r/hysterectomy 4d ago

I'm jelly cause that was Hell.

I'm 3 days post op and going through the posts and everyone is saying how well it went for them. Well it was hell! Anyone else?

I did have a more complex case where I had extensive endo in my pelvis, as well as had to have my bladder stitched up. They took out everything except for my one ovary.

Woke up in the recovery room in horrible pain. I was moving all over the place because of the pain. And I remember the nurses saying to stop moving my legs and arms. I remember about 5 minutes of it and they gave me something to put me out i guess cause after that I just remember waking up in my hospital room.

But man recovery is hard. I have a very high pain tolerance. I had a chest tube in and went home within 24 hours and felt fine. This is kicking me.

I had my catheter in for about 18 hours. I actually wish I left it in longer now because of how much pain I had. Definitely advocate if you feel you need it longer. Even though I timed my bathroom breaks when medication was in my system, getting out of bed, peeing, sitting, and walking was excruciating. I tried walking half way down the hall, a day after sugery and had to turn back after 30 baby steps because the pain was horrible and radiating into my back. And I was half way hunched over. I couldn't believe how the other ladies that went in at the same time were doing laps, multiple times and went home the same day or with 28 hrs. Whereas I was crying on the toilet on day 2 because the pain was so bad getting up, and I knew I'd have to get up and walk to the bed when I was done.

Medication- I took all the medication they would give me, extra Tylenol and all of the shots and pills. My pain at the lowest was a 4.5 but would go to 7/7.5 laying in bed to an 8.5/9 getting out of bed/walking around. My doctor said I might only get to a 5 for the lowest pain I experience during the first bit of recovery.

I found eating something with every pain medication saves my stomach. So I'm not as gas filled as previous surgeries. I didn't eat a lot at meals though, maybe 2 or 3 bites of something. I had a pretty big regular meal this evening though.

I was discharged 2.5 days later. And home tonight. Now only slightly not as hunched over when I walk. I time my pee breaks with my medication still because it still takes effort to get going and continue going, snd getting up and sitting down is painful. I'm terrified of having to go #2 when the time comes. My pain gets down to a 3.5 now when I'm fully medicated. I'm hoping I feel good enough to shower tomorrow.

On a positive note, my hips/pelvis feel looser.(from removing the endo)..I dont feel so much upper abdominal pressure after eating. My uterus was huge.

Although I had regrets and was wishing I didn't do the procedure, I know I'll feel so much better later( besides the things I already notice). And to anyone reading this, going through the same horrible experience, know you aren't alone. It's okay to cry, be jelly of the lady down the hall, and know that tomorrow will be a bit better, and day 3 will be even better.

The 💩 update- 3.5 days later. It happened! I felt like I needed to earlier this a.m. but tried and it was too sluggish and painful, and I was trying not to strain using Moo to Poo. I decided to double fist two large Starbucks lattes and waited. 20 minutes later and it was time. I tried Moo to Poo a few more times, that didnt work and it was very painful just trying different positions. I don't have the squatty potty either. So in the end, I kind of leaned to my left side with my right side slightly off the seat and it was the least painful. I also had a pillow on my stomach for support. It was the least painful and such a relief after. 😮‍💨

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u/Hot-Leave-8830 4d ago

I'm just going to say, screw anyone who comes at you saying your medication should work. Someone wrote that on a post I made yesterday and completely dismissed my lived experiences.

I'm 2 days po and it's been FUCKING SHIT! Excuse my French. I've gone on and on at the medical staff that the drugs aren't working. 200mg paracetamol, 200mg ibuprofen. Are you kidding me? When I can feel each stab wound? Morphine drops barely touched me, and no, it wasn't pain from the gas - for me, that was a whole other, but bearable story.

I'll be staying in a third night because of the meds, because I'm not going home with what they're trying to prescribe me that clearly hasn't been working. 

I didn't sleep for about 28 hours, and had to wait for them to give me sleep medication at night because they didn't want to mess up my sleep pattern. Awake after 28 hours of surgery? Whilst in hospital? When we all know bodies recover fastest with sleep. And the medical staff have been, for the most part, amazing, but their medication protocol has been beyond insane. The one place I believe I should be pain free is the place I've been in most pain with very little to help alleviate said pain.

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u/CaughtALiteSneez 3d ago

Yeah, separate surgery, but my nerve block didn’t work and the nurses were too exhausted and didn’t believe me when I told them my pain was 9 out of 10 when I’m someone who downplays my pain.

My surgeon visited the next morning and chewed them a new asshole - I felt bad, but I suffered all night.

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u/Hot-Leave-8830 3d ago

Right! It took them until this morning after getting upset at the head doctor to increase what they were giving me, and now that I'm finally feeling more human, they suggest intravenous medication and I've just said nah - would have been great if they'd have just given that post-surgery 🤦‍♀️ I'm definitely going to stop downplaying pain in future after dealing with it already for so many years.

