Having a hysterectomy on Friday. Tips?

[VanishIntoYou]

Have been so busy trying to wrap things up at work that I've just realised I'm totally unprepared and am in a flap 😱

Having a robotic laparoscopic hysterectomy with ovarian conservation. Day surgery so DP will drop off and pick up. Worried about walking out to car.

Have only bought pain relief and pads. Hoping they'll discharge me with more than just paracetamol and ibuprofen? Have some comfy loose lounge sets to wear. Is there anything else I should buy?

Need to take all my (many) piercings out. Have loads of telly and films lined up to watch and have bought a switch 2. When will I be able to cook/do laundry/drive?

Any tips from those who've had this/similar done?

I had same op as you 3 years ago (best thing I ever did btw).
Ask your dh to bring a pillow when he's collecting you. I found it really helpful to hold the pillow to my stomach when walking and sitting in car going over speed bumps 🙃 .

I felt like I'd no core for the first few days - felt like I would fold/crumble in on myself if I stood too long so v short showers and no standing at the sink, holding kettles, saucepans.
Again used the pillow pressed against stomach to ease out of bed.
Was advised to do 10 min walk from day one first and gradually increase.
I'm not in UK so don't know if it's different but I was given plenty of painkillers (difene) and laxatives leaving the hospital - only needed for first 2 days and then I was fine. The main feeling was weakness and an uncomfortable crunchy sensation in my abdomen if did too much but no pain.
I don't drive but I think the advice was to wait at least weeks before driving.
Best advice a friend gave was to take it as easy as you're told to by the doctors, don't be tempted to rush things along - you only get to recover once do it properly.
Best of luck.

Hey,
I am almost at my 1 year date post op :)
Firstly, I hope you are feeling okay?

Something I tried to do ahead of my surgery was stock my freezer up with some dinners just because then you know you will have some nice healthy meals post surgery to give your body the best for when it is recovering.

For me, I was not given any pain medication at all when I left the hospital, but honestly I am okay with this, because in the last year, I think I have only taken 2 paracetamol (and that was for a headache!)

I recommend taking a small pillow to hold against your belly when walking for the first week. And glide, dont shuffle. Take longer and slower strides rather than quick shuffles (and dont forget to stand up and not hobble over- I think the pillow helps to remind you of this!)

Take a bottle with a straw as you arent allowed to lift anything heavy, and basically the hospital will want to see your catheter output of at least 500ml before removing it.
I made sure I took a bottle and some squash and kept myself drinking. I think my catheter was out within 4 hours and I was up and walking as soon as I could.

I did find that I couldnt wear trousers that were any form of tight on my belly at all (and for the first 5 or so days, not even jammies) so I lived in dresses.

Probably my most important take to hospital- some windeze (chemist) and some extra strong mints, just to help with all of the trapped wind from the op itself.

Take time to recover slowly, everyone is so individual. I was incredibly lucky with my recovery, no complications, I was walking my dog within 2 weeks and doing the school runs etc. But I also took breaks in between. My husband took the first week off to make sure I had plenty of drinks, food and was getting up regularly to walk etc. (But he didnt need to- I think he just wanted to take care of me bless him).

Oh- first bowel movements post op. Genuinely scary. Dont push, deep slow breaths. Straight back. Plenty of fruit, veg and fibre!

Please message if you have any questions as im happy to answer :)
Wishing you all of the luck

Mine was four weeks ago and I’m still recovering (my first day out the house to see people, someone gave me a horrible bug so I was totally housebound with that for well over a week which didn’t help).

I also recommend a pillow. I needed one to support my belly when I was lying on my side and also to protect me from the seatbelt on the drive home.

My catheter was removed before I came round from anaesthetic but they monitored my pee for the first few visits to the toilet.

Use fragrance free soap to wash your stitches afterwards. One of mine ended up slightly infected when using liquid soap so I switched to a bar and that sorted it out.

I also had a chair sitting beside the bed to lean on when getting up once home and I used a walking stick to help get up from a sofa. I’m currently starting to go for longer walks but they’re really hurting my pelvis if I try to go too far so I’ve got a folding walking stick which helps if that happens.

I bought lots of big pants to wear which are definitely the comfiest option but some of them the waistband sat right across my stitches so either go for lower ones and baggy comfy clothes or go for the really high big big pants. I stayed in the gown in the hospital (I was in overnight) but was fine in comfy pyjamas at home. They ended up too warm in the heatwave so I’ve been slouching around in a T-shirt and lounge pants more recently.

Maybe consider large plasters or dressings just in case, some of my stitches caught in clothing when I went to the toilet so I found covering the worst ones helped (and were very handy for the one that had the infection).

For painkillers I’m already on cocodamol for chronic pain so the pharmacist was happy to let me just have those at home. They would have prescribed paracetamol and codeine separately otherwise.

The wind pains afterwards were AWFUL. It was honestly like labour pains at times. Just farting helped me 🙈 but other people swear by meds or peppermint tea (I can’t stand mint so I didn’t try that).

There have been a few similar threads (maybe on the health boards) recently, so they might have more ideas too. They helped me so much before mine and I’ve been on a few since to try and help others going through it.

Mine was also the robotic one btw although I had my ovaries and cervix out as well. My scars are like five little plus signs across my abdomen and it’s crazy to think how much they were able to do with those tiny cuts. It’s very easy to forget you’ve had surgery because of that though so just listen to your body. You might be up and about really quickly or you might need to take it easy, everyone is different but if you have someone looking after you take full advantage of that for sure.