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Laparotomy staging surgery, what is recovery like?
Hi I'm having a laparotomy for ovca staging and tah/bso on 11/30. (I have borderline serous tumors with impants).
Doc said incision goes from bikini line to above navel. He said to expect 3-5 day stay in hospital with 6+ weeks recovery at home.
Could anyone tell me exactly what their recovery was like? For instance...
Hospital stay:
How soon were you able to get out of bed in the hospital to use the toilet? How long did you have a catheter? How soon were you able to eat? What was the pain like? What type of pain meds did the give you in the hospital? How many days did you stay? What was bed mobility like?
At home:
What was your first week like at home? Were you able to get up and around/shower? Were you able to sit up in a chair or did you stay mostly in bed? How long did you need to take pain meds? What did they give you? How many weeks until you could drive? Any particular tips or bits of wisdom on getting through the first week or two at home?
I have so many questions and am having a hard time finding the answers searching forums, so I thought I'd ask. I don't like the unknown and I need to prepare my husband and kids for how much help I'm going to need those first few weeks after surgery. Kids are 9 and 6.
Thanks so much for any advice/info.
B
Doc said incision goes from bikini line to above navel. He said to expect 3-5 day stay in hospital with 6+ weeks recovery at home.
Could anyone tell me exactly what their recovery was like? For instance...
Hospital stay:
How soon were you able to get out of bed in the hospital to use the toilet? How long did you have a catheter? How soon were you able to eat? What was the pain like? What type of pain meds did the give you in the hospital? How many days did you stay? What was bed mobility like?
At home:
What was your first week like at home? Were you able to get up and around/shower? Were you able to sit up in a chair or did you stay mostly in bed? How long did you need to take pain meds? What did they give you? How many weeks until you could drive? Any particular tips or bits of wisdom on getting through the first week or two at home?
I have so many questions and am having a hard time finding the answers searching forums, so I thought I'd ask. I don't like the unknown and I need to prepare my husband and kids for how much help I'm going to need those first few weeks after surgery. Kids are 9 and 6.
Thanks so much for any advice/info.
B
Hi,
how did your operation go and how are you ?
Thinking of you. Best wishes.
Valentine
how did your operation go and how are you ?
Thinking of you. Best wishes.
Valentine
Hi,
I have had my total abdominal hysterectomy with ovaries, tubes, uterus and cervix removed and surgical staging, just over 5 weeks ago. Yes, the incision goes from bikini line to above navel. I was terrified before, not having had any operations and having a huge fear of that, possibility of pain, etc.
However, the operation itself was much less traumatic than I feared. I did not experience pain. I did say to the oncologist surgeon and the anaesthetist that pain was one of my greatest fears. They reassured me that nowadays that is something they can help with very well. I did not believe them, but actually they were right. They gave me a morphine pump, so that I was in charge of my pain relief. They said that as it is a pain therapy, to take relief before the pain actually really starts, otherwise relief is less effective. I did use the pump often and regularly for the first 3 days and experienced no pain at all. (It is set so that one cannot overdose anyway).
They then moved to oral pain killers: a combination of paracetamol, codeine and something else. I took them for about a couple of days, then moved to paracetamol only, as the others were upsetting my stomach and I was fine with Paracetamol only. They said that they would give me more pain killers if needed, but I did not need any more.
I stayed in hospital for 9 days. It should have been 6 days. They kept me a couple of days more because of a stomach upset. The catheter came out on the 3rd day (I asked them to have it one extra day as I was worried about having to go get up at night to go to the toilet; otherwise they were offering to take it out on the second day.
When in hospital I found showering difficult. It was not at all painful, but I felt very weak and a bit faint in the shower. So the nurse stayed with me and that was ok.
They encouraged me to walk a little from the second day, but I really only started on the 3rd, when the catheter and other tubes came out. I was not painful at all; they teach you how to come out of bed; just very tiring at first. I did some moving of limbs in bed, from the second day, as they said it was important to do some exercise to avoid trapped air, that could be painful, as well as the risk of thrombosis. They also gave all who had surgery anti-embolism socks to wear day and night.
I had water only on the second day from the operation and started eating on the 3rd day. They said that I could eat what-ever I fancied then, although I was not very hungry for a few days.
Stitches were the kind that disappear by themselves after a few days.
