Post op recovery. Care and support.

[Optimistic2]

Hello,
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post. My friend is a private person; she does not go on forums or social media, and she does not trust AI. She is having a hysterectomy today due to endometrial cancer stage 1; thankfully, they have caught it early. She is worried about her post-op recovery.

Are there any tips, advice, or resources to help her recovery journey?

Thanks for reading.

I hope these are helpful

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/womb-cancer/treatment/surgery/after-surgery

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/womb-cancer/recovering-from-womb-cancer-surgery

https://www.maggies.org/our-centres

Thank you so much for the websites. I have posted on another thread; hopefully, I will get more replies. She is still in the hospital. I will let her know.

One of the things that I have found most troublesome after major surgery is that opioid type painkillers cause constipation .
Which you really don't need.
And is not always warned about.

She can ask for something to help with that.

My bed is quite high and I found it quite difficult to get into for a week or two after being discharged after my hysterectomy. A step stool by the side of the bed helped as I could sit on the bed, 'walk' my feet up the steps to the top and then just swing my legs across without stretching my stomach.

I was warned not to stretch up or to lift anything heavier than a kettle with a cup of water in it for six weeks after the op.

"She can ask for something to help with that."
of course, just something to be aware of.

Constipation associated with opioids (pain relief) is easily managed by taking laxatives on a regular basis when painkillers are prescribed, rather than waiting until constipation has developed. Also, ensure laxatives are included in the discharge prescription

www.nhs.uk/conditions/constipation/

Also, drink ~2L water a day

Thank you all for your replies; I appreciate all your comments. My friend was discharged last night. The op went smoothly and there were no complications. They gave her meds, and she has to give herself a daily injection for blood thinning and take laxatives.

I have just finished talking to her on the phone. Home sweet home.

Thanks again.

https://peachestrust.org/get-support/support-videos/

There is a video specifically on recovery after surgery, plus lots of additional information and support.

I've been through this surgery myself. Definitely, second the advice about avoiding constipation. Take the laxatives offered when they do the drugs round. I only needed paracetamol and ibuprofen after I was back on the ward but the hardcore drugs given during the op were enough to bung me up. Prevention is way better that suffering constipation.

Lots of rest and naps, then very gentle walks starting with 5 minutes a couple of times a day and gradually build up.