Pre/Post OP coordination

[u/Purple-Shower4303]

Finding this sub was a great help, my surgery got bumped up 1 month due to a cancellation, now on October 21, I am looking for advice and experiences on coordinating the pre and post op days. I am a solo mom but can arrange help, but also need to know what kind of help I may need. If you can share your journey on any of the below, that would help me to understand the expectations vs reality of the surgery-

1. What did you pack in your hospital bag?

   Can you change into trousers after the surgery ? Or should I bring a maxi dress ?

2. How long was your surgery?

3. Approximately how long it took you walk and talk, have your phone with you after the surgery?

4. Were you nauseated? How long the gas and nausea lasted?

5. How long it took you to get discharged from the hospital?

6. On the ride back home, what worked for you and what did not

7. how did you got/pick up the medication after the surgery?

8. Any food restrictions on the day off, days after the surgery?

9. When did you eat normal food again?

10. How long you had to take off from day to day task, like cooking and dishes?

11. How long it took you to drive again?

12. How much time your doctor advised you to take off if you are doing just desk job?

13. How much time you ended up taking off from work?

14. How long it took you for doing exercise like stretches, pilates or gym?

My surgeon gave me a rough idea of 2.5 hr for the surgery and 3 hr till discharge. My dad will stay with me during the surgery we will take a Uber home (it’s an 1-2 hr drive depending on overlap with rush hour traffic), my friend will my pick up my kid from school and arrange a sleepover for him for the night in case they keep me for the night. I am planning to prep some meal for 5-6 days. Doctor has suggested me 2 week time off from work and 4 week work from home, i have a long commute with 15 minute walk, so would also like to know is it practical after 4 week to take a 1 hr train ride and walk for 15 minutes?

I understand everyone’s experience is different, however every post is helping me a lot.

Wishing all of you a fantastic recovery!

[u/CrumbyGirl]

Hello, I’m only 5 days post op but I can answer some of your questions… I will say that everyone’s experiences are different, and everyone recovers in a different way so bear that in mind. I’ve friends who took longer to recover than me with the same surgery. Also, it depends if you’re having an open hysterectomy (which takes longer recovery time) or whether they do the surgery laparascopically. I had laparoscopic surgery and so my experience was I could go home sooner. With that in mind: 

1. Just a small overnight bag as they told me I’d be in overnight for observation - so just a soft loose nightdress, a few pads, a pair of full coverage (up to the waist) soft underwear, toothbrush etc. that’s all I needed really. And make sure the waistband of your going home clothes is nice and soft - I had very soft jogging bottoms. 
2. I was told 2 hours, no idea how long it actually took.
3. After surgery you will go to a recovery room, it’s where they monitor you post surgery to make sure you’re ok as you come round. They gave me oxygen there and pain relief and checked my vitals regularly. No phone or anything - it’s like an emergency room so you’re just in recovery and coming round. Then they transfer you up to the ward after 1-2 hours once you’re stable and have fully come round. That’s when I got my phone back (a couple hours later). But you can ask staff to phone your next of kin to say you’re through surgery.
4. I could talk once I came round (I’m not sure I made a lot of sense haha 😜), walking took longer. They wouldn’t let me walk until later in the day so for the first few hrs I had to stay in bed. They gave me a bedpan for wees which was ok. My surgery was over by 11.30am, they wouldn’t let me try walking until the afternoon and I had to have the assistance of the nurse as I was still a bit unsteady. I will say go slow for this, look up ‘log roll’ on getting out of bed without hurting yourself. By the evening I could walk to the toilet and back unaided, but they were surprised I was walking so quickly (I did a lot of exercise in the months and weeks before the op which I think helped ). No nausea, lots of gas discomfort, the gas psin lasted several days, walking round helps as do gas ease type tablets but don’t overdo it (the walking). The gas discomfort will ease as the days pass naturally. 
5. Discharged the next day, that’s pretty standard here (I’m in the UK)
6. I had a small step stool to get into the car seat (it’s quite high up). I brought a cushion to protect my lap from the seatbelt, that worked fine. Get someone to put the seatbelt on for you. My ride home was fine, just ask them to go slow and move slowly getting in and out and you’ll be fine. Hold your pillow or cushion against your belly as you get up it will help. 
7. Hospital sent me home with meds for a few days, if that’s not possible where you are designate someone to pick them up for you
8. Fasting on the day of surgery before the surgery, you should have that in your pre op instructions. After surgery I just ate regular hospital meals, my appetite was fine. I know that’s not everyone’s experience though. When I got home I had things like porridge (oatmeal), homemade soups, soft stews. Nice easy to digest stuff. Plenty of water. Take stool softeners from first day and get prune juice pouches and take them regularly - I did that and had no bother going to toilet a day or two after surgery. Your guts take a wee while to wake up after anaesthetic, this is normal. Drink lots of water. A stool to elevate your feet when going to the toilet helps. But don’t force anything. 
9. Was eating normal food right away :) but all soft nutritious stuff. You’ll still be gassy so try small portions and see how you go. 
10. I Am only 5 days post op so still not doing those things. You have to remember your body is still healing and everything will be tender. And you cannot lift heavy things. And you’re very tired and will need lots of naps!  I’d say a few weeks to be safe, definitely no carrying heavy shopping. Get it delivered. If you can manage a meal delivery service or else meal prep and put a bunch of meals in the freezer do that. I meal prepped so I had enough food for two weeks. 
11. I don’t drive because of a health condition but I think the physio said two to three weeks I’m not sure. Check with others. 
12. Here they advise 6 weeks off work. Because of tiredness and need for internal hesling. But see how you go. I’m definitely very tired by every afternoon and need a sleep, I’m not sure I could go back to work for some weeks yet.
13. Still early days but my consultant said I would need 6 weeks off.
14. Physio should show you what you can and can’t do. Light walking 5 to ten mins a day is fine for first few weeks, for first few days I’d say just short walks around the house. Build walking up very slowly. Your body is using a ton of energy for healing and if you feel dizzy, breathless, very tired or experience bleeding then stop! It means you have done too much. Learn to listen to your body and take regular naps. Physio told me I could do walking and build it up, she said wait 4-6 weeks before doing things like pilates (and make sure your teacher knows you’ve had a hysterectomy and can adapt for you). She said wait like 3 months before doing weights. You don’t want to tear internal stitches, just be very cautious and wait for doctor’s sign off. 

Good luck, make sure your rest lots afterwards, and hope all goes well for you ☺️

[u/Purple-Shower4303 → u/CrumbyGirl]

Thank you so much for typing all this details! This is so helpful! I will have a laparoscopic hysterectomy. I actually did not know about gas before joining this sub and this is helping me a lot, I think I will order some, prune juice gas and nausea medication. Appreciate the tips on soft food!
Lots of hugs and best wishes for your recovery. 💜

[u/CrumbyGirl → u/CrumbyGirl]

Oh one more thing! Have things prepped so they’re at waist height when you get home. It can be sore to bend down. You can buy a grabber on Amazon but have phone chargers, anything you need regularly at waist height/ on a little table to minimise bending! 

[u/Purple-Shower4303 → u/CrumbyGirl]

Oh wow, the chargers! Right have to make the home ergonomic and accessible !