NancyNiles-have you seen doc?

[Lisagarr]

I have been thinking about you and wonder if you have seen your doc again.  Has the doc referred you to a gyn/onc?  I know it would be a long distance to travel, but it would be worth it.  Let me know how it goes and when you have surgery scheduled.  I have some tips for the hospital stay, the ride home, and recovery that were very helpful to me.

Praying for you,
Lisa

[Lisagarr]

Hi, Nancy!  Sorry I haven't gotten back to this site in a few days.  I'm glad to hear you are going to get that thing out.  All the girls gave you great advice.  Other tips to add would be to sit in a rocking chair and rock while home recovering for the gas you will have.  They tell you to walk as much as possible, but when you are just plain too tired, sit and rock--it helps tremendously.  A heating pad on the abdomen will help with the gas as well.  After one week you should be able to walk around pretty well, but no lifting and no heavy duty meal prepartions or cleaning.  If the kids can help, let them.  Otherwise, a lot of microwave meals or delivery.  Maybe your parents can bring some meals or your church.

For me the first four weeks I was tired after a shower and had to rest before I could dry my hair and get dressed, then I needed a nap.  After the fourth week my energy and endurance greatly increased, but don't be deceived!  You still need to rest and take great care until you reach the end of week six.  The thing I was most amazed was how difficult it was to push a grocery cart! LOL  You will find that you use your stomach muscles for just about every little thing in life.  No wonder they are considered the "core" in pilates.

Hugs!

[SimplyStar]

Yes I am a retired  RN, yes, you should be able to sit in a car for the ride home.  Get loose waist pants for the ride and maybe a pillow, you can hold it against you to help prevent the bumps.  Maybe your own nightie also, those darn hospital gowns like to show too much when you are going to the John.  A housecoat for the times you want to sit up in the room or take walks in the hall.  You will be fine, by getting up and active ASAP after surgery helps with gas,  do try and remember the outside heals first and the inside takes longer.  good luck and keep us posted as to how you come out.

[nyc lady]

I was on my one, living in my own apartment with 2 cats 10 days after surgery....as soon as the staples came out.  I did have friends come and help at different times with various household chores, like vacuming, cleaning the litter pans, scrubbing the bathroom...all I did for 6 weeks was take care of me.  Even doing laundry is a strain, pulling wet clothes out of the washer is a no no.


I had surgery in 2000 for a very large mass, they removed my right tube/ovary via abdominal surgery.  In 2004 we did it again for the left and my uterus.  Both times I was on my own after 10 days.  I was given the morphine "on demand" for the first 48 hours after surgery, after that I believe it was perocet by mouth.  I went home after 3 nights.  I was given a script for percocet but never filled it, I don't like the feeling of pain killers.  I felt like I had a really really bad bruise.  Each day it got better.  After the 2nd surgery I went back to work part time at 5 weeks....but, I have a desk job.  You will be very tired....rest...relax...allow your body to heal....it is major surgery.

Have any other questions?

Let us know how it goes...wishing you a fast easy recovery!!!!

[NancyNiles]

Thank you soooo much. That really helps a lot.

Anyone have any other suggestions?  Lisagarr mentioned tips for the hospital stay and ride home.  Just trying to think of what I should pack for my 3-day stay besides clean underwear and a good book.

Also my dad was wondering if I'd be able to sit up well enough to ride home in a car.

SimplyStar... You sound like a nurse. Are you?

[SimplyStar]

You should be able to take care of yourself, however if you need to lift your child, don't do it, you should not lift any thing weighing over 10#s for at least 4 weeks, moving around will do you good.  Your stitches/clamps  will be ready to come out in around 10 days if you heal normally, make sure you ask about a stool softener before you leave the hospital,  anesthetic usually causes constipation, stay away from hot spicy foods, drink plenty of fluids,  you should be able to drive a car by the time you have the stitches removed.  Although if some one can drive you for 2 weeks it would be better. after you leave the hospital, keep the dressings dry till you see that the skin is healing,  then take showers not tub bathes,  Take your pain pills as ordered, pain causes stress and can make you feel worse than you really are.  Get plenty of rest, when you are alone, plan on simple meals that you can fix without a whole lot of trouble.  if it is nice, take some walks outside. Swing your arms to get the blood moving , After the skin looks healed, leave dressing off and let it get air exposure for a while each day.  Remember you heal from the outside first, the inside will take longer.  You will have gas, these can be painful, your body takes time to absorb the air they leave in the abdomen, a cup of warm tea helps as does walking around.  wear comfortable clothes, loose waist bands. even a tight bra can cause gas discomfort.  At the end of 6 weeks you will be able to tell if your body has  returned to almost normal, but sometimes it takes longer.  Report any unusual bleeding, stabbing like pains, excessive vomiting , dizziness and any other thing that seems connected to your surgery.  I am sure the hospital will give you going home instructions, follow them.  Good Luck

[NancyNiles]

Yeah, I saw the doc on Monday. Surgery is Wednesday April 4. Will need full abdominal incision. Cyst was the size of a football so no laproscopy.
C125 came back fine, thank God!

My biggest question is about recovery time. Doc says I'll be down for up to six weeks!!  My husband is a truck driver and I want to know how soon (realistically speaking) it will be before I can move around unassisted. My parents are coming to help with my son for the first week, but after that I'm on my own.

Any and all tips you have would be MOST welcome. Thanks so much!