Laparotomy - Top tips for recovery?

[PJsAreDaywear]

I'm due to have a laparotomy for an endometrioma soon.

I've never been in hospital before. Can anyone give me their top tips on how to prepare, what I should be doing now, what to buy, how to recover well?

At the moment I plan to buy big knickers a size larger than usual, some jogging bottoms, and to batch cook and freeze a load of easy meals to help DH.

I'd love to talk to anyone who has had a similar experience, and if anyone has any tips I'd be very grateful!

Hi PJs

Hope this isn't too much of an essay...

I had my laparotomy in Nov - like you to remove an endometrioma. Mine was unexpected as I was only supposed to be having a laparoscopy but there was some trickiness that meant I had to be opened up. Good that you know in advance so that you can prepare as I'd told work I'd only need a couple of days off and ended up being off for 6 weeks!
Definitely invest in some big granny pants. I sent my OH out to Asda to get me some a few sizes too big and I still ended up stretching them out so that the elastic didn't dig in.

My top tip is just be prepared to ask for help. I had a lot of support from my mum as my OH had to go to work and I couldn't get up the stairs/shower myself etc. without help. I found this tough mentally as I'm a really active person and a keen runner so not being physically strong was hard for me.

Recovery wise, take each day as it comes. get as much rest and sleep as you can and get some food in that you really like. I used it as an excuse to eat chocolate.

Also I had really bad trapped wind as a side effect so invest in some peppermint tea as that was probably more painful than the wound itself!!

hope this helps a bit. You'll be fine and getting rid of the endometrioma has had noticably reduced my endo pain in general. I didn't realise how much I was suffering from it until it had gone.

I'm now having acupuncture which I'd also recommend to help the recovery and for general wellbeing.

Good luck with it all and let me know how you get on x

Hi thesmall thank you so much for your reply... I didn't notice it until today as it didn't show up on my 'threads I'm on' for some reason.

Lots of great advice there, thank you. I think being mentally prepared is really important. Lots of people have said 'oh you'll be fine in a couple of days' and I'm thinking, hmmmm not so sure.

DH is self employed, so he can be flexible to help me but will also probably get called in to work. I do have family who can help too though.

And I've invested in granny knickers and baggy pants. I'm looking forward to getting rid of the pain, although I've been told I may lose an ovary which is scary as I'm to and have no DCs

Thanks again, great advice

Progress...

Hi darl, I had an emergency laparotomy two years ago due to a gunshot wound through my stomach. My complications are due to my situation not just the surgery itself so I know yours will be a lot smoother being a scheduled operation but even so I wanted to give you some advice I wish I knew going in. Laparotomy incisions are prone to infection in most cases. Speak to your surgeon before your operation about any precautions you can take post op for infection. I'm sure options are available such as anti infection medications etc I was released and a couple days later was back due to infection. It was lucky that I was looking in the badage and noticed blood and fluid. So my advice would be to keep an eye on your progress and call the hospital if you notice any symptoms of infection. Other than that you will need to get a lot of rest and have plenty of help as you should stay resting to heal. Loose clothing is a must. Sundresses and robes is what I lived in after my operation and comfy pillows to keep yourself propped up a little and not laying flat! Good luck darl. Take care of yourself :)

Hi, I had a laparotomy over three years ago now. It's fairly big surgery to good to be prepared but it will pass and every day after the op you'll be amazed at how your body lends itself. I do a lot of yoga including hot yoga and was back to it properly about ten to twelve weeks on. I'm going to put some stuff here but do ask me any questions. Currently awaiting a c section in ten days so the recovery stuff has been on my mind!

Afterwards, keep on top of you pain medication, going by the clock not the sensations. It's hard to get back on top of it once you start to hurt and it can leave you ever so sore for an hour or two. Codeine/morphine can constipate and you don't need a hard time doing a poo with stitches! Have some lactulose in stock. The gas can be very uncomfortable and you can't burp or trump it out easily, peppermint is your friend here.

Get pillows in. A nice v shaped one and extra ones to put either side of you at night and over your tummy for driving home and if you do have to cough/sneeze etc.

Take it very easy for the first week or so. You'll be amazed how tired you are but go with it. I was determined to go on slow walks around the block 3-4 days after but I actually burst a stitch and ended up with a large hematoma and delayed recovery. I didn't feel like the walks and should have listened to my body.

My experience was loosely:
Week One: felt pretty pants, needed help with meals, stairs were a real effort, it was very sore to laugh/cough etc, showering was hard.
Week Two: still sore but a lot more energy.
Week Three: still shuffly but had acupuncture and it really really helped. Turned big corner.
Week Four: went on holiday still felt a bit sore and uncomfy but did everything with my family can't remember it hurting all that much after that.

After that I was left with buzzing and tingling and numb feelings and I was aware of it for a good year after but in a presence of it way, rarely pain.

Nothing I put on the scar made any difference to healing and I tried it all!! This time I'll be leaving it to air and nothing else. There was a bit of a bulge over it for a while but it went so don't worry if you see that. Think it was swelling and repairing.

For hospital (and I've been in hospital with this pregnancy for nearly two months now so have expert status) you might think about taking:

Earplugs/eye mask (trust me)
Nice snacks and drinks
Things to freshen you up like facewipes/dry shampoo/perfume.
Tissues for by your bed.
Topped up phone and charger, things to watch on laptop/tablet tv prices are shocking. Headphones.
Nightie not pjs
Super comfy going home stuff, yoga pants with the fold down but are very good but I got a pair from decathlon one size up.
Lip balm hospitals are drier than the Sahara. I've found lanisoh nipple cream the absolute dogs bollocks and have tried all the luxe ones.
Magazines/book.
Pen/paper. Your memory will be shot straight after the general so when you get a debrief having someone to write things down could be useful. Or you could write down questions before ward round.
Towel, nice and fluffy
Dressing gown.

You will be fine and I bet you feel so much better down the line having this addressed.