Hysterectomy. What to take to hospital, how to recover at home ?

[TheDogsMother]

I'm having a hysterectomy next week (and admit I'm pretty scared). I found a really useful thread on here about what to take to hospital eg wipes, bottle of water etc but I can't seem to find it again. Does anyone have any advice on what I should take with me to help feel a bit better when I come round. Also any little changes at home to make recovery a bit easier ? I don't even know if it is even possible to walk upstairs to go to bed ?

I'm not going to lie... it was relaxing. 😂

I had a full hysterectomy 8 years ago and like a PP has said, best thing I ever did!

Yes to having a wee before you go, they wouldn't let me leave until I had done one. The catheter was the worst bit! And the nurse pulling it out!

I wasn't in long but remember my mum saying she was surprised at how well I looked after the op.

I wasn't up and walking for a while except to go to the toilet at home.

It was quite painful for a bit. They sent me home with lots of codeine but I didn't take much as it made me feel a bit sick and sleepy.

Lots of reading and films. Think I had 6 weeks off work - teaching so full on.

Thank you for starting this thread @TheDogsMother I have mine on 15th Jan and I am, well, shitting myself but trying to be calm about it. I've been on the waiting list for almost 2 years and as soon as I got the op date I've been a bit on edge. Thankfully lots to keep me occupied in between (Christmas etc plus am away with my yd for a weeks residential to do with her health) but it is looming ever closer now.

I have bought some liquid lactose from Boots as my letter said about starting that a few days before and taking afterwards to 'help my bowels'
As I sometimes have swallowing issues, especially when a bit stressed, I have bought some soluble pain meds to take in hospital.
I need to buy some wipes just for freshening up. Having stayed in hospital before for a week or so, they were invaluable.
I have been told my stay should be overnight, but it depends if they can do it keyhole as planned or need to do a full cut, then it will be a few days. I am planning for a few days stay.
I have bought some big pants so the waistband doesn't irritate the wounds. I have also bought some lounge trousers in the M&S men's pj sale which will allow for some bloating.
I will be taking some books, a puzzle book and maybe some adult colouring books to keep me occupied.
I have also got my hair cut as it had got a bit too long and I wanted something a bit more manageable, but that's a more personal thing rather than a need.

I really hope your op goes well💐

I had keyhole, and a lot of debulking. Endo everywhere. No gas pain, but I was given a full bowel prep the day before, they also gave me a spinal block as well as general anaesthetic - the anaesthetist said I’d be totally pain free - I was! Never took a painkiller. Best thing I ever did!

@longtompot Wishing you the best. So we have a 9th Jan, 15th and 17th. We have enough for a January hysterectomy club. Would love to stay in touch to see how we are all doing @Unex

I had laparoscopic total hysterectomy 6 weeks ago. After the initial pain and discomfort I feel amazing.
I could have stayed overnight but they were happy to let me go and I was happy to leave.
I had a big fleece I wore with massive pockets for room for phone, remote, ALL the types of windeze, deflatine and painkillers.
I'm not going to lie - the pain from the gas was horrid - especially in your shoulder blades. But the painkillers do help. I took loads of biscopan / peppermint tea - whatever works for you. That did just last for a few days and then for me it was tiredness snd discomfort. I was well behaved and did no lifting etc - in the long run that does help. I was out the next day on a very slow shuffling walk - that also helped my bowels to wake up and with the trapped wind.
Good luck - I'm so so glad I eventually got mine done - I had to wait for months.

I was just about to mention this!
I have not had a hysterectomy but have had two c sections.The last one was 51 years ago, in those days they used the longitudinal or classical incision.I remember the wind pain afterwards very well!

Good luck Op. I had.mine last October and it was really straightforward. I was given some pre-op drinks to have the night and morning before because evidence shows it hastens recovery so if you haven't been offered them maybe ask. Post op I just tried to sleep asich as possible but it is difficult with all the comings and goings in the ward. I forced myself up the next morning as soon as my catheter was out and drank a decent amount of water. They want to make sure your bladder is working before they let you home. Just take it easy, listen to your body and eat plenty of roughage and take.your laxatives.

Pillow or cushion for between you and the seatbelt in the car on the way home. Also good to have to hand if you need to cough!

The other thing I found useful was some sucky sweets - I think I had foxes glacier fruits! My mouth got quite dry so they were nice to have.

best of luck - I was terrified but it was life-changing in a great way.

