Surgery advice??

[Crackers]

Hello I am having a laparotomy to remove large cystic mass and ovary. I won't know till i wanker up if they are going in horizontal or vertical but just want done advice on what to expect. What to prepare for. Any tips? Clothing ??

[Hidden]

Hi Crackers. Not nice looking forward to this but I must say I didn't find the experience nearly as bad as I expected.

My tips are big comfy knickers; nighties, not skimpy ones, rather than pyjamas as you may not want anything round your waist; mules you can slip your feet into without bending down. I had also packed a mirror on a stand. As well as using it myself several of the other patients borrowed it too. I had a light weight fleece for sitting up in bed as it looked less old ladyish than a bed jacket.

I'm sure youve thought of nice toiletries lotions and creams.

Create a recipients group on your mobile phone so you can text updates to all your family and friends simultaneously as you may not get Internet access.

Hope all this helps a bit. Wishing you the best of luck. Let us know how it goes.

Linda

[Wendy55]

Hi

Make sure you have something loose like leggings or jogging bottoms that are stretchy to come home in. I had keyhole and they pump your tummy with gas or air so whichever method they use your tummy will be tender.

Wendy

[charlie12]

Hi Crackers

Sorry you are going through this.

As the other girls have said it is honestly not half as bad as you think. In hospital the nurses will be monitoring you for pain etc and any issues you have can and should be treated.

When you get home just take things very very easy. When friends and family ask if they can do anything for you, take them up on it at the time or at a later date.

I had a massive 16cm ovarian tumour removed from my size 8 tummy and a full hysterectomy. It was done through a big midline incision up above my belly button. However less than 24 hours later I was in the shower conditioning my hair and admiring my new flat tummy ! The tumour was borderline and thankfully I didn't need any chemo or radiotherapy.

There is a really good site called "Hysterectomy forum" .The sub- section "monthly clubs" includes posts from people who are or have been operated on that month. So looking at May, will give you an idea about what to plan for or to expect from major surgery. You may well of course not be having a hysterectomy, but it will give you some hints and tips.

Take care and try and keep as busy as you can between now and then.

Love

Charlie xxx

[wendydee]

Hi! Among some of the other things mentioned on here, ..... and YES, YES YES to the big pants ..... I found mint tea bags were great at getting the wind under control after my op, and I took arnica pills before and after to help with healing ....never knew if they helped, but I healed quickly and they can't harm you

There may be some stuff on the back posts on here if you type hysterectomy in the search box at the top of the page.

Good luck to you. I found it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd imagined and I had a big top-to-bottom cut. You do need to heed all the advice about taking things easy and exercise that the hospital gives you, though. Good luck!

Love Wendy xx

[Crackers]

Sorry "WAKE" up (autocorrect nightmare)

Thankyou for all your advice, will keep you all posted

Xxx

[Crackers]

Thankyou!!! I am home and happy! I had a laparotomy and the scar looks quite neat, turns out it was the size of a grapefruit and has been sent for tests but fingers crossed!!!

Big pants have been my saviour might keep wearing them! Also the peppermint tea has been really helpful with the trapped gas. I have a random band around my belly button they bulges and is painful full if gas which just looks strange. Not as bad as I thought it would be but very weird learning to move about!

Thankyou girlies you have been amazing xxxx