Hysterectomy Question about after care

aprillorey
aprillorey Member Posts: 104
Ok so i have a few Questions about after care while at home im wondering if any ones cut from there Hysterectomy ever scabed over mine is and it is hurting also has any ones ever broken open and bleed mine is doing this and some not alot green stuff is coming out

also where my JPS bag ( blood bag ) was there is a whole and it bleeds to its gross my doctor said unless it bleeds for 4 inch its nothing to worry about i did go in and he took alook and said i was fine

and the green stuff since its not alot he clams its not infected and looks fine and just keep it clean and Quaz over it well

its very painful to me

then there is one last thing when ever i lay down i think its my Kidneys unsure but its near my side and it hurts like heack every time i lay down but my doctor again clams im just fine

is this all Normal with recovering

all of this is scary to me im 1 week past my sugery now they are starting radition in 5 weeks and it scars me i wont be healed enough im not liking my cancer doctor alot

but i cant do much about that

so any and all advice would help please

thanks
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Comments

  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    Hysterectomy Post
    I had hysterectomy and was open "vertical" and think it's pulled differently. Aren't you horizontal opening? I never experienced bleeding outside of a bit of dry blood around the wound and pain upon moving for first 3 weeks.

    Pain? I'd confer with your doctor and sounds like he has given his advice. Now if you're not feeling comfortable with your doctor, what are your concerns? I will say my docs were wonderful -- had both OB and OB/oncologist in surgery. Just be patient with the healing and know you'll be tired, as our bodies require lots of energy to heal. Also, keep up the calories as you'll burn lots during healing process.

    I started chemo 3 weeks after hysterectomy....did just fine! Doc wanted to jump start the chemo as no reason to wait as I was healing quite fast.

    Best to you...
    Jan
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    jazzy1 said:

    Hysterectomy Post
    I had hysterectomy and was open "vertical" and think it's pulled differently. Aren't you horizontal opening? I never experienced bleeding outside of a bit of dry blood around the wound and pain upon moving for first 3 weeks.

    Pain? I'd confer with your doctor and sounds like he has given his advice. Now if you're not feeling comfortable with your doctor, what are your concerns? I will say my docs were wonderful -- had both OB and OB/oncologist in surgery. Just be patient with the healing and know you'll be tired, as our bodies require lots of energy to heal. Also, keep up the calories as you'll burn lots during healing process.

    I started chemo 3 weeks after hysterectomy....did just fine! Doc wanted to jump start the chemo as no reason to wait as I was healing quite fast.

    Best to you...
    Jan

    I think you need to see another oncologist or doctor.
    I had a HUGE incision with my hysterectomy, held together by 27 staples. I NEVER had ANY blood or oozing, not from Day 1. I think you need to be seen by someone else for another opinion. Maybe someone else here will post and say all of that bleeding and oozing was 'normal' for them and they were fine, but unless someone else diagrees with me, I think I'd see another doctor just to put my mind at ease.
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596

    I think you need to see another oncologist or doctor.
    I had a HUGE incision with my hysterectomy, held together by 27 staples. I NEVER had ANY blood or oozing, not from Day 1. I think you need to be seen by someone else for another opinion. Maybe someone else here will post and say all of that bleeding and oozing was 'normal' for them and they were fine, but unless someone else diagrees with me, I think I'd see another doctor just to put my mind at ease.

    hysterectomy

    i too had a huge vertical incision with my hysterectomy, and while i had no bleeding, i did have oozing in a spot about an inch long. i went to the doctor almost daily to have it packed. he took out the old packing each time, and put in a new one until the incision healed from the inside out. it wasn't at all painful, and was not infected, nothing green looking. the area took about 2 weeks to heal, and it's been fine ever since, though a little more tender there than anywhere else.

    so, oozing is normal if there's a spot that isn't closing up as it should, but it does need to be attended to. my gyn was scrupulous about it. so, i'd suggest finding out what's causing the bleeding and oozing, and i think i, too, would see another doctor for this.

    best to you,
    maggoe
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    Hello April:
    When I had my

    Hello April:

    When I had my hysterectomy done in September of 2005, I then had another staging surgery done in October of 2005. They used the same incision, from the belly button all the way down. After my second surgery, I had oozing. I did have an infection and for five weeks I had an open wound in my stomach which needed to be packed with gauze. We had a visiting nurse do it. I was still able to get around and do things, except I got tired after chemo treatments. It will take your body several months to get back into shape. You will feel tingles and pokes and stuff like that as your body heals. Do not try to lift anything heavier than 5 pounds for at least 6 weeks maybe longer.

