hysterectomy advice needed please

[ethanryan]

hi i know this may be better somewhere else but i thought all you lovely people may have some answers too.
my mom is having a hysterectomy tommorow and she is the sort of person that will not ask for any help. i have heard that you have to take things really easy after the op. just wondered if any of you had had one and can help me with the sort of things i can do to help her recover after. what did you struggle with and wish you had someone there to help you?
how long is the recovery normally?

[Ice.Maiden]

Ethanryan - I'm having at least a partial one on Thursday, due to large cysts which've developed. Not a pleasant thought, but it has to be done. The recovery time, as I understand it, varies from 6-8 weeks, to 3 months or more. A lot depends on the person's atitude and pain threshhold - and that's just providing everything goes well. It seems your mum won't be able to do anything for a good couple of weeks. You could perhaps make her a flask of tea to see her alright for a few hours, and she won't be able to hoover round, etc. Getting in and out of a bath could be difficult as well. I have a friend who went back to work after just 5 weeks of having the op, but it DID make her unwell again, so your mum'll need to rest, but follow any exercise advised by the physiotherapist. Good luck to her. x

[Jugglering]

I had this op some 9 years ago (and boy was I a lot happier afterwards !)... since the surgeons have to cut into the tummy, it does take quite a while to heal, so your mum will not able able to lift anything heavy or stretch that far for a while. I live on my own but was fortunate in that friends came around to visit me regularly, take me out, do my shopping, hang out the washing etc. I was back in work after 4 months but it only took that long because I have a lot of driving in my job, if there had been no driving, it would probably have been about 10 weeks or so.

Your mum will be in a bit of pain at first so just ensure she has adequate pain relief, nutritious meals to eat and something to entertain her during the day and evening (a tv, some good books or the radio/hi-fi) plus company whenever she wants it. I managed to catch up on a lot of *I must read that book sometime* which was lovely but to be honest, the real grump I had was not being able to leap out of bed whenever I wanted...doh ! I am a lousy patient lol...

[Jugglering]

PS.... Just tell that when they take the staples out... it tickles !!!! lol...

[Jugglering]

sorry, tell *her*

[Ethel]

Cutting toenails!

I found bending down and reaching to cut my toe nails intolerable and it depressed me beyond all reason. A silly thing, maybe, but it quite got me down.

[rabbitygirl]

It depends what type of hysterectomy your mum is having ethanryan. They can be done vaginally or via bikini line incision abdominally.

The latter is a more serious op with longer recovery period. It was 6 weeks but I had my op quite a few years ago. My mum had the former and her recovery was much quicker.

Your mum shouldn't lift anything at first, even a kettle, nor drive.

Because you want to recover without problems and asap you tend to be very sensible after an op. I assume you live with or near your mum. Do as much as you can, shopping, help with cooking etc. while she gets stronger and gets back to her normal routine.

Also important to point out the emotional effect of having this op. For me it was a relief but some find it very difficult psychologically.

[Jillius]

I had a full hysterectomy 4 years ago and it was nowhere near as scary as I thought it would be. Tell your mum not to lift anything too heavy but apart from that she should be fine, although walking was a bit painful for a few days. One thing she will suffer from is trapped wind ! It is so painful but a young nurse told me that when I got it I should thrust my pelvis upwards and it disperses the wind.......brilliant advice cos I was scared of blasting the sheets off my bed lol !
Hope all goes well.

[Jillius]

Jugglering, I didn't have staples or stitches. I was cut from my wotsit to my belly button and then superglued ! I was terrified of sneezing and it bursting open !

[Ice.Maiden]

Oh dear Jillius!!! I bet you think that's going to happen even if you're stitched or stapled, as well. Hope I don't develop a cough!
Hi rabbity - i didn't know you'd had it done, hun. Can you sit up when you get back home, or do you need to lie down?

[ethanryan]

thankyou for all your quick answers. i dont live with my mom but i only live about 15 minutes from her so can visit her daily providing she is happy having the kids about. she has a partner and my 19 year old brother live with her but to be honest she gets more help from my 3 year old son.
i believe she is been cut from the bikini line. she hates any sort of pain but is very active so will hate having to sit still. maybe we could just go over and sit in the garden with her that way she can relax but still see the childtren as she loves to do. she is so nervous, she is a big chicken and hates even having her blood taken so at the moment she is very nervous

[rabbitygirl]

Icey, it was a long time ago, I think about 18 years! I remember being very sore and pre banned visitors for 2 days... Then when Mr R came visiting with my boys I burst into tears, but I cant say why on here.

I dont recall lying down once I got home, just rested a lot and did very little, but every day a little more than the last. I missed being able to drive very much and by the time I got back behind the wheel I'd forgotten which way the indicator flicked!

It's all about being sensible, because if you overdo it your recovery is put back. And the hormonal and psychological effect should not be underestimated. I wanted mine and was ok but someone I knew was badly affected by having to have her op.

I didn't know you were going in either, but it has to be done so good luck and hope your recovery is good and speedy.

Just to make you laugh, my op was total including one ovary removed. Some years later I was having a med for a new job and the doc asked me which one was removed. I laughed and said I hadn't a clue after all that time. He laughed too when I said 'It's not like fellas and testicles you know - you can check!!!!'

[Jillius]

I remember coming round after my op and seeing the surgeon sitting on my bed saying the op went well, that they had removed everything but had managed to keep the fitted wardrobes !!! Of course, it was the anaesthetic that made me imagine it but to this day I swear blind he said it. We still joke about it.

[nat_84]

Hi ethanryan, try not to worry your mum will be just fine. My Mum had a full hysterectomy a few years back and like your mum she can never sit down! She is one to always be cleaning, ironing or cooking - so she found it tough.

Just do your best to help her relax and be firm with her about not lifting - even an iron!!

Hope everything works out x

[Beanmistriss]

Hiya. My mam had hers done in january. She was off work for 12weeks. She was a nightmare though, always trying to do stuff and hurting herself,. My sister caught her standing on a chair cleaning windows after 3 weeks. We filled cups with water for her so she could make tea in the microwave when there was no one there. If shes a reader get her some books to keep her amused. My mams always on the go and she said the worst bit was the boredom. So try to keep her amused and that's half your battle. Hopefully then she won't be tempted to get up and do stuff shes not ready for.

My mam freaks out a bit as well if things are not just how she likes them/ If no one dusted the telly she was up doing it. Try to keep things how she likes them so shes not tempted to do a bit of fixing. If her partner and your brother aren't that hot at cooking maybe you could do some bits for the freezer for the first week or so so they just have to stick it in the oven.

Also watch her with the kids. She may just forget for a split second and pick one of them up. Mine did this a few times with my nephew leaving herself in agony. Good luck x

[ethanryan]

thanks everyone but can you believe they have cancelled her op till tommorow as they are short staffed