So Mike is not going to work today as it was a horrid night and I'm still pretty weak actually and he will take me to the chemist.
So got Dolco-ease and a tens machine and picked up my amytriptaline for my migraines, she asked me to fill in the paper for next time but I said I wont as I am hoping not to need this anymore....here's hoping and waiting, I will check with the doc though and who's to know if the HRT I'm prescribed will not give me migraines anyway. Obviously I'm hoping not and he has prescribed a patch which is better and shouldn't give me migraines. It is something I am sadly obsessed about, having suffered the damn things since I was 13.
I get a call to say the HRT is ready so Mike goes to collect it, I have to read all the instruction leaflet before I start it and its a mamouth essay! So FYI- I only need 2 a week, so on goes the first one and I will update you as time goes on. By the way, until now and since the op I don't think I've had any hormones at all...I didn't feel any different.....Mum says of course not, its not an overnight thing silly, well I don't know do I, after all I have never had this before. Maybe I should read that helpful link about menapause she sent me after all....?
I'm gonna have a nap know as I am really tired.
Day 3:
So I wake up, well I don't actually as I haven't actually been asleep so I am grey round the gills as the expression goes and fairly exhausted but it is morning and I feel quite positive, the nurse over night has been a little too in my face, Florence Nightingaley and so I am relieved when she is gone and Catherine my new best friend has returned, she wants me to take my time but thinks I'm well up for going home today.
I had order porridge and prunes again this morning and toast, well I had high hopes that I would be starving by now and that I would gobble the whole lot down, but when it arrived, I did gobble the porridge down and managed 4 prunes and I had a normal cup of tea so all in all a good start.
Mum sends me a random text asking if I'd managed to cart yet????? I realised she meant fart but thought her phone must have auto corrected so I giggled away to myself. (As it happens it was my phone that had auto corrected that one when I emailed her in the night and I meant to put fart but it changed it to cart, so she must have thought it funny that I couldn't manage any carting yet, indeed not very appropriate for someone who has just undergone a major operations on ones tummy!) To add to that my dad later asked me if I had managed to do any carting yet....oh yes very funny mum and dad.
So one thing you need to know, after surgery on ones tummy/abdomen it is difficult to fart and have a number 2, which I still have not managed.
Mike sends me a text asking when should he come over to get me, I don't know yet so tell him to just come on over when he is ready. I know I'm better because the nurses aren't taking any real notice of me now and when Catherine sees me walking of my own free will up and down the corridors desparately trying to escape she knows its time for me to be released. So she prepares my papers. Its still another couple of hours before I do leave and paperwork is boring, the photocopier they have at the Nuffield must be an ancient model as she went off to get a copy of my discharge letter and didn't return for at least an hour, she is no longer my best friend but I still like her and we may be pen pals.
So we all say our good byes and I'm off home, it is Sunday and all of the kids including Kristina's boyfriend are at home so I have to be honest I'm a little apprehensive; but home we get and (oh yeah it's also Fathers Day, but hey ho, he can get a nice one next year) the kids have done a lovely welcome home card and flowers and sweets, and not forgetting Mike he has cards and sweets too so we both did well. House was lovely and tidy and someone had even tidied the bathrooms, yes I know that is a miracle.
For some reason practically everyone decides to pile into the living room, so I'm crouded with everyone and decide this must be because they all love me (I will stick to that and not that it was because the old classic "Friends" was on the telly which they're all really laughing at)
I get a cuppa and my lovely friend Emma pops in with flowers and a card and the grown up kids get on with dinner, yummy that was a lovely dinner and the first real food I have enjoyed for days, well done Kristina and Rose-Anna.
I'm a little irritated this afternoon and want to be by myself or at least everyone needs to bugger off for a bit, I'm tired you know....so I sleep on the sofa for a bit. By the way in case you're wondering I am managing to cart now so gas coming out both ways but still no number 2 ( you don't have to read it, its your choice; anyway carting is a natural human bodily function and contrary to popular belief, yes girls do it too but they do smell of roses.....).
While I was away, Mike went and bought me some Manuka honey, this apparently has very good healing properties and I am determinded to be positive so am hoping this will help me on the road to recovery.
