at age 32, after multiple complications, i had a total hysterectomy and oophorectomy {removal of both ovaries} and here is my story!
woah, how life has changed since i started this whole post! obviously in the midst of the pandemic, it’s taken me a bit to finish this post, but, better late than never! if you missed the first part of this story, you can read my total hysterectomy part 1 here.
“i got 99 problems but a uterus ain’t one”
we left off with me falling asleep on the operating table with the plan of a total hysterectomy to remove both ovaries, uterus, cervix and upper part of the vagina {fallopian tubes had been removed during my last c-section delivery}.
i remember waking up from anesthesia and asking zach probably 100x if everything went okay. if they took the cyst, how big it was. were there any complications. he answered me each time with the same reassuring answer…’it went great, babe. they took it all and it all needed to come out.’
the technicalities {in their most basic form}
incisions:
3 small incisions on my stomach..
1 on my right hip-ish, 1 in my belly button and 1 on my lower left hip-ish}.
after making the small incisions, they made all the cuts to remove both ovaries, the uterus, cervix, and upper part of the vagina. because of the size of it all, it was all pulled out vaginally, then the back of the vagina was stitched…creating something like a cul-de-sac {in my head that’s how i envision it.. that’s not scientific at all 😉
pics below
pictured:
top left – 3 inch ovarian cyst {yuck} / right ovary {measuring bigger than my uterus}
top right – uterus
middle left – no idea
middle right – scar tissue from previous c-sections
bottom left – left ovary
my doc knows i’m a complete nerd and beg for pics…every delivery i ask for pics of the placenta, uterus, etc. i want to see it all. i think that stems from wanting to understand my pregnancy with the twins, where i had vasa previa. that’s another story for another day. BUT. i truly have not understood the anatomy of my own body until i started going through all of this and science helps my brain truly understand what’s going on!
i really don’t remember much of the hospital if i’m being honest other than i was having a really hard time with my blood pressure and heart rate being too low. i remember almost passing out in the bathroom and zach catching me and i was paranoid i would go home before i was ready. i was on some heavy pain meds with the goal to get up and move as much as possible.
i was on some heavy pain meds with the goal to get up and move as much as possible… i know after 5 abdominal surgeries that the faster you get up, the faster you heal and feel better. later that night {clock says 10:07pm}, i was up walking, took a rest, got some sleep, then got up and walked again.
this sweet, handsome guy has been with me through countless nights in the hospital {literally countless…hello hospital bedrest with the twins and preemies} and i will be forever grateful for his support and love. truly, i don’t think i could do this all without him…and i think i can speak for him, my mom and my sister that they are thrilled to never have to worry about my lady parts causing problems again.
another side note… i always like to take a shower post-surgery. it all just feels so gross so the nurse wraps up that IV and zach helps me shower {mainly sitting on a towel in a chair…no need to pass out.}
life after a total hysterectomy and double oophorectomy
here we are, 5 weeks post hysterectomy and i’m still recovering. i’ll be honest, i’ve always healed fairly well post-op and when my doc warned me that it truly would be a 6 week post-op recovery, i didn’t really believe him…but, i assure you, it’s a full 6 weeks. lifting, running, etc. and the risk of not following those orders looks like torn internal stitches, hemorrhaging and another full blown surgery to correct. not.worth.it.
i am on full pelvic rest {absolutely nothing enters the vagina} for a full 6 weeks and then will have a vaginal exam to check internal stitches.
mentally, i am doing better than i have in a very long time. i feel great {certainly ready and excited to work out again} and am so thankful for this all to be behind me.
my entire community {and even people i don’t know} have rallied behind us to help get us through…meals, cleaning, childcare, etc. and we would have never made it without them…THANK YOU!!
because both ovaries were removed, i immediately started on estrogen replacement therapy so i wouldn’t go into menopause {which would have started in 5 days}. only being 32, i am at a much higher risk for heart disease and osteoarthritis, so menopause will be delayed until 51-52.
i truly am doing wonderful and couldn’t be more thankful for the amazing medical team that has taken care of me. thank you for all of your support during this time!!