Having hysterectomy - help me get organised!

[itsgettingweird]

Finally after years of awful periods and taking northisterone I'm having a hysterectomy in a few weeks.

Laparoscopic vaginal surgery.

I'm early 40's and wouldn't be having more children anyway as Carey a faulty gene that made ds disabled. Keeping my ovaries.

I'm already struggling with how I'll cope emotionally as my mums died just a few weeks ago. Although so I'm happy to get it done.

Practically what do I need to prepare?

I'm thinking sachets of coffee. Easy food such as biscuits handy for if I need to eat but don't feel hungry (iyswim?)

Fibre-gel? I've heard constipation can be an issue.

Fresh juices?

I'll make dinners for freezer as will need to do ds dinner and can just heat up for first few days.

What about bleeding afterwards? How heavy is it likely to be? When I had periods I'd flood maternity pads through a tampon in a hour. The amount of bleeding is the thing that's most haunting me about recovery as I think it'll trigger awful memories and I'll worry about how long I'll bleed for. (I need daily for 8 months and it left me pretty ill)

I've heard most people say they have been fine after 4-5 days with this surgery and I was driving and carrying ds in a sling 6 days after a c section - so I'm hoping I will be able to take walks after a few days? Or am I just kidding myself 🤦‍♀️

Any advice tips or experiences greatly received.

I had a hip to hip abdominal hysterectomy and was up and walking /sitting within 48 hours. So my advice may not be relevant - Take all the pain relief they allow you to.
I was told to not lift anything heavier than a CUP of tea for the first 6 weeks. My car insurance wouldn’t cover me for 12 weeks or the post op check up, whichever came first. As a passenger, I put a rolled up towel between my scar and the seat belt to spread the pressure.
Batch cook and fill your freezer with easy to re heat meals. Don’t be tempted to snack on biscuits etc - empty calories./weight gain. Try fresh fruit instead. (So wish I had adhered to this!)
light, easy to wear cloths without tight waistbands, slip on shoes, for going home. Bleeding was lighter than a normal period. I found granny pants were a huge comfort like a hug.
It was the best thing to happen to me, and I’m sure others will have better tips.
good luck.

I've read my car insurance documents and all it says is about not driving if on drugs (even prescribed) that can impair you. Unless I'm looking in wrong place!

I had EMcS with ds and was ok and up walking after 48 hours and ok within a week day to day. This isn't as invasive from my understanding.

And yes to fresh fruit and juice. I plan to have plenty of that available with quark as protein will fill me up.

I don't usually eat biscuits etc but was thinking if peckish but not hungry as such 1 or 2 would quell this? Would flapjack or something be better?

Have you got supermarket delivery account ?

I have the Asda pass.

Suggest movicol rather than fybogel. It softens things rather than adds bulk.
Mint tea and windeeze. To get rid of trapped wind.

Have everything you need upstairs and downstairs so you're not having to go up and down unnecessarily.

@itsgettingweird no it’s won’t be in the policy. My consultant suggested I rang and asked. I was then told what the policy would be and had it confirmed via a letter.
I felt it was worth doing as suggested, as I am the sort of person who would have an accident and then discover I wasn’t insured.
The insurance company stated that it might be decided I was driving with a known physical impairment - basically subconsciously I would want to protect myself from further injury, and not react quickly enough - which given even being a passenger felt like the seatbelt was an instrument of torture, would probably have been true.

@itsgettingweird
yes, you may find that your procedure is much easier on your body than my zipper style surgery. Hence me saying my advice might not be relevant - but plan for the worst and it’ll seem like a walk in the park!

I had one a few years ago.

if you have keyhole surgery, then the recovery period is a lot better than hysterectomies of our parents (or grandparents).

I was given six weeks to recover, but felt fairly normal after two. I had to be careful not to lift or carry heavy stuff, or to hoover, but could do everyday normal things.

Definately get laxatives, jelly babies, etc as that was one of the hardest things (plus the wind pain that ended in your shoulder).

yes to loose clothes, batch cooking, etc

i took walks quite soon after the op and built it up slowly, but could walk 1-2 miles fairly quickly.

I live in a first floor flat. So once up the stairs when home is all on one level!

I had a laproscopic hysterectomy last October. It's one of the best things I've ever done!!!! Barely any bleeding post surgery, a few dots on a panty liner on the day of surgery then nothing at all, absolutely nothing. The most discomfort I had was bowel movements, I'm guessing everything was a bit bruised from rummaging around in there!! That passed after about 4-5 days. I took the advice of the surgeon regards activity however felt I could have been more active as I felt so good!!! Good luck and PM me if you have any questions x

What about bleeding afterwards? How heavy is it likely to be?

My understanding is that bleeding will be nil as you won't have a uterus anymore! Where do you think the blood comes from?

And do you pelvic floor exercises!!!!!!!!!!!

