Hysterectomies - it's gotta be done but over here for hand holding PART 3

[LackaDAISYcal]

New Thread...
Over here for the hand holding

One in five women in the uk will have to have a hysterectomy at some point in their lives

Come and join us if you are waiting, pre-op, bleery eyed on the ward or recovering afterwards or just need a bit of advice.

finally getting a chance to catch up. Looks like everybody is recovering more or less swiftly. & Good luck to those whose op is imminent.

And a heads up to all the tummy sleepers... I'm week 5 post op and can sleep on my tummy again [cheer]. Though I suspect if you had full abdominal then it might take longer (I had a laparoscopic gutting)

I've gotten a bit more active, which after a short burst of energy then results in me parking myself on the sofa watching DS9 reruns :)

Supposed to go back to work on 24/6 and I guess I should be alright as it's a sedentary job. Doc follow up is on the 23rd. Just a bit worried about the 1h bus ride each way.

Did my first solo shopping trip yesterday (need bigger clothes to tie me over, as above mentioned parking on the sofa somehow has attracted an extra size...) Didn't quite manage to get everything I wanted. After 3 tops and a jacket later, the jeans shop seemed to far away and I limped back home.

This morning I braved my first solo grocery shop and got some odd looks from staff when I bagged up my stuff... 2kg/bag as that's my weight limitation for lifting.

This afternoon I shall attempt another foray to the jeans shop. It's getting cooler here and my summer trousers don't quite cut it.

That gives me hope MrsBigD. I'm beginning to get fed up of relying on everyone, especially as the sun is shining and I want to get out of these 4 walls! So much for me saying I can't wait to sit and do nothing .
My tummy decided to come back to life a bit last night and was really itchy, fortunately nowhere near my wound. With regard to sleeping I have managed to sleep on my side for the past week without pillow support. I've just nabbed a bit more of the duvet and tucked it under. That will teach dh for snoring .

I've managed to get my jeans on, and done them up, but not worn them yet as I don't think they'd be very comfortable. I'm pissed off wearing comfort-clothes. It took me a lot of hard work to lose 3 stone this past year, and I updated my whole wardrobe accordingly, but not got round to buying spring/summer items, so I'm wearing too-big tops and not very flattering too big leggings until I'm back to more normal proportions and can buy clothes to fit me.

I considered going out for a short walk yesterday, but the thought tired me out and I slept for almost 2 hours!

How did you find pushing the trolley about, MrsBigD?

Well done for your DS pizza. Can I ask where in W Yorks? PM me if you'd rather. I'm in Leeds!

16 days post op, I have managed a slow walk around a supermarket today holding the trolley. I just wanted to get out. It was only twenty minutes.

Still sore with bulbous belly and needing to lie down a lot. Back for my three week check next week. My bowels seem to have given up, am necking the Movicol but doesn't always work. I need some more.

Hope everyone is ok xx

Morning everyone,
you're doing well now, Scarlett. Apart from your bowel issue - that's not good, hat will be adding to your discomfort for sure.

I went for a quick shop when DH got home from work yesterday, walking is a lot easier, and I was even able to hold DD's hand. She rarely walks more than a few steps without skipping/trying to veer off course, but last night she looked after me ;)

After a shower today I'm going to try to getting on a cup to town. Not sure what to do when I'm there, but will probably involve cake, coffee and finding a salon for a pedicure. I meant to book one before surgery, another thing those waiting for theirs might consider?

Arf at cup into town - bus!

I've got lovely shiny red gel toenails and I've got to remove them Sunday night . Hate "naked" toes in summer.

Notapizza, I hate nude nails too, and keep them very short. I normally do them at home, but just can't reach them all in one sitting, maybe if I do two a day I'll manage

How are you feeling about next week, how's your home prep going?

