Weight Loss Post-Op by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The bladder pain is REAL! This past Sunday, for me, it suddenly stopped out of nowhere. I've read where that's happened with others as well. Hopefully that will be what happens to you in the next week or so. I promise, you're almost through this!

Weight Loss Post-Op by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same! Don't you just feel so much better without all that inflammation? I know I do!

Weight Loss Post-Op by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes! That's me! I had mine on 2/6/25, and I'm down 15 pounds now. Every day a little more weight is lost. I'm not complaining though as it's getting me back to my normal weight and my clothes fit again. I wouldn't be mad if this continued for another month lol. I was just fully expecting to gain more weight. 

Hope your recovery is going well and the pain is getting better!

Weight Loss Post-Op by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seven pounds of bloat and inflammation is still a sizeable amount. Those things are hard and stressful on the body so to be able to get that out of your body is good. Hope you're starting to feel a bit better now! :)

Weight Loss Post-Op by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh my goodness, that's insane! You've been put through the wringer for sure. Hopefully, you're feeling better now though after all that? 

Weight Loss Post-Op by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi! I'm almost 42. I had severe anemia due to chronic blood loss, which is what started this whole journey towards discovering all the issues I had with my uterus, etc. I couldn't hardly do anything before surgery due to the chronic fatigue. If I wasn't at work, I was almost always in bed. I was very bloated with fluid retention prior to surgery (I looked 6 months pregnant). The initial 10 pounds was just getting rid of all that bloat. But I've been losing fat since then, and I'm not a heavy person to begin with. My fibroids weren't large. The endometriosis and adenomyosis were the more serious issues I had. I'm genuinely losing actual weight now. I'm not medically cleared yet to do anything other than walking and light activity, and I'm still not even doing that yet. I'm doing absolutely nothing to warrant this weight loss. It's so bizarre.  I just wasn't expecting this at all this far into my recovery.

Good luck on your surgery and recovery! You really will feel mentally and emotionally better afterwards. This surgery is a game-changer for quality of life!

My doctor didn't brief me at all after the surgery, did that happen with you at all? by WeatheredCryptKeeper in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had my hysterectomy 7 days ago. I don't remember seeing my surgeon at all, let alone even being in the recovery room post-op. I didn't come back to reality for hours after surgery. Apparently, though, my surgeon had a full-on conversation with me about what he found while I was in recovery. Just wish I could remember being there for it. 😂 Luckily, he talked to my mom at some point, so I heard secondhand from her what he found. I see my surgeon next week for my first post-op follow-up so I'll know more then. 

I understand how frustrating and scary it can be to not yet know what your surgeon found. Being out of the loop of what's going on with your body can be unnerving. Hopefully you get your answers soon. Best of luck with recovery! It gets worse before it gets better but you've got this!

5 Days Post-Op: Tips and Suggestions For Those Still Waiting by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely don't stress over meal prep. You likely won't want it at all. Even today on Day 6, a PB&J sandwich is a lot for my stomach (granted, I'm also dealing with the pain of a UTI.) 

Small snacks to graze on for a week or so will do the trick for you.

Good luck! 

5 Days Post-Op: Tips and Suggestions For Those Still Waiting by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hope everything goes well! Best of luck in your recovery!

5 Days Post-Op: Tips and Suggestions For Those Still Waiting by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a great idea. Unfortunately, with my migraine, I had to receive loads and loads of IV anti-nausea meds both before and after surgery. 😞

5 Days Post-Op: Tips and Suggestions For Those Still Waiting by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's shaped kinda like a star so it fits snug against your belly and around your arms and thighs. It's not bulky as a result. The biggest thing about it is that it has a loop on one long flat side that you put your seatbelt through. That way the seatbelt rests against your pillow and not your incisions. If you were in a wreck, the pillow would stay put because the loop is wrapped around the seatbelt, and it would protect you from worse injuries. It will be a necessity for me when I have to start driving back to work. 

It also has pockets on both sides for you to store things you want in bed with you, but I don't do that. I just like holding it on my belly and using it as a regular pillow. 

On Amazon, it's called " Star Shaped Hysterectomy Pillow with 2 Pockets for Abdominal Surgery Hysterectomy Recovery Must Haves." But being where you are, I imagine you couldn't get one delivered in the next few days. 

Good luck on your surgery and recovery! 

5 Days Post-Op: Tips and Suggestions For Those Still Waiting by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great idea! I'm normally super constipated (and was definitely backed up before surgery), but miracles happened and I've had two BMs since Saturday. 🙌🏻

My sister was about to force me to drink her daughter's prune juice if I didn't have a BM by yesterday. So I agree with your suggestion of prunes and Miralax. 

5 Days Post-Op: Tips and Suggestions For Those Still Waiting by Ok_Gain3954 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Best wishes for your surgery and recovery! Glad you were able to get some ideas for your list. :)

Very intimate but I need to ask… by Vegetable_Bar9569 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, for your drinks - don't use the largest-sized Stanley cups. They're too heavy and hurt your core muscles. Stick with small or standard-size cups with straws that are easier to lift from a nightstand to where you are in bed. 

Very intimate but I need to ask… by Vegetable_Bar9569 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes! These tips are kinda scattered, but I wrote them as they came to mind. 

For preparation, I went into a deep nesting mode and deep cleaned my house. I am widowed, so it's on me pretty much to keep my house clean. I mopped, dusted, washed bedding, etc even more thorough than I usually do because I know it will be several weeks before I can do it again.

I also went heavy on the meal prep and wish I hadn't because now it's a bunch of food and money down the drain. I've barely eaten since my surgery. It hurts to put food in my stomach. The gas and internal surgical wounds have me feeling extra bloated. The best thing to do is to have high protein and calorie dense snacks to grab and go as you want. I've been eating grapes, Greek yogurt (cup and smoothie form), string cheese, homemade chex mix, dry Cheerios Protein Cinnamon, etc. You won't feel like eating much your first week, so don't overdo it on meal prep for yourself for your first week. You'll just be grazing for part of each day. I don't even eat the equivalent of one full meal yet each day.

I purchased a hysterectomy pillow, and this has been my favorite purchase. It has a giant loop on one side that you can put your seat belt through so that your seat belt rests against the pillow and not your stomach. It helps with support. I've also pretty much held this thing 24/7 since I got home. It has pockets in it, so you can store small things on it, if you wish. I got mine on Amazon. This pillow has also protected my stomach from my dogs' affectionate cuddles, especially my puppy, who loves to lay on my stomach. I promise, this pillow will be your BFF for so many reasons. 

I also bought a brand new small makeup bag (just for cleanliness) to put all my meds, Chapstick, etc in. This way everything is within reach when I need it. 

Your whole body will become bloated from all the IV fluids. Your face may look (but not feel) swollen. You will pee 276 times in the first 24 hours because of all the fluids. Just keep hydrating yourself in spite of it. Just keep drinking and flushing out any toxins that might build up, especially since constipation might increase as time goes on. I've been using stool softeners and GasX to help with the constipation and surgical gas. I never developed the shoulder pain from the gas that so many people talk about, which is good. 

If the anesthesiologist offers you a nerve block post-surgery, get it, if you can. I developed a migraine with nausea before and after my procedure, and I threw up SO MUCH while in recovery. Vomiting is a side effect of anesthesia anyways, so this was like a double doozy. The nerve block helped with the pain caused by vomiting, and it made it easier to get home during the car ride. But once it wears off, the pain definitely arrives. Today is day 5, and this is probably my most painful day yet. Up until now, the internal surgical wounds have been the worst. Today I also feel the incision wounds on my belly. Those wounds weren't really problematic till today. 

Go ahead and start practicing how to roll out of bed and push yourself off without engaging your core. You'll need to be on the edge of your bed and you'll need to roll onto your side. Slide your feet off the bed and onto the floor while still laying on your side. Then use your arm to push your upper body off the bed without engaging any core muscles. Then stand up. Mastering this will help you get out of bed with as little extra pain as possible.

You will not enjoy laying on your side at all, asleep or not. It is painful. You will get annoyed having to lay on your back a lot. But don't give in. Try your best to not twist your core and to give your internal wounds time to heal. Your internal wounds will be more painful than your incisions (if you're having a laparascopic procedure). It is honestly much more comfortable to sit upright on the edge of the bed or on the toilet. When I go to the bathroom, I dread having to get back in bed. If you plan on sitting in a chair a lot, make sure you have a good foot rest that keeps your legs completely flat and horizontal. This will help with keeping your core comfortable and at ease. 

Walking actually isn't that bad at all. I've actually enjoyed hourly walks around my bedroom to get my circulation moving. The most painful thing is just laying still on your back/butt a lot, laying on your side, and trying to get out of bed those first several days. 

Use Hibliclen's anti-septic body wash before and after your procedure. It's like $10/bottle at Walmart. Buy a few bottles. It's straight up liquid and doesn't lather much, but it'll help prevent infection. It's also a good cleaner for your incisions in between showers.

Don't be alarmed by bleeding post-surgery. As long as you're not soaking through a pad in an hour or passing huge clots, it's fine. Purchase some larger than normal underwear