What should I expect before and after an NHS hysterectomy?

[Borderline77]

Hello,
I'm having a hysterectomy in 2 weeks time on the NHS, they'll take everything out.
I think abdominal surgery😣
I never had an operation before , do I get to ask questions to the surgeon before they take me to the dungeon ?
they won't send me home the same day, right? I think 1 or 2 nights is the norm to stay at the hospital
do I need to bring pyjamas or the gown they give is ok?

is it really painful afterwards? how soon can I walk around?

thank you

Hi OP,

I can answer some of the questions, but not all as I had mine done privately (same NHS surgeon I would have had, but I have private medical through work)

I had open abdominal, and I stayed in for 2 nights. I went down about 2pm in the afternoon and wasn't back up until about 8pm. The catheter came out the next day and I had to empty my bladder on my own at least 3 times before they were happy.

Honestly, it's incredibly painful - even with the drugs. The worst pain for me was the wind/bowel pain. I recommend buscopan and plenty of lactulose for this.

The worst for me was the first week. After that things got easier and I was more independent and mobile.

Things that I used/needed:

Heat pad from Amazon - great for back and tummy (better than a hot water bottle)
Maternity pillow
Cuddle pillow
Big comfy pants that are high waisted - I got mine from Primark. Also get a size bigger than normal
Maternity pj's / joggers - I struggled (and still do) having anything tight around my tummy
Sanitary pads - the hospital will give you the big maternity ones, but normal ones are a bit more comfortable
Dressing gown & slippers - take to the hospital
Big T Shirt/nightshirt - for the hospital, just much easier to begin with
iPad/Tablet - download films beforehand as you likely won't sleep well for the first 2 nights
Snacks - take some to the hospital for afterwards
Water - drink plenty before & after. It helps with recovery of the bladder and helps bowel movements too

I'm now 5 weeks post op, and still uncomfortable at times.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Good luck with it all, it's worth it I promise!

I had mine on the NHS just over two years ago and it was done by keyhole surgery.

I almost went home the same day but ended up staying one night as they just wanted to make sure I could wee, and I just couldn't that evening.

I went in around 8am and had the op about 11am I think, it's a bit hazy now. I think the sorest thing for me was my throat where they had put in the breathing tubes. I was prepared for pain both at the incision sites but also shoulder pain but I didn't have any. Only when I tried to move to get out of bed.

I took a case with enough stuff for a few days and had nightwear, slippers, wash stuff, sanitary towels, day clothes which was just comfy top and I bought some loose fitting jogging bottoms. I also brought my water bottle.
Make sure you have any device chargers with you. I took some peppermint teabags as well to help with the trapped wind, but like I said I didn't have any. I did have liquid lactose to help with bowel movement and I think that was a real help.
I got out of bed a few hours after being taken to the recovery ward.
Just remembered, when in bed I had some inflating leg cuffs to help prevent dvt, and they also gave me an injection to also help. Some people need to continue with those for a while but for some reason I didn't. It was one thing I was worried about.

I would ask whoever picks you up to bring a cushion with them for you to put between you and the seatbelt. It really helped keep my stomach still during the journey home which I think would have been really uncomfortable without it.

I did heal quite quickly but did find some things took longer, I guess the inside layers which took longer so I would try to get something out of a cupboard but find I couldn't. I missed being able to walk my dog.

For me it was the best thing to have done. I was very ill and anaemic from the blood loss due to fibroids and polyps. I will say make sure you get your hrt sorted for afterwards. I was already on it as was being given Zoladex injections for about 18 months beforehand, though they didn't say I had to stop the tablets and I wondered why I felt like I was about to have a period with severe chocolate cravings etc
I hope it goes well for you @Borderline77

OP, these are questions you really need to be asking the surgeon as they are pretty fundamental to the informed consent process - you need to know what bits they’re taking out (uterus/cervix/ovaries/tubes?…), how they’re hoping to do it (keyhole/open…if it’s open will it be a transverse or ‘up and down’ incision. These things will depend on why it’s being done and your general health. The length of time in hospital post op depends on exactly what they’re doing and to some extent how it goes on the day. Day case isn’t always unreasonable. Generally having your own clothes/pj’s is encouraged (nightie might be more comfortable tho).

you are not ‘going to a dungeon’ - you are making an informed and positive decision to have a procedure done but it sounds like you need to find out more before you turn up on the day. There’s likely a gynae nurse specialist attached to the unit you’re at who can help answer some of those questions/sign-post to other resources. Preassessment will also be able to help with questions about the anaesthetic/pain relief.

thank you all for the reply.
I went the other week for a hysteroscopy to remove a polyp . I got the sense of what to expect, I was given anaesthesia . The following night I couldn't sleep because my mouth/throat was very dry
When I went there I was given a small locker, this is why I need to know if I need my own pjs , I want to bring the least possible, For a couple of nights, their gown and socks they provide are not ok?

You can take PJs or stay in a gown
mine wasn’t hysterectomy but a lap endo surgery
I stayed overnight as mine was a full day operation, and I stayed in a gown as my incisions were bleeding

i didn’t use much to be honest - loose comfy clothes, wet wipes, face wash, long phone charger and shoved my cardigan between me and the seatbelt on the way home. I wish I had taken snacks and a little bottle of squirty squash for the water

I wore my comfy clothes to the hospital and came home in the same thing (just with clean knickers and socks!) wore slip on UGG boots so I didn’t have to bend

walked a couple of hours after to the toilet, no trapped wind and I had injections to take home for blood clots

but if you are thirsty, you can call the nurse for water, right? it's just I don't want to carry unnecessary things 😆

Had one about 18months ago. Was in for 3 nights. Could probably have gone home after 2 but iron levels were really low due to v
Blood loss.

Take your own pajamas as you will feel better with them. Also slippers for going to the toilet etc. peppermint tea can help with wind as you need to get it out as soon as possible or you will have bad shoulder pain.

Hope it goes well

@Borderline77 - have they discussed the full implications of ovary removal with you (if this is what you are having)? If you are pre menopause you will go into surgical menopause and that's a big thing.

Oh of course, I was just really really thirsty and very fed up of water!

You will have a jug of water by your bed,they're hot on making sure you're hydrated.

Take a long phone charger

Dressing gown and slippers - sliders are better as the floor might be wet in the bathroom.

Definitely a pillow for going home as a PP suggested.

Talk to the surgeon about HRT if your ovaries are being removed,that's really important. You need to have a really thorough conversation before you consent to anything so you know what's going on.

I'm menopausal already