@Riverlee cheeky!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I wanted to go home the day after surgery but they made me stay in two nights. Not going to lie, there is certainly some discomfort, especially if you have to wait 4 hours after you should have had pain relief!! BUT it does ease remarkably quickly. Honestly I was thrilled with how quick it went. The occasional “ouch” as a reminder I’d had an op if I overstretched or moved too sharply.

bleeding Is practically nothing, I was expected to wake up with a huge pad & be flooding with blood. I later found out, a couple of weeks later when I had a sudden alarming gush of blood, that the reason for practically no bleeding post op is that you are so swollen inside no bleeding could come out! When the swelling finally goes down you may then lose some blood.

I stopped the Co codamol as soon as I got home, constipation is an issue due to the morphine and co codamol contributes to it as well so dulcoease (NOT Dulcolax) or fybogel is ideal to have in stock. I was just on paracetamol for the first week at home then didn’t need anything. You will be on blood thinning injections for a couple of weeks. Do not drink alcohol as this thins the blood further.

WALK DAILY. This was the best thing I did. The advice I got was to walk 5 mins every day the first week as soon as you get back home. Even if you don’t want to, make sure you go out and walk round the block, up and down the street or wherever. Every week add an extra 5 mins so that by the end of 6 weeks you are walking 30 mins a day. And do your daily PFE.

I was actually making dinner and loading the dishwasher the day after I got home, though that says a lot about how awful my household are when I need looking after! I had no problems making a cuppa and a sandwich so not sure you will need coffee sachets rather than a jar. High protein aids post op recovery so plan meals accordingly.

when you pack your bag pack flip flops for the shower, headphones, earplugs because you can’t sleep in hospital it’s so noisy, and put frequently used items - lip balm, little pack of tissue, mints or whatever- in a tie handle sandwich bag. That way, when you want something from the bedside locker you can just reach and grab a handle and lift the little bag to you. It saves you having to try to twist and rummage for a little item.

My hysterectomy has been life changing. I hope it all goes smoothly for you. Sorry for your loss

Err, why cheeky?

I had keyhole last summer, had the op at 4, walked to the other end of the hospital to wait for a taxi home at midday the following day. No time for a shower, they got me out fast!
Minimal bleeding. Trapped wind was excruciating but passed after a few days. The exhaustion was crushing and I had naps every few hours for the first week. I had 2 weeks off work, then back full-time although didn't drive till 6 weeks.

I had mine at 38. Lap/vaginal. Stayed one night in hospital. Recovery was super quick. The first few days were quite painful but by day 5 I was able to work from home, was driving after a week and went on holiday to Center parcs after 2 weeks. Had 3 weeks off work although could have gone back after 2. Minimal bleeding afterwards. Totally life changing.

Thanks.

All so positive and just how I'm expecting to be after recovering well from a c section.

The driving is the 1 thing I want (need) back quickly but it seems most can drive after a week so that's good.

Great news about bleeding. I was thinking I'd have to buy bags and bags of maternity pads like my period days. But possibly a pack in case and period pants will suffice?

My to buy list is

Protein rich foods, Windeeze, dulcolease (although I have buscopan and wonder if it's the same thing?) and lots of fruit juice and strawberries and grapes!

Peppermint tea! The wind is something else. I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy, ovaries removed as well, in 2020. Recovery time was pretty quick. I was gently walking within a day or two and properly mobile within a couple of weeks. For hospital get a long phone lead, a cushion to protect your tummy from the seatbelt on the drive home, and once at home don't lift anything.

I'm confused about why people are talking of trapped wind. The gas is in your abdominal cavity. It passes into your blood and you breathe it out.

The shoulder pain - referred pain from the pressure on the diaphragm - is disconcerting if they fail to warn you about it beforehand. I thought they had injured me moving me from my bed to the operating table!

That's handy to know.

I think knowing expect the pain is the important thing so - like you - you don't worry it's something else!

The bleeding comes from the surgery and having the uterus and possibly the cervix removed. It's very minimal though,

Oh yes, I had forgotten about the excruciating shoulder pain. So bizarre and was the worst thing about the recovery. The actual keyhole surgery points were nothing compared to this. I had 3 weeks off work but could have gone back after 2.
I milked it for all it's worth as my DH is a bit lazy when it comes to household stuff. He did everything for 6 weeks. I think I was driving after 4 weeks.
Please do take it easy and DO NOT do any lifting or anything strenuous if you don't have to. My friend burst her stitches emptying the dishwasher too soon after surgery. You might feel ok but your insides will be very delicate for a few weeks.

The bleeding comes from the surgery and having the uterus and possibly the cervix removed. It's very minimal though.

Yes, like blood leaking through a bandage, not flooding period blood.

OP my experience is that period pants are quite tight so they might be uncomfortable on your abdomen? I guess it depends on where they go in from.

Mine are the big granny pants M and s ones!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

Did a wheat bag or tens machine help with the shoulder pain? Is it that sort of pain?

With regards lifting I won't be any of that. Shopping is delivered and ds can sort it. Ds can hand out washing too.

My job is a role that has very physical side and an admin side. Work have been great and are willing for return to admin only (education so would be until end of term) if I'm well enough.

I can’t say that I had any shoulder pain - not even when I had any of my 3 laparoscopies.
Those just made me fart and burp more than usual as the gas disappeared.
Good call on granny pants!