2 YRS THIS WEEK-Hysterectomy (due to tamoxifen)

Ritzy said:

2 years later and you just

2 years later and you just got back from a wonderful vacation!  Congrats Denise!

Sue

Sue: yes it was heaven...not too often we go away without our grandkids...so peaceful...

we are taking them camping in 2 wks...then 2 seperate camping trips in july...

Denise

iluvmykids said:

Way to go! Mine is scheduled for 6/12.

I was coming to these boards for the first time in awhile to vent on my impending hysterectomy and here I see your post.  So happy that you are two years done from it and wish I could say I was.  I keep thinking I will be back to work for at least a couple hours in 2 weeks.  Would you mind sharing your recovery experience?

When they put me on tamoxifen and told me the side effect was uterine cancer, the thought rolled through my head to just take it out then.  I didn't think it would actually come true.  On my annual exam, my GYN decided to do an endometrial biopsy because my history (irregular periods) and being on tamoxifen.  The test came back with complex endometrial hyperplasia atypia - so we scheduled the hysterectomy.  It will be a complete one because I am 52 and probably not far from menopause and also had an aunt that passed away from ovarian cancer. 

Obviously, you are doing great now, so happy that you are.

Eileen

I was post menopausal just prior to BC. I had a lumpectomy 2008-the reason I had surgery was I started bleeding after years of not-So it was not due to CANCER! I did have a big set back-I went camping 10 days after my surgery (crazy I know but I promised family/ grandkids to go on one of our annual camping trips) Anyhow-I was totally Impacted (intestines) it was terriable. ( i did not know to take stoll softners etc) IT was like having triplets pain wise-not to over sharge but it was manual aka DR undoing it. I must say terrible is the only word that comes to mind. We stayed in hotel that night and drove straight back to our ER near home-for more not so pleasant procedures.

I was watching what I ate-but should have had MORE water and stool softners. I am now 53 yrs old- so just 50ish when issues started with my uteus.

I hope this helps...

Denise

iluvmykids said:

Thanks, Denise, for sharing your experience

Actually makes me feel better that you felt half way decent to attempt a camping trip!  WOW.  Anyway, I did have a vaginal ultrasound last August because I had been having recurring feeling of pressure in my abdominal area for about 4 months, it came around every 6 weeks or so, lasted a week and went away, it was never something I would describe as painful, it was just uncomfortalbe at times and I felt like I had to pee.  The ultrasound came up negative, everything looked fine.  After that I went to a urologist/gynocolgist because we thought it was bladder related, had a camera in my bladder, nothing wrong there.  I'm still not even sure that that problem is what is going on in my uterous.

Anyway, I have not gone thru menopause yet, but my periods have been irregular my whole life, except of course when I was on birth control -  so it didn't seem odd to me that I would have my period every 60 or 90 days or that it was heavier than when on BC, but my long time GYN did not like what he was hearing from me which is why he did the biopsy. I am glad he did, he did say I could do that too, every 3-4 months with a D&C, but at my age and really menopausal, why go through that all the time.  A no brainer decision for me too. 

I go through being nervous about it, to just wanting to get it over with.  So even though you had problems  the fact that you even considered going camping in 2 weeks makes me less nervous. 

Thanks again for your experience, it really helps!

 

Just make sure to use stool softners ( i even watched what I ate-easy to digest etc and still got BACKED up BAD) I took the first appt they could give me. I am not good at waiting to get things over with...that's for sure.

I must say this is thet first of my many many surgeries I LISTENED to the DR-i did not lift a finger-if not food (for me i'd order delivery) hehe. IF crumbs on floor, dirty towel around i pretended to NOT see it. My youngest daughter (then 19) was my life saver. I needed help for some time with showers, changing dressing etc-SHE WAS GREAT!

I stayed in the hospital from Tues am (surgery) and left mid day Friday! MOVED very very slow needless to say! 6 wks I felt good and at 8 wks it was like someone turned a switch & presto back to my regular self-HONESTLY...at my 8 wk check up the dr said do anything you want. I said bike, canoe, waterski, swim? HE said yes...I said good since leaving for camping (again) the next day for a week.

Denise 

Send me a message or email if have any questions (disneyfan2008@yahoo.com) just put memo if I am not sure who I do not open emails.

JJDS said:

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

OFF to our same camping trip we do each Memorial week tomorrow AM! But all good this trip....

Denise

it's pouring now I hope 3 hr north it is NOT!