    I hope this helps.

    Oh by the way, while this was all going on I also had a port put in (which I still have to this date).

    Finally note for you, they didn't find out I had endo cancer until after my hysterectomy. Thats why they had to go back in. When they went in, they didn't find anything. I still had six months of chemo as a preventative. A year later I had 3 brachy radiations.

    The biggest side effect is the tiredness.

    Take care.

    Kathy
  • aprillorey
    aprillorey Member Posts: 104
    Kaleena said:

    Hello April:
    When I had my

    Hello April:

    When I had my hysterectomy done in September of 2005, I then had another staging surgery done in October of 2005. They used the same incision, from the belly button all the way down. After my second surgery, I had oozing. I did have an infection and for five weeks I had an open wound in my stomach which needed to be packed with gauze. We had a visiting nurse do it. I was still able to get around and do things, except I got tired after chemo treatments. It will take your body several months to get back into shape. You will feel tingles and pokes and stuff like that as your body heals. Do not try to lift anything heavier than 5 pounds for at least 6 weeks maybe longer.

    I hope this helps.

    Oh by the way, while this was all going on I also had a port put in (which I still have to this date).

    Finally note for you, they didn't find out I had endo cancer until after my hysterectomy. Thats why they had to go back in. When they went in, they didn't find anything. I still had six months of chemo as a preventative. A year later I had 3 brachy radiations.

    The biggest side effect is the tiredness.

    Take care.

    Kathy

    thanks ladys
    thank you ladys my cut is up and down from ribs all the way down to my pravit parts he didnt use staples or anything he only used Glue he said due to that its normal to bleed some as long as its not 4 inchs well its not a full 4 inchs of course but oh most every few spots bleed and where they took my blood bag out there is a small nasty looking hole there

    as for this doctor i do want to go to a 2nd doctor but im unsure how to go about that ? i was thinking more like john starters cancer center we called them but they clamed my doctor had to refer me there how ever i know this doctor will not since they are not with mercy hospital.

    hes so fast he doesnt take time to answer all my questions he just tells me what he is going to do.but he doesnt ask me of give me Choices on what i want to be done

    right now its scabing over but that brakes open and bleeds the cut gets very dry i think and then brakes and bleeds

    again im so new to this i dont no how to handle it turly part of me wants to lay down and scam and cry


    the other part is just going along with what ever the doctor says and right now he isnt saying much to me he has only saw me once before my sugery then once after the sugery i wont see him again for 5 more weeks and thats IT then radition and i think he says hes done i dont have to come back i dont no turly im unsure because then his nurses says ill come back every 3 months for check ups do im so confused right now on my care

    well thanks ladys for all advice
  • thanks ladys
    thank you ladys my cut is up and down from ribs all the way down to my pravit parts he didnt use staples or anything he only used Glue he said due to that its normal to bleed some as long as its not 4 inchs well its not a full 4 inchs of course but oh most every few spots bleed and where they took my blood bag out there is a small nasty looking hole there

    as for this doctor i do want to go to a 2nd doctor but im unsure how to go about that ? i was thinking more like john starters cancer center we called them but they clamed my doctor had to refer me there how ever i know this doctor will not since they are not with mercy hospital.

