I can tell you one thing ,had I known how easy a hysterectomy was,after all those years of suffering,it would have been gone a long time ago.It was easier than having my 3 10lb babies well one was almost 11 lbs.I had it vaginally...

I don't know about the cancer but I can tell you about hysterectomys. I had mine 3 years ago on a Friday and was home from the hospital on a Monday. With the pain meds, it was tolerable. My DH stayed with me for only one day (the day I came home from the hospital). I was off the pain meds completely before the one week mark. I was back at work in 3 weeks. You can't do any lifting for awhile, I'm thinking 6 weeks and I wasn't able to do much except maybe wash a few dishes and put together a quick meal. I still have my ovaries but I know lots of people that do not. They said they had more problems than I did because their bodies were slammed into menopause. Not sure where you are at with this.

My only advice is to ask your doctor lots of questions. They have different types of hysterectomys such as the kind where they cut you open (which is what I had) and the kind where you are not cut open and they do it thru your vaginal opening.

Not sure what more I info I can give. I hope all goes well with both the surgery and the cancer. I'll be thinking of you. Please keep us posted.

I mirror what Bulldinkie said - 100%!

I had one 3 years ago for precancerous polyps that grew back after removal. Speaking only for myself it was the easiest surgery. I was given a shot that lasted for 24 hours so I wouldn't feel a lot of pain after surgery. Even after that wore off I had pain pills and it didn't hurt much anyway.
I was up walking in no time and out of the hospital in a few days, and I was 60.
Their methods and procedures are much better than the hysterectomies I used to hear about when I was young.

I had mine about 8 yrs ago.Wish I'd have had it 30 yrs ago! The first week was a little rough,I was cut up and down,not across.I had to have help showering(couldn't bend),couldn't drive for 3 weeks.But after the clamps were out I could shower and all by myself.I had no help,my husband had to work.He would set me up with thermos's of drinks,we got a double pump thermos and some jello and pudding,that's all I wanted for days! LOL! I stayed on the couch and only got up to let the dogs out about twice a day.I had everything removed,cervix and all because they thought I had cancer but I didn't.Anyhoo...the first week was tough,but I'd do it again in a heartbeat....ahhhhh the freedom!But I was a HEAVY bleeder,it was horrible all my life.It's so nice not having to plan my life around whether I'm bleeding to bad to go out of the house!You will probably need someone to help with meals,some housework(no running the sweeper),and depending on how they do yours,showering.Don't overdo,you could end up with scar tissue,at east that's what I was told.So I listened.I didn't work at the time though.

Well now, I must be older than dirt!!LOL I had mine about 50 years ago. I was in my 20's and didn't have a choice, I bled for 3 months. It was the best thing I ever did. No more periods, I've not taken harmones, I did have some night sweats but that didn't last long. It has been so
long ago I don't remember much about being in pain.
Best of luck to you.

I had an abdominal hyst, was in the hospital for 2 days I believe. They put me on pain meds and I only needed them for the first couple of days, felt great. Went back to work at 3 weeks but could have gone back at 2 weeks (I work at home).

Pretty easy.

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I'm sure they'll take good care of you.

First and foremost -- hugs to you, Vickey, and lots of good healing thoughts going your way...

I had a laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy (both of the ovaries and fallopian tubes were removed as well as the uterus) in the second week of December 1992. As the others have said, it's one of the best things I've ever done. :-)

My GYN, for whom I worked for several years and I trust him with my life, said that once the uterus is removed, the ovaries have a greater tendency to "go bad," so if there isn't an overwhelming reason to keep them they should be removed at the same time. It's easier than having a second surgery at a later date to remove the ovaries (when they do "go bad").

I had endometriosis and huge fibroids. I was on Lupron injections for four months (once a month for the four months) prior to the surgery, to shrink the fibroids. My last period was after the first Lupron injection... then no more "worries." :-)

My doctor had scheduled me for a vaginal hysterectomy. When he started the surgery he found that the fibroids were still too large to easily do the hysterectomy vaginally... By all rights, he could have "switched gears" and done an abdominal surgery, but his position was that he'd told me he'd do it vaginally, so by golly, that's what he was going to do. He "cut up" the uterus (internally) so that he could remove it a section at a time. The surgery took about 5 hours (but, hey, I was under full anesthesia, so I didn't know).

Normally, I would have been discharged as early as the next afternoon, but I developed a slight fever, so I ended up staying in for a week. The hospital I was in had really good food (amazing, I know), so I didn't mind. :-)

After I was discharged, I would tire easily, but I didn't have any pain that wasn't tolerable. I could have gone back to work after 2 weeks, but it was Christmastime, and I had more than enough sick leave hours to cover the time I was gone, so I didn't go back to work until Monday January 4, 1993. Still, I was out for less than a month.

I took Premarin pills for a while after the surgery but I didn't really think that I needed them, so I stopped taking them. I've never had a "traditional" hot flash or night sweats.

