Hello, I had my pre tests for my debulking and total hysterectomy yesterday and they are happy for my operation to go ahead on the 22nd August. I'm very, very nervous but know it's for the best.
I'm starting to think about what I need to take into hospital with me, any tips ladies? Also do you have any tips on recovery that you would like to share.
Thanks
Tay xx
Hello Tay
I had my surgery two weeks ago . It’s nice use me saying don’t be scared , I was terrified and nearly didn’t have it done . After much discussion on the day , I knew I had to have it done . Trust me , the waiting around is the worst . When I came back from theatre, I wasnt as painful as I thought it would be and they give you lots of pain relief . I was out of bed the next day , very briefly . The first two days are rough, after that I surprised myself by being able to get to the toilet myself. I was home in 5 days, bear in mind I am 75 , and I’m the biggest whimp on the planet . I took nighties and big knickers , lots of wet wipes . Got my husband to bring food in as the hospital food was rubbish. Once home you have to rest a lot , but it does get easier every day . Good luck , you can do this . Xxx
Peppermint tea bags help with the wind’. Also up after 2days and home after 6 . Hope all goes well
Peppermint tea is one of my favourites, I hadn’t thought about the wind afterwards. Thank you! xx
Thank you for your advice, it’s great to hear how well you have done. To be out of bed the following day is amazing! xx
If you have a kindle fire or other tablet make sure you have downloaded plenty of non-challenging entertainment and some noise-cancelling earphones, and a charger.
Hi Tay, these are some things I found helpful when I went to hospital for my debulking Op, over a year ago now....stretchy cotton nighties, nice smelling soap, pretty flannel, face & hand wipes, moisturising face & hand cream, lipsalve, a little mirror, a small clock....and my mobile phone & charger. It was so encouraging to receive texts 🙂
Wishing you well for your surgery.
Get up as soon as you can and drink sips of water, as much as you can.
Before you can get up (I had an epidural for 4 days!), move your arms & legs & ankles as much as you can...and rest 😴
Linda xx 🌼🌻
Thank you for your great advice, I will try and move as much as I can and drink lots of water I’m not very good about that at the moment! xxx
I found it hard to concentrate on much so took some magazines to flick through, chargers, loose change for the drinks trolley, ear plugs were a must, a flannel, notebook and pen
LA xx
I took travel size toiletries - they even do a small toothpaste! Wet wipes were good. Maybe one of those mini battery fans - it can get very hot on wards.
Hi Tay. The ladies have it covered. I found especially a notebook and pen to be very handy, as you can keep track of doctors' or nurses' input, your bm's or a list of questions you want to ask the next time the doc comes around. Also a cheap clock, as I don't like having to find my phone first in order to tell the time. Definitely a charger and maybe one of those mobile battery thingies, and a sleeping mask/ear plugs. Plus tissues, prunes, peppermint tea, crackers and ginger candy. Also slippers and a bath robe.
Once you make it through the first few days with all the tubes, recovery gets easier. I didn't bother much with my own nighties. The hospital garb was fine for me until the last day or so.
All the best with the surgery. Maus.
Hi Tay, As usual the ladies have given you good advice and I'm glad you are taking for the surgery for best . All I can add is be kind to yourself don't push yourself, you will be surprise how fast you will bonce back. Take care keep in touch you will find advice and encouragement here when you need it,,Lorraine xx
Thank you so much, I will do my best to be kind to myself, and take the time I need to bounce back! xx
I also started an operation diary, detailing day 1, day 2 etc. It helped me to look back, and see how far I had come in the days after. I carried this on throughout chemo so was able to see a pattern in how I was feeling and side effects that I was experiencing. It was also useful to be able to look back when I saw professionals so that I had the dates etc at my fingertips. I have a couple of notebooks full now!
Jenny
Hello Tay would you mind if I ask what the pre-op tests involve? Many thanks Lyn
I had bloods taken, an ECG, I also had some tests on my lungs as I have severe asthma and they needed to make sure my lungs would be okay during the operation. I saw the consultant anaesthetist who went through what would happen from their side of things. I also saw the McMillan gynaecologist oncology nurse who went through the operation and post op care with me. I was there a couple of hours and came away a lot calmer than when I went in. Xxx
Thank you for the info. I feel reassured. Lyn x
Everyone has covered everything really well, but I shall add my two cents also.
Remember, that everyone’s surgery is different. Your surgeon will be digging around in you abdomen hunting for every remnant if cancer and excising and destroying it.
This will be very upsetting to your digestion, but not everyone gets the full treatment, so everyone’ s digestion returns to work differently.
Just because the woman in the bed across from you is discharged in 3 days, and another in 5 and another has been there for 10 days... don’t try to rush your recovery. Go with the flow of your body. It will heal, but some take longer than others.
Don’t be in a hurry to eat.
You can’t fill your tummy up with food that has no place to go until your digestive track kicks in, so let your body heal and eat as much as you can now, so you have some storage, in case you can’t eat later.
Remember that Cyclazine for nausea and Omeprozole for digestion will be your best friends.
Pain relief is stupendous and a great relief after your op, but it also slows digestion.
So okay, finally, if you can bring a portable WIFI device, (from 3mobike, called Mifi) you can stream Netflix on your phone or other device.
Good luck,
Laura
A pillow to put over you wound under seatbelt when you travel home!
All the very best, hope it goes as smoothly as possible xx
I’d not thought about my wound and travelling. It will be about a 45 min car ride home. Thank you! xx
My oncologist told me to bring some gum to chew as soon as possible after surgery because it gets the gut working.
Hi Tay , nothing really to add there is lots of great advice here already . It is hard to concentrate on anything so I dug out something I had received for xmas and never thought I would use , an adult colouring book and colouring pens , I spent quite a few hours colouring and I wasn’t the only one . books have been put away and haven’t been coloured since but they served me well . Big hugs and best wishes for the op.xx
In addition to the other suggestions, take a small standup mirror so you can sit in bed and apply your makeup and adjust your wig / hair to your liking. It will be a couple of days until you feel like lingering in front of the mirror in the shower room.
Hi Tay
Just some shower time thoughts from me. I always take flip flops to hospital which I always wear to visit the bathroom, sometimes floor is waterlogged from previous user. I also keep them on in the shower to reduce risk of slipping and reduce chance of picking up an infection. I also do not take a flannel. I use one of those body wash gloves so I can use one hand for the handrail. If I had dropped a flannel I would have had some difficulty bending down to pick it up!
Best wishes to you for the op.
Hi, Tay100! Sending you lots of positive energy. The first two days are the hardest, but, the meds should be on your side with that. Two things I wish I had done differently.....taken more stool softners and letting people know it's ok not to call or visit while I'm in the hospital. People mean well and they feel the need to be there, but, truth be told...I was better off just resting and sleeping. Plus, the more you move (when not sleeping) the better you will feel. Each day will be easier and easier.
Speedy recovery!
Marisa
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