Early night and I decide I will try sleeping in my own bed....silly me and sorry Mike BAD NIGHT.
So I wake up, well I don't actually as I haven't actually been asleep so I am grey round the gills as the expression goes and fairly exhausted but it is morning and I feel quite positive, the nurse over night has been a little too in my face, Florence Nightingaley and so I am relieved when she is gone and Catherine my new best friend has returned, she wants me to take my time but thinks I'm well up for going home today.
I had order porridge and prunes again this morning and toast, well I had high hopes that I would be starving by now and that I would gobble the whole lot down, but when it arrived, I did gobble the porridge down and managed 4 prunes and I had a normal cup of tea so all in all a good start.
Mum sends me a random text asking if I'd managed to cart yet????? I realised she meant fart but thought her phone must have auto corrected so I giggled away to myself. (As it happens it was my phone that had auto corrected that one when I emailed her in the night and I meant to put fart but it changed it to cart, so she must have thought it funny that I couldn't manage any carting yet, indeed not very appropriate for someone who has just undergone a major operations on ones tummy!) To add to that my dad later asked me if I had managed to do any carting yet....oh yes very funny mum and dad.
So one thing you need to know, after surgery on ones tummy/abdomen it is difficult to fart and have a number 2, which I still have not managed.
Mike sends me a text asking when should he come over to get me, I don't know yet so tell him to just come on over when he is ready. I know I'm better because the nurses aren't taking any real notice of me now and when Catherine sees me walking of my own free will up and down the corridors desparately trying to escape she knows its time for me to be released. So she prepares my papers. Its still another couple of hours before I do leave and paperwork is boring, the photocopier they have at the Nuffield must be an ancient model as she went off to get a copy of my discharge letter and didn't return for at least an hour, she is no longer my best friend but I still like her and we may be pen pals.
So we all say our good byes and I'm off home, it is Sunday and all of the kids including Kristina's boyfriend are at home so I have to be honest I'm a little apprehensive; but home we get and (oh yeah it's also Fathers Day, but hey ho, he can get a nice one next year) the kids have done a lovely welcome home card and flowers and sweets, and not forgetting Mike he has cards and sweets too so we both did well. House was lovely and tidy and someone had even tidied the bathrooms, yes I know that is a miracle.
For some reason practically everyone decides to pile into the living room, so I'm crouded with everyone and decide this must be because they all love me (I will stick to that and not that it was because the old classic "Friends" was on the telly which they're all really laughing at)
I get a cuppa and my lovely friend Emma pops in with flowers and a card and the grown up kids get on with dinner, yummy that was a lovely dinner and the first real food I have enjoyed for days, well done Kristina and Rose-Anna.
I'm a little irritated this afternoon and want to be by myself or at least everyone needs to bugger off for a bit, I'm tired you know....so I sleep on the sofa for a bit. By the way in case you're wondering I am managing to cart now so gas coming out both ways but still no number 2 ( you don't have to read it, its your choice; anyway carting is a natural human bodily function and contrary to popular belief, yes girls do it too but they do smell of roses.....).
While I was away, Mike went and bought me some Manuka honey, this apparently has very good healing properties and I am determinded to be positive so am hoping this will help me on the road to recovery.
Early night and I decide I will try sleeping in my own bed....silly me and sorry Mike BAD NIGHT.
Day 2
Next morning, up with the crocodiles or something like that,
nurses constantly invading your space and I suppose they have to after
all you are there for a reason "it's not a holiday you know"...They
tried to get me to eat some pre-ordered Porridge and prunes (for obvious
reasons) but I was really nauseous and could not manage any more than
one mouthful without thinking everything was going to come back on out
so an offended catering assistant came and took it away again...sorry
about that then.
At some point not sure when the little tube was taken away that was stopping me from needing to leave the bed to wee.
So matron Sharon, Mike called her that as she was very old school, came in "come on Katharyn, time to get up to wee...." what, no I'm not ready, I feel really ill you know...don't you realise? "come on then, up you get" another nurse came in to help lift me as I was not able to lift myself (I'm not that heavy, I'm just getting over a big operation you know) So up I get, and all the fluid I had been told I must be sipping though the night, and that was more than I realised projectiled out so fast even I almost laughed...but I didn't cos now I was feeling right sorry for myself. Mike was proud though as normally I find it very difficult to throw up, but this just came flying on out and several times too....lol sorry but it's part of my story and you wouldn't be here if you didn't want to know would you.
