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Original poster

The day after a GA

17 replies

Twizbe · 10/02/2022 11:29

Posting her for traffic.

I'm due to have an endometrial ablation in a few weeks. Very excited to finally get this done.

Only issue is the operation is the day before my DH's birthday! I've tried to move the date but can't.

Birthdays are big deals in our family and I feel sad that I won't be 100% on his day.

I plan to make his cake this week and freeze it so I'll just have to decorate it on the day.

Other than that, how did others feel the day after an ablation / a general? Should I suggest a nice lunch somewhere or will I be too ill for that?

I've had a general before but it was a long time ago.

Before anyone says anything DH is fully on board with the surgery, has taken time off to focus on the kids and helping me. He has in no way said anything to make me feel guilty or bad.

OP posts:

JennieTheZebra · 10/02/2022 11:35

I had a GA for gynea stuff in November and, tbh, I was fine later that day let alone the next. A good rule of thumb is one day of recovery for every hour under-and most gynae GAs are quite short. The cannula bruises took much longer to heal, however!

Skeam · 10/02/2022 11:35

I’d move lunch and not put any pressure on yourself to go out, enjoy eating or anything else the day after. I’ve had three GAs in the past year, one for an endometrial ablation, in fact, and and while I was fine after two of them and functioned normally the day after, after one, I was so constipated I was in severe discomfort.

These things are pretty individual, but I wouldn’t book something that was supposed to be enjoyable for the day after, because I think it’s unnecessary pressure, and to be honest, you already sound like you’re already feeling apologetic and stressed about having necessary surgery the day before a family birthday!

DropYourSword · 10/02/2022 11:37

I've always felt absolutely fine the day after a GA

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MrsPnut · 10/02/2022 11:37

I had a GA for a small breast cancer revision on 1st December and on 2nd was out at the supermarket and the garden centre having lunch and choosing a Christmas tree. I couldn’t drive but was otherwise fine.

Blizy · 10/02/2022 11:40

I had GA for endometrial ablation, I was kept in hospital over night. I felt awful for a week! However, I don't react well to anaesthetics. Fingers crossed for a good outcome and some pain relief!

DappledOliveGroves · 10/02/2022 11:47

I've had three GAs and felt absolutely fine once I've come round. I'd have been fine going somewhere the following day.

Donkeyinamanger · 10/02/2022 11:53

Could you not just celebrate his birthday on another day, maybe the day before your op to take the pressure off? It is going to be impossible to know how you will be the day after, as everyone is different.

emmathedilemma · 10/02/2022 12:02

I had a hysteroscopy under GA and felt absolutely fine after it. Didn't take any of the painkillers they sent me home with, walked and then got the bus home later that afternoon and was eating as normal. I was only under for about an hour and just felt tired the next day but that was probably because i'd been travelling with work the day before the procedure, went to bed late, didn't sleep well and had to get up early to be at the hospital. I'm not sure I'd book lunch out but I'd expect you to be ok to decorate a cake.
Ultimately though, he's a grown man not a small child so should probably accept the fact you might not be 100% on his birthday and just plan something for the weekend after.

RampantIvy · 10/02/2022 13:06

What are you decorating the cake with? Butter icing freezes well.

Original poster

Twizbe · 10/02/2022 16:07

Thanks all.

Just to be totally clear DH has already suggested having a big celebration meal the night before and moving our child free weekend to a date between our birthdays and making it a joint celebration.

I just feel so guilty that again I'm not going to be 100% on his birthday. Both our children were born a couple of weeks before his birthday so this is the third year that I've been out of action for it (and again he has never ever said anything to make me feel this way or to suggest I should have done more at any of those times)

I'll be icing with buttercream style stuff but I don't have space in the freezer for the full cake lol.

OP posts:

RampantIvy · 10/02/2022 16:44

Just to be totally clear DH has already suggested having a big celebration meal the night before

Having had gynae ops before I don't think this is a good idea. I would wait until afterwards.

In the grand scheme of things I think the best birthday present for your DH is that you feel OK on his birthday. You can save the grand gestures for when you feel 100%. You can make up the buttercream icing ready to use the day before your op as it will keep in the fridge anyway. Just take it out a few hours before you need to use it.

I hope it goes well for you and your DH has a lovely birthday.

Skeam · 10/02/2022 16:52

I just feel so guilty that again I'm not going to be 100% on his birthday.

If your DH isn't the one giving rise to this guilt, as you keep saying he isn't, where on earth is this stuff coming from? You had (presumably?) HIS babies shortly before his birthday two different years -- it's not as though you decided to try to climb Ben Nevis in plastic sandals in the dark and ended up in A and E.

I genuinely think it's quite concerning that you feel so guilty about having a necessary gynae surgery because it takes the shine off your DH's birthday.

And I agree with @RampantIvy -- I wouldn't have anything like a 'big celebration meal' the night before a GA. For a start I don't think it would be particularly enjoyable knowing that you're fasting from midnight and facing surgery next day, and for another I wouldn't eat a big meal the night before a GA.

Best wishes for the surgery.

StrawberryFever · 10/02/2022 16:57

It's very individual. Personally I feel sick for about a week after a GA and vomit the first day. Last time for a gynae procedure I also had urinary retention and had to be kept in for two nights with variously a drip for dehydration and a catheter.

Most people don't react like that, but I definitely wouldn't be making plans for the day after.

Original poster

Twizbe · 10/02/2022 17:00

@Skeam

I just feel so guilty that again I'm not going to be 100% on his birthday.

I genuinely think it's quite concerning that you feel so guilty about having a necessary gynae surgery because it takes the shine off your DH's birthday.

And I agree with @RampantIvy -- I wouldn't have anything like a 'big celebration meal' the night before a GA. For a start I don't think it would be particularly enjoyable knowing that you're fasting from midnight and facing surgery next day, and for another I wouldn't eat a big meal the night before a GA.

Best wishes for the surgery.

I think it's because birthdays mean so much to me. I view them as the one day in the year that it's all about you.

It's not even about presents, it's just the day when people make a fuss of you lol.

I want him to feel special on his day.

Thank you though. I'll sort his cake in advance. I would buy one but our son has food allergies so it's easier to make it myself so we can all enjoy it.

I'll talk to him tonight about what we can do to make it a special day for him.

OP posts:

SartresSoul · 10/02/2022 17:05

I was fine, just had a sore throat from the tube.

babyjellyfish · 10/02/2022 17:05

I think you'd be much better off planning your birthday celebration the day after your operation than the night before.

I had a D&C under GA a couple of years ago and I was a bit out of it that evening, but physically fine the next day. I think I was told not to drink alcohol for 24 hours though.

PoopySalata · 10/02/2022 17:14

I had an ablation under GA a couple of years ago. I was fine from the GA but the ablation itself left me very sore for a few days.

I wouldn't have wanted to go out in the days after because I was leaking quite a bit of fluid from the procedure - you've literally had the lining of your uterus burned out and the wound takes time to heal. I think I stayed close to home for a week afterwards.

Good luck with it OP, it was life changing for me.

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