Good luck with the bus trip Jenny .
This weeks aims were to rest and not push myself, so that tonight I will be able to take ds1 (and the rest of the family ) out for a celebratory end of G.C.S.E. meal. The first part of the plan has been easy, will report back tomorrow on the second.
Good to hear you are out and about a bit Scarlett.
Annie if you are still reading this, hope you are feeling a bit better this week and get some well earned rest this weekend.
Looking back through this thread defineme had her op the day after me. Hope you are getting on OK if you are still lurking .

All this talk about toenails has reminded me of something I wanted to ask - what's the situation re socks post-op? I saw someone recommended bed socks if you don't like having cold feet (which I don't) but I would have thought putting socks on would be difficult. When I saw my sister-in-law earlier this week she said she couldn't get socks on for ages after she had an abdominal op to remove a cyst.

Off for blood-matching this morning, then to pick up my v-shaped pillow. "In case of emergency" info given to DH (he was horrified, but I feel better knowing I don't have to worry about it), relaxing music downloaded onto iPod in case of spinal anaesthetic, hospital stuff on spare bed ready to pack, hair cut shorter to make it easier to look after. Have I forgotten anything?

DH put my socks on for the first week, after that I could manage. Yes to having an easier to manage haircut, best thing I did pre-op . So mints to suck, if you are not going down the peppermint tea route (I couldn't due to allergies), the nurses made me a warm water drink instead. Nighties have been a godsend, as have big pants (although I had them already ). Some wet wipes to freshen up the first day might also be helpful.

I had hideous wonderful NHS issue compression socks on the whole time of my stay, so by the time I went home I was glad to wear nothing for a while. I was able to put on socks myself after about a week, but slip on shoes are so much easier so it's been those and slippers about the house for me.

V shaped pillow is good idea, and maybe think about taking your favourite one from home in? I find it need pillows either side of me if I'm sitting up in bed, the pulling on your tummy just having your arms dangling is quite intense, and you can't rest them on your tummy either.

mary - I have peppermint capsules, peppermint cordial and peppermint teabags. They'll be able to power a small wind farm from the side of my bed.
Wet wipes (tick), even bigger pants (tick), button front nightshirts (tick).
Jenny - good point re the socks. I'm told I will have compression socks and self-inflating boots when I come out of surgery.
Just had blood taken (ouch!) so next time I'm here will be for the main event.

Take earplugs!

Oh my goodness, yes! The boots! I had those but was too out of it to realise what they were, I thought I'd woken up after an accident and thought it was in plaster

Don't watch Casualty - put that on your list

I found the boots weirdly comforting, as I'm sure in my post-op, drugged up haze I found it difficult to move my legs. Or maybe it was because of them that I couldn't .
A good book to read while you are waiting to go down to theatre helped too. I was in a room on my own, so no-one to talk to.

I'm sort of ready, I'm bridesmaid tomorrow for my sister so in panic mode about the three tier cake I have to finish icing (and a VW camper van cake for the groom ) all needs doing tonight !

I have bed socks, big knickers, nightshirts, pull on bras (for surgery - can't have underwired and I'm HUGE of nork so need something) dressing gown, slip in slippers, peppermint oil capsules, arnica tablets, wipes, makuni honey, books, ipad ...... And seemingly loads of other stuff

Good Lord pizza - are you Superwoman or something? Best of luck getting the cakes iced and everything else ready for tomorrow & I hope you have a fab time! With luck at least part of the day won't be dominated by thoughts of your op.

Self inflating boots ?

Sounds busy but lovely, notapizza. Good luck with the cakes
You're in for such a treat, ginge ;)

Oh fill me in Jenny please ?
I have my appt with my surgeon tommorrow at 2.45. Shall I ask him ?

I have very vague recollections of almost consciousness and realising I had inflatable moon boots on. No idea what they were for - assuming circulation - and only very scant memory of them being removed. Like I said before, their presence induced some pretty weird dreams

Only just remembered them today

Weird stuff !

We had some of those on years ago in a spa ! People pay for the privilege. They sort of inflate bottom up squeezing the foot, then ankle, then calf etc etc. brilliant for circulation, presumably that's why you had them on. I fell asleep with them on at the spa