Hysterectomy what to expect afterwards?

Gm! It’s been 8 days since my hysterectomy and the only thing left is my vagina. I am doing good and not to much pain only where they made a incision in my bellybutton. I got my lab results yesterday and the two lymph nodes they took did not show any cancer. They said it was Stage 1 cancer/ grade 3. I was so relieved to know that the lymph nodes showed no cancer. I go back Oct. 31st at 11am for a chech-up! I am handling this all so well for being 68 years old. So now it’s only uphill from here. Mayo Clinic Rochester is awesome!

@cheriels This is all good news and now it's time to heal. My doctor told me that while I was very well healed on the outside (those teeny tiny incisions) I still had healing to do on the inside where I couldn't see. I had my hysterectomy and follow-up at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and I felt and still feel so cared for. I'm glad you had a good experience and are feeling good. When you go back on October 31 the GYNOncologist will check to see how you are healing and give you information on your subsequent follow-up plan.

When you are feeling ready and healed I'm hoping you'll come back and let me know about your progress and support our other members who are in the same boat as you and me. Is that OK with you?

Hi
Yes I will still give up-dates on my progress how I am doing . I was so glad to have joined this site and read about people with the same cancer how they are dealing with it and how they are healing afterwards. We are all one Big Family and that’s awesome! Helping each other out goes along way! Hugs to all my Family in here. I will let everyone know on Oct. 31st after my first check up how it goes.

@hqtogo I'm checking in with you to ask how you are feeling today. What did you found out since your CT scan and blood test were done? Did you meet with the oncologist and come up with a plan?

The statistics for cancer with hyperplasia with atypia are literally all over the place from up to 40% currently having cancer (me) and I had a minimal symptom to up to 10 years.
There are articles easily pulled up for you to look at. In my unworthy opinion the investigation with other imaging besides ultrasound and a biopsy could reduce the hesitation for surgery or hasten the surgical intervention. I do not know why it is not done.

All the best to you!

I had laparoscopic surgery 8/29, went home same evening, did not take any pain medication after procedure, had no pain and went back to work 2 weeks later, 10lb weight limit lifting. Felt fanatastic. They took my ovaries and tubes and lymph nodes both side and there were no issues with them. On, 2 week post -op however was told had lesions on back of uterus. So, am going to have to do chemo and radiation. Not feeling real comfortable presently about. Had chemo port placed last Monday and go to have it checked tomorrow. Unluck me gets to have a root canal on Wednesday and am to start Chemo the next Monday. Hopefully, you get to have laparoscopic surgery.

I would agree he should not be waiting, he should at least progress through to determine his treatment plan. Prostate cancer has so many different treatments and the outcomes are much less effective if it gets to the bones.

In May I had my second surgery (original was standard hysterectomy in 2004) for major metastasis. My incision was pelvis to sternum, plus I had a thoracic incision with liver and diaphragm resections. So it was a biggie. I was in the hospital for five days, partially due to a lot of blood loss due too the liver resection.

Full recovery was for sure 6-8 weeks but pain and mobility was manageable after 2 weeks. Everyone handles pain differently but I was on Tylenol only after about 5 days at home, and pain meds were limited before that. There was some nausea off and on during the first weeks. Most difficult parts were bowel movements, regaining appetite and sleep schedules.

For the original surgery, recovery was much faster, but I was cut side to side and nearly 20 years younger then. The difficult parts for that were bladder pain and the impacts from immediate menopause and of course bowel movements.

Hello all,

My grandmother who is an otherwise healthy and physically independent 88 year old has endometrial carcinosarcoma with spread to cervix.

Her doctor would not operate first based on age and other factors (I guess) I didn’t get a clear answer on that.

Anyways, she did NOT want chemo but did complete 3 sessions of Brachytherapy and 5 weeks of radiation. She is now going to have a total hysterectomy (open) on Tuesday. I am her advocate and an RN. I plan to help with her recovery but looking for honest feedback of what she can expect.

Any advice will help!
Thanks,
Samantha

Hi @sam1108, I wish you and your grandmother successful surgery next week. @gynosaur42 wrote a detailed and inspired post here that you may wish to check out https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/894787/

I'm tagging a few additionaly gyne members who have had a hysterectomy like @rose53 @naturegirl5 @jjevitts @sbt19 @hlp123 @cheriels @cmb2022 and others. They can share tips about what your grandmother might expect and more importantly tips for you the caregiver. They can share things that others did for them that helped (or not) with recovery.

As an RN, I'm sure you have many tricks of the trade availability to you. But every procedure has its idosyncracies, don't they.

Pain.
Do not lift or manipulate anything heavier than a feather.
You’ll do great.