To expect better post surgery care from hospital?

[Paperowls]

I had a laporoscopic sterilisation on Monday and I'm utterly fucked off with lack of care from the hospital or my GP while I'm recovering. What should I expect? I was seen late in the day on Monday and the surgeon couldn't get out of there quick enough. They barely told me the op had gone ok. I had to fight to get them to discharge me with some codine based pain relief (apparently paracetamol should have been ok?🙄 Believe me, it wasn't) and they couldn't give me a straight answer to any of my questions. You know, ones like 'when will the sterilisation be effective?' Answer 'it should be ok'. 'Should I use pads rather than tampons for my next period?' 'Maybe'. They also gave me a leaflet printed in 1998 to help me.
Is this normal process or useless aftercare?

[expatinscotland]

'And my husband isn't a shit, he's just incapable of dealing with me being anything less than fully ok. He veers between panicking that I'm going to die any moment and losing his patience with me if I don't follow his every single command. He's currently not talking to me '

Wow, just wow.

[HelenaDove]

." Not sure how I'm going to manage. Husband's form of 'caring' for me involves alternating between shouting at me and ignoring me"


Well if i were you HE sure as hell wouldnt be benefitting from said sterilization after that attitude!

[dahliaaa]

Hi OP - glad you got a useful follow up call from the surgeon - although sounds like you really needed to push for it.

A few people have mentioned the pre op consultation which is obviously useful - but I think the prob is that at that stage you don't necessarily know what questions you will have post op.

I was quite surprised not to be offered a post op appointment after my gallbladder op last week because I have had similar procedures in the past (NHS) and a follow up has been routine. I realise that it's obviously down to cost but it can make the whole thing a bit more stressful.

I posted this earlier in health. Obviously in the 'old days' I would have asked question at follow up appointment.

"I was in such a hoo hah before gallbladder op (long story but basically lovely DH has inoperable cancer and I was only focussed on coming out of anaesthetic to be ok for our DC) that I didn't mention my previous umbilical hernia op from a number of years ago (repaired with mesh.)

Only just remembered - will they have seen the mesh when they opened up belly button and realised or will they have inevitably cut through the original repair.

Feel ridiculous now for not mentioning it.
Thanks"

[pigeondujour]

Getting some air would be a really good thing both for the air and for your muscles but you will probably need him to help you a bit as you might be unsteady and sore. He's right to worry about your daughter climbing onto your lap, but he absolutely shouldn't be not talking to you for it.

[WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa]

OP, I had The same op and similar poor follow up afterwards.

Think tiny student nurse trying to manoeuvre a 6ft me out of bed while whispering - should she really be going yet if she can't actually walk? Other nurse said I had to because afternoon surgery had already started. 😕

I got to six days post op and went to docs as I knew there was no way I'd be back in work when my weeks sick note ran out. I could barely get out of a chair, let alone restrain violent teenagers. She took one look at me, and signed me off for a further week, prescribed a course of antibiotics, made me a follow up appt, all whilst muttering to herself about poor aftercare causing issues down the line etc.

So, if you're not feeling great, go get seen, honestly.

[Paperowls]

And my husband isn't a shit, he's just incapable of dealing with me being anything less than fully ok. He veers between panicking that I'm going to die any moment and losing his patience with me if I don't follow his every single command. He's currently not talking to me as I cuddled my DD this morning and she climbed on to me lap. He's also pissed off because I want to get out of the house and get some air today and he's decided this will probably kill me.

[Paperowls]

Oh Rubadub that sounds bloody awful. That's precisely the kind of post-op experience you want to avoid at all costs but there is nothing you can do about it. Complaining doesn't help or change things. Once you've been treated like that, that's it. I hope things improve for you

[KathArtic]

Hope you are feeling better OP?

Did you not have a pre op consultation prior to your op? They should have explained everything and it is your opportunity to ask questions like wound care, recovery time etc.

You can always speak to the consultants secretary or admin team if you don’t get a reply from the wards.

Keep an eye on your wound. If it feels hot, is red and weeping it could be infected. Record your temperature and blood pressure too (if you have those gadgets) as they are an indicator or being unwell.

[condepetie]

Why are you worried about how long before you're sterile? I assume with your pain you're not rushing to have sex?

With that and your husband's unsupportive behaviour... Shouting at you and ignoring you when you just had surgery? And unable to take care of the kids for a single day, let alone the time you need to get well? He sounds like a shit tbh

[RubaDubMum89]

I really sympathise OP.

I think generally, in my experience post op care is shit in alot of hospitals.

I had my gall bladder taken out today:

I got told off as soon as I woke up by some nurse on the recovery ward because my socks were not on properly - nobody checked them.

I was dumped back on the ward, which was blissfully empty... And didn't see a soul for 2 hours. Looked for the button to ring a nurse... It was behind me where I couldn't get to.

Eventually saw a nurse who asked what I'd had done as my notes hadn't arrived with me for some reason and finally got a drink!

Sometime later I saw the same nurse and asked her to help me up/to the loo and she looked at me like I'd shit on her turkey at Christmas.

Discharged with meds I can't take... Given no advice etc and with the incorrect dressings on - should be waterproof but they're not so must ring Dr's on Monday and go get them dressed with waterproof ones.

Then to top it off, ended up going back to a and e 45 mins after I got home because my stitches were bleeding.

Whatever happened to our NHS... It's crumbling around us .