    hes so fast he doesnt take time to answer all my questions he just tells me what he is going to do.but he doesnt ask me of give me Choices on what i want to be done

    right now its scabing over but that brakes open and bleeds the cut gets very dry i think and then brakes and bleeds

    again im so new to this i dont no how to handle it turly part of me wants to lay down and scam and cry


    the other part is just going along with what ever the doctor says and right now he isnt saying much to me he has only saw me once before my sugery then once after the sugery i wont see him again for 5 more weeks and thats IT then radition and i think he says hes done i dont have to come back i dont no turly im unsure because then his nurses says ill come back every 3 months for check ups do im so confused right now on my care

    well thanks ladys for all advice

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  • aprillorey
    aprillorey Member Posts: 104
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Connie
    thanks for the advice i dont have Friends turly other then online. but my husband comes with me every visit so he can be there for me to support me i havent talked to a socical worker before do i just call the Hospital and ask for one or her ? unsure how to go about that or anything i think thats my biggest problam is i dont no where to start

    yep i no i will heal for sure i but not liking my doctor :( my OBYGN i do turst hes the one who sent me to the cancer doctor but i dont like the cancer doctor so i may call my obygn tommrow to ask if i can come in and see what he thinks over all of this
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Connie
    thanks for the advice i dont have Friends turly other then online. but my husband comes with me every visit so he can be there for me to support me i havent talked to a socical worker before do i just call the Hospital and ask for one or her ? unsure how to go about that or anything i think thats my biggest problam is i dont no where to start

    yep i no i will heal for sure i but not liking my doctor :( my OBYGN i do turst hes the one who sent me to the cancer doctor but i dont like the cancer doctor so i may call my obygn tommrow to ask if i can come in and see what he thinks over all of this

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • aprillorey
    aprillorey Member Posts: 104
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Connie
    I live in Des Moines Iowa i dont turst driving so far but if your ever near or around Des moines or close by maybe we could meet up im what 5 hours from Chicago i think anyways but ya im in des moines iowa
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • kansasgal
    kansasgal Member Posts: 122 Member

    thanks ladys
    thank you ladys my cut is up and down from ribs all the way down to my pravit parts he didnt use staples or anything he only used Glue he said due to that its normal to bleed some as long as its not 4 inchs well its not a full 4 inchs of course but oh most every few spots bleed and where they took my blood bag out there is a small nasty looking hole there

    as for this doctor i do want to go to a 2nd doctor but im unsure how to go about that ? i was thinking more like john starters cancer center we called them but they clamed my doctor had to refer me there how ever i know this doctor will not since they are not with mercy hospital.

    hes so fast he doesnt take time to answer all my questions he just tells me what he is going to do.but he doesnt ask me of give me Choices on what i want to be done

    right now its scabing over but that brakes open and bleeds the cut gets very dry i think and then brakes and bleeds

    again im so new to this i dont no how to handle it turly part of me wants to lay down and scam and cry


    the other part is just going along with what ever the doctor says and right now he isnt saying much to me he has only saw me once before my sugery then once after the sugery i wont see him again for 5 more weeks and thats IT then radition and i think he says hes done i dont have to come back i dont no turly im unsure because then his nurses says ill come back every 3 months for check ups do im so confused right now on my care

    well thanks ladys for all advice

    Post-hysterectomy healing
    Although I had staples holding the sides of my incision together, I had 2 places about 1 inch long and one about 2 inches long which oozed for about 2 months. My lower abdomen hurt so much I could barely sit up at my 1-month check-up. I laughed when the doctor asked if I was driving yet! I could not believe that someone might be able to get into a car and drive by 4 weeks post-surgery. I had to have the car seat tipped back so that I was looking at the car's ceiling instead of out the windshield. I used steri-strips (which the doctor's office provided) in between the staples to help hold the oozing places together. At first there was so much oozing I used 4x4 gauze pads layered 2 or 3 deep and held on with micropore tape and placed over the steri-strips. I applied new gauze pads at least once a day, and new steri-strips every other day after my shower. I continued to use the steri-strips for another 4 weeks after the staples were removed because the oozing spots took a very long time to heal closed. Some days the oozing was bad enough that I again applied the gauze pads, but by then I used a smaller size pad. Sorry you are having such a hard time with your incision healing closed.

    I hope you'll feel much better soon.

