what to expect after surgery

[gma718]

I was wondering is there more pain of they give me a hysterectomy or is it the same if it is a partial? I am having a vertical incision for 2 masses 12 and 10cm (around)...also what can I expect afterwards...I am also having my gallbladder removed? please give me some feedback. Thanks

[claire99991]

Hiya i had a 10cm mass and ovary removed 3 weeks ago the lady who was in the ward with me had a hystorectomy im not sure exactly but when we chatted afterwards it sounded like we got the same kind of pain and she actually seemed to be up and about a lot quicker than me. Someone else will probs be able to tell you better. I feel 90% better 3 weeks on i only had to take pain medication for about 1 week and every day i see a improvment i had a laparotomy. Please try not to worry to much i know its easier said than done but you will be fine and it will be over very soon.

Thinking of you claire x

[justscore]

I had a harder time (pain wise) after my partial hyst.  Day 3 is always the worst for me.  Ovary removal 3 wks ago went better and even day 3 was alot better this time.  My problem is always the incision healing,  because of a rare problem.  
Even with the minor pain/discomfort I had with surgeries, it still is much better than what I experienced with having Endo and cysts.  It's much better to have the problem removed.  I have been cleared to start light exercising (walking) even though my incision has not healed.  
Good luck to you and take advantage of the time to let yourself heal!!!

[Lisagarr]

You will be in pain when you wake up from the surgery - while in recovery - this should last only a few minutes so the nurse can rate your pain and give you the correct dosage of pain meds. I won't sugar coat this...it was very painful..but only for a few minutes then the pain meds kicked in and everything was foggy and was very sleepy but very happy surgery was over with.  After that you will be just fine.  Now you will be sore from the incision, but no real pain.  Once I was home from the hospital I only needed the pain meds for two days.  Other than that, my incision was sore but lessened every day as it healed.  Your major problem will be feeling very tired and just uncomfortable for a week or two.  After the second week your sense of "feeling better" increases every day.

You are going to do very well.  So many other women have done this and survived and you will too.

Hugs & Kisses,
Lisa

[Kimchi]

I have had 5 operations and learned from my dad (had leg amputated at 79yrs) that you have to force yourself to move the day after your sugery ( he was hopping up and down the hallway 2days after his amputation).  So the day after each operation, I would force myself to move/roll/ rotate/worm (?is this a verb?) in my bed very gently but often. I did not want to have pain for days!!  By the end of the day, I was walking up and down the corridor, resting a while and then again.   I believe it helped shift things around, get the blood flowing thus minimizing the pain..Only took pain pill for 2 days...By end of third day, I was sitting up, another important thing to dealing with pain and quick recovery.  The REAL pain came when I tried to laugh or cough...It was after I came home that Nurse Angel SimplyStar and others on this forum told me to hug a pillow when I wanted to laugh or cough.  THis IS THE SECRET to dealing with the pain.
GMA, if I recall your op is on the 5 of this month and you should be home no later than the 11...I expect to hear from you around then...POSITIVE THINKING AND MOVE, you will be surprised at the whole procedure.

[SimplyStar]

Well the third time will be the charm for you .  Use the pain killers as needed,  because to have pain,  tightens up the body and just makes the pain worse.  Move around ASAP,  rest and relax,  let your body do the healing, and it will happen daily. Try not to think about your surgery afterwards and just try to concentrate on getting back to normal as quickly as possible.  With a partial hyster  you will have more inside healing than with a total, the gall bladder thing now days is a breeze, the cysts?, well just be glad when they are gone. Be sure you follow the going home instructions carefully.  No lifting for  a few weeks, give yourself at least 6 weeks to recover completely.  Remember that your body still needs nurishing meals to heal. And as Kimchi says , keep a small pillow handy and hug it to your incision  for laughing and coughing.  Keeping the stools soft helps alot, pain medication tends to constipate,  there are good stool softners on the market. We use Dos.  A pillow to the back at night seems to help some too. If you sleep too much during the day you will find it harder to sleep at night. After we stopped taking the rx pain killers we switched to Tylenol PM and SleepyTime tea.  Above all keep the incision site clean and wash hands before changing any dressings.  Remember, I always tell my patients that God is with them in that OR sitting right with them and holding them in his arms.  Good Luck and we all will be waiting here to hear from you.

[gma718]

Thanks everyone.....I hope you are right Simplystar that 3 times a charm!!! I am going forward...Monday is the day and I know all your prayers and thoughts are with me..all that you have done for me is so much appreciated...especially putting up with my BS for so long!!! You are a wonderful group of women ....who have blessed my life to have had all of you and I will continue to be there for all of you.. I will take all your advise to pray, and keep positive thoroughout this ordeal....By the way ...I had another quick question..I have to do the bowel prep...1 bottle of citrac of magnesia and 4 ducolax tablets...how was this prep for anyone..I am allowed to have a small breakfast the day before and then clear liquids till midnight.  any suggestions would be appreciated...

[SimplyStar]

stay close to the toilet  you will be cleaned out  head to toe     Take care

[jacko247007]

im having my right overy removed on the 20th aug i am so scared, can someone please tell me a bit more as to when i wake up after surgery? ive never had an operation like this before

Please help

[diamondgirl2]

I'm having a hysterectomy later this month, but as I have had 3 c-sections and also a laparoscopy earlier this year, I really am not very concerned about the pain involved with this laparotomy.   I just want the pain I am having every day to stop and to start to feel well again.  I bounced back really well after each c-section(mind you I know that that was 20 years ago!) but also recovered very easily after the lap in Jan.  I have spoken to a few women recently who have had total hysterectomies in the past few years and all of them said that it was the best thing that they had done and that they wish that they had done it sooner rather than putting up with the pain/ bleeding etc.  So bring it on!

[coogeegirl]

I had my right ovary removed on the 30th of November last year.

I am not sure where in the world you are but I am sure that it is the same as it is in Australia.

You will have a vertical incision from your belly button down to your pubic area (presuming they are removing it with by laparotomy(. You have a cathertar in (excuse me I am a terrible speller) as well as a drip with antibiotics as well as attached to morphine for pain medication with a button for self administration. Don't be afarid to use the morphine when you need it and don't think you will have to much as it is regulated on how much each push of the button will give you. They also gave me voltaren suppositries to help with pain. You will find they will be in the day after the operation to get you up to start moving around which is the best thing for you. After a day or two they will take away the drip and pain medication as well as the cathertar.

I had a hysterectomy the year before I had this ovary removed and I recovered from this operation far more quickly than I did from the hysterectomy.

Good Luck with your operation.

[frannie142]

A related discussion, removal of non cancerous cysts was started.