Big op in 4 weeks

[Cysco]

Hi ,4 weeks today I am booked in for a hysterectomy, with ovaries removal due to a large ovarian cyst and other issues. Has anyone any recommendations of pre or post op advice? Thanks 😀

Cold packs for the wound site - you can buy from the pharmacy, and a pillow to cover your belly when you cough or go to the toilet.
Sodium docusate laxative to have in post op and drink lots of fluids to prevent uti and constipation.
Chewing gum and peppermint tea for post op gas pain, take in to the hospital.
ibuprofen and paracetamol to have in post op
Big knickers which cover wound site
No lifting or bending at all post op. Walking only, a bit more every day.

If you will be on your own for all or parts of your recovery order cook ready meals for the freezer - the microwave ones are best.

If you have help think about a flask for coffee - I was bemused that I could not lift a kettle for weeks.

Try to critically look at the house and get ready - such as having the stuff you need at waist height to reduce bending.

Long simple nightshirts that are easy to get off and slippers and shoes you don't need to bend to.

Have entertainment sorted - kindle or TV apps on your phone.

Finally, if you can try to have something to look forward to ...

If you can't plan anything to look forward to then hopefully being pain free in a few months time will be enough incentive.

Good luck - hopefully the ideas you get from here will keep you too busy to think about the surgery

Hi OP, can’t offer any advice, but I’m going in next Tuesday for a total hysterectomy (full abdominal incision) so want to offer solidarity. I’ll pop back on here, once able to and will see if there is anything else I can suggest. I went for my pre-op yesterday and got some really good general advice from the nurse, including some leaflets on what and what not to do on a week by week basis.

Thanks for this. I'm abdo too keyhole hopefully, depending on this cyst. Best of luck next week xx

Thanks for all these tips xx

Thankyou, I need to get some big pants in xx

Check out the hystasister's forum - lots of good advice on there.

I had total including ovaries in Feb, via large abdominal incision (fibroids) and it wasn't much fun. Don't skimp on pain relief, make sure you go for a poo before you leave hospital if possible, and be easy on yourself. And do not push yourself physically - even if you think it's daft because you're feeling good, follow the schedule for getting back into physical activity.

When you walk/shuffle around, try using a folded up towel as a pad to hold against your tummy. Clothing which is loose around the tummy - either no knickers, or big knickers - my DH had to pop out to M&S to buy the biggest ones he could find! I had to wear a pad for 3-4 weeks after because I had some post op complication and bleeding, otherwise knicker free would've been the way forward !

After the scar has healed, I'm finding silicon gel is really good at helping it fade.

I found it helpful to keep a journal (brief or verbose!) to track progress - it helped me see how I was progressing and making big steps forwards.

Also - have you talked to them about HRT or anything, as it's ovary removal too?

Also a good shout on the laxatives - I think they sent me home with lactulose which didn't do anything helpful, then I had something else which name has escaped me - which you make up into a drink a few times a day, which helped a bit.

But don't do what I did, and ignore the lack of poo for too long, because it ended up being quite problematic.

Oh and pack an eye mask and ear plugs for the hospital !

Hi OP, I had a prolapse repair in the summer.

I found it astonishing that I couldn't lift the milk out of the fridge door. I had to get DH to fill a small milk jug each morning.

I couldn't do the coffee machine either (espresso machine with a batista style handle) so had to rely on tea for a few days.

I also got dreadfully constipated despite 30g of fibre and 4L of water each day.

I should have started the lactulose and sennakot plus much sooner, but the lactulose made me want to be sick..

Also I can't eat at all after surgery. I had a private room so took nuts and bananas in case I got hungry and to avoid eating a meal in bed as the idea of eating sitting up in bed also made me feel like puking!

Definitely have HRT. Going into a surgical menopause is brutal.

I am over a month in after my surgery but you don’t need to hear my horror story as I am one of the few people who suffered with severe complications from this.

Echoing what all the other people on here are saying. Don’t underestimate anything: it’s a big operation and takes time to get over.

Best of luck to you and anyone else on here who is having this surgery. 🩷

Ha I am still wearing mine 6 months post op !

You might want to have a chat with a women's physio before and after the operation about how best to maintain pelvic floor function.

Please take the advice about not overdoing things. My mum overdid it and developed a hernia which meant another surgery to correct.
She felt good but did too much.

Wish you all the best for a good recovery.

Thankyou I have just emailed a local women's physio.

Thankyou. I am sorry to hear you had problems. It is starting to sink in the seriousness of it, which is good I think , as I was a bit burying my head in the sand.
I'm on HRT already so that's good 👍

Thankyou, I will make sure I have a good stock of laxatives and start taking them post surgery

I have ordered a cool pack, big pants and chewing gum thanks 😊

Thanks, I am struggling to register with the hystersisters, I need to tick a box that I can't find 😫, but I can still look at it

It is a serious op - I was a bit blasé before mine. "Just whip it out" type mentality. It's a biggie though.

I was on HRT already, but it obviously removes pretty much all the hormones overnight, so any residual stuff you were still making, is gone. So you might need to tweak it.

Definitely that. Bowel stuff is what caused my complications.

From memory it took me a while to figure it out too - I think there might've been an email that just never arrived, or something.

Hello. Just updating after my operation on Tuesday. Back home, sore but okay and had a decent sleep for the first time! In terms of practical advice, things I can add are a power bank to charge up your phone a couple of times whilst in and definitely peppermint or fennel tea for the gas. I was given movicol and senna from the day after operation and have been sent home with three weeks supply - hoping to see some results today! If you want to DM me Op, more than happy to chat whilst everything is fresh in mind. Otherwise hope it all goes smoothly for you.

Def keep an eye on the bowel stuff - after a week or more I hadn't seen any progress and ended up with some complications. I had something which bulked it up (I can't remember the name) - don't just take any old laxative - I think bowel contractions aren't necessarily a good thing in the early stages of recovery.

I will - had a horrendous time with constipation after complicated delivery of my eldest 20 years ago. Do not want to go there again!

Ginger ale to sip when feeling sick can be very comforting.
Good luck 🍀