I’m day 5 post op open myomectomy for 10 cm fibroid. They kept me in one night and discharged me the next day. (I went in at 7 am, last food permitted was 2.30 am, last water 6.30am. I was second on the list and went to theatre at 10.30am).
So they offered me a spinal anaesthetic on the morning of the operation as they said it would speed up recovery. I guess that’s true -for them -because the real pain kicked in end of day 1 when I was already at home! ( op day - day 0, next day- day 1). Once they gave the spinal I had the GA. The usual post GA stuff - I’m always sick, nauseated- everyone’s different so just go by how she’s been after any previous GAs and let them know beforehand if anti sickness meds are needed.
The rest of that day is a bit of a blur, I was quite sick and slept most of it, there wasn’t a lot of pain because of the spinal and the catheter meant I didn’t need to get up so actually it was ok. I managed a bit of toast and tea but that was all I had that day. They put up fluids for me because I was sick. They also gave iv antibiotics, a blood thinner to prevent blood clots and tranexamic acid to prevent vaginal haemorrhaging.
So Day 1 they removed the catheter and said that I had to pass urine 3 times and each time they measured the volume and did a bladder scan to make sure the bladder was emptying. If I could pass urine 3 times without retaining too much I could go home. Pain relief was just paracetamol.They did post op bloods and said they look fine so you are definitely going home once you have passed the TWOC( trial without catheter). They weren’t bothered about bowels as long as passing wind. They didn’t make any suggestions for future bowel motions.
I went home later that day with 10 days of blood thinners to inject into tummy. I was told to buy my own pain medication.
By the end of day 1 I was in a lot of pain and had quite a swollen belly. I really needed to open my bowels but it was too painful and I couldn’t get the force I needed. That made me really bloated and gave me cramps and more pain.
My recommendations would be:
- think about your daughters bowel habits, I’m used to going every day so I felt really uncomfortable when I couldn’t go every day. For other people it may not be such a problem. I would recommend dulcoease stool softeners - I’m taking two or three a day- and I wish I had started taking them the day before the operation because that first bowel evacuation after the op was sooo painful. My mum said in the old days they used to give an enema before having a baby etc and I can see why! I also needed glycerine suppositories the first few days and I got a small step to rest my feet on when sitting on the toilet as it helped reduce abdominal tension when pushing.
- the hospital was determined I was going home the next day. In the end I was probably better off at home but at the time I felt it was a bit too soon and I had expected to stay in 2 nights minimum, so clarify with the surgeon what the usual length of stay is. They give the spinal for enhanced pain control in the hospital but it will have worn off completely by the end of day 1. I suppose it’s better than being on a morphine pump but it’s a good idea to discuss with the consultant - I didn’t do that.
- you’re going to need loads of extra pillows in bed to sit up and suppport legs when sleeping. The first few nights are horrible as trying to turn in bed is agony. Think about whether your daughter has high or low pain threshold. I don’t tolerate codeine / opiates as they make me sick so I’m on paracetamol but to be honest that’s not a fantastic pain killer so ask for better pain meds if she can tolerate stronger. Then back to point 1 , make sure not to get constipated!
- I bought disposable spa knickers to wear and lots of pads for discharge/ bleeding.
Forgot to say that the stitches are dissolvable. And the surgeon said no need to see him again for follow up unless the histology results are unexpected/ concerning.
Someone else mentioned that laughing is painful, as it coughing and sneezing so don’t do that because it does hurt!!!
Someone else also mentioned that any pregnancies would have to be elective c-section at approx 37/38 weeks which is what I was told too.
I was told that because my fibroid had gone all the way into the endometrial lining ( ie there was a hole on my uterus that they had to close up) that future periods would be very heavy and painful for up to 6 months so I’m going to stay on the Depo injections for now as they stop my periods and I only get spotting. Obvs it might be different for your daughter.
Sick note is for 4 weeks. The consultant said that if you have to use 2 hands to hold or lift something then it’s too heavy and avoid exercise / strenuous activity for 4-6 weeks. Driving is posssible sooner than that. At the moment any turning really pulls on my stitches and I can’t imagine being to drive for at least another week or maybe 2.
I’m up and about at home but haven’t ventured out yet.
Hope some of that helps ! Good luck
( People are asking why open myomectomy and not laparoscopy or embolisation etc. My Consultant told me that if I wanted laparoscopy I had to be referred to a different centre, if I wanted embolisation I had to be referred to another, different centre.I had already waited 18 months to be seen so I didn’t chose those options, the post code lottery still exits and depending on where you are in the UK you may have access to all or only some of the available treatment options at your hospital and that’s before individual clinical considerations are brought to bear)