Lymph Node Question

I don't know if you've ever had prior surgery or not, but increasing your anxiety beforehand by teasing yourself with the implications of pre-op tests is probably not a good idea. Nothing is certain and all is subject to change until the pathology on the uterus, lymph nodes, and whatever else gets removed during surgery is done and your staging is finalized to help your doctor determine what will be the best course of treatment for what's going on with your cancer. It would be better to focus your questions on what to expect for your post-op recovery and how to optimize that at this point in time. This is the step you have to focus on getting through before worrying about the next. Don't get ahead of yourself or you'll make yourself crazy.

I'm not sure what type of surgery you're having, but I had a radical abdominal hysterectomy. You need to appreciate how important getting up and moving around after that is to prevent complications like ileus. You'll want to ask your doctor how long he expects you to be in the hospital and if you'll be going home with any tubes like a urinary catheter or drainage tube. You probably won't feel like having people come to "visit" with you, but will greatly appreciate having someone with you during waking hours to help with your recovery both in the hospital and at home for awhile. 

Your pre-op CT scan is a guide for your surgeon for where he/she needs to focus during surgery. Your's sound like it telling that the para-aortic lymph nodes definitely need to be removed for testing as well as examining surrounding tissue for the presence of tumors. That's not uncommon. I believe it's rcredman's mom who is going for a 2nd surgery because they didn't do that for her during the 1st. In any case, for your type of cancer, whatever stage, chemo and radiation are probably what you are facing once you have a chance to recover a bit from the surgery, whatever the staging turns out to be. Prepare yourself mentally for that, but focus mainly on having the easiest recovery from your surgery. Keep telling yourself one step at a time and you'll get through this.

I know how hard it is to not worry about this kind of thing, but MAbound gives you good advice.

Before my surgery I spent a lot of time cleaning house and cooking food to freeze. I still worried but at least I was doing something that took my mind off it for a bit. Good luck!!!!! I'm sure you will do great. 

Mmpeterson said:

I am having a total abdominal

I am having a total abdominal hysterectomy with removal of cervix, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.  My dr will be exploring my abdomen and will try to get the lymph nodes out.  After surgery she said definately chemo but as of right now no radiation.  I am 5 hours away from the hospital and my surgeon so the ride home will be interesting.  Hopefully I will sleep most of the way as my dr knows how far we are driving. I take baby steps but getting closer to surgery on Friday I am noticing my anxiety going up so I am trying to fill my mind with reading a bible an amazing friend is letting me use and reading up on a healthy diet from Radical Remission to help my recovery.  Everyone says after surgery I will start to feel much better to tackle and win against this cancer.  I am praying for some good news for a change just like I am sure everyone here does as well.  Thank you for the encouragement.   Maryanne

Good luck to you, Maryanne! I agree with Beccabtown, you'll want to have a small pillow that you can hold up against your stomache. It may be a little bloody so be sure that it's covered in a sheet or blanket that you don't mind throwing away. My nurses gave one to me and it was my best friend for about 2 weeks after my surgery. I was back to work about 2 weeks after that so don't worry too much. You can do this! 

sometimes called an abdominal binder.  That was a great help.  I have to agree with not trying to analyze things until you get the pathology after surgery.  Hard to do, I know, but they will have so much more and better information after surgery that it just saps your energy to try to suss things out now.  Just concentrate on getting through surgery and healing from that.  Others have already given great info.  You will do great.

Mmpeterson said:

I am having a total abdominal

I am having a total abdominal hysterectomy with removal of cervix, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.  My dr will be exploring my abdomen and will try to get the lymph nodes out.  After surgery she said definately chemo but as of right now no radiation.  I am 5 hours away from the hospital and my surgeon so the ride home will be interesting.  Hopefully I will sleep most of the way as my dr knows how far we are driving. I take baby steps but getting closer to surgery on Friday I am noticing my anxiety going up so I am trying to fill my mind with reading a bible an amazing friend is letting me use and reading up on a healthy diet from Radical Remission to help my recovery.  Everyone says after surgery I will start to feel much better to tackle and win against this cancer.  I am praying for some good news for a change just like I am sure everyone here does as well.  Thank you for the encouragement.   Maryanne

you already have a lot of good informations, so I don't have much to add.  I had a 3 hour ride home following both my radical hysterictomy and an open bowel resection and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  One idea if you,are going to be there for a few days, bring a favorite regular pillow along,  hospital pillows are awful.  Also I had a Sherpa throw that I laid on because the sheets rubbed my back side.  Once ths is over you will feel better and will know-about what you will have to do to beat this monster.

Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann