Hysterectomy on 1 September, what recovery aids did you find useful?

[Nikkicarole]

Having a hysterectomy on September 1st. Everything must go! Hopefully through keyhole but small chance of incision. I want to know if anyone has used a hysterectomy cushion that fastens around your waist. Lots of recommendations for them on other forums but look like used more in the US. Many Amazon reviews as absolute must haves! Others seem to be anti wind tablets, constipation medication and grabbers to pick stuff up from the floor. Honestly, I can’t wait! 😝

Oestrogen gel on the bedside table!

And yes the gas was dreadful, so anything that helps with that, have ready: Simeticone, Rennies, bicarb etc.

Lots of changes of teeshirts / loose tops.

Be prepared to be more tired than you have ever been and don’t go back to work too soon.

Thank you! That’s one I hadn’t thought of.

Really take it easy and don't do to much to soon. Peppermint tea to help with wind after. You need to.get it out as shoulder pain is something else.

If they do keyhole you will want peppermint tea. If they do an incision, big pants!

You just need an ordinary cushion to out between you and the seat belt going home. Other than that, you won’t need any other sort of cushion. Pain was minimal apart from the wind and referred shoulder pain so recommend a v shaped pillow so you can prop yourself up. Get up and about and moving and that gets rid of the wind. Don’t do anything - no lifting or anything for longer than you think. I went on holiday week 3. Bit gingerly but was ok. Week 5 was harder - you start doing more because you feel fine and a bit bored and by that time everyone has forgotten that you’ve had an op and the body goes a bit reactive to that. I bought nighties - I never wear them and big knickers. Needed neither but do use the big knickers because they are very comfy! I found it helpful to have a separate rest spot not just my bed so converted thespare room to my book nook. Two years later, it is still my book nook and thus it will stay. Good luck. It really wasnas bad as I was expecting and recovery was quicker but don’t go back to work too soon.

Thanks so much, that’s really helpful and will save me money not buying nighties or special cushions. Also taking heed of everyone’s advice not to rush back to work or try to do so much. I could very easily be guilty of that so will take heed!

Mine was a wireless doorbell (had my op before mobiles were as common), so I could summon my DH without shouting downstairs. These days I would have just phoned him.

I’ve not long had a slightly less drastic but similar gynae op. I’m 4 weeks in now.
Cushion over stomach for in the car was invaluable.
wasn’t expecting the shoulder pain and gas/bloating being so painful, took a good 4-5 days before the pain was gone from that but the bloating remained for about a week.
i took painkillers regularly for about 36 hours and then just as and when I felt like I needed them - probably 4 times over then next few weeks.
stay hydrated, don’t overdo movement too soon. I’m missing my regular exercise but just waiting for a few more weeks as per the advice.
It was really hot when I got home from
hospital and all my dresses seemed to have waistbands so spent the first few days in some of dhs biggest tshirts! It’s cooling down now but I couldn’t handle a waistband for about a week.
I actually found smaller knickers (my regular size but just not big ones if that makes sense!) better because they sat under all the laparoscopic incisions and the slightly bigger cuts they made.
good luck, as I say your op is bigger than mine (removed an ovary, my tubes, endometrial disease and cysts and polyps and stuff) so it may not all be relevant but I hope your recovery is smooth.
Oh, one last thing, I was not prepared for how sore my throat was going to be when I came round from the anaesthetic, I had to eat a few bowls of ice cream for breakfast the next day as I needed to eat something to take my tablets but couldn’t bare anything other than cool smooth ice cream!

Cook and freeze meals for the microwave in in advance.

Agree with PPS about the cushion and nighties.

A long grab stick is essential.

Get some unglamorous slippers that aren’t backless or slips ons so that you are not in danger of falling, particularly when you first go up and down stairs.

Also get non-slip mats for shower (and later on for bath after the obligatory recovery time) because you won’t be as nimble for the first few weeks and can’t recover as quickly if tou lose your balance.

An extra long extension lead or two are good for charging phones in bed and on the sofa; the long length means you don’t need to twist or turn or bend awkwardly.

Do NOT overdo it; a bit longer recovering initially is better than overdoing it and having a setback.

I found fennel tea more effective than peppermint

Do all of the walking they recommend for your recovery. But take it at your own pace. Some people recover quicker than others.

Make the most of your pre-op meeting with your anaesthetist and make sure they give you enough anti-emetics and anti-nausea drugs.

And get informed and clued up on your HRT gel or whatever beforehand as you will be needing to take it relatively soon after the op.

Good luck! I had a hysterectomy and ovaries removed via key hole surgery and it wasn’t half as bad as I was anticipating. Techniques and drugs have come a long way from when our mothers were having these procedures.

The biggest problem I had after mine (laparoscopic by robot, everything out but only 4 incisions) was with going to the loo, everything "inside" felt bruised even though there wasn't much to see on the outside. So drink plenty of water, and if necessary get a stool softener in.

Buy some surgical socks. Not pretty but better than clots! Speaking of which you will need daily blood-thinning injections so be prepared to do those yourself, the district nurses showed me how for the first few days then I was ok even with a dislike of needles.

Make an appointment when you leave hospital to go back and have your stitches out, either at the hospital or with your GP. My GP "forgot" and I now have 2 keloid scars on one side (the side I slept on) because the stitches pulled and became tight.

I had a big gynae op but not hysterectomy, laparoscopic with 7 incisions, 8.5hrs in surgery
scared myself with reading about the gas pain and things I might need!
it was fine. I didn’t need any pain relief and had no gas pain. I rolled up my cardigan to shove between me and the seatbelt which worked well. Long phone charger, slip on shoes, big knickers and loose joggers
i wish I had taken snacks to hospital as I did bowel prep and they forgot my breakfast so I had just a yoghurt in 48hrs
before hospital - wash hair, change bedding, hoover, general tidy up, easy meals and any meds you might need just in case
my throat was sore so some throat sweets, cold and hot drinks, smoothies might be nice