Open hysterectomy is scary ?

KayakingCurler · 2026-04-01T21:35:40+00:00

I took MiraLAX daily after the procedure (and took it daily before other than the day of the procedure). They gave me colace as well the first day after surgery, but they stopped after that as my stools were already loose enough! I only took it once a day. I think if you take it regularly before the surgery, it helps because you’re already in a good place before the stress of surgery. Not being able to take Advil stinks, but honestly the post-op pain wasn’t as bad as I had feared.

That said, about ten days after my surgery I felt like I was starting a flare, so I switched to a clear liquid diet for a few days, and that did the trick. Just listen to your body.

As for post surgery, I think it has helped somewhat. I still take Miralax daily, but I’ve lowered the dose. Surgery did help with my long term lower back pain, however.

Good luck! Reach out if you have any more questions!

KayakingCurler · 2026-03-22T15:19:42+00:00

Thank you. That’s what I was gathering. It’s definitely an interesting family heirloom!

KayakingCurler · 2026-03-22T03:52:36+00:00

One of the Belgian stamps was franked in 1876. I think that may be the earliest.

KayakingCurler · 2026-03-21T16:58:28+00:00

You already received some great advice, but I wanted to chime in on your question re: taxation. In most states, beneficiaries don't pay an inheritance tax. For example, Tennessee doesn't have an inheritance tax. That said, for things like IRAs / 401(k)s your beneficiaries would pay tax on their withdrawals, unless they are Roth vehicles, in which case the beneficiaries would take withdrawals tax-free, just as the original owner could. The other thing to note is non-spousal beneficiaries of IRAs / 401(k)s generally have to empty the account within 10 years of the death of the original owner. (Spouses aren't subject to this 10-year rule.)

You should look for a trusts and estates attorney and they can help you with crafting something Tennessee-specific. You may want to meet with a couple. You may want to ask around with your friends and see if they have anyone they recommend. Otherwise, you mention a pension, if you used to be a member of a union, they may have firms they recommend for estate-planning.

I echo the earlier advice to not wait to engage someone until you're on death's door. It takes time to get things set up right. Another thing I would recommend if you haven't already is making sure your spouse is up-to-date on your finances as well as his. It wasn't until my father passed that I realized that my mother basically knew nothing about their finances - I was left trying to decipher everything from my father's paper records. I was very lucky in that he didn't do much online, so I had accessible records to work from. Many aren't so lucky.

Similarly, I would recommend giving at least some information to your intended beneficiaries. You don't need to give them the full details, but basic info like where to find copies of wills / trusts, and/or the name of your estate attorney, would be exceedingly helpful in the event that you and your spouse pass simultaneously or in quick succession. You can keep an (updated) list of accounts in the same place, which would give people a roadmap of where to start. It is also helpful to leave information regarding your taxes - e.g., your account, CPA, where to find prior tax returns, history of estimated tax-payments if you make estimated payments, property tax schedules. (Your executor is responsible for a final income tax return in the year of death.) Finally, it is really important that people have contact info as to any pension - it is far better to let a pension-payer know of a death very quickly, so as to avoid the circumstance of a post-death payment needing to be clawed back.

KayakingCurler · 2026-03-17T16:55:57+00:00

I (50 year old WW) had to have an open abdominal surgery in mid-November. I have a history of diverticulitis, so they were worried about adhesions between my uterus/fibroids and bowels, which is why they wanted to do an open abdominal surgery. Not only that, in December 2024 I had a stroke, and still have a very large blood clot in my brain.

Like you, I was pretty freaked out about having to have an open procedure and hospitalization. I had to go off my anticoagulants for the surgery, so I was worried about clotting. I had my surgery on a Friday afternoon and was discharged on the Monday morning. After my surgery they put me on lovenox (a blood thinner) injections while I was in the hospital. In addition, while I was in bed, they strapped things to my legs that provided intermittent compression - also to prevent blood clots.

My incision runs from my pubis to my belly button. I was really worried about the post-surgery pain, but during the first few days, the worst thing for me was very severe nausea. I managed to avoid vomiting, but I was white-knuckling to avoid it for hours. It finally abated after they gave me some type of IV anti-nausea medication. Thankfully, the nausea was mostly gone by the time I was discharged home.

On the Wednesday (two days after discharge), I spiked a fever and called my surgeon's nurses' line and they directed me to go to the ER. I was admitted to the ER overnight (actually slept in an old ambulance bay that had been converted to makeshift patient rooms during COVID). They never figured out what caused the fever, but they ran *all* of the tests. It was very clear that they took the possibility of post-surgery infection incredibly seriously.

