Welcome to the group!

I feel the odds are in your favor of a benign diagnosis.

Hopefully whatever symptoms and discomforts that led you to seek a doctor's care, will be taken care of with this surgery.

organize your household these next 2 weeks and try to find fun, positive ways to get your mind off the surgery. Think positive thoughts!

I went through the same thing at the age of 45. It wasn't that bad for me and I would think at the age of 74 having already gone through menopause, that the transition would be even less difficult for you! I hope that is the case.

Best wishes and sending positive thoughts your way.

I was like that but a bit younger. Everything was fine and after recovery, I felt like a new woman. It will take time to heal so rest and take care. We are here for you. I'll try to check in more often.
M.C.

ShastaSue thank you for replying. How long did it take you to feel better and not in so much pain?

MaryTContrary thanks for replying and your kind words. I will post more as things progress. I had my PreOp Assessment this last Thursday which included blood tests, ECG and was asked hundreds of questions : )

I had a long vertical incision, In my opinion I had less pain with this than I did with a C-section. I can honestly say that the pain was never excruciating.

I felt very vulnerable though, like I might pop open at any second! lol... about 3 weeks after surgery I was able to dance (gingerly) at my niece's 21st birthday party, but deep healing took much longer.
I foolishly thought I could cross the monkey rings at the park at over 2 months healing and that gave me renewed discomfort around my belly button for a few weeks. I felt mild twinges for up to a year when trying to do modified sit ups. I can now do them with no pain.

Your surgery will probably leave you with less healing to be done, than mine. not sure what a laparotomy is.. I'll have to research it.

Are you in much pain and discomfort now from the mass and/or the fibroids?

ShastaSue, my op with be an open incision as opposed to keyhole. I can't sleep as it is very uncomfortable with this huge lump on my Ovary. I have bad days and not so bad days. I tire easily and have to go pee very often whilst awake and get bouts of constipation. Pain episodes have been occasional but when they happen they are VERY painful.

I am from the USA but live in the UK so maybe different names for procedures etc.

I had similar issues with my large fibroid, not severe pain, but a feeling of heaviness. For some reason when I trotted down a set of stairs I could feel it the most, that always creeped me out! lol


My surgery and ovary removal seems to have rid me of several uncomfortable issues. I hope the same for you!

My experience was much like ShastaSue. Long vertical scar. It did hurt when I woke up but most of that was from where the surgeon sewed the vagina shut. Luckily I had a longer than average one I think. I had a foley bag for more than a day. You will have some "drainage" from your nether region--nobody tells you that!
If you are married or have a lover, it won't effect your relationship. I feel more at ease now. No problems getting in the mood either.
Best to just take your time to heal. I did and it made life easier to pamper myself when I felt like it.
M.C.

Sorry to hear about the impending surgery. Hopefully, you will fall into the majority of women whose growths (cysts, fibroids) are benign. I urge you to do your research and make sure this is the route YOU want to go if the mass and fibroids are benign. Unfortunately, most of the hysterectomies and oophorectomies in the U.S. are done unnecessarily (at least 90% of them). And the UK has a fairly high rate of unnecessary removal too.

When benign growths develop on/in other parts of the body, surgeons remove the growths not the parts. For the ovaries and uterus, this would equate to cystectomy (cyst removal) and myomectomy (fibroid removal) when removal of the growths is necessary or indicated. That allows you to keep the life long functions of these organs. Granted if FROZEN SECTION biopsy shows cancer then it would make sense to remove the organs.

My surgeon should have removed a 9.5cm ovarian mass when the frozen section showed it was benign. He removed everything. I probably wouldn't even know about this forum if I was happy with the outcome. It turned my world upside down in every way imaginable. And some of the anatomical / loss of uterus changes happen years later such as prolapse of the vagina, bladder, and bowel, as well as the figure changes and resulting back and hip problems.

Since you are in menopause, the effects of having your ovaries removed MAY not be as severe. However, I do know of a woman who was 72 at the time of her hysterectomy and said she was severely affected. This makes sense since the ovaries are shown to produce hormones especially testosterone a woman's whole life. Testosterone levels in a woman's 70's are actually at premenopausal levels - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10690870.

Unfortunately, we have to do our own research when faced with medical decisions since we are the ones who will suffer the consequences. Good luck to you!

ShastaSue, MaryTContrary and fighting4change, thank you for all the information and words of support. I am very nervous which besides this lump causing such an uncomfortable feeling is affecting my sleeping. I have been trying to clean our house but get very tired.
Is a night dress or pajamas a better option? Will have a cathether so probably p j's.

Take care friends.

I always wear a nightgown anyway so when I was in the hospital the night shirt was provided. When you get home the pjs may work but not before with the foley.
Also it is easier to change the bandages with the nightshirt. They just have to lift it and its done. With pjs, you would have to lift your behind and at first, not a good idea.....
Don't be scared. I do understand being nervous, I was. Have someone there for you all day. Just for comfort if nothing else. All your needs will be taken care of.
M.C.

I just had a hysterectomy. Everything went very well. I took it easy for three weeks. I was hardly any pain after one week. I feel great.

Good morning (well morning here in UK). Thank you MaryTContrary for the info about nightgown as opposed to PJ's. In winter I love PJ's and in summer I wear light nightgowns. Foley? I guess that is the same as a Catheter? How long did you have to have that in? They are going to fit me with a pain relief pump so I can control the med myself. I don't like taking any more meds that I already do. I have been told that I must keep as pain free as possible and I will recover/heal quicker.

shelle68, I pray you recover fully and quickly. I will update posts when I am home and get back on my laptop.

Bless you.

I had an ovarian cyst and fibroids that lead me to a full hysterectomy. I had it laproscopically and did pretty well. It took about 4 weeks for me to feel almost normal. A little longer for the insides to be done healing. I've never felt better. I was 51.

My Mom had a totally hysterectomy in June. She is 72 and did fantastic. Hers was totally vaginally. She was back to normal within a few weeks. She is very thankful she had hers too.

Try to relax. Any surgery is a concern but sometimes it is unavoidable. As Fighting says, double check to make sure it is the right choice for you but don't back down based on fear if it is the right decision. It will be okay.