surgery

[ontariogirl]

Hi everyone:  I'm worried about my surgery next thursday.  I'm having a complete hysterectomy with partial omentectomy. I'm scared.  I've never had major surgery and don;t know what to expect.  Any advice would be gratefully accepted.

[Care2320]

Hi, My name is Caroline, I am 21 and I am writing to offer support to anyone who is having a laparotomy (major surgery) to remove a large ovarian cyst, or for any other reason. I just had a huge 5 pound para ovarian cyst removed from my right side (ovary and fallopian tube) about 2 and a half weeks ago. Anyone who has any questions that they would like to ask, please e-mail me, and I will do my best to share my expereince of surgery. I am doing very well right now, but was so terrified about the surgery. Everyone I talked to in my life, didn't really seem to get the seriousness of the surgery. I would like to offer my suggestions, information and experinces about my surgery to help anyone who has to go through a scary surgery such as this one. I had a wonderful lady who's e-mail address I got off this web site answer my questions before surgery (and I had a lot of questions) and it was amazingly helpful. I would like to return the favour and help others. My e-mail is care_flett***@****. Please e-mail with any questions and I will do my best to tell you about my expereinces. No question is to silly or strange. Thanks
Care

[ontariogirl]

Hi Lisa:  thanks for telling me about your PMP.  I wish you all the best with that dreadful disease. Your surgery was long.  My brother is supposed to have his surgery around August 10th, the surgeon is in Montreal and has performed about 5-6 in his career and was trained with Dr. Sugarbaker.  My bro did join the bellybutton site and his nic is mytwosisters. He would love to be contacted.  He's nervous and we are all concerned.  Feel free to contact me at ***@**** and I will give you his information.  Thank you.  And thanks everyone for your support, it really does help with the nerves.  

Eileen

[ontariogirl]

Thank you for your encouragement.  I act tough but privately I'm a bit of a wimp.  We do have pca's here also; on Friday the nurse gave me a booklet to read on how to use it and she also told me that I may also get oral meds if deemed necessary.  I have never heard of an abdominal binder but I will get right on that, thanks.  The nurse did say it's important to hold my belly when walking and to use the pca 5 min. before getting up.  My mother flew in from Quebec yesterday and my daughter and sister will be with me on Thursday for when I wake up, so I have a very good support group locally....thank goodness for family!!!!!

I will post when I get back home.  Thanks again for being here....smiles to everyone.

Eileen

[justscore]

I have had several surgeries and the best advice I can give is take Milk of Magnesia for help w/bowel movements (I learned that the very painful way)  and gets lots of rest!!!  Good Luck!

[orangefuzzball]

Hi Eileen,

Good luck with your surgery, keep being positive when your knees are quaking! I've had 2 large abdominal surgeries in the past 10 months, the best advice I've had is to walk as soon and as much as you're able, drink plenty and have painkillers as you need them and don't be brave with pain, neither operation or recovery has been as bad as I've expected.

I hope I've got it right, your brother has recently been diagnosed with pseudomyxoma? That's what I have, I originally came to this site because of a huge ovarian cyst and suspected OVCA stage 3-4. I was later diagnosed with PMP after my op last August and had my MOAS (Mother of all Surgeries) at the end of April, which ended up as 13.5 hours and only the top half of my abdomen being stripped and heated intraperitoneal chemo, I'll be having the second half later this year. How is your brother, which specialist is he under (that's how rare it is, I'm in the UK and know of most of the worldwide specialists!) has he been on the Belly Button Club site? Wish him all the best from me and if he wants to get in touch for a chat and to compare notes leave me a message and I'll give you my caringbridge address.

Good luck to you both!

Lisa.

[rmarie]

Greetings Ontario girl, you will be relieved when Thursday arrives.  You will be given medication through your IV to put you to sleep, and the next thing you remember is being in your room.  When you have pain ask for the pain medication.  Get OOB as soon as possible, and walk.  You will have a catheter in to your bladder, that will come out the next day, more than likely.  The sooner you move the better off you'll do.   Remmber to ask for the pain medicine, I don't know about Canada, but in the states we have PCA's which are patient controlled analgesia, they let you control when you get your pain med.  I like them.  Good luck, let us know how you do, when you can post again.

[weeksoc]

May 8 was my first surgery ever in which I had a total hysterectomy due to the 17 cm cystic tumor on my right ovary.  Its now week #4 of recovery for me.  I felt great after the first week and have been improving ever since which is not easy for this old lady of 52.  I suggest getting an adbominal binder (if the hospital does not give you one).  Over or under clothes, this will give you the support stomach muscles can and will not be able to do for awhile.  The hospital gave me one which I wore home that day and everyday since.  Holding a small pillow helps when sneezing, coughing and laughing.  Like you, I was scared too.  I knew this thing growing inside of me had to come out out and surgery was the only way to know if it was cancerous or not.  Stay positive and take care, you will get through this.