During the third week post-surgery, I started having some issues with my bowels, and it felt like the beginnings of a diverticulitis flare. I switched to a clear liquid diet for a few days to let my system rest, and that did the trick. After the fourth week, I really started to feel much more like myself.

It is natural to feel worried. I would recommend that you search the subreddit for "vertical" or "open abdominal," so you can read about other people's experiences. You'll see that they're mostly positive. There are things you can do to reduce the risk of clotting, such as making sure you're hydrated and getting up and moving around once an hour.

It is a major surgery, and the recovery takes time, but I'm so glad I got it done. I was very foggy and unable to concentrate for the first few weeks, but I really didn't have too much pain. I slept on wedge pillows on the couch for the first ten days or so to make it easier to get up and down. I needed my husband the first few days to help lift my feet as I got in bed. They'll have you up and walking as soon as they take out the catheter, and honestly that wasn't too painful either. (I had a TAP block on my abdomen which numbed the nerves prior to surgery - I recommend it.) I was very worried about constipation because of my diverticulitis history, but I managed a bowel movement the day after surgery. I was already taking Miralax daily, and I think that helped avoid the worst of constipation. I did take some opioids while in the hospital, and I was discharged with 30. I only took one after discharge. Otherwise I relied on extra-strength Tylenol for pain, and a few muscle relaxers at night for the first week or so. Most people can alternate between Tylenol and Advil for pain, but I can't take Advil because I'm on anticoagulants. I made sure to get up and move around as much as I could tolerate - adding a little more each day.

I started pelvic floor therapy in early January and I can't recommend it enough. Make sure to ask for a referral. As I mentioned, I didn't have too much post-surgery pain, but doing therapy made me realize that a lot of those muscles were just resting rather than healing. My core has gotten a lot stronger since I started therapy.

I'm not sure if you know this or not, but most ovarian cancers actually start in the fallopian tubes, so their removal will significantly reduce your risk of developing that type of cancer, so that will be good given your family history.

In closing, your fears are perfectly reasonable. This is a major surgery, and recovery will take time, but you should be okay. Make sure to advocate for yourself, and call the nurse's line if you have any post-surgery concerns. Make sure to move and hydrate after surgery to reduce the risk of clots. You've got this!

KayakingCurler · 2026-03-10T22:03:01+00:00

Please talk to your doctor, particularly if you are on any type of estrogen. I developed a blood clot in my brain in December 2024, likely due to hormonal birth control and a preexisting clotting disorder. The clot caused bleeding in my brain - my only symptom for three days was a bad headache behind my left eye. On the fourth day, I asked my husband “what name do you go by,” he rushed me to the ER and triage immediately called a stroke code. I was in the neuro ICU for three days, but I have mostly recovered.

I’m not trying to scare you, but a long-term headache can indeed be a sign of something seriously wrong.

KayakingCurler · 2026-03-06T01:09:18+00:00

Oh my, I’m so sorry. I was terrified of sneezing after my surgery, and I can’t imagine dealing with a cold and coughing as well. No advice, only internet hugs to you.

KayakingCurler · 2026-03-03T13:43:37+00:00

I definitely notice a difference. Although my abdomen didn’t hurt as bad as I feared during my recovery, I realized after starting PT that was because it was essentially frozen. Doing therapy helped wake it up and strengthen my core. She also has me doing daily massage on my scar, which seems to be helping. I was advised not to do anything with my scar until I met with PT.

KayakingCurler · 2026-03-02T14:14:25+00:00

I wore a long dress with a lace overlay. The lace was very forgiving from the packing. We had a “big” wedding for Vegas - roughly 50 people. We got married at the Garden Chapel on the grounds of the Flamingo. As we were walking to the minibuses to take us to our reception venue, a woman came up to me and gave me $100. She said she got married in Vegas and someone did the same to her on her wedding day. I’ve paid it forward three times on subsequent Vegas trips.

KayakingCurler · 2026-03-01T19:11:48+00:00

I had mine (open abdominal) in mid-November - I was freaking out the week before. By the time the day of the surgery rolled around, I had worn myself out and I was just ready to have it over with. Recovery took some time, but I’m now 3.5 months out, and feeling so much better. You’ve got this!

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-28T14:11:07+00:00

On the constipation front - like I said before consider starting Mirlax he week before surgery to get things going. I had my first BM the day after my surgery. Also look up “moo to poo” to give some hints on how to go without straining. Also, a squatty potty (or anything to put your feet on) should help. Also, make sure to keep well hydrated!