"Ah you will feel better now" said Sharon. She gave me a lovely wash, dignification goes out the window when you are in hospital and feel like shit, I enjoyed it...yes I did and she even moisturised my legs...lovely! I like Sharon. Tells me how it is she does.
So the day continued, and around mid morning when I'd told Mike to clear off again myself as I really was not sociable and he was probably bored and the kids needed him, well they should have anyway (I don't think they did at all) but he didn't want to hang around and they were not making a decision about me going home yet as I had not had 3 wee's and was still very ill. Mr Louden came in to visit and to tell me how the op went, he is a lovely chap (think he might be quite rich, he looks it) he told me the op went very well, in fact it only took 40 minutes, very straight forward, its just that they could not wake me up afterwards was the problem, but its doubtful he cared much about that as he would have left all that business to the aftercare nurse. So the good news is I now am wombless and everything else associated with that less....All is good. He prescribed me some special hormone replacements which should work with me given that I am a migrain sufferer but its a trial and error thing. He also told the nursed to stop giving me morphine for pain relief as this was probably what was making me so sick....another 'ine' then... He left.
So back to plain old paracetamol and ibruprofen for pain relief and copious amounts of anti sickness remedies, the melt on your tongue ones, tablet ones and injected ones, I really did feel like a chemist.
Lunch time, nope still nothing so a very offended catering assistant left the room again and even asked me if there was a point ordering tea, then politely suggested she make something up very light. I agreed. My afternoon nurse was Catherine who had celebrated her anniversary that day with her husband Michael so we had something in common, we were immediate best friends...(no I'm not stalking her) She was lovely and I felt better, in fact I was starting to feel better but she said I could not go home as I was too ill.
Another restless night and by now I was weeing for England which also kept me up, so at 2 pm thought I'd email mum and do a bit of reading of a trashy magasine that came with OK, well when I say reading there wasn't actually anything to read so a few seconds later after realising I knew no one yes that's right no one in the whole magazine (how out of touch I must be) I chucked it on the floor and tried to sleep again.
Guess what though, the actual pain is kicking in now and my poor lickle tummy hurts and that blasted annoying gas/air what ever it is after a laparoscopy is hurting like mad, up into my chest in my belly into the depths of who knows where, its a nuisance. I try to get comfortable with the limited movement I have , I have got very used to moving my bed up and down now and the poor chap in the next room (also called Mike) must have been very annoyed with me changing the settings all the time. Sounded like our lift at work, don't how to spell how that sounds, but I'm sure you can use your imagination. The nurses are still visiting regularly and we are all great friends now, I'm given a mint tea somewhen in the early hours to try to help the gas move on. I'm burping happily by now and given up saying "oh sorry, excuse me". Well they must be used to it. However, I can't get the air out any other way yet and interestingly, even though I am weeing freely like it is a new found freedom I can't actually figure out when I need to go so just pop on the loo every hour or so for good luck and it seems to work.
At some point not sure when the little tube was taken away that was stopping me from needing to leave the bed to wee.
So matron Sharon, Mike called her that as she was very old school, came in "come on Katharyn, time to get up to wee...." what, no I'm not ready, I feel really ill you know...don't you realise? "come on then, up you get" another nurse came in to help lift me as I was not able to lift myself (I'm not that heavy, I'm just getting over a big operation you know) So up I get, and all the fluid I had been told I must be sipping though the night, and that was more than I realised projectiled out so fast even I almost laughed...but I didn't cos now I was feeling right sorry for myself. Mike was proud though as normally I find it very difficult to throw up, but this just came flying on out and several times too....lol sorry but it's part of my story and you wouldn't be here if you didn't want to know would you.
"Ah you will feel better now" said Sharon. She gave me a lovely wash, dignification goes out the window when you are in hospital and feel like shit, I enjoyed it...yes I did and she even moisturised my legs...lovely! I like Sharon. Tells me how it is she does.