When I came back home I felt very weak and stayed in bed a lot for the first couple of days; but I was fine to shower, get up at times and do the stairs to go down to the kitchen.
Strength came back a bit each day, quite quickly.
The main thing that I could not do (and they stressed strongly that I should not) was to lift anything. The first two weeks at home even a kettle of water was too much. That is where the help is needed. I had a few meals in the freezer and it was helpful that my husband did all the shopping. In fact shopping has been difficult. Even now I cannot really yet carry anything heavier that a pound or two, even though I feel much stronger and I can now go out by myself on buses or the tube for most of the day.
Regarding driving, in UK they advise not to drive for 6 weeks after surgery, even if one feels up to it. They said that things like emergency stops would be difficult.
Obviously everybody's experience is different, but I hope the above helps.
Best wishes and will be thinking of you.
Valentine 0
I have had my total abdominal hysterectomy with ovaries, tubes, uterus and cervix removed and surgical staging, just over 5 weeks ago. Yes, the incision goes from bikini line to above navel. I was terrified before, not having had any operations and having a huge fear of that, possibility of pain, etc.
However, the operation itself was much less traumatic than I feared. I did not experience pain. I did say to the oncologist surgeon and the anaesthetist that pain was one of my greatest fears. They reassured me that nowadays that is something they can help with very well. I did not believe them, but actually they were right. They gave me a morphine pump, so that I was in charge of my pain relief. They said that as it is a pain therapy, to take relief before the pain actually really starts, otherwise relief is less effective. I did use the pump often and regularly for the first 3 days and experienced no pain at all. (It is set so that one cannot overdose anyway).
They then moved to oral pain killers: a combination of paracetamol, codeine and something else. I took them for about a couple of days, then moved to paracetamol only, as the others were upsetting my stomach and I was fine with Paracetamol only. They said that they would give me more pain killers if needed, but I did not need any more.
I stayed in hospital for 9 days. It should have been 6 days. They kept me a couple of days more because of a stomach upset. The catheter came out on the 3rd day (I asked them to have it one extra day as I was worried about having to go get up at night to go to the toilet; otherwise they were offering to take it out on the second day.
When in hospital I found showering difficult. It was not at all painful, but I felt very weak and a bit faint in the shower. So the nurse stayed with me and that was ok.
They encouraged me to walk a little from the second day, but I really only started on the 3rd, when the catheter and other tubes came out. I was not painful at all; they teach you how to come out of bed; just very tiring at first. I did some moving of limbs in bed, from the second day, as they said it was important to do some exercise to avoid trapped air, that could be painful, as well as the risk of thrombosis. They also gave all who had surgery anti-embolism socks to wear day and night.
I had water only on the second day from the operation and started eating on the 3rd day. They said that I could eat what-ever I fancied then, although I was not very hungry for a few days.
Stitches were the kind that disappear by themselves after a few days.
When I came back home I felt very weak and stayed in bed a lot for the first couple of days; but I was fine to shower, get up at times and do the stairs to go down to the kitchen.
Strength came back a bit each day, quite quickly.
The main thing that I could not do (and they stressed strongly that I should not) was to lift anything. The first two weeks at home even a kettle of water was too much. That is where the help is needed. I had a few meals in the freezer and it was helpful that my husband did all the shopping. In fact shopping has been difficult. Even now I cannot really yet carry anything heavier that a pound or two, even though I feel much stronger and I can now go out by myself on buses or the tube for most of the day.
Regarding driving, in UK they advise not to drive for 6 weeks after surgery, even if one feels up to it. They said that things like emergency stops would be difficult.
Obviously everybody's experience is different, but I hope the above helps.
Best wishes and will be thinking of you.
Valentine 0
Hi, different hospitals and different drs have different methods. I was in the hospital after my laprotomy for 4nights, 5 days. I was taken off the catheter the day after surgery and encouraged to get up and walk around slowly (helps get everything functioning properly). I was on a liquid diet for about 3 days until they know the bowels are functioning properly. I only had the pain pump for one day after the surgery, but was offered tylenol 3's for pain - which was sufficient. By the time I left the hospital I did not need a prescription for pain meds. Make sure to get up and take short walks as this helps your healing and pain. It was suggested not to drive for 2 weeks after surgery because of the effects of the anethesia. I found too many stairs to be a little painful the first few weeks but if necessary just take them slow and avoid if you can. I found a pillow helpful for the ride home to cushion me from the seatbelt. If you have help use it - don't overdue anything. The first week home I couldn't make it through the day with out a nap - your body will tell you when you need to slow down. I have a desk job and was off work for 6 weeks - I needed all 6 weeks.
