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Mrs. Cruz
(Olivarez General Hospital)m
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is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of
the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper
anterior vaginal wall.
m The muscular passageway between the vaginal opening the
cervixð
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Your surgeon will explain how to prepare for your operation. hor example if you
smoke, you will be asked to stop. Smoking increases your risk of getting a chest and
wound infection, which can slow your recovery.
The operation is done under general anaesthetic, which means you will be asleep
during the operation. You will be asked to follow fasting instructions. Typically you
must not eat or drink for about six hours before a general anaesthetic. However, some
anaesthetists allow occasional sips of water until two hours beforehand. Alternatively
you may be given an epidural. This completely blocks feeling from the waist down and
you will stay awake during the operation. If you have an epidural, you're likely to be
given sedation - this relieves anxiety and helps you to relax.
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Side-effects are the unwanted but mostly temporary effects you may get after having
the procedure. Common side-effects include:
-m pain, swelling and bruising in your abdomen - this usually clears up within a
few days
-m a permanently visible scar - although this will be red and slightly raised to
start with, it should soften and fade over the following months
-m menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness if your
ovaries are removed - you may need to have hormone replacement therapy
(HRT) and your surgeon or GV can give you advice about this
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At home, if you need them, you can usually take over-the-counter painkillers such as
ibuprofen. hollow the instructions in the patient information leaflet that comes with the
medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice.
You will need to take it easy for a few days but continue doing the exercises
recommended by your physiotherapist
and try to go for a daily 10 minute walk. Lifting light items such as a kettle will not
harm you, but you shouldn't lift
anything heavy. If you have young children you will need someone to help you with
childcare.
You must follow your surgeon's advice about driving. You shouldn't drive until you are
confident that you could
perform an emergency stop without discomfort. This is usually about four to six weeks
after the operation.
It is normal to have some blood stained vaginal discharge for about six weeks after
surgery. Use sanitary towels rather than tampons to help reduce the risk of infection. If
you have any concerns or you have a vaginal discharge that is bright red, heavy or
smells unpleasant, contact your GV as you may have an infection.
Your surgeon will advise you when you can resume your normal activities and sexual
intercourse. A full recovery can take up to 12 weeks, but some women recover faster