What to expect after surgery?

I had this op in 1986 when I was 36. A year later I crashed into menopause - no-one had warned me that even keeping my ovaries would trigger this. I think at 70 you will be through menopause. I did have mood swings and 6 weeks was about right to start feeling I was improving,but it is slow progress, so be gentle with yourself and accept all offers of help.

Lahlah65 , I've just had a right total hip replacement. It was done using a spinal block. It was done on August 26th, I was out of hospital on Wednesday.
All the surgical team were lovely and reassuring.
My pain levels were kept under control and I am managing to reduce my medication.
I have to admit that I was really anxious, but really I should have just relaxed a bit.
It's no good telling you not to worry, you will be anxious it's normal.
Just trust your team and it will be over and done with before you know it. Xx

** DO NOT LIFT ANYTHING... except your knife, fork, and one good book!!

** LIMIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE any going up and down stairs.

** DO EXACTLY WHAT YOUR DOCTOR/NURSES HAVE SAID.

LOTS OF HUGSSS~~~

I haven’t had quite the same procedure but I have had 24 lots of surgery including 10 pelvic floor repairs and 6 lots of major abdominal surgery.

It’s likely that you’ll have a catheter in situ post op that will probably come out that night or the following day. I suspect that you will only be in hospital 2 days if all is well.

Make sure you have been written up for some decent analgesia BEFORE you have surgery as post op if it hasn’t been done it can take HOURS for the nursing staff to get hold of a doctor to do it!

Having had to have 6 hernia repairs myself (not because I have lifted things though), do NOT lift anything heavier than a kettle for 3 months and it might help you to wear support pants.

A couple more hospital tips:
If you like coffee, take your own in as the stuff they have is ground from acorns especially for the NHS! Same with tea really but that’s not as bad.

Don’t forget a phone charger, it needs to be a long one or it won’t reach your bed. If you like to watch tv, download something before you go and take headphones. Hospital tv is extortionate!

Don’t bother taking nighties or pyjamas, use their gowns as yours might get spoiled.

You will need some sanitary wear, their pads are horrible once you start walking around.

If they won’t let you out until you have been to the loo, walking is the best way to move things along!

Wishing you all the best …

I had a hysterectomy and a prolapse repair in 2004 and have had several further repairs since. My surgeon used mesh for the first repair, and you may or may not be aware of the complications caused by vaginal mesh in Britain, the US and other countries. As you haven’t mentioned mesh, I presume it’s not involved in your surgery, but if it is to be I urge you to discuss fully with your surgeon. As regards post op recovery, for me it was very routine always, exhaustion being the main drawback but that just takes time. And one tip I would pass on, is to find a Pelvic Floor Specialist Physiotherapist, who I found extremely helpful about how to empty the bowels correctly (all embarrassment goes out the window!!)

Discuss both the procedure in detail either with your gynaecologist, the consultant who recommended the op. or the nurse in attendance in the gynaelogical dept. you will be going into.

They are highly unlikely to use an epidural, but ask! They should also inform you when you can be discharged from hospital, plus after-care and when you may lift anything that weighs more than half a kilo, and when you may drive again.

They will probably insert a cathetar once you are anaethetized and you will not be discharged until that has been removed and they are satisfied that you can urinate normally.

They dept. staff can also advice about a suitable laxitive as abdominal surgery usually causes constipation, and of course you must NOT strain to pass a movement.

No experience of this yet…but will be interested to hear of yours and hoping it’s not too painful and you take the help from DH and rest up alittle as needed after x

I had a vaginal hysterectomy and was up serving the other patients their teas and coffees the next day. The usual advice was given, i.e. no heavy lifting etc but was fully back to normal in 6 weeks. It's much easier to recover from than an abdominal hysterctomy, I would say tiredness was my worst symptom, and that was easily remedied by naps.

I am incredibly grateful for all of the advice (and good wishes) here. I’d planned to book a cleaner for 4 weeks post surgery but might extend it to 6 weeks. The length of time before I can drive is disappointing. But knowing this means, I can also start to make arrangements for ensuring that my mum (90) gets some support if I can’t get there. Ordering extra big comfy pants asap! And will be stocking up on prunes. (Also have posterior prolapse so this is an issue anyway….. they can’t repair both at the same time, although hoping that the anterior repair might improve things.)

I was just over 40 when I had a vaginal hysterectomy and along with tiredness I suffered with wind, which is common with surgery. Get yourself some Windeze to help. Everything else will settle down quite quickly. I got a friend to take me into the school I worked at after 2 weeks as it was the summer holidays and I wanted to say goodbye to those leaving. I was tired but made it ok. Good luck and look after yourself.

Hello Lahlah65. I had full hysterectomy when I was 62. I totally agree with all the advice that’s been given. It’s so important to remember plenty of rest in the first few weeks. I was advised to sprinkle a half teaspoon of inulin powder (made from chicory root) once a day over porridge/cereal/yogurt or anything non savoury as this will ease you opening your bowels - it worked for me. During the first few weeks kettle should hold only a cupful of water.
I wish you a speedy recovery

Good luck with your surgery Lahlah65. I haven’t any advice re your op but in recovery I found Chia seeds and prunes to be a gentle and natural laxative. A nurse at our local practice told me about chia seeds ….. changed my life! I mix with yoghurt and fruit in the morning (and at least 2 hours before I go to a weigh in at Slimming World😂). X

I had full hysterectomy with bladder and bowel repair 14 years ago - the best thing I have ever had!!! Take it slowly and support your stomach by holding a pillow across your lower abdomen when you walk. Once you’re through the morphine stage just use paracetamol. I didn’t even need that by day 3. Good luck

My surgery several months ago was not hysterectomy or connected but was a major abdominal procedure. As several posters have mentioned, big knickers are a very good idea - even after recovery I am not giving them up! Also, peppermint tea is brilliant for wind and drinking lots of water is a help with avoiding constipation. I have bought one of those big water bottles you can drink directly from and find that is easier than drinking glasses of water. The one other thing I would say is that I found it quite hard to recover mentally from the surgery - not just because it was for cancer, but because I wasn't told enough about what to expect. I was just told that it would take a while for things to settle down, and it certainly has been like that. The OP did a very good thing by asking for advice from those who have had similar surgery to what she is going to have.

I suggest you phone the consultant’s secretary and ask if there’s a specialist nurse who works with the team and if so speak to her. In my experience that’s the best way. Good luck

I remember being crazy tired for some months after illness a few years ago - and needing daytime naps. Looks like I need to be prepared for that.

I am amazed that people were back at work in weeks. I was so weak and unwell after my op.

Be careful with car insurance. My provider informed me that I needed the all clear from my my consultant, before I could drive.

My dear mum had this surgery20 years ago when she was about 68.a vaginal hysterectomy and vaginal repair.She was out of hospital after 3 or 4 days and she recovered so quickly we were staggered! Back out after10 days going for coffees with friends,cooking etc,after had to sit on her to stop her doing stuff like carrying shopping!

I had my ovaries out last year at 66, laparoscopy and a largish fibroid removed( presumably vaginally . I prepared the house for it, and was able to take it easy while I recovered.
I do have another op not long after and the morphine made me very constipated. So I'd sug
I haven't missed my ovaries,to be honest
It was so e under a GA

Not as big a procedure obviously.
An other op I had needed morphine, which made me horribly constipated so I would suggest getting in some laxatives just in case