Thank you @Phonedown. I have been given those drinks so hopefully they will help recovery.

In hospital PJ's or possibly a nightdress. Dressing robe. Wipes. Several bottles of water and pouches of fresh juice in case constipated. Magazine. Phone charger on a long charging cable. Snacks. Headphones. Eye blinds as in hospital it's too light to sleep at night. Toiletries. Toothbrush/toothpaste. Clothes/underwear. Peppermint tea sachets, peppermints and ginger biscuits for gas pains. Also you can buy an electric cushion you plug in and it's warm and comforting. Before you go into hospital make several
Freezer meals: fish pie, shepherd's pie, lasagne, Bolognese in portion sizes. You can just pull out a portion each day and microwave with vegetables. Have plenty of shopping in so you don't need to go out fetching milk, bread or food.

Has anyone mentioned not driving for a while? They'll tell you how long.

Oh yes - big pants made a difference afterwards. 'Full briefs' covered everything but were a bit embarrassing.

Am I the only one who had to do daily injections afterwards into the belly😱? I hated those.

Good luck to everyone. I also had cancer in the lining of the womb, but I've been all clear for 3 years so far.

Lockets! My throat was really sore from the tube

Love hearts are great for trapped wind (which tbh was the worst bit)

A pillow for the journey home, every bump feels like a major pothole so it helps to have between abdomen and lap part of the seatbelt

Eye mask and ear plugs to try and get some sleep

And a bottle of water with a straw, much easier to manage than cups and jugs

Oh and echo pp recommendation of Hysterectomy Sisters fb group. It really was invaluable in the lead up and afterwards and there are lots of materials on there (like hospital lists!)

Rennie deflatine & peppermint oil capsules for the gas. Something light to eat when you come back from theatre, I took a tray of watermelon & one of mango. Something loose to go home in, if you are getting picked up I recommend going home in pjs, dressing gown & a coat over the top, then you don't have to mess around changing when you get home, take some slip on shoes or ugg boots, a folded blanket or towel to put under your seat belt. Have some peppermint tea bags at home. Get yourself moving ASAP, the more you move, the quicker the gas will dissolve. Have painkillers in at home, co-codamol & Ibuprofen, a heat pad or hot water bottle & get some waterproof dressings, I had a drain when I came back from theatre & even after it was removed it kept on draining for 48 hours. Don't forget some sanitary pads, as you will probably have light bleeding for at least a week.

Thank you so much everyone. I'm off out with my shopping list now.

@ifIwerenotanandroid Thank you and I'm so pleased you've stayed well.

Good luck OP. I had endometrial cancer too, aged 48. Nearly 4 years on, and I'm fine too.

That's so good to hear @Pushkinini

Thankyou so much for this thread! I got told yesterday that I need a full hysterectomy. I have a hearing impairment so struggled to hear all the details as he was talking to his screen alot, after a few times getting him to look and repeat it became tricky so i am hoping that information may come in the post? he has said its marked as urgent and expects within 4 weeks, i noticed a few people were written as urgent, can you remember how long it was roughly to wait? I am making a mental list of everything on this thread. I hope all goes well to you all who are having this done this month. it would be handy if you all let us know how things go as we will be thinking about you! (not very mumsnetty, i know but i will be!)

I had a lap hyster 14 years aged 31 after diagnosis of womb cancer. The thing that my consultant said to me which has stayed with me was to remember that although the cuts are small externally you have to remember that it is still major surgery on the inside so listen to your body and dont be tempted to do lifting etc too soon. So far touch wood I've remained cancer free. For me it was definitely the mental health side of things I found trickiest due to my age and losing my fertility so young and prechildren.
There are some great fb pages and groups as well that can offer support.

Thank you @groundhogday2day. I'll definitely report back. After my biopsy, MRI and x Ray the consultant called me on 22nd Dec and my surgery is on the 9th. She thought it might be a six week wait so this is surprisingly quick.

Good luck with yours. I hope you get a date soon.

@reallynow1 I'm so pleased you've stayed cancer free but the diagnosis must have been hard to take at such a young age.

I had a total abdominal hysterectomy at end of November and can honestly say it was a million times easier than I expected. My advice would be listen to your body and don't compare your recovery to anyone else's (so easy to go down a rabbit hole of problems on the internet) Do all they tell you and if you can get up and showered and dressed each day as makes you felt better. I can honestly say I feel better than in years. Best of luck. PS a pillow (for under the seatbelt) for car journey home was brilliant