You really don't have anything to worry about as far as the surgery is concerned. You'll do fine. And, I'm guessing that the doctors will recommend removing your ovaries, since you have the early cancer cells. No sense in taking any unnecessary risks.

No advice from me as I never have had one, just sending big hugs your way.

Sue

Oh I forgot...my emotions went nuts for awhile.I would cry at the drop of a hat.I cried hard and long one day just because I saw a little boy with a lemonade stand.....LOL!But I figure it was because I was slammed overnight into menopause and it took my body awhile to settle down.I've never taken any hormones,they said I didn't need them.But it gets better.I still have hot flashes sometimes....then Larry and the dogs head for the covers! I turn on the air and fans or if it's chilly,I go sit outside awhile.So if you get mood swings and crying jags,take heart,it goes away!
Good Luck with your surgery!

Here's a very good site to answer a lot of your questions.
Sending Special thoughts & prayer your way.

Here is a link that might be useful: HysterSisters

I had a complete hysterectomy last October. No such luck as far as a vaginal removal; I've got a large scar at the bikini line. I had two nights in the hospital.

Your nurses and assistants will teach you how to sit up and down, stand up, roll over and all that good stuff with as little pulling as possible. Robert stayed home with me for three or four days, but I was not in good shape to begin with. I needed him.

The more you move around, the better you will feel. Try to stand up tall and do as much walking as you can. I did laps around the inside of the house, something that my cat ended up enjoying more than I, lol!

They sent me home with two different kinds of pain medications; neither of which I ever took. Plain Tylenol was all I ever needed.

They found pre-cancerous cells upon my biopsy, so we were all extremely grateful that I had decided to go ahead with the procedure (to remedy constant bleeding).

I'm sure that you will be fine with the surgery. Will you be in treatment for the cancer afterwards? You'll sure have our thoughts and prayers.

Vickey, big hugs to you.

I had a vaginal hysterectomy 24 years ago, 3 months after my third child. Doctor told me that was enough, my body couldn't take another pregnancy. They left my ovaries so I can't speak to a complete hysterectomy. I was in the hospital for three days (long time back then) and when I went home I had very little pain or discomfort. I was a stay at home mom with three small ones and no help till hubby came home in the evening. I just moved a little slower. Since they left my ovaries I didn't have to take hormone pills. Doctor told me I would go through menopause a little sooner than normal. I'm sure I've probably been through it by now, but to be honest, I never noticed.

For each individual the experience will be different. I will keep you in my prayers.

Alexis

No point of reference for you - just a hug. I'm sure that they'll be very thorough in removing every one of those cells. ((Vickey))

I had a vaginal hysterectomy in 1975, I was 29. I had had so many problems that the doc finally said, out with it. And I agreed. I stayed in the hospital 5 days and never had any problems at all. I had very little pain and never took anything at all for it. It was the best thing I ever did! And I would do it again in a hearbeat.
I had my annual gyn exam couple of weeks ago and the doc said there is very little scar tissue and everything looked good. They left my ovaries but took out the uterus and cervix.

So sorry about the cancer and I'll keep you in my prayers. Also want to let you know I have a hysterectomy about 12 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did and was really very easy, quick recovery!
Wishing you well.
Taigen

First.... I have already and will continue to pray for your complete recovery.

I had a hysterectomy when my daughter was 11(she is 32 now).
It was the greatest gift I ever gave myself. I had suffered horribly every month all of my life, with it only getting worse every year. If I had known how much better I would feel I would have had it the day my daughter was born.

The Dr ended up leaving 1 ovary which meant I didn't have to take any hormone replacements. They warned me that if my ovaries had to be 'handled' during surgery that they could 'go into shock' for a while and I could have mood swings until they calmed back down. I had very bad endometreosis in my entire abdominal cavity and I guess my surviving ovary was disturbed while he was trying to get me cleaned out and back to normal because I did have some mood swings where I would cry (very rarely-maybe twice) for a month or so until it got back to a normal cycle.

I am so thankful for my hysterectomy. It gave me a normal life that I had never known. What a blessing it was.

Take my advice and do exactly what the Dr tells you. I had a dear friend who shared how your bladder uses your uterus for support. When your uterus is removed, your body needs time to adjust to the lack of support. She told me if I felt good and went ahead and did the things they cautioned me about that my bladder could drop and I could have urinary problems for the rest of my life. This is why they tell you not to go up and down steps and so forth.

I was smart and behaved myself and I'm almost 56 years old and have never had any problems from the surgery. I lived in a 2-story apartment at the time, so I stayed with my parents for the 1st 2 weeks. When I went home I would take 1 step at a time sort of sideways. My daughet was great and took care of laundry, housekeeping, and most of the cooking.

Take your time and rest all you can. You will reap the rewards for the rest of your life. God Bless You.

Betty