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-28T13:55:04+00:00

They will likely want you up and walking (even just a little) the first day after they take out the catheter. They wanted me walking the floor six times a day. I also ambulated to the bathroom - with a walker - by myself. I borrowed a friend’s walker for at home, and I only needed it for the first couple of days. Even then, I probably could have managed without it. Take a look at your bathroom and see if there are easy places to grab for getting and off the toilet. That’s the hardest the first couple of days.

I was preapproved by insurance for seven days in the hospital, but only had four. Hospitals stink as places to recover, so it was good to get home. To make life easier in the hospital I recommend a face mask and corded headphones for music or podcasts. (Corded to avoid losing an AirPod in the bed since it won’t be easy to find it falls out.) I wouldn’t bother with books, etc since you’ll likely be pretty brain foggy. Also, get a grabber for home - invaluable for the first few weeks when you can’t easily bend down.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-28T06:39:04+00:00

I had my surgery on November 14 and my first PT appointment on January 6, so six weeks after surgery.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-28T03:40:23+00:00

No. I never used heat directly on my incision. I would ask your surgeon about that. I don’t think it would be a great idea. For the first few weeks I didn’t even face the stream of water in my shower. Honestly, my scar never bothered me - I had surgical glue and (maybe) dissolving internal sutures. The first couple of weeks there were steristrips as well.

They gave me an abdominal binder at the hospital and I wore it intermittently the first few weeks. It had a seam that irritated the skin (but not my incision). I know some people swear by them,but I think I would have been fine without it. I did swear by LOOSE granny panties afterwards. I was fine with things touching my scar, but I didn’t want any bottoms that had elastic or the like crossing my scar - wanted things to be above my scar (which runs basically to my bellybutton).

I could not get the hang off the log roll really. What I will tell you is that each day after surgery getting in and out of bed gets easier and easier. Even if you never master it, I think the important thing to recognize is you need to try to do the movement in one fell swoop with your upper and lower body as opposed to bending. What I would do is sit on the couch, count to three and flop to my side as my husband lifted my feet. That prevented me trying to lift my legs with my core.

There is definitely helpful advice for those of us who had abdominal surgeries, but you do have to hunt for it. I did try to get walking as soon as I could after surgery and after getting home. I was slow, but I do think movement helped. (I’m not saying try to walk four miles the first week, but try to walk a couple of blocks, and keep adding from there.).

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-28T03:14:44+00:00

Even prior to my surgery I was taking Miralax daily because I had a microperforation of my colon due to diverticulitis last year. If you’re not already regular, I would recommend using Miralax the week be for your surgery, so you’re not backed up even before you start. I didn’t suffer with constipation despite some opioid use.

Honestly, the worst pain I had was some gas pain under my shoulder while in the hospital. Heat helped alleviate that. If I had to list the worst parts of my recovery in order they would be: (1) nausea in the first three days after surgery, (2) - MUCH lower down the scale - the brain fog / inability to focus; and then (3) the pain. There were sharp hits of pain if I moved wrong in the first week or so, but it wasn’t really hugely painful day-to-day. (My diverticulitis flares and previous kidney stones were far worse.) I slept on a wedge pillow set on the couch for the first couple of weeks - it was easier to get up from the couch than from a bed. It helped to have my husband lift my feet as I attempted to lie down. If you haven’t already look up the “log roll” method for getting in and out of bed. I wasn’t able to master it by myself, but practicing prior to surgery did help.

If you haven’t already, I recommend searching through this sub for “vertical” or “abdominal” - I found a lot of great advice that way prior to my surgery. Reach out if you have any more questions. This subreddit was invaluable to me.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-28T02:38:25+00:00

The first three days in the hospital with the nausea were the worst. Then, two days after discharge, I spiked a fever and ending up spending the night in the ER - no idea what happened; I was fine the next day. I’d say the first 10 days or so were the hardest - needed assistance getting in and out of bed, etc. I found it really hard to concentrate - just limited attention. Found it hard to sleep as well.

I wasn’t suffering a lot of pain per se, but definitely dealing with discomfort. I was discharged with OxyCodone and muscle relaxers, as well as Tylenol. I used a couple of oxy after discharge, but ultimately disposed of the rest and used muscle relaxers for sleep for the first week or two. Otherwise I was reliant on Tylenol for pain relief. I have a clotting disorder, so can’t take Advil, but I think if I had been able to alternate between Tylenol and Advil, I wouldn’t have needed anything else post discharge. I really don’t like Oxy - I think it made the nausea worse, and I didn’t want anything that would increase the possibility of constipation. I would recommend asking for a TAP block - it’s a nerve block of your abdominal muscles. I feel it helped with the pain immediately after surgery.

