If you have had a hysterectomy, what practical 'gifts' would have been welcome?

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

My mum is due to go in for an abdominal hysterectomy shortly and due to the short notice and living a few hundred miles away I can't get to her to be of practical help. My brothers are local but useless. I was planning to send her a few bits - earplugs, compression socks, massive pants! as well as some more treat type things. If you've been in her position what would you have found useful? She has a kindle and Netflix once she's back home so boxsets probably not much use.

[Costacoffeeplease]

Massive pants???

Snacks, small bottles of water or cartons of juice, hand cream/moisturiser as hospitals can be very warm and dehydrating

[WildoTheDildo]

Can you order her some meals she can just throw in the microwave. I had no energy for weeks after mine. A grab stick as she won't be able to bend, and maybe even a small shopping trolley as she won't be able to carry anything heavy for weeks.
Oh can you hire a cleaner for her?

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

My dad is at home but working (should have mentioned that!) but microwave meals for lunch is a good idea!

I was thinking massive pants to go over her scar while it's healing, like they suggest with a c-section!

[Costacoffeeplease]

My scar is very low down, no massive pants were required

[TheCustomaryMethod]

Yes, my scar is at the top of my pelvis so I didn't need huge pants either (but soft and comfy pants are a must).

If your mum doesn't already have one, one of those trays with a cushion underneath is useful while recovering - the scar area will be very sensitive to pressure for a while.

Drinking straws are handy when you can't move easily.

Cleansing wipes/dry shampoo as it may be a few days before your mum can shower.

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

Soft pants, not massive: noted! Thank you ladies. Will take a list into town this week and fill a box of nice things

[DubiousCredentials]

My granny had one of <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/d/Standard-Walkers-Walking-Frames/NRS-Healthcare-M03792-Home-Helper-Trolley-STANDARD/B003LPUWE0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1486556320&sr=8-1&keywords=home%20helper%20trolley&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">these after a similar operation. Meant she could put her food/cup of coffee/sewing or whatever and move from kitchen to sitting room etc without carrying anything. She raves about it and still uses it now many months after. Not exactly a gift type item but really handy!

[Fauxgina]

Following, I am due a hysterectomy soon.

[defineme]

I needed massive pants because I had a total hysterectomy with a vertical incision from navel to below my pubic hair line. I appreciated meals from Cook that my harassed dh could zap whislt trying to do everything I do on top of what he does. Nice wipes for bed bath type stuff. An extra mattress on my low bed because getting up was hard. Lots of pilows, those v shaped breastfeeding pillows are good. Lots of books and dvds. A notepad to write down when i had taken pain meds. A kettle and tea/coffee/pot noodles/fruit next to the bed for when the person looking after you has to go out. I was at the extreme end of recovery from a hysterectomy due to extra long op/post op complications etc, but I was pretty bed bound for 2 weeks and very frail for a subsequent 4. Totally fine and very happy 2 years later though

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

Thanks for that defineme - she is having a total hysterectomy so maybe will pack a couple of options. She's a workaholic so unlikely to take time for herself to pick some of these things up!

[TheCustomaryMethod]

Two pants options sounds like a good idea. Mine was a total (including ovaries) but the incision was horizontal - I think it's something that varies case-by-case.

[Costacoffeeplease]

Mine was also a total hysterectomy, and the scar is horizontal, I think it's the more likely way

[clogher]

Could you order her an online food shop with an emphasis on veg soups, fruit etc to keep things "moving"? A small step to use when sitting on the loo helps a lot post op too. Cleansing wipes, facial water spray/mist, so she'll feel cooler. I found my abdomen was very swollen afterwards and this lasted for a long time so loose leggings or bottoms were great.

[Motherwithflaws]

Loose comfy clothes, baby wipes for freshening up and slippers that you can put on without having to bend down. Mine was 18 months ago, vertical scar, kept my ovaries.

[Motherwithflaws]

Cranberry juice and peppermint tea

[Motherwithflaws]

Arnica cream and tablets

[clogher]

Oh yes definitely peppermint tea! Hand sanitiser gel for use when changing dressings on wounds, mine needed dressings for quite a while. I used (well DH used I couldn't see the wound) saline solution and gauze wipes to swab over the stitches. I got those mini sachets meant for nasal uses and made them up with boiled water as needed. A hairdryer on low heat is useful to dry the wound without rubbing. A nice dressing gown or two for days that getting changed is too much to face.

[Aftershock15]

I've sent nice soft ponchos to people for similar ops. Something they can pop on while sitting in bed and feel a bit more dressed.

[MrsDoylesTeabags]

My recovery was similar to definemes it took ages for the anasthetic to leave my system so I struggled to concentrate on books for a while, magazines or short stories are a good idea. A little step stool came in handy, peppermint tea, prunes and fig activia are helpful for constipation.
Plenty of pillows is a good call too.
Cleansing wipes, ready meals and a little travel kettle if she's not feeling strong enough to hold a full kettle.
Some nice loungewear type stuff for when she's at home maybe

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

Thanks so much for all the replies. The peppermint tea is a great idea! Will see how much I can get hold of this weekend

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

Thanks again all - as expected she hadn't had much time to prep and everything was well received! Recovering okay so far

[TheCustomaryMethod]

Really pleased to hear your mum is doing well .

[TinfoilHattie]

I had an abdominal hysterectomy in November. Three nights in hospital. Agree with the soft pants, I found bigger pants comfier as although my scar is very low the whole abdominal area is tender. Nice toiletries for having a shower afterwards. You can buy abdominal support bands online which are good for the first week or so, keeps everything together and stops that "my insides are falling out" feeling if you cough or turn over in bed. I used one of those wedge style maternity pillows in bed when I got home for the first week or so too. Nighties for hospital if like me she's a pj wearer at home as she will have a catheter for the first while. Kindle or new books to load on it.

Also agree that practical help is what's needed most. You're not allowed to lift anything heavier than a kettle so although she'll be able to potter and make sandiwches or a cuppa, she won't be up for laundry or cleaning. Could you pay for a cleaner for a few weeks? That is MUCH more beneficial than a few ready meals.

[Crochetnanigans]

Personally if anyone at all had visited that would have been nice. I was 26 and not one person (excluding distric nurse) came to see me a thermal cup was good. I came home attached to a catheter so carting the bag and stand around was a nightmare!

[SloanyAnne]

Glycerine suppositories and a small cushion to hold to her scar when she poos. Sit on the loo with feet on a step stool. No pushing.
Make absolutely sure she comes away from the hospital with proper pain meds prescribed even if she feels fine. Sitting in the doctor's surgery 48 hours after abdominal hysterectomy is not a barrel of jollies