Just diagnosed, high anxiety

I live alone too. Before my surgery I stocked up on groceries and pet supplies such as litter and cat food.

I was fine on my own after surgery, but I did ask my sisters and a good friend to help with washing the litter boxes once a week for the first month since I was restricted from lifting more than 10 pounds for 30 days. The boxes of litter weighed more than 10 pounds.

Actually the most challenging part was just getting out of bed without anyone to help. It was really painful and I felt like I was pulling at my incisions. So I found a video on You Tube that demonstrated a good technique that really helped:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heEvgDc4w90

I took the pain killers for the first couple of days, but then I stopped as I didn't really need them. I also did not take the pills prescribed for constipation as I did not have this problem. I had the opposite problem with diarrhea, which continued to bother me during chemo, radiation and even today. So while constipation after surgery may be more typical, be prepared for diarrhea too just in case that how your body reacts.

I didn't drive for the first week or two, but I did after that since I wasn't taking the pain medication.

As compared to chemo and radiation, surgery was the easiest part of the treatment process for me.

Great idea suggestion the video cmb! 

I was worried about that too. Just go slow. You'll  be ok!

I also suggest getting your some magazines,  a good book or Crossword puzzles during your healing time . Keeping my mind busy helped!

I couldn't drive for 2 weeks as well so if possible get as much as you think you'll need prior to surgery and getting any daily prescriptions filled if needed.

elainegint said:

I don't like surprises, so I

I don't like surprises, so I really appreciate your information.

Although it isn't pleasant, I can handle a little pain or discomfort. It's the anxiety that is really debilitating for me on top of everything else. I've been taking a tiny dose of Xanax to get me through so far. 

But knowing that i should be able to be self-sufficient after a week is somewhat comforting.

your biopsy results.   The treatment really depends on the type of cancer cells.  If they were endometrioid it is really possible that you will have. not more treatment.  If it was another type, chances are you will need further treatment.    I had laparoscopic and an incision.  I don't remember much pain at all.  I took pain killers for two days after.  I left the hospital after 24 hours.  

elainegint said:

 I don't know what stage it

 I don't know what stage it is but pathology report said it wa atypical complex hyperplastic and focal, well differentiated and called endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Gyno said it was caught early. She said for a bad thing it was the best possible situation. That's all I know right now.

I am a knitter (professionally at times) and love crossword and suduko so I am stocking up to keep me occupied. MIght even try a jigsaw puzzle. 

So great to have found this discussion group. So grateful for all your insights.

"for a bad thing it was the best possible situation".....

this is exactly what my onco surgeon told me after the biopsy and scans.  I was diagnosed in January this year,and now I am after the chemo and radiation at first,and after surgery on May31. According to all pathology results I am cancer free,and do not have to have another treatment. And it all happened in 5 months!

Oh,I should mention,that I had colon cancer,not uterine cancer (even though the surgeons processed with hysterectomy plus the colon resection and tumour removal).

I am sure you are going to have easy recovery after your surgery,and wish you all the best,

Suzy

Ribbons said:

not too bad

I had a robotic assisted hysterectomy (plus all the other parts, ovaries. tubes etc.) plus a total of 22 lymph nodes. The actual surgery was not all that bad, I could have gone home the same day but since we live quite a distance away, I stayed overnight. The biggest surprise for me was the gas! With a laproscopic hysterectomy, they blow you up with gas so they can see what they are doing. That takes a few days to completely go away, I felt like a beach ball, although I didn't look like that. Maybe ask about that if they don't mention it to you. Recovery from the surgery was not super long for me, just not allowed to lift things for a while.

We had a wedge pillow and I dug that out to sleep on the first couple of nights to help dissipate the gas.  Seemed to work pretty well.

I was one of those who had a full abdomanal surgery. I lived alone with my two yonger kids at the time. My surgery took longer to recover from. I was in the hospital for 3 days. Im not sure why but it was the plan to do the full adominal surgery from the beginging. Its true they dont officially diagnose until after surgery. My oncologist told me mine was stage 2 before and that is what it was after surgery. I had a table by my couch and a nightstand by my bed and bought food that i could just keep there in case i didnt feel like getting up. I kept my medications there too to make it easier. I hope it goes easy for you but it took quite a while to fully recover. It worked out though. I drove still. That was easy part. I did stop tsking the meds too and just tolerated the pain. It did slowly get better.

elainegint said:

 I don't know what stage it

 I don't know what stage it is but pathology report said it wa atypical complex hyperplastic and focal, well differentiated and called endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Gyno said it was caught early. She said for a bad thing it was the best possible situation. That's all I know right now.

I am a knitter (professionally at times) and love crossword and suduko so I am stocking up to keep me occupied. MIght even try a jigsaw puzzle. 

So great to have found this discussion group. So grateful for all your insights.

hello Elaine. I too was recently diagnosed July 19. biopsy revealed uterine cancer. Appt this Tuesday with ongologist. Had no symptoms until after biopsy was done over a week ago. My anxiety is high. I recently lost my only son January 1st of this year. I am still grieving and now I face this.  Good luck to you. 

My sister-in-law called to see how I was doing when I got home from the hospital.  My husband told her that I was doing well, but, I was having trouble with gas.  She told him to have me lay on my left side, low and behold, she was right.  I could easily relieve the gas,  I’ll never doubt her again.  She is a wonderful sister in law, checked in on me regularly and stopped by often to see for herself.

 Best of luck to you.