    Sally
  • aprillorey
    aprillorey Member Posts: 104
    kansasgal said:

    Post-hysterectomy healing
    Although I had staples holding the sides of my incision together, I had 2 places about 1 inch long and one about 2 inches long which oozed for about 2 months. My lower abdomen hurt so much I could barely sit up at my 1-month check-up. I laughed when the doctor asked if I was driving yet! I could not believe that someone might be able to get into a car and drive by 4 weeks post-surgery. I had to have the car seat tipped back so that I was looking at the car's ceiling instead of out the windshield. I used steri-strips (which the doctor's office provided) in between the staples to help hold the oozing places together. At first there was so much oozing I used 4x4 gauze pads layered 2 or 3 deep and held on with micropore tape and placed over the steri-strips. I applied new gauze pads at least once a day, and new steri-strips every other day after my shower. I continued to use the steri-strips for another 4 weeks after the staples were removed because the oozing spots took a very long time to heal closed. Some days the oozing was bad enough that I again applied the gauze pads, but by then I used a smaller size pad. Sorry you are having such a hard time with your incision healing closed.

    I hope you'll feel much better soon.

    Sally

    Sally
    hi Sally i just now saw your post it didnt show earlyer thank you for sharing with me about your Surgery and all you had to go through my doctor told me to use Gauze pads but the oozing kept geting on the pads and ill have to pull it pulled some of my glue off sadly so then i found those none hurt stick Pads and they seem to work alot beter and dont stick to my Incision

    ya with a cut like mine im not sure why they used glue and not stables it looks nasty turly so the oozing is normal then > ya i cant imagen any one driving so soon lol

    we went to target tonight and it hurt like heack to even walk but i needed some items and husband didnt no what it was so i had to go and pick them up he drove of course i dont think ill be driving any time soon it hurts way to much to even walk when ever i lay down in bed at 1st my body is full of pain i admit it gets beter just a little each day but im only 1 week post my sugery and so the pain is still hurting

    the doctor gave me 1 more round of pain pills after that he said im on my own to manage my own pain lol i was like UMMMM

    but i dont want to be on them to long anyways as my mom got addicted to them and has been on them over 30 years now. so she started right before i was born in 1980

    well i best go for now thanks for sharing with me and yes ill go to my OBYGN in the morning
  • aprillorey
    aprillorey Member Posts: 104
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Hi connie thanks for asking
    Hi Conie thanks for asking your doc i do know of a a few here we called john starters cancer center and they said my doctor has to Refare me to any new doctor since im under his care and its up to him who he will refare me to i cant just call and set a visit up thats the bad thing well ill call my OB in the morning and have him look over me
  • cathyK
    cathyK Member Posts: 93

    Hi connie thanks for asking
    Hi Conie thanks for asking your doc i do know of a a few here we called john starters cancer center and they said my doctor has to Refare me to any new doctor since im under his care and its up to him who he will refare me to i cant just call and set a visit up thats the bad thing well ill call my OB in the morning and have him look over me

    new cancer doc
    can you go to your primary care phisician? that is how I got my new cancer doc. hated my last cancer doc, he was rude and reminded me every time I came in I was going to be dead in 1 to 2 years so I better get used to that! my PCP found there were 2 other places I could get a gyn onc, and called, found the one I go to was the best. I stuck with the bad doc for 5 months because I thought I could not go to anyone else (medicade) and I had to get his refural , NO you do not, you just have to get him to transfer care!
    if you dont like your doc, and he sounds like my doc, I would ask to look for another one in your area, and gyn onc doc is best , go on line to see who is near you , then ask them if they are taking new patients then go to your doc and insist to be transfered! Id go to the new doc office and see if you could talk to the doc before transfering , everyone is different some like the point blank quick in and out doc some (most) like a caring concerned listening doc. who will answer ALL your questions, and help you with pain management and problems with your incision . keep us up on what happens.
  • aprillorey
    aprillorey Member Posts: 104
    cathyK said:

    new cancer doc
    can you go to your primary care phisician? that is how I got my new cancer doc. hated my last cancer doc, he was rude and reminded me every time I came in I was going to be dead in 1 to 2 years so I better get used to that! my PCP found there were 2 other places I could get a gyn onc, and called, found the one I go to was the best. I stuck with the bad doc for 5 months because I thought I could not go to anyone else (medicade) and I had to get his refural , NO you do not, you just have to get him to transfer care!
    if you dont like your doc, and he sounds like my doc, I would ask to look for another one in your area, and gyn onc doc is best , go on line to see who is near you , then ask them if they are taking new patients then go to your doc and insist to be transfered! Id go to the new doc office and see if you could talk to the doc before transfering , everyone is different some like the point blank quick in and out doc some (most) like a caring concerned listening doc. who will answer ALL your questions, and help you with pain management and problems with your incision . keep us up on what happens.

