Hysterectomy what to expect afterwards?

Posted by cheriels @cheriels, Aug 29, 2022

Hi tomarrow I see the Doctor at Mayo Clinic Rochester and if I have a radical hysterectomy what are the steps to recovery and how long are you laid up and do you have minimal pain and how long is your hospital stay? Just so much going through my brain want to recover fast cause my Fiancé just found out he has Prostrate Cancer this past Friday and I want to be able to be there for him. He has to to decide what action he is going to do, but waiting for me first to see what is gonna happen? I don’t want him to wait to long he needs to get his cancer taken care of also. Thanks

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@naturegirl5

@cheriels This is very good news. Yes, the surgeon will remove one lymph node on each side of the uterus and send those lymph nodes to pathology. That's how they check to see if there is any involvement in the lymph nodes. I had the same procedure. The nurse explained everything so well to you. The 16th is coming up and you will be in very good hands at Mayo Clinic.

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Hi
That’s ok by me want to get everything taken care of and was so HAPPY it did not spread! If I have to have radiation if it comes to that, will not be a problem I will get it done. Thank you for your response! Hugs my Dear Friend!

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@hqtogo

I had an ultrasound Friday and I knew something was wrong. The technician could not hide her concern and she seemed dismayed when I told her I had no bleeding. Monday I received a call from the Dr. Who informed me they highly suspect ovarian cancer. So in 24 hrs I’ve been booked for a CT scan on Sat. And blood work which happened today. The oncology referral has already been sent. I’m in a real spin here. So much in so little time. I can’t really identify any overt symptoms accept my appetite which hasn’t resulted in any great weight loss. I really need some words of encouragement cause I can’t understand how this abrupt turn in the road happened without any warning.

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@hqtogo This must be frightening for you. I've been exactly where you are where an ultrasound looked suspicious for cancer. In my case it was the endometrial lining that was thickened and a biopsy confirmed it was cancer. Like you, I was shocked and very frightened. So was my gynecologist as he didn't think I had the "typical" risk factors. OK, so I wasn't "typical" but I still was diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

I'm guessing the ultrasound was ordered because you saw your doctor for a check-up or something else and they were concerned about what they saw during your exam? Your doctor ordered all the kinds of tests that will be helpful in trying to figure out if this is cancer and where to go from here.

Here is some information about ovarian cancer from Mayo Clinic. Cancer is sneaky and sometimes there is cancer with few or no symptoms.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20375941
When is your CT? Will you please come back here and let me know what happens?

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@cheriels

Hi
That’s ok by me want to get everything taken care of and was so HAPPY it did not spread! If I have to have radiation if it comes to that, will not be a problem I will get it done. Thank you for your response! Hugs my Dear Friend!

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@cheriels Yes, you will be well cared for next week. Hugs to you, my friend.

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@sophiem77

An oncologist told me I needed a total hysterectomy after an in office biopsy showed endometrial hyperplasia with atypia

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Sophie I am sorry that you are going through this. I just received the same diagnosis this past Monday and have surgery scheduled for Oct 17th. I am told that the reason they do this is that 40% of patients have underlying cancer. I am terrified, and also frustrate to wait a month to have my surgery, knowing cancer could be there. Were you also told they will remove lymph nodes during the surgery?

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@meandmsjones

Sophie I am sorry that you are going through this. I just received the same diagnosis this past Monday and have surgery scheduled for Oct 17th. I am told that the reason they do this is that 40% of patients have underlying cancer. I am terrified, and also frustrate to wait a month to have my surgery, knowing cancer could be there. Were you also told they will remove lymph nodes during the surgery?

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Yes, they did a sentinal lymph node biopsy. Its removing one lymph node on each side. But I feel that I got over treatment. My organs were removed and there was NO cancer found. I feel that I should have done the IUD with the hormone progestin as first line of treatment. I am very regretful of undergoing a hysterectomy.

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Gm I am home got home around 7 pm. Had to be at hospital and register in 5:30 am and appointment was for 5:45 am , got back to my room about 12. Left around 5:45 last night after I was good to go from Anesthesia and I ate and drank and pisses. They took both ovaries and the Fallopian tube my uterus and my cervix and lymph node on each side left my vagina. The Doc said the lymph nodes looked good but will know once they are checked out by who ever does that. If no cancer in them just have to go back for checkups and if they shoe cancer then some radiation. Doing ok my pain is about 3 not to bad . No to cough that hurts lol, been up walking already this morning . Now it’s the healing process and getting back to being me, doing the things I was doing before all of this happened. Rochester Mayo Clinic is the best. I got excellent care yesterday and my Doctor she talked to me before I went to sleep reassuring me all will be good after surgery. They care for their patients. On a scale from 1 - 10, I give them a 10+

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@sophiem77

An oncologist told me I needed a total hysterectomy after an in office biopsy showed endometrial hyperplasia with atypia

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@sophiem77. My understanding, from reading, is that a endometrial hyperplasia with atypia raises the risk of developing endometrial or uterine cancer. If a woman is perimenopausal or postmenopausal I can see why a hysterectomy would be recommended. It's always the patient's choice what she wants to do.
Here is some information from Cleveland Clinic.

-Endometrial Hyperplasia
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16569-atypical-endometrial-hyperplasia

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@meandmsjones

Sophie I am sorry that you are going through this. I just received the same diagnosis this past Monday and have surgery scheduled for Oct 17th. I am told that the reason they do this is that 40% of patients have underlying cancer. I am terrified, and also frustrate to wait a month to have my surgery, knowing cancer could be there. Were you also told they will remove lymph nodes during the surgery?

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@meandmsjones.

I responded to a note from @sophiem77. It's an individual choice on what treatment to follow since endometrial hyperplasia with atypia is a "pre-cancerous" condition. Although I'd want to make a decision quickly I think it would be better to get all the information I could - including reading and perhaps a second opinion - and then make a very informed decision.

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@naturegirl5

@meandmsjones.

I responded to a note from @sophiem77. It's an individual choice on what treatment to follow since endometrial hyperplasia with atypia is a "pre-cancerous" condition. Although I'd want to make a decision quickly I think it would be better to get all the information I could - including reading and perhaps a second opinion - and then make a very informed decision.

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you are right, and thanks for the reminder, that at the end of the day it is our choice. Based on the statistics, I felt a sense or urgency in my own situation. My doctor is recommending ovaries being removed too, and that is giving me some pause now that I am doing some research, but so hard with the way our insurance is to get a second opinion, esp. when time is of the essence.

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@sophiem77

Yes, they did a sentinal lymph node biopsy. Its removing one lymph node on each side. But I feel that I got over treatment. My organs were removed and there was NO cancer found. I feel that I should have done the IUD with the hormone progestin as first line of treatment. I am very regretful of undergoing a hysterectomy.

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Sophie I am so sorry you are feeling that way, and I understand and hear you. On the one side, what if it had been cancer? My doctor explained to me that if they don't take lymph nodes, and cancer is found, then you may have to go back in for another surgery. Reading on the Mayo website, it sounds as if they do the pathology asap while you are in surgery, then determine whether to take the nodes are not. I hear you and understand your concern. I am questioning whether to let them take my ovaries as she recommended. Thinking of getting a second opinion through Mayo but not sure if my insurance will allow it and if they do virtual appointments as they are five hours from my home. Also, I am thankful no cancer was found in you. If it's any consolation, with the condition we have, I did read a research paper that found that the pre-cancerous cells can develop into cancer in a median 59 days, so that was not a great stat either.

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