So the day continued, and around mid morning when I'd told Mike to clear off again myself as I really was not sociable and he was probably bored and the kids needed him, well they should have anyway (I don't think they did at all) but he didn't want to hang around and they were not making a decision about me going home yet as I had not had 3 wee's and was still very ill. Mr Louden came in to visit and to tell me how the op went, he is a lovely chap (think he might be quite rich, he looks it) he told me the op went very well, in fact it only took 40 minutes, very straight forward, its just that they could not wake me up afterwards was the problem, but its doubtful he cared much about that as he would have left all that business to the aftercare nurse. So the good news is I now am wombless and everything else associated with that less....All is good. He prescribed me some special hormone replacements which should work with me given that I am a migrain sufferer but its a trial and error thing. He also told the nursed to stop giving me morphine for pain relief as this was probably what was making me so sick....another 'ine' then... He left.
So back to plain old paracetamol and ibruprofen for pain relief and copious amounts of anti sickness remedies, the melt on your tongue ones, tablet ones and injected ones, I really did feel like a chemist.
Lunch time, nope still nothing so a very offended catering assistant left the room again and even asked me if there was a point ordering tea, then politely suggested she make something up very light. I agreed. My afternoon nurse was Catherine who had celebrated her anniversary that day with her husband Michael so we had something in common, we were immediate best friends...(no I'm not stalking her) She was lovely and I felt better, in fact I was starting to feel better but she said I could not go home as I was too ill.
Another restless night and by now I was weeing for England which also kept me up, so at 2 pm thought I'd email mum and do a bit of reading of a trashy magasine that came with OK, well when I say reading there wasn't actually anything to read so a few seconds later after realising I knew no one yes that's right no one in the whole magazine (how out of touch I must be) I chucked it on the floor and tried to sleep again.
Guess what though, the actual pain is kicking in now and my poor lickle tummy hurts and that blasted annoying gas/air what ever it is after a laparoscopy is hurting like mad, up into my chest in my belly into the depths of who knows where, its a nuisance. I try to get comfortable with the limited movement I have , I have got very used to moving my bed up and down now and the poor chap in the next room (also called Mike) must have been very annoyed with me changing the settings all the time. Sounded like our lift at work, don't how to spell how that sounds, but I'm sure you can use your imagination. The nurses are still visiting regularly and we are all great friends now, I'm given a mint tea somewhen in the early hours to try to help the gas move on. I'm burping happily by now and given up saying "oh sorry, excuse me". Well they must be used to it. However, I can't get the air out any other way yet and interestingly, even though I am weeing freely like it is a new found freedom I can't actually figure out when I need to go so just pop on the loo every hour or so for good luck and it seems to work.
Day 1
Day 1:
So H day appoached and I merrily went in to hosptial (Nuffield again; well why change a good thing) feeling relatively normal anxiety but nicely calm due to lovely big tummy breathing exercises (that really does work). Arrived at 12.30pm and almost immediately given all the attentions from nurses and my consultant so we both (me and Mike) assumed that it might be one of the first ops, and in fact Mr Louden (my gynaecologist) suggested as much; sadly it was not to be so we waited.....and waited......and waited.....4pm arrives and it's my turn, yay!
Off I trott, fully expecting the same as last time, but this time I have a different anaesthatist; shouldn't make any difference should it though. Well he did it all differently didn't he, I don't know if it is because I had told him that last time "apparently I'd had some sort of allergic reaction to it, rash apparently so they gave me some antihistamine" or any other reason but he injected (my left hand again...I am left handed, I told them more than once!) with a small something before the big one that sends you to sleep, then when he put the big one that sends you to sleep in, I counted to 8, yes 8 I tell you before I went off. Well last time I only got to 2.. now what is that about?
Next thing I know I look at the clock and it is 7.30pm, bloody hell that was a long time...I also felt decidely unwell, I mean really ill actually. This was not the same at all! feeling pretty disappointed and very sick, I was kept in recovery for a while longer and felt very out of it and don't remember much accept they kept asking me about pain and what number was I in, "I don't know do I, I'm not even really here" so they decided to continue giving me morphine in little doses but it soon builds up doesn't it, and I remember thinking at some point, not sure when that this might be another "ine" I'm allergic to, (others being Codine and pethadine) I was later told it was likely as they are all related....goodoh then.
