Hysterectomy Support Group

I was wondering if anyone here had some tips to help me as to what I MUST HAVE when I'm at the hospital and at home?

Ok, so here's a list:

For the Hospital:

Short nighties- long ones get in the way and you won't want to wear pj's.

Big under pants!- Honestly they do help!

Wet wipes or facial wipes- great to keep you feeling fresh when you not up to a shower.

Lip Balm- for dry chapped lips, most people complain of this in the hospital.

An Ipod or MP3- I put some talking books on mine which was wonderful when I didn't feel up to reading.

Your Mobile phone- texting was a big comfort.

Sanitary towels- the ones they provide in the hospital are more like nappies, you will feel better having your own brand.

A short, but warm housecoat or dressing gown and backless slippers that you can slip on without bending down.

A comfy jogging suit with slip on shoes for coming home in.

I also took my own pillow, it was much more comfy that the hospital ones.

At home:

Lots of fluids, get in all your favorite juices and soft drinks before hand.

More HUGE under pants!

Make sure you have plenty of spare bedding for if you get night sweats or have an accident.

Try to have everything on one floor. Great if you have a downstairs toilet, but if not, then make sure you have an easy path to the bathroom from your bed. And make sure that drinks and snacks are to hand in your room if you are on your own.

My husband tied a bit of rope to the foot end of the bed, I used this to help to pull me upright in the first few days.

Again, lots of magazines and easy to read books, you will be sleepy at first and it can be frustrating trying to get in to a book only to fall asleep every five minutes, so once again, I recomend talking books.

Keep your phone at your bedside, but do not be afraid to turn it off when you want peace and quiet. And never be shy to ask visitors to help out, bring in shopping or do a few chores in the house for you, most will be happy to help.

Thanks! I'm going to have to go out and buy some of those panties. I haven't worn big granny panties since I was like 10! LOL! My mom used to make me wear them all the time. I hated it! Guess I'll have to start again for a little while anyway.

Not sure if I'll get any reading done...it would be nice though. I haven't read a whole book in a very long time. I know Jakob will be on the bed playing with me every chance he gets.

We don't really have many stairs. Just out the front and back door and the laundry room. And that's just a couple. So, that'll be easy.

We have a master bath in our room and the main bath is right down the hall..pretty easy access.

That's a good idea about the spare sheets. I have a couple but, more would really help out my husband from doing more laundry than he would be doing already. Thanks for that.

This might sound funny...but, I don't text. LOL! I can type just fine...but, typing with one finger? Or with my thumbs? LOL! That's ok. Ha Ha

Thanks for the list. I appreciate that.

There aren't many people in this group, huh? That's too bad.

Talk with you later.

I needed hard candy to b/c I could only have liquid food for the first day. The hard candy kept my mouth wet a long with ice chips.

I was so darn uncomforatable there alls I wanted was to come home and get in my own bed. I can wear the Victoria Secrets panties and they don't touch my cut.

I drank a bunch of Apple Juice yesterday so that I would have b/m today and feel so much better now.

Good Luck with your surgery, I would be sure and tell them that you don't want to feel a thing while you are in the hospital. My doctor was stingy with the drugs, but I still love the guy for doing this for me.

I think you have to accept a degree of discomfort. But as Ksa says, they were terrible with giving her pain relief. Make sure you ask you anaesathist before hand what he will use. Most will put a block type painkiller in the wound area before you wake up and administer morphine while you still asleep. Make sure you discuss with your nurses and doctor your pain relief plan for waking. Ask for a PCA (patient conrolled analgesia) which is a drip with a button you can press to top up with small amounts of morphine as and when you need it. Also, simple as it sounds, liquid tylenol as a drip at the same time is a wonder drug!

As we have discussed before, make sure you get enough rest, even though I know you will be wanting to play with your son.

And those big panties.....hmmmm enjoy!!!!

I wanted a pump but they sure wasn't going to give me one. They do a lot of people. The nurses told me that it was up to my Dr. and he didn't want to give me to much.

He came into the room after the op and I told him how much it hurt and he said of course it hurst, you have had a major surgery, it is suppose to hurt.

If I had it to do over that would be my number 1 concern. To discuss b4 hand the pain control after.

That's a big one...pain. I'm going to have to make sure I am feeling the actual pain from the surgery and not from the fibro kicking in...I wonder how I do that. Auugghhh! I will definitely make sure I discuss that with my doctor next week. Thank you ladies.

You just had your surgery, right????If so you will have the pain for about a week or two......But I hope that everything went well with you......

Yes, everything went well. I am swelled up. I weighed this morning and I have gained about 6 pounds. Yuk! I feel so swollen. Is that normal?

oh wow. I didn't know you would swell up like that. Really? I already have problems with bloating on some days. How long does that all last?