Post-hysterectomy help

longwalks1

My girlfriend (43 years old) is due to be going in for a hysterectomy in 4 weeks time and i am wondering about after care (Im a born worrier). I think she will have 4 or 5 days in hospital, then 8 weeks at home doing nothing, or very very little

I work full time, and am not great when it comes to blood, or womens issues , will there be a nurse who visits? Or is there any other kind of help I can arrange please? I want my gf to have the best aftercare she can

Thanks in advance

trumpton

It will depend if she is having the hysterectomy where they do it from the inside, or the full abdominal hysterectomy where they make an incision on the outside.

The main problem is that you are quite immobile for a while and because of where the stitches are (if it's full abdom surgery) it's painful to do things like bend or straigten up. Getting up from a lying position on the bed is a major feat in itself, takes ages and can be really painful.

The main thing is no lifting, even stretching whilst pushing a hoover around can be a problem. You can easily burst the stitches if you aren't careful.

I think about two weeks of really doing nothing and then she should be feeling better and may be up to driving.

It's great that you are being so supportive. Maybe you could do stuff like making a flask of tea and a packed lunch for her so she doesn't have to even think about that for the first few days at home (presuming you will be at work).


http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hysterectomy/Pages/Recovery.aspx

sallyrsm

I myself had major major abdo surgery four years ago as a result of endometriosis where one of my ovaries had a huge cyst and ruptured. The surgery I had was massively invasive, a 12" incision from sternum to pubis while they battled to sort out the mess.
I was in agony in Hospital, even coughing was shockingly painful (I don't get much relief from morphine for some reason) and when I came home I went to stay with my Mum.
The packed lunch thing is a good idea, if you can't be there to do her meals as is a flask of drinks, try and get someone like a friend to pop round and see her, sit with her, do things for her, she'll need help getting to the Doctor for follow up appointments, she doesn't want to move hardly at all as scar tissue can form adhesions inside and cause problems later on.
Get her some good shows on DVD, magazines and books.
Don't think of the blood aspect, just bear in mind she might have been sliced all through her stomach muscles and that they have to knit together again.
I was doubly unfortunate in that I got two separate bacterial infections in my wound.
Don't let her do ANYTHING even vaguely strenuous. Driving is a no no for six weeks (I drove two weeks after my C Section, which created scar adhesions so I know what I'm talking about) they tell you to take it easy for a reason. I wish her all the luck in the world.

mummybearx

I've had major surgery on my stomach several times now (not hysterectomy though, bowel surgery).

I bought one of those long pillows for pregnant women, and used this to sleep at night with. Holding it against my stomach when I was lying on my side sleeping, so it was holding my stomach 'up' iykwim, so my stomach and stitches weren't hanging down? Really helped me get a good sleep.

Other than that, as others have said, make up some easy meals she can stick in the microwave easily for when you aren't home.

I had a nurse come and visit me twice after each surgery to check on my wound. Nothing more than that, and you might find your girlfriend doesn't need any more check ups than the standard visits.

I know that this is major surgery, and you are a born worrier, but it's really a 'standard' surgery. She just needs a bit of time to heal and recover, but she will be fine

xx

Tiglath

There's some very good advice on the Hystersisters website, both for those having the surgery and for their partners. To Do lists, things to take to hospital, things needed afterwards. Coughing does hurt afterwards and feels weird as certain things like the bladder have more space to move around in so everything adjusts. Constipation is an absolute killer, but I felt fine by the 3rd week and was off for 6 weeks in total, although I didn't have an abdominal incision to worry about. I seem to recall I wore pantyliners for a couple of weeks while I passed the stitches but it really wasn't a big problem, and our sex life was better than ever once I'd recovered because I didn't have the pain I'd had before. Her emotions may well be all over the place for a while, so expect that - I had a meltdown in the 2nd week which lasted for a few hours and I was absolutely raging. I was told not to lift anything heavier than a bag of sugar.

murphydog999

Having gone through this myself, I would suggest someone is with her 24 hours for at least the first few days at home. This is a crucial time and she really should not be doing anything.

Depending on her age, fitness, and if there is an external incision will determine how quickly she recovers. Even after a full hyst, with an external cut, I was out in 3 days and back to work part time in 4 weeks, but this is a very personal choice.

Anything you can do to make life easier - getting some meals done now to put in the freezer, making sure books, magazines, drinks, nibbles, etc are all at hand, the packed lunch idea, etc, every day stuff that we take for granted, will help. Make sure she eats well - little and often.

You don't realise how often you use your stomach muscles until you have a hysterectomy!!

Get her doing as many press-ups as she can beforehand, she will need the upper body strength to compensate.

pollypenny

If she has a vaginal hysterectomy, she must not forget that she has internal wounds and stitches - it's all too easy to do so.

She will be very tired, sometimes without any apparent reason. I am still recovering and going out tonight for the first time. ( 6 weeks)

Jox

you lovely partner you!

longwalks1

Thanks everyone for your replies x

No doubt I'll be on here up to, and after the op (currently penned in for 16th October - that's a different story altogether)
Will she need any specialist help post-op, once she is home? Like help from a nurse or anyone?

Bit worried as a guy at works partner had it done and one morning after the op he woke and she had bled quite heavily in the night and he said it was like something off a horror film (sorry for the detail), is he exaggerating?
Thanks again everyone

Mrs_Ryan

I'm now 10 weeks post-op from a total abdominal hysterectomy so mine wasnt so long ago.

I had to see the district nurses for 6 weeks after as my wound was badly hospital-acquired infected, but if I remember correctly unless there is a problem like that where the wound requires constant dressing then not normally. It's not unknown to bleed heavily - I did all over the hospital floor on the way to the loo (sorry) but as my consultant said its possible in the first couple of weeks and I'm told it can be heavy - she'll need plenty of sanitary protection.

I'm 31 so very young but I was in hospital for a week and am not back to work now 10 weeks later (going back next week) however this was purely because of my wound being open until recently, I was actually quite energetic from about 4 weeks onward.

I was told by the hospital to just keep moving a little but the meals thing is a good idea - when OH was at work all I had to do was heat up the meals he had left. I was also told to lift nothing heavier than a full kettle for 4 weeks.

Just be kind to her and support her as best you can - I had my op because of cancer so I had a lot to deal with and was very emotional, so appreciated little touches like my OH bringing things to me when he was here and just being affectionate and kind.

Think thats it...I go on the hysterectomy association forums and they're very good on there.

wondercollie

I had my vaginal hysterectomy on Friday and was home on Sunday. They pull the packing after 24 hours. No post op bleeding. Just fatigue for around a month. Have vague memories of passing the stitches. No home help or nursing visits just follow ups with the Gynie at 4 and 6 weeks post op.

Honestly it was easier than a forceps delivery, recovery wise.

My roomate in hospital had a total. She woke up in menopause, complete with hot flashes. She also had a 72 hour hospital stay. But was told to visit her GP in ten days to have the sutures out.

It's like any surgery. No strenous exercise, follow a good diet to avoid constipation, no lifting anything over ten pounds. Watch for the usual post-op complications, sudden high fever, redness, swelling or warmth around or along the incision and get prompt attention if they occur.

Main thing with pain control is don't wait until you're in agony before taking the meds. For the first 48 hours at home, it's a good idea to take the meds every 4-6 hours like prescribed because if you wait until it hurts then the meds won't be effective. Coughing, make sure you have a pillow or large teddy to hold over the abdomen when you feel a cough coming on.

At the hospital where I had mine done, it was standard procedure to have you up and walking as soon as possible, even though the patients don't like it, it does reduce post-op complications.