So now to the point of this story. The Recovery
Don't remember much of that night at all was very out of it and I remember the nurse coming in lateish and telling Mike to clear off now...I think she was a bit politer than that but Mike was peeved, after all he had been the one waiting for hours until I returned with no communication from the outside world and then none really when I returned except I think he was told it took me ages to wake; he was worried. Anyway I told him it was my fault as I had forgotten to tell him that visiting was only until 9pm....oops my bad then.
A very restless odd first night, felt very ill and had these stupid boot things on my legs to make them think I was walking (I was later told, to help with DVT) but if you can find a way to sleep through that noise then do let the next poor soul know...Imagine if you will, a transformer from the telly or those silly films wondering around your room all night and you might get the idea and on top of that the air conditioner unit was right outside my window...lovely then thanks (oh that must be because I'm NHS lol)
So H day appoached and I merrily went in to hosptial (Nuffield again; well why change a good thing) feeling relatively normal anxiety but nicely calm due to lovely big tummy breathing exercises (that really does work). Arrived at 12.30pm and almost immediately given all the attentions from nurses and my consultant so we both (me and Mike) assumed that it might be one of the first ops, and in fact Mr Louden (my gynaecologist) suggested as much; sadly it was not to be so we waited.....and waited......and waited.....4pm arrives and it's my turn, yay!
Off I trott, fully expecting the same as last time, but this time I have a different anaesthatist; shouldn't make any difference should it though. Well he did it all differently didn't he, I don't know if it is because I had told him that last time "apparently I'd had some sort of allergic reaction to it, rash apparently so they gave me some antihistamine" or any other reason but he injected (my left hand again...I am left handed, I told them more than once!) with a small something before the big one that sends you to sleep, then when he put the big one that sends you to sleep in, I counted to 8, yes 8 I tell you before I went off. Well last time I only got to 2.. now what is that about?
Next thing I know I look at the clock and it is 7.30pm, bloody hell that was a long time...I also felt decidely unwell, I mean really ill actually. This was not the same at all! feeling pretty disappointed and very sick, I was kept in recovery for a while longer and felt very out of it and don't remember much accept they kept asking me about pain and what number was I in, "I don't know do I, I'm not even really here" so they decided to continue giving me morphine in little doses but it soon builds up doesn't it, and I remember thinking at some point, not sure when that this might be another "ine" I'm allergic to, (others being Codine and pethadine) I was later told it was likely as they are all related....goodoh then.
So now to the point of this story. The Recovery
Don't remember much of that night at all was very out of it and I remember the nurse coming in lateish and telling Mike to clear off now...I think she was a bit politer than that but Mike was peeved, after all he had been the one waiting for hours until I returned with no communication from the outside world and then none really when I returned except I think he was told it took me ages to wake; he was worried. Anyway I told him it was my fault as I had forgotten to tell him that visiting was only until 9pm....oops my bad then.
A very restless odd first night, felt very ill and had these stupid boot things on my legs to make them think I was walking (I was later told, to help with DVT) but if you can find a way to sleep through that noise then do let the next poor soul know...Imagine if you will, a transformer from the telly or those silly films wondering around your room all night and you might get the idea and on top of that the air conditioner unit was right outside my window...lovely then thanks (oh that must be because I'm NHS lol)
Hi Everyone,
Welcome to my blog. This blog is about me and my recovery after having a laparoscopic Hysterectomy just 3 days ago. I was lying on the sofa this morning and only on day three, thought.." God I'm bored" oh dear not a good start to a potential 4 weeks off work. So what better to do than to get writing. Now I don't pretend to be an author or anything so please excuse me if this is not novel material but it is just little old me passing the time of day letting everyone know how it is.