Take care,
Debbie
Take care,
Debbie
I was in the hospital for about five days -- over a weekend. I had a catheter for quite awhile -- maybe three days? I liked it because I didn't have to think about getting up and "going." The morphine pump made me dopey, so I was off it real quickly. I have good pain tolerance, and pain really wasn't an issue. They put "pressure pumps" (I don't know what to call them) on my legs whenever I was in bed to avoid clots; that felt kind of good. I walked a lot, and I was in a chair a lot -- read an entire book while in the hospital. I wasn't anxious to shower (didn't want to look) but was bathed every day. Be sure they teach you how to get out of bed properly -- you lie on your side and push off with the upper arm as I recall.
The liquid diet they fed me in the hospital the first day (or so) was so salty that when I went home my legs were really swollen. That's despite walking a lot. Had to get diuretic pills from the doctor to get them back to normal.
At home, we put double pillows on the sofa (which is so low even my daughters complain about it), and I sat in my desk chair a lot. I went right back to working part-time at home; most of my clients never knew I'd had surgery. I wasn't in a hurry to drive, go grocery shopping, etc., so I don't remember how long it was. I believe I could have driven in an emergency a couple weeks after surgery. It was winter, so I had to "walk the circuit" in my house a lot, which was really boring -- if you have someplace to walk that's great exercise for you from the day you get home. I don't recall any restrictions about stairs, but I think I was careful not to overdo. You want help with cooking, cleaning, making beds, etc., especially at first.
You're young. I'm sure you will tolerate this procedure well. But don't let your husband and kids wear you out with doing for them.
My best to you.
The liquid diet they fed me in the hospital the first day (or so) was so salty that when I went home my legs were really swollen. That's despite walking a lot. Had to get diuretic pills from the doctor to get them back to normal.
At home, we put double pillows on the sofa (which is so low even my daughters complain about it), and I sat in my desk chair a lot. I went right back to working part-time at home; most of my clients never knew I'd had surgery. I wasn't in a hurry to drive, go grocery shopping, etc., so I don't remember how long it was. I believe I could have driven in an emergency a couple weeks after surgery. It was winter, so I had to "walk the circuit" in my house a lot, which was really boring -- if you have someplace to walk that's great exercise for you from the day you get home. I don't recall any restrictions about stairs, but I think I was careful not to overdo. You want help with cooking, cleaning, making beds, etc., especially at first.
You're young. I'm sure you will tolerate this procedure well. But don't let your husband and kids wear you out with doing for them.
My best to you.
I was in the hospital for 3 nights after surgery. I have issues with the catheter so, don't go by me, it had to be put back in as I was not urinating on my own. I needed it for 2 days not one. They started me on fluid the following day. For pain, they give you a morphine pump with "meds on demand" to manage the pain for the first couple of days then oral pain meds...after I left the hospital, I did not take anything (after each surgery) pain meds made me feel worse than the soreness.
I was able to shower almost immediately after the surgery because there were staples. I took a shower when I got home. The first week was tough, until the staples came out, then I was home alone....single, no one to care for me. On the 5th week I went back to work part time and full time the 6th week....I was tired but besides being tired it was good to be back in world.
Walking is important....the most important thing that you can do. Listen to your body, it will tell you what is too much...and remember to rest....rest rest....you will do fine...It is very scarey....if there is anything you need to know....please ask.
Make sure that the kids and hubby help you, especially the first couple of weeks.
Best of luck!!!!
Pam
I was able to shower almost immediately after the surgery because there were staples. I took a shower when I got home. The first week was tough, until the staples came out, then I was home alone....single, no one to care for me. On the 5th week I went back to work part time and full time the 6th week....I was tired but besides being tired it was good to be back in world.
Walking is important....the most important thing that you can do. Listen to your body, it will tell you what is too much...and remember to rest....rest rest....you will do fine...It is very scarey....if there is anything you need to know....please ask.
Make sure that the kids and hubby help you, especially the first couple of weeks.
Best of luck!!!!
Pam
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