Hysterectomy booked for May 7th - Eek!

[AnnieIncognito]

At long last, my hysterectomy is booked and even though I am relieved, I am also very nervous and would appreciate any advice you may have.

I have had issues since my son was born 2 years ago and finally got a referral to a specialist in January (I'm in Canada so it's a little different here). The specialist ordered ultrasound a blood work and I went back on Tuesday for results. I have an "abnormal cluster of cells" in my uterus that he believes could be early stage 1 uterine cancer. He said even if it wasn't cancerous now, the likelihood of it becoming cancer is very high.

So I am having a laparascopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy on May 7th. I will be keeping my ovaries.

Does anyone have any tips about pre or post-op preparation? I am type A personality so need to have every last detail planned out.

[AnnieIncognito]

Anyone?

[AnnieIncognito]

Really? No one?

[flouncymcflouncerson]

There's a full thread dedicated to hysterectomy but i can't link on my phone. I'll pop back tomorrow :)

[flouncymcflouncerson]

annie here is the links to the hysterectomy thread :)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1935315-Hysterectomies-its-gotta-be-done-but-over-here-for-hand-holding-part-two?pg=37

[MusicalEndorphins]

www.hystersisters.com/
I had a hysterectomy, but not laparoscopic, I also kept my ovaries.
My doctor advised to avoid stairs for a month. Luckily everything I needed was on one floor (after I got up there).
Drink a lot of water if you take pain killers with codiene in them, so you won't get dehydrated.
Drink a full glass of water when you take the pills, or at least drink a cup of tea with them.
Ask someone from home to bring you in some hot soup in a thermos, or something like yogurt, if you find the hospital food too heavy or unappetizing.
Once you are back at home, if you don't have someone there to prepare meals, have lot's of food in the freezer ahead of time, that only need to be heated up. You won't be cooking or cleaning for 6 weeks. You will need someone else to take care of children or pets, and do any housework cooking, laundry, helping you if you need help getting up and down, bringing you your meds and stuff.
Try and eat a little something before taking the pills if it isn't meal time, even if it is just few spoons of pudding or cereal, or apple sauce.
Have some loose granny pants to be sure you don't irritate them incisions, even if they are tiny little button holes types. Loose dresses or nightgowns to wear during your recovery.
Remote controls and reclining chairs will be your best friends.
They will get you up and walking as soon as possible in the hospital, this is good for you and helps get rid of the gas that will be in your insides from the operation. What also helps is drinking hot mint tea. Hot drinks work better than room temp or cold for this.
Most of all, allow your body the time to recover and heal from this large surgery. Just because you will only have buttonhole scars doesn't mean you do not have a lot of healing going on inside.
What city are you having your OP in? (Canada here too) Hope all goes well and you have a full and speedy recovery.

[MusicalEndorphins]

*THE incisions, not THEM.

[AnnieIncognito]

Thank you flouncy. I will head over to that link and settle in. :)

Thank you so much for all of the info Musical. That is hugely helpful!!

I am a little concerned about the "no stairs" part as I live in a three storey townhouse with no bathroom on the main level so I am going to have to do stairs on a daily basis. I guess I just need to go slowly and be careful. Or I could camp out in the basement (which is really the ground floor) for a few weeks. At least there I would have a TV, a bathroom and access to outside (I'm a smoker).

My husband is the main cook in the house and has surprised me immensely with how supportive he has been. He has started to cook extra of every meal and is freezing the leftovers into individual, labelled bags. By the time my surgery comes, I should have a few weeks worth of lunches in the freezer. He has also said he will put together a snacks tray in the fridge each night (chopped up veggies, fruit, cheese, yoghurt etc). That way I can just grab a bag and head back to the couch.

[MusicalEndorphins]

Hi there. My friend also lived in a townhouse and she "camped out" on the main floor and slept on the couch. it sounds like you will be able to be comfortable on the lower level. After a few weeks you will be allowed stairs. It was over 10 years ago, and I forget how long exactly.

[AnnieIncognito]

The couch downstairs isn't overly comfortable but we do have a high height air mattress that is not comfortable than our own bed! Wonder if DH would have any issue with me setting it up downstairs?

[AnnieIncognito]

more comfortable than not "not comfortable".

[brainwashed]

Had a hysterectomy last year( not laparoscopic) and was able to go up and down stairs as soon as I got home ( day 3 post op). Avoiding stairs doesn't feature in any of the advice given by doctors in the UK! Agree with everything else said though. Wishing you all the best.