So I'll start at the beginning and try to keep it brief. Back in February I went to have routine op at the Nuffield (no I don't have Bupa it was with the NHS) as I was having woman problems, and because the doc was getting annoyed with the constant visits decided to refer me to have the numerous tests before they search for the stuff they couldn't see. At my age it is more common to have Adenomyosis as Edometriosis is more common among younger women but either way I was to get an exploritory laparoscopy and operation if they found anything. Well interestingly (if that sort of thing interests you) they did find some Endometriosis and treated it there and then, but afterwards the gynaecologist told me that there was not much there and felt this was not necessarily the cause of my "problems" on a later visit he showed me the pictures of my "insides" yuk! and some dark blue areas which can be synonymous to painful periods and so on. In the meantime the coil they had fitted whilst under general had increased my migraines (yes I'm a sufferer of them too) so they decided it was not for me and whipped it on out "OUCH" loud swear work politely put inside the word ouch, no-one warned me that would hurt :) Oh well on I go....
So long and short of it is I had to make a decision. Either continue to put up with problems until they naturally stop which may or may not be soon due to family history or just get it all sorted now with a lovely little op called a Hysterectomy. Well what would you do if you had the choice, simple really isn't it? well no it isn't that simple when it comes down to it cos' your Mrs emotional comes to visit and gets you thinking about all the silly things like " but I might need it" or " I won't be a woman anymore" or " what if I need to have more kids" that of course being the most unrealistic stupid thought of all as that hasn't been on the agenda for years! BUT all these thoughts attack you and then lots of others including the sex ones, you know the ones, I don't need to write them down...no I'm not telling you, just use your imagination.
So after speaking to my family, mum said" don't be stupid get it all taken away, I would have jumped at the chance if they'd offered it to me" and my boss " well you know what to do Kate, you've already made the decision really haven't you" she always says very sensible and intelligent things, even when I'm stressed and gives me good books to read on how to cope with stress (which I'm fairly crap at by the way) oh and then I completely forget to take the books home to read. Anyway moving on, most importantly my husband, after all this is going to affect him too probably, he was very supportive and positive and said I should go ahead and we would deal with it.....
So I went for my follow up to discuss the" ins and outs" excuse the pun there and I cried, oh god I can't believe I cried, oh but don't worry as that happens all the time apparently and out he came with a small box of tissues from a very large pile kept in the corner for such occasions, he asked me what the tears were for and after a lovely long chat he had filled in all the gaps and we were on. All I had to do was book the appointment, he suggested a full Hysterectomy as this may also help my migraines as they had mostly always been related to my menstrual cycle (although I do get random ones, of which he was not going to promise anything, ah well ya can't win them all as they say).
So I called his secretary, yes he has one of those. She told me she thought it would be a month and I would get a call back. I got a call back on Friday 1st June telling me they have a slot on the 15th...oh dear my heart was racing my mouth went dry and I did not know what to do, I mean honestly I had already made the bloody decision so why the panic when it was only 2 weeks away instead of a month; so I asked her if I could call her back and she said before the end of the day please as we have limited slots and the consultants holidays are coming up and we don't know when we will fit you in after this "no pressure then" laughs quietly.
So here I am again, not able to make a decision without speaking to all the important people, Mike my husband, Mum and my boss Helen, all of which tell me to go ahead. Better time of year at work as it is quiet at the moment so they can be without me for a bit. 2 weeks to get my head around such an operation. Anyway so I called them back and made the arrangements.
Mum sent me a lovely link to "understanding menopause" haha, suddenly I feel old....
I had of course felt a bit panicked about the unknown so did lots of research online and talked to as many people as I could who had had one before. Everyone said it was the best thing they had done and I could not find much negative information that was putting me off online so I felt OK about it. I knew I would be alright with the anaesthetic as last time had been a breeze, 2 seconds and it was all over and I had no after effects at all. The laparoscopy on the other hand was another story; well they tell you that you may get some shoulder pain with the residual gas left inside you but it should only last a couple of days...liars I tell you all of them! A good two weeks and it eventually dissipated, the most uncomfortable and in the early days painful experience and I swore I would never do it again...and here I am looking forward to all that again...dum de dum.
Welcome to my blog. This blog is about me and my recovery after having a laparoscopic Hysterectomy just 3 days ago. I was lying on the sofa this morning and only on day three, thought.." God I'm bored" oh dear not a good start to a potential 4 weeks off work. So what better to do than to get writing. Now I don't pretend to be an author or anything so please excuse me if this is not novel material but it is just little old me passing the time of day letting everyone know how it is.
