# My mom goes in for surgery on Monday **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 22, 2000, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292 "2000-11-22T15:45:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/1 "2000-11-22T15:45:59Z")
I am very worried about my mom. Not only did her husband die on September 26, but now she is going in for a hysterectomy on Monday. Does anyone know what she can expect? Has anyone had this surgery? Any complications? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/2 "2000-11-22T15:54:11Z")
Not much help for info, but tell her I’m pullin’ for her. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/3 "2000-11-22T16:14:39Z")
Thanks, will do. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/4 "2000-11-22T16:29:34Z")
My mom had a hysterectomy about 10 years ago so what she went through was probably different from what your mom will go through because of new and improved techniques that they use today. I remember that my mom was off work for 8 weeks and the first couple of weeks she had a little pain/discomfort and couldn’t do a lot. But like I said, that was 10 years ago so it’s a little different now. I believe they went in vaginally and removed everything that way… I’m not sure how they do it today. I think they can go in laproscopically (sp?) now but I’m not sure. I have a friend here at work that had a hysterectomy a few months ago and she was off work for 8 weeks too but she said that she didn’t have any pain or discomfort at all after her surgery. I think they went in laproscopically for her hysterectomy but I’m not 100% sure. I know that my mom hasn’t had any problems in the last 10 years and my friend hasn’t either. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. AFAIK it’s a fairly simple operation. Your mom will be just fine! I’ll be thinking about her. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/5 "2000-11-22T21:57:37Z")
Both my mother and my mother-in-law have had hysterectomies. My mom’s was done vaginally and my mother-in-law’s had to be done abdominally because she had some massive polyps. Both of them came out of it JUST fine. The vaginal method is easier, since there is no incision through the abdominal muscles, but it’s a major surgery either way, so she can expect to have to take it easy for about 6-8 weeks. This isn’t something than can be done with laparoscopy, since the uterus has to come out of the incision. The risk of complications is very low. This operation, for better or worse, has become almost a rite of passage for older American women. I don’t think there’s any need for you to worry about her physical well-being, but I know that having surgery can be tough mentally and emotionally, especially since she’s just had such a loss. It sounds like she’s got your support, though, and that will likely to a great help to her. Try not to worry too much. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/6 "2000-11-22T22:08:41Z")
Thanks InternetLegend, You sound like a very caring person (I seem to recall you are a chick but as I am not sure, I’ll use the word "person’). ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/7 "2000-11-22T22:49:27Z")
Poysyn, As InternetLegend said it’s a relatively smooth operation nowadays so try not to worry too much though it would only be normal. I hope everything will be fine. {{poysyn}} ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/8 "2000-11-22T22:55:34Z")
Nothing to add except my best wishes. Good luck to her. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/9 "2000-11-23T00:38:35Z")
Poysyn, ‘hysterectomy’? It’s not always the same sort of surgery. What do you mean by that? They might take the uterus, or maybe the ovaries or maybe the cervix. You see, they aren’t the same. Do you know what exactly is planned? We discussed HPV too on the board. They are related in that HPV, human pappilloma virus, is the often cause of hysterectomy surgeries. Im sure the doc did a test for HPV. So you might want to ask her just what type of surgery she is expecting? ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/10 "2000-11-23T09:27:16Z")
That was a very nice thing to say, Poysyn - thank you! My mom recently had surgery and I looked after her during her recovery, so I’ve got a whole lot of sympathy for someone in the same boat. It’s really difficult to see the woman who was your world when you were little growing older and to realize that she’s not omnipotent after all. On the other hand, it’s kind of nice to be able to give a little something back. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/11 "2000-11-23T13:07:15Z")
Poysyn, ``` I can't give you details, but maybe it would help to know my mom had one done about 25 years ago and she's doing fine, healthy as a horse. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/12 "2000-11-23T14:30:39Z")
Handy - She is having her uterus and I believe her at least one ovary removed. Does that help?? She had gone in for a D & C to remove the fibroid but it was too big (about the size of an orange). ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2000, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/13 "2000-11-23T17:02:26Z")
Poysyn, she’s going to be fine. Modern surgery is great these days, they use staples. Ill be thinking of her. ---
**Author:** ![MysterEcks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/14 "2000-11-24T06:41:15Z")
No info–not my area–but best wishes to you and your mom, **Poysyn**. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/15 "2000-11-24T14:40:28Z")
Just another well wisher here. Speedy recovery, Poysyn’sMom. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/16 "2000-11-24T22:21:51Z")
I’ll tell her. ---
**Author:** ![wyldelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4491bb/32.png) [@wyldelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wyldelf)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-goes-in-for-surgery-on-monday/42292/17 "2000-11-24T22:31:19Z")
{{{{Poysyn}}}} Just another chip in to say I’ll be sending good thoughts your mum’s way. My mum had a hysterectomy only a few months ago and she (stubborn woman that she is) even managed to drive herself home from the hospital. She is as healthy as a horse now.