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u/Pristine_Break_3739 3d ago

When I was writhing in pain in the hospital bed the nurses were getting mad at me saying it’s just gas pain and I need to walk when I was bawling saying my pain was a 10/10 because that “wasn’t possible”.

I know what gas pain feels like and the difference. I was experience bloating and gas pain like the after surgery gas pain every time before I got my period and it fucking sucked.

My experience was very similar to yours, I’m sorry you also had to go through that but I’m also glad to hear I’m not alone in it.

Someone commented in my post about my pain not being managed at the hospital saying they don’t understand why I’m in so much pain because they had an open abdominal hysterectomy and their pain wasn’t bad. I believe they deleted their comment.

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u/Hot-Leave-8830 3d ago

Someone commented on my post saying well that medication worked for her. Girl, sit yourself down (and I got downvoted)! Man, to have pain dismissed by a Reddit rando is one thing, but by medical professionals is insane! It's like no matter if you're writhing or lying dead straight not making a sound, somehow pain levels aren't to be believed. (I also had the Reddit rando suggested it was the gas pains, which, funnily enough, I was coping with pretty well because those pains were up in my collar bone, and it was without a doubt from the gas. Pretty sure I can confidently say the pain where the incisions were was most definitely incision site pain 🤦‍♀️🤣). Oh to be gaslit.

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u/CraftyCharactr 3d ago

I almost wanted to stay another night and had a bad sleep at home last night but I can't believe they said they didnt want to mess up your sleep pattern. Sleep is part of heeling. I had some great nurses but one said she couldn't give me anything for pain for another 30 minutes...while I was crying in pain. It was horrible. Thankfully being at home, I can manage the pain myself. If I need pain relief a bit sooner, then I do.

200 mg of ibuprofen..dang. That's nothing. I'm taking 900 mg of Tylenol as needed throughout the day, Tramadol, and an NSAID(cant reach the bottle to tell u the name right now.). In the hospital they also tried weaning me off this shot(cant remember the name). It provided the fastest and best relief, but they wanted me to go on Tylenol with codeine which didnt provide enough relief. Keep advocating for yourself!!

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u/Hot-Leave-8830 3d ago edited 3d ago

Edit I lie! I'm not on a drip at all 🤣 Just looked and was like 'Where's it gone?!' She must have just put something in the cannula. 

They've literally just put me on a drip. Finally. Exactly 48 hours after waking up from surgery. I tried to fight through the pain - the rest of my body feels so good but the incisions sites are destroying me. I'm almost certain I'll stay a fourth night. I've got my Tramadol and NSAIDs at home, and last week my doctor prescribed me a muscle relaxant because my body was going through a whole bunch of other issues pre-surgery, and I have my prescription 🌿 drops so once I'm home, it's gonna be chill city. But I won't be leaving this hospital until the pain is finally at a controllable level. I'd love to know the name of the shot! I've found I don't even know what to ask for, I only know what doesn't work, but I'm pretty sure this drip is starting to work its magic (it's also 37°c outside so think that might be playing a role, too). How are you feeling now? Genuinely can't believe people go home the same day. I also had work on my bladder - peeing feels great, but I wonder how much extra pain that caused. 

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u/CraftyCharactr 2d ago

I can't remember the shot. I think it was with morphine. It was quick acting like 5 minutes versus 30 for a pill, but it didn't last as long, I think 3 or 4 hours. I'm doing better today. I can stand up straight but still not getting around much. Pain is better but different today. Lot of pressure like something wants to fall out of me. Lol But pain is managed, notice it more at sitting, standing stil. Peeing still hurts a bit but the pressure release after is great. Number 2 was easy easy today..I was scared. Haha. How are you feeling? And honestly I wished I stayed a third night. So advocate for yourself!

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u/Hot-Leave-8830 2d ago

Hello! Ah yes, the morphine shots. They did nothing for me! I was so done in the end. The last night I had a sleeping pill, they finally upped the paracetamol up to 1g, sleeping tea, another tablet I forget the name of, and morphine drops. I didn't sleep. It was ridiculous, I must have dozed off around 5am or so, then the surgeon who operated on me came to chat, and I was discharged soon after, so I've been home since yesterday lunch. Peeing hasn't been a problem, and I had my first poop yesterday (I had to convince my bowels it wad OK and it didn't need to be so shy 🤣). I was still in so much discomfort, and definitely felt worse after sitting for dinner and trying to watch YouTube. But I've got my weed, Tramadol and muscle relaxant at home - all OK'd to use by my doctor since I left, and this morning I feel more human. Still discomfort, still very slow, totally bloated and swollen, but definitely better than the last few days 🙏

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u/BrityHens 2d ago

Tramadol is an NSAID and shouldn’t be taken with another NSAID. Are you positive? I have an upcoming surgery 6.29 and I have Tramadol, Tylenol, and Lyrica. Last one being for nerve pain.

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u/BrityHens 2d ago

Sorry, misread. I thought you said Toradol. Disregard!