    CathyK
    CathyK

    oh ok ya i was told by John starters cancer center if i wanted to come to them i needed the doctor Refural ( i dont even no if they accept Medicade ) or not as i didnt get to the point of asking ya my doctor is in and out kinda guy but i want some one who is gonna take the time for me to care for me he didnt even take the time to Expilan anything i had to call the office many times just to fine out if i was considerd cancer free since they got all removed they finley said NO not yet that wont come for many years but the remission wont even come for 5 years ok well why didnt he expilan this to me in his office is what i wonderd why did i have to call you know so i dont no

    im upset so im gonna call my OBYGN to see what he thinks of this cancer doctor but i never Throught o talking to my Family doctor ?

    i went in for a visit and told her i had cancer but she was socked and didnt no much on it other then this its all she knew should i be geting care under her as well see im so confused on what or where to go or who to see or anything

    ill keep you updated for sure
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379

    CathyK
    CathyK

    oh ok ya i was told by John starters cancer center if i wanted to come to them i needed the doctor Refural ( i dont even no if they accept Medicade ) or not as i didnt get to the point of asking ya my doctor is in and out kinda guy but i want some one who is gonna take the time for me to care for me he didnt even take the time to Expilan anything i had to call the office many times just to fine out if i was considerd cancer free since they got all removed they finley said NO not yet that wont come for many years but the remission wont even come for 5 years ok well why didnt he expilan this to me in his office is what i wonderd why did i have to call you know so i dont no

    im upset so im gonna call my OBYGN to see what he thinks of this cancer doctor but i never Throught o talking to my Family doctor ?

    i went in for a visit and told her i had cancer but she was socked and didnt no much on it other then this its all she knew should i be geting care under her as well see im so confused on what or where to go or who to see or anything

    ill keep you updated for sure

    Pain Meds?
    April,

    Are you serious, your doc won't continue pain meds after the 2nd round? I've never heard that before, as they should realize we're more calm when pain is managed. Heck mine were always asking me about side affects from the surgery and treatments.....do you need more of this or that med, they'd ask???

    I'm always the one to say....NO TO MEDS. But when it comes to pain, I'm on it with a definite YES!!! I know moving isn't fun, but it does help the muscles and incision to heal faster. As they say....NO PAIN NO GAIN!!! Just move a little more each day and in a few weeks you'll be amazed how much better you'll feel.

    Take care and good luck at doc today!
    Jan
  • aprillorey
    aprillorey Member Posts: 104
    jazzy1 said:

    Pain Meds?
    April,

    Are you serious, your doc won't continue pain meds after the 2nd round? I've never heard that before, as they should realize we're more calm when pain is managed. Heck mine were always asking me about side affects from the surgery and treatments.....do you need more of this or that med, they'd ask???

    I'm always the one to say....NO TO MEDS. But when it comes to pain, I'm on it with a definite YES!!! I know moving isn't fun, but it does help the muscles and incision to heal faster. As they say....NO PAIN NO GAIN!!! Just move a little more each day and in a few weeks you'll be amazed how much better you'll feel.