So I'll start at the beginning and try to keep it brief. Back in February I went to have routine op at the Nuffield (no I don't have Bupa it was with the NHS) as I was having woman problems, and because the doc was getting annoyed with the constant visits decided to refer me to have the numerous tests before they search for the stuff they couldn't see. At my age it is more common to have Adenomyosis as Edometriosis is more common among younger women but either way I was to get an exploritory laparoscopy and operation if they found anything. Well interestingly (if that sort of thing interests you) they did find some Endometriosis and treated it there and then, but afterwards the gynaecologist told me that there was not much there and felt this was not necessarily the cause of my "problems" on a later visit he showed me the pictures of my "insides" yuk! and some dark blue areas which can be synonymous to painful periods and so on. In the meantime the coil they had fitted whilst under general had increased my migraines (yes I'm a sufferer of them too) so they decided it was not for me and whipped it on out "OUCH" loud swear work politely put inside the word ouch, no-one warned me that would hurt :) Oh well on I go....
So long and short of it is I had to make a decision. Either continue to put up with problems until they naturally stop which may or may not be soon due to family history or just get it all sorted now with a lovely little op called a Hysterectomy. Well what would you do if you had the choice, simple really isn't it? well no it isn't that simple when it comes down to it cos' your Mrs emotional comes to visit and gets you thinking about all the silly things like " but I might need it" or " I won't be a woman anymore" or " what if I need to have more kids" that of course being the most unrealistic stupid thought of all as that hasn't been on the agenda for years! BUT all these thoughts attack you and then lots of others including the sex ones, you know the ones, I don't need to write them down...no I'm not telling you, just use your imagination.
So after speaking to my family, mum said" don't be stupid get it all taken away, I would have jumped at the chance if they'd offered it to me" and my boss " well you know what to do Kate, you've already made the decision really haven't you" she always says very sensible and intelligent things, even when I'm stressed and gives me good books to read on how to cope with stress (which I'm fairly crap at by the way) oh and then I completely forget to take the books home to read. Anyway moving on, most importantly my husband, after all this is going to affect him too probably, he was very supportive and positive and said I should go ahead and we would deal with it.....
So I went for my follow up to discuss the" ins and outs" excuse the pun there and I cried, oh god I can't believe I cried, oh but don't worry as that happens all the time apparently and out he came with a small box of tissues from a very large pile kept in the corner for such occasions, he asked me what the tears were for and after a lovely long chat he had filled in all the gaps and we were on. All I had to do was book the appointment, he suggested a full Hysterectomy as this may also help my migraines as they had mostly always been related to my menstrual cycle (although I do get random ones, of which he was not going to promise anything, ah well ya can't win them all as they say).
So I called his secretary, yes he has one of those. She told me she thought it would be a month and I would get a call back. I got a call back on Friday 1st June telling me they have a slot on the 15th...oh dear my heart was racing my mouth went dry and I did not know what to do, I mean honestly I had already made the bloody decision so why the panic when it was only 2 weeks away instead of a month; so I asked her if I could call her back and she said before the end of the day please as we have limited slots and the consultants holidays are coming up and we don't know when we will fit you in after this "no pressure then" laughs quietly.
So here I am again, not able to make a decision without speaking to all the important people, Mike my husband, Mum and my boss Helen, all of which tell me to go ahead. Better time of year at work as it is quiet at the moment so they can be without me for a bit. 2 weeks to get my head around such an operation. Anyway so I called them back and made the arrangements.
Mum sent me a lovely link to "understanding menopause" haha, suddenly I feel old....
I had of course felt a bit panicked about the unknown so did lots of research online and talked to as many people as I could who had had one before. Everyone said it was the best thing they had done and I could not find much negative information that was putting me off online so I felt OK about it. I knew I would be alright with the anaesthetic as last time had been a breeze, 2 seconds and it was all over and I had no after effects at all. The laparoscopy on the other hand was another story; well they tell you that you may get some shoulder pain with the residual gas left inside you but it should only last a couple of days...liars I tell you all of them! A good two weeks and it eventually dissipated, the most uncomfortable and in the early days painful experience and I swore I would never do it again...and here I am looking forward to all that again...dum de dum.
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