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    101 Handy Hints for a Happy Hysterectomy
    101 Handy Hints for a Happy Hysterectomy
    101 Handy Hints for a Happy Hysterectomy
    Ebook118 pages1 hour

    101 Handy Hints for a Happy Hysterectomy

    By Linda Parkinson-Hardman

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The latest 2017 edition of this invaluable book has been completely revised and updated providing all the essential information, support and advice that will help to make your hysterectomy a happy one.

    Full of really useful information such as: advice and suggestions to help make your recovery quicker and easier practical tips to help you cope with each stage of recovery when to think about driving, flying and getting back to work what you should, and shouldn't be doing at any given time fantastic, healthy recipes for healing the body and managing the menopause complementary therapies, supplements and remedies you can try which have been shown to help your body heal itself what you can do to help ensure your long term health.

    There is even more information on deciding whether to take HRT or not; if you should have your ovaries and cervix removed; the various exercises you can do at different stages; dealing with the more embarrassing aspects of surgery like painful wind; coping with the boredom of recovery and generally getting your life back to normal.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLinda Parkinson-Hardman
    Release dateJul 3, 2017
    ISBN9780995695788
    101 Handy Hints for a Happy Hysterectomy
    Author

    Linda Parkinson-Hardman

    I am the author of eight books and the editor of 8 anthologies for the Hysteria Writing Competition.

    Read more from Linda Parkinson Hardman

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      Book preview

      101 Handy Hints for a Happy Hysterectomy - Linda Parkinson-Hardman

      101 Handy Hints for a Happy Hysterectomy

      By

      Linda Parkinson-Hardman

      Why not visit my Author page on Smashwords:

      https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LindaPH

      This book is dedicated to everyone who had a part in creating this book, especially the many wonderful, vibrant and alive women who contributed through their own hints, tips and experiences.

      © Linda Parkinson-Hardman 2005-2017 All rights reserved

      First Edition - 2005

      Second Edition – 2006

      Third Edition – 2009

      Fourth Edition – 2011

      Fifth Edition - 2017

      No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. You have NOT purchased resale rights to this book; you may NOT resell or share this document with anyone.

      No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any license, permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 33 Alfred Place, London, WC1E 7DP.

      Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

      Cover image © ROIM l Agency: Dreamstime.com

      Published by: The Hysterectomy Association

      https://www.hysterectomy-association.org.uk

      ISBN 13: 978-0-9956957-8-8

      Contents

      Contents

      Preface

      Disclaimer

      Introduction

      Hysterectomy basics

      Preparing for hysterectomy

      Getting ready for hospital

      In the hospital

      Recovery time

      In the long term

      Appendices

      References

      Bibliography

      Do you need more?

      More books from the Hysterectomy Association

      Preface

      This guide was originally created in 2005, and little about it had changed over the years. Different printers required different editions and this gave me the opportunity to rectify spelling or grammatical mistakes.

      But, I had never revised the entire book; and it wasn’t until a reader contacted me and said she found the book helpful and liked it because it was so quaint, that I realised it was long overdue for a major overhaul.

      Reading through it was a little embarrassing, had I really bypassed the move to mobile phones and smart TV’s; and thinking on some medicines and alternative therapies has changed in recent years too.

      What you have in your hands is that major overhaul. Everything has been brought right up to date and some hints and tips have even been replaced altogether.

      I hope the next generation of women who read the book find it as relevant for them as the others have done. I also hope that a lovely person in the future will also get in touch to let me know when this edition also becomes quaint.

      Disclaimer

      Although much of this book represents current medical opinion, some of the information and resources listed in this book are by definition, outside the scope of generally accepted medical standards of care. They may be non-conventional, alternative or complementary.

      The information and resources listed should not be used in any way to provide a diagnosis or to prescribe any medical treatment. As in the case of conventional medicine, indiscriminate use of some therapies presented, without medical supervision may be harmful to your health. Individuals reading this material should in all cases, consult their own doctor or health practitioner for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. The author and publisher cannot accept responsibility for illness arising out of failure to seek medical advice from a doctor.

      Introduction

      My own hysterectomy took place when I was 32; it changed my life. Before it, I was constantly ill, had serious problems with both endometriosis and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and would spend days every month in extreme pain. After it, I was suddenly well and I have never looked back, even though I couldn’t have children.

      But, I didn’t know then, what I know now. I didn’t know about the weight gain, the possible side effects of HRT, how tired I would be after the operation, when I could go back to work, what exercise I should (and shouldn’t) do, and how much I would suffer from water retention. There were so many things I needed to know and there were so many things I could have done to make my recovery easier, but didn’t.

      What has always surprised me though is that even today, over 20 years on, I’m still being asked these same questions by the thousands of women who contact the Hysterectomy Association every year. 101 Handy Hints for a Happy Hysterectomy was written to answer this need. Hopefully it will provide you with some answers to the most common and frequently asked questions; as well as giving you some hints about how you can make your own recovery a successful one.

      These hints will not give you all the information available; they are designed simply to raise your awareness so you can find out more about those that matter to you. Neither are they in any specific order of merit or importance, although they are loosely divided into five sections: preparing for hysterectomy, getting ready to go into hospital, now you’re in hospital, recovery at home and long-term health. I would recommend reading through the whole book once and highlighting those you might like to go back to later.

      This fifth edition has benefitted from the many personal questions, opinions, hints and tips I’ve received from women over the years through the Hysterectomy Association. The wonderful thing about receiving them is that I can see there really are common themes that have changed little, it’s just the way of dealing with things might be different.

      The Hysterectomy Association began life as a thesis for a Master’s degree in Information Science. The women who took part in the research all asked for a source of information and support that was just for them. It has been running on a voluntary basis since 1997 and I hope you find the information in this book, and the others we publish, useful in helping you make some major decisions about your own future health.

      Hysterectomy basics

      Before we go any further, it’s worth sharing some basic information about hysterectomy, including what it is and what it isn’t.

      Over 1.2 million women every year have a hysterectomy. Roughly 55,000 of those are in the UK. It is used to treat different gynaecological complaints such as fibroids, endometriosis, heavy bleeding and cancer. In most cases, a hysterectomy is ‘elective surgery’ this means that in most cases it is a choice that a woman has, rather than an emergency procedure. It can also be a surgery of last resort if there is uncontrolled bleeding following other surgery or even childbirth.

      Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the womb (uterus); this is known as a ‘subtotal’ hysterectomy. A ‘total’ hysterectomy also removes the cervix. And a ‘total hysterectomy with BSO (bi-lateral salpingo-oophorectomy)’ removes the womb, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is important to remember that after having a hysterectomy you won’t have any periods and you won’t be able to have children.

      There are two main ways to perform a hysterectomy. The most common is to remove the womb through a cut in the lower abdomen, usually along the bikini line. The second, less common, way is to remove the womb through a cut in the top of the vagina, the top of vagina is then stitched.

      Most hysterectomies are performed when a woman is aged between 40 – 55, however many do occur before and after this age. Women who haven’t yet gone through the menopause who have a hysterectomy that removes their ovaries, as well as other organs, will go through the menopause immediately following the operation regardless of their age, this is known as a surgical menopause.

      Those who haven’t gone through the menopause and have a hysterectomy that leaves one or both of their ovaries

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