    Take care and good luck at doc today!
    Jan

    Jan
    Yep acording to them the doctor said hes only gonna give me a 2nd Round of my Pain meds after that hes cuting me off im not sure if this doctor likes to see woman in pain or what he cut me off the Morphine pump in the hospital cold turly and i had all kinds of bad side affects from that to. he told me to buy over the counter stuff well nothing works for me so i do not know what to do.

    i could not get in to the OBYGN today i may not be able to until some time next week sadly he did say my case is now under my cancer doctor and he doesnt handle it so i dont no im feed up with all of the treatment i get and wonder if its because im on Medcaid

    yep i try to walk a little each day today i woke up very sick so i havent done much today at all :(
  • Northwoodsgirl
    Northwoodsgirl Member Posts: 571

    Jan
    Yep acording to them the doctor said hes only gonna give me a 2nd Round of my Pain meds after that hes cuting me off im not sure if this doctor likes to see woman in pain or what he cut me off the Morphine pump in the hospital cold turly and i had all kinds of bad side affects from that to. he told me to buy over the counter stuff well nothing works for me so i do not know what to do.

    i could not get in to the OBYGN today i may not be able to until some time next week sadly he did say my case is now under my cancer doctor and he doesnt handle it so i dont no im feed up with all of the treatment i get and wonder if its because im on Medcaid

    yep i try to walk a little each day today i woke up very sick so i havent done much today at all :(

    Your treatment
    Can you get in contact with the state ombudsmen for Medicaid? There should be an ombudsmen or advocate for Medicaid patients. Look in the phone book or talk to a hospital patient advocate. Just call the hospital where you had surgery and ask to talk to the patient advocate. Can the American Cancer Society help to advocate for you on changing doctors? I am also a uterine cancer survivor and an RN and reading your posts is appalling to me....the poor quality of care you are getting. Especially the green drainage (infection) and lack of ongoing access to pain medication. It almost sounds like your doctor thinks you have a drug problem or are going to sell the narcotics.
    My experience is that pain management is of the highest concern to the oncologist as a post surgical and chemotherapy patient. I got all the pain meds I could every have needed.
    Your OB/GYN certainly knows other oncologists in the area. Ask him to give you a referral to another doctor. Sad but true...after someone does surgery on you other surgeons don't like to correct someone else's "mess."
  • aprillorey
    aprillorey Member Posts: 104

    Your treatment
    Can you get in contact with the state ombudsmen for Medicaid? There should be an ombudsmen or advocate for Medicaid patients. Look in the phone book or talk to a hospital patient advocate. Just call the hospital where you had surgery and ask to talk to the patient advocate. Can the American Cancer Society help to advocate for you on changing doctors? I am also a uterine cancer survivor and an RN and reading your posts is appalling to me....the poor quality of care you are getting. Especially the green drainage (infection) and lack of ongoing access to pain medication. It almost sounds like your doctor thinks you have a drug problem or are going to sell the narcotics.
    My experience is that pain management is of the highest concern to the oncologist as a post surgical and chemotherapy patient. I got all the pain meds I could every have needed.
    Your OB/GYN certainly knows other oncologists in the area. Ask him to give you a referral to another doctor. Sad but true...after someone does surgery on you other surgeons don't like to correct someone else's "mess."

    Hi thanks for the advice i
    Hi thanks for the advice i will call my OBYGN and ask if he can get me in to another doctor, see my mother was hooked on drugs and pain pills she is a drug head so i made my mind up when i was a little girl i would never ever take pain pills or meds no mater how much pain i was in or drugs because it distoryed our family

    so i dont drank i dont smoke i dont do drugs how ever after this Surgery the pain was so much that i took pain pills for the 1st time ever so i dont see how he would think i would be addicted to them lol

    but he does say he wont give me any more after what i have is gone i think its bull crap he has only seen me a few times other then that he doesnt want to see me in his office i see him in close to 5 weeks now for a check up then radition starts other then that he doesnt see me at all turly

    i was told that DR DEB Turner was the best in des moines how ever she was jamed PACKED so i had to see DR jay Carlson ( if i spelled his name right ) in her office and he just joined her in JAN of 2010 so hes new to her office and im not liking him at all

    he smiles like all the time so u never no what he is thinking at all lol


    my husband said maybe he had Sugery to make him smile all the time like that then made a joke and said he looked like the joker from batman lol


    i mean the nurses in the office is wonderful but this doctor is crappy i tried to research him i dont fine much on him
    \

    but ya im gonna try to swtich i cant get in to the ob until next week so hopfuly he will do somthing