Robotic hysterectomy - any advice, please?

[GlitteringCBeams]

Hello - I’m booked in next week for a robotic hysterectomy. They’re taking the full shebang - ovaries, uterus, cervix. I’m dreading it but have accepted that it’s necessary. I have two young children and I’m really worried about looking after them in the first couple of weeks post-op - I have a DH but he often travels for work, which is unavoidable. Thankfully my employer is fine, and happy to give me whatever leave I need, but am I likely to recover quickly, or should I expect to be laid low for a bit? Any tips you can give me would be appreciated too.

A very good friend had a robotic hysteroscopy a couple of years ago. She stayed with a friend (she lives alone) for a week, but was ok to look after herself after that. It is major surgery, even robotically. You’ll need some looking after.

The most difficult part of her recovery was getting the HRT levels right to manage the surgical menopause.

Its major surgery. You won't be able to drive for 4/6 weeks. No lifting, carrying etc. Who will be helping you with the dc when your dp is away?

You should rest as much as you possibly can, try and avoid lifting anything, expect to be swollen and bruised for a while, arnica can help with bruising.

Have you ever had a c section? Physical recovery is similar, hormones as tricky.

Okay so it sounds like I’ll need someone to be around for the first week at least - I’ll put a travel ban in place for DH!

I’ve had a C-section so it’s actually reassuring that a comparison is being made, as I found that easy enough. But then, I was in a new-baby-bubble which was a lovely distraction!

Does anyone know if they send you home with heavy-duty painkillers? Or is it manageable with paracetamol?

I’ve had similarly major surgery (a laparoscopic robotic LAR). Your DH needs to take minimum 3 weeks (preferably 6) off work to look after you and the children.

Three weeks, @Truinio? I don’t think he can! Certainly not as paid leave, anyway. I think he could probably swing refusing travel and working from home for the three weeks, so maybe that’s the sensible thing to ask him to do.

I’m starting to think I may have been a little too casual about this op!

If you have children he can take ordinarily or shared parental leave.

(Not me but an elderly family member) wasn’t given any painkillers at all, and wasn’t asked if there would be anyone at home to look after them. I seem to think she was given 28 days supply of injections to be self-administered, to help prevent blood clots.

Yep, standard to have oramorph and IV paracetamol while recovering in hospital and then just advised to take paracetamol at home. To be honest pain with laparoscopic abdominal surgery is generally not that bad after the first couple of days (when you get the oramorph). You also get a month supply of heparin to self-inject.

If you don’t get help for the first 4 weeks at least, you will do damage and then you will need help for a lot longer