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dmarkz0101 avatar

laproscopic hysterectomy

Gynecologic Cancers | Last Active: 4 hours ago | Replies (23)

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Profile picture for Helen, Volunteer Mentor @naturegirl5

@dmarkz0101 You've received good support and suggestions here. I will add my support and comments.

I had a hysterectomy at Mayo in Rochester, MN in 2019. I can only imagine the updates and improvements with this procedure. My surgery and discharge was on the same day. Every single interaction I had with Mayo physicians, nurses, and staff was compassionate. The only pain I had was due to the gas (carbon dioxide) that was used by the surgeon to inflate my abdomen during surgery. The gas is safe and it dissolves but it takes some time for that to occur. Many people I've talked with over the years have had a similar reaction. Once the gas dissolved in about 12 hours I had fatigue and five little tiny sutured incisions covered with gauze and medical tape. The sutures dissolved on their own and those tiny incisions caused me no pain and are barely visible. My surgeon came into my hospital room to check on me after surgery and to give me the preliminary results from pathology. The final pathology report was on my patient portal about 24 hours later. My follow-up appointment with my surgeon was 6 weeks after surgery.

I prepared for surgery in the same way as others have indicated here. Prior to surgery, I prepared meals that were ready-to-go, and stocked up on some favorite food items and beverages. There were no food restrictions after surgery. I was sent home with restrictions including not driving my car for a period of time and not lifting anything heavier than a lightly packed grocery bag. During the first few days of recovery I took short walks as tolerated, rested, and watched movies or shows on streaming channels. My mind was fuzzy off and on for about a week due to the general anesthesia and I was told that is common.

September 26 is soon. I'm relieved to know that your surgery is scheduled so quickly after diagnosis. While you may feel anxious (I certainly did) in the days leading up to the surgery please be assured that when you check in to Mayo on your surgical day you will be in the company and hands of Mayo staff who will make all of this comfortable for you as possible.

Do you have other questions I can help you with?

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Replies to "@dmarkz0101 You've received good support and suggestions here. I will add my support and comments. I..."

@naturegirl5 Thank you so much for your kind words. I hope your doing well. I'm gearing up for my hysterectomy as best I can and staying as optimistic as possible. My son will be coming in from another state to help me again so I'm extremely blessed for having such a fantastic son and family. I'm a pretty strong willed woman so how ever things turn out I'm as ready as I can be. The rest I leave in God's hands. I wish you a great weekend.
Donna

@naturegirl5 Thanks so much for your feedback. I think it's human nature to be anxious but a I'm pretty strong willed woman so I'll be ok. I'm not jumping for joy but life happens and I'm doing my best to remain positive. Since it's my second cancer in one year I do feel overwhelmed at times but again sometimes life hits you. I do think I'll be looking into finding a mentor in the near future. As strong willed as I am I'm not super woman and at times I fall short. We shall see where this journey takes me. In the meantime I leave it all in God's hands.
Donna