My Hysterectomy

Last Friday I had a hysterectomy. It was a planned laparoscopic hysterectomy that ended up being an abdominal hysterectomy with a bikini cut. The definition is here: Abdominal Hysterectomy – This method is usually chosen for large pelvic tumors, adhesions or cancer. The uterus is removed through a 15-20 cm-long cut (6-8 inches) in the abdomen, either as a midline or bikini cut. An abdominal hysterectomy is associated with a longer hospital stay and recovery time, as well as greater discomfort following the operation. 

The doctor said when he opened me up he found a lot of scar tissue/adhesions. He also said he's having the scar tissue checked for cancer. He told me that hopefully it is just scar tissue. I hope so too.

I had planned on being in the hospital less than 24 hours, since my insurance approved of 23 hours unless I needed more. When I awoke from surgery I was told I will be there at least a couple of days. I ended up coming home Sunday night. The doctor came in late Sunday afternoon and said I will get discarded the next day. I asked her to let me go home today. She agreed, thankfully.

I threw many times. Once I didn't grab the container fast enough and got it all over the floor. It was just liquid, so an easy clean up. I got to take a shower since it was all over me and I got clean linen since part of my bed was soaked. 

I was given three prescriptions to fill and one was a nausea med. Since they were not going to be filled Sunday night I took two pepto bismol pills and Benadryl and went to sleep. I was very sick to my stomach, but was so tired. Yet I felt wired and that is why I took the antihistamine. It did the job. I woke up feeling pretty good on Monday morning. I also was not nauseated any longer.

I woke up the girls for school and my step dad Glenn drove them to school. I was told not to drive for two weeks or at least until I have my post op appointment. That apptointment is scheduled for tomorrow.

Monday I felt really good, with minimal pain. But the next two days I hurt. Especially when getting in and out of bed or moving in bed. I have been writing down times of when I take my medication so I don't skip out on anytime I could have pain relief.

I am looking forward to tomorrow to my doctor and get more details of what happened and what I can expect for recovery. Google helps, since there is a lot of info on the different types of hysterectomies. Yet I want to hear what he says since he has done the surgery many times.

It concerns me about what he said about the scar tissue. Two months ago he performed a diagnostic laparoscopy. One of the incisions was made in my belly button. When he said Friday that there was a lot of scar tissue underneath my belly button I was surprised. Could it of grown in two months? Anyways I have some questions. I should write them down because I always forget.

Life changes all the time and this change is for the better. I had endometriosis and he did find scar tissue on my uterus. I have suffered a lot of pelvic pain. 

Update: My doctor had my uterus tested and the report came back that I had had Adenomyosis. A condition in which endometrial tissue exists within and grows into the uterine wall.

My doctor said to me, "No wonder you were in so much pain!"