Complications after Total Abdominal hysterectomy

Posted by pzz82 @pzz82, Dec 20, 2022

Due to an enlarging uterine fibroid, I underwent a TAH. The fibroid was too large for laparoscopic surgery so an approximately 6 inch incision was made which started at my navel. During the surgery, the doctor also removed one fallopian tube and one ovary because he said the size of the benign fibroid was larger than he saw on pre-op imaging. The date of the surgery was 6/28/93. I am currently nine days shy of 69 years old. For longer than I can remember, I have had ongoing constipation. It became so troublesome as I entered my fifties, I started to experience a feeling of incomplete bowel emptying. This situation truly got to the point of embarrassment because I started having fecal smearing. Just recently, after searching the web for my symptoms, I wondered if I had vaginal prolapse. A visit to my Gyn ruled this out, however, she advised me to drink 90 ounces of plain water daily. I have already noticed tremendous improvement. I have not added the nightly half tablet of Phillips Milk of Magnesia my GYN also recommended but will after finishing holiday travel. There is one question, however, the doctor cannot answer. Before and still today, I almost always need to put my weight on my right buttocks to try and remove remaining stool. This is something I have also been doing for decades. Can repositioning of any part of the lower bowel be a result of the surgery I described above? Thanks so much.

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Question, seeing you are 69, have you ever had a colonoscopy? Your in age range that a screening for colorectal cancer is recommended. Not that you have symptoms of cancer, but a colonoscopy would give provider more information about your colon and if there is something restricting movement.

Beside water, increasing fiber or product like Metamucil might help.

Laurie

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@roch

Question, seeing you are 69, have you ever had a colonoscopy? Your in age range that a screening for colorectal cancer is recommended. Not that you have symptoms of cancer, but a colonoscopy would give provider more information about your colon and if there is something restricting movement.

Beside water, increasing fiber or product like Metamucil might help.

Laurie

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Hi Laurie! Yes, I have been having regular colonoscopies for decades. WRT the Metamucil, yes, used it for a year…made symptoms a bit worse. That’s why my GYN said to go with Phillips milk of magnesia PILLS.
I am a retired Marine officer and actually received SCD due to the TAH. However, I am going back to my VA doctor to see if they will further investigate the possible dropping of some organs/parts of organs due to that hysterectomy. Thks for your comment

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