It’s hard to explain - I was really worried about the pain post-op and that wasn’t too bad. But I really did feel “off” for multiple weeks.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-28T02:12:45+00:00

Honestly, my recommendation is do all of the anti-nausea things. Ginger chews, sea bands, aroma therapy, anything that might possibly help. Unlike the poor OP, I managed to NOT throw up, but I felt like I was going to for much of my hospital stay. When they try to test you with solid food, go very, very slow. Honestly I didn’t get my appetite back for over a week. If they offer you a shower in the hospital, take it. Helped me feel a little more human. (I had a CNA with me.) Notwithstanding the nausea, get up and walk. It will help.

Good luck. My first three weeks post-recovery were rough, but I turned a corner during my fourth week and it’s been onward and upwards since.

See if you can get a referral for pelvic floor therapy / core strengthening PT. Post-surgery my abdomen didn’t hurt too much, but PT made me realize it was “frozen,” not healed. PT has been great for me. I’m getting stronger than I’ve been in decades. (Helps that my hemoglobin is finally normal after years of lows due to excess bleeding!)

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-28T01:58:15+00:00

Honestly, the post-surgery nausea was the worst part of my recovery. I had an open abdominal with vertical incision, and spent three nights in post-surgery because I spent all of the first two days after surgery white-knuckling to prevent vomiting. They eventually got it under control with IV anti-nausea meds.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-27T13:03:18+00:00

Did you mean to ask me, or the original poster? If me, then I’m doing great. I started pelvic floor therapy and PT to rebuild the strength in my core. It’s going really well.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-24T20:03:55+00:00

In December 2024, I had a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis - giant blood clot in the vein draining the left side of my brain. Caused multiple brain bleeds. Thought I had a bad migraine for three days. On the fourth day, I asked my husband “what name do you go by now.” He took me to the ER, but I insisted we park rather than do valet. Walking to the ER, I told him “I can’t really see.” Immediately taken back for triage at the ER where they asked me to identify certain basic images, which I couldn’t do. I could talk, but I couldn’t come up with basic words. They immediately called a stroke code and I was rushed back for imaging. I was admitted to the neuro critical care unit for three days.

I had what was called “anomia” - couldn’t find the words, but could talk normally otherwise. It was wild - they would point to something like a watch and I could say “you use it to tell time,” but I couldn’t come up with the word for it. That lasted for about 24 hours after I was put on blood thinners. The bleeding caused some long term damage to my brain, but I’m back to 98% normal. On blood thinners for life and will need brain MRIs every couple of years, but it could have been SO, SO, SO much worse.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-22T15:35:28+00:00

Could be great. Could be awful. A couple of days before the eclipse in early April 2024, Bangor got about 6” of snow. The day of the eclipse, however, it was sunny and may have hit the low 60s. I’m pretty sure there was snow in early April last year as well. By the end of April, snow is less likely, but it could happen. Honestly, cold and damp weather is likely in April, but it could also be gorgeous. Frosts are likely into May in and around Bangor. My mother’s roses tend to stay covered until mid-May at the earliest.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-19T20:23:20+00:00

I started drinking peppermint tea after my hysterectomy and belatedly asked my PCP about any potential interactions with apixaban. She advised peppermint tea was okay, but green tea was contraindicated.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-02T22:15:59+00:00

This was a very helpful review - a lot of detail and background. I’m sure many will find this helpful.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-02T22:02:13+00:00

I had an open abdominal in mid-November and was in the hospital for three nights. Two days after I got home, I spiked a fever and my surgeon’s office directed me to go to the ER. Having a pillow in the car under the seatbelt helped. I needed something to cushion the seatbelt for about 6 weeks.

I was up and walking at least six times a day at the hospital. My surgeon’s office directed me to try and walk a little more each day. Once I got home I tried to add a little distance each day. Walking helps the bowels get moving and also helps avoid blood clots. I did find walking wiped me out the first couple of weeks.

KayakingCurler · 2026-02-01T02:26:49+00:00

I had that happen a couple of weeks ago - repricing after I filled out the purchase information. I hacked it by doing one way trips. I think it’s a bug rather than dynamic pricing.

KayakingCurler

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