[Paperowls]

Had I not been called by the surgeon I think I would have had to have relied on the NHS helpline. Not great really. I still think that the gynaecology team should have been my first port of call for follow up advice, but they never called me back.
The whole experience has been an anxious one for me. I don't have any support at home. My husband just flat panics when I'm ill so I have to ignore him or absorb his worry as well. The kids still need looking after and I need to get back to work so i was hoping to feel normal much more quickly. And not getting any info from healthcare professionals just adds to that pressure.

[baby410]

You should definitely be given detailed verbal and written discharge information before leaving the ward, hopefully your chat with the consultant will mean that this improves going forward.
And we advise pads rather than tampons for any post op bleeding and for your next period to reduce infection risk.

[LemonShark]

Hmm I never had any follow ups after my laparoscopy (it wasn't a steri though, just exploratory and then lasered off endometriosis). I went back to work a couple of days later, bloated but fine.

You sound very anxious OP, i hope your family are letting you take it easy (you mentioned husband folding in a panic, that's not helpful!)

Most people don't need aftercare like you're talking about hence why they don't put resources into following everyone up when the majority would just say everything is fine. Did you think about ringing the NHS helpline for some advice?

[Paperowls]

Problem 😂
I think I would have run a mile if I'd had that pre-op chat!

[problembottom]

I had surgery earlier this year and was told I'd need a six week follow up and would get a letter. Six months on I'm still waiting!

Before my op I received letters from two different hospitals with different operation dates, so I chose the more convenient one and cancelled the other. When I turned up on the day I had a bizarre chat with the surgeon who said he didn't know why I was there and asked what was wrong with me.

Amazingly the operation itself went really well!

[Laiste]

That's good news OP. Hope you're all better soon

[Paperowls]

Thanks for your advice everyone. Amazingly the surgeon himself rang me this morning. I'm guessing my increased number of calls and messages prompted something. He's answered my questions now. It also gave me the opportunity to point out how inadequate the after care information is. I got the impression he wasn't aware they were handing out 20 year old leaflets.
I really could have done without any of this stress. It's hard enough trying to look after myself with no support. I'd tried to be organised to avoid all of this but it's still happened. Hopefully I might be human again in a few days time.

[Adelie0404]

I recommend time off 2 weeks after a laparoscopy - saying you should be fine after a week but will need pain relief for the first 3-5 days.
Not gynaecologist!
The umbilical incision is not through muscle, but, it is usually the most painful.If it is is bleeding, it should stop with pressure, or if doesn't, it should have a pressure dressing (basically a gauze swab and tight tape over it) that your practice nurse can apply - or the gynae ward should they agree to see you.
Rectal bleeding should just stop, honest! - likely because it was "handled" during surgery to get it out of the way. If it continues beyond a few days you should see your GP about it.
Don't see why you can't use tampons.
You are safe to increase activity as you feel able - that is correct advice actually. People recover/heal at different rates. You don't need to stay in bed, but it doesn't sound like you are.
Sorry you have had crap/well, no advice.

[ScrabbleFiend]

I'd go to your GP. Ime there is no after care for surgical cases. I'm still waiting on my surgeon calling me back having been assured by her secretary she would, that was 4 months ago! The lack of after care shocked me tbh. I work in a vets and all our patients have at least 2 post op checks, and yes I know it's different as it's basically private health care but there is something wrong when animals receive better care than people. Thankfully I have an excellent gp who sent me for scans and my complication has now resolved itself.

[Laiste]

Morning OP. If the rectal bleeding is still going on this morn. i'd see if you can get an appt. with GP today - either a phone consultation or actual appt. - and if not then ring whatever hospital number it takes to finally speak to a human (rather than any more answer machines).

Tell whoever you get to speak to that you're still bleeding and where from and that you're not getting any response from all your messages to the gynae team. Maybe mentioning you've considered calling 999 because you feel no one else is listening. Don't hide the fact you're upset and panicy.

That's what i'd do in your shoes today. All you want is a bit of reassurance FGS!

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

It's hard to tell really as much if what you describe is standard . I will ask again OP

Have you been resting ? Honestly the bleeding is aggravated if you move about and don't rest up . You sound very anxious but I think it's worth literally having a day of bed rest and seeing if that helps

You must do what feels right but to have pain and bleeding after such surgery is normal

I also panicked as I felt shit for ages much longer than I expected OP . In a way it was a positive thing as I have started to finally exercise and look after my health a bit more

Hope you sleep OK and feel better in the
Morning

Have you told your husband to take tomorrow off ?

[pigeondujour]

OP, when you say bleeding from the bowel, do you mean fresh blood from your back passage or darker blood? The latter I would certainly understand to be an emergency situation.

[Amaried]

Honestly I understand your frustration but I don't think it's a case for the urgent care department. It doesn't sound like you need emergency treatment just answers to your questions. I'd make an appointment for a chat with your Gp

[ChuckysLoveChild]

If you are bleeding recrally, unexpectedly and you are post operative then yes it is a 999 situation.

[Paperowls]

So what should I do tomorrow? Nothing will get fixed tonight. Do I keep ringing the gynaecology team or go back to my GP? Or give up and accept that I'm going to feel like shite for a very long time, with various new indignities to add to my list?
I wonder if the way that the contraceptive effect is achieved is by making your stomach agony and ruining your bowels. Maybe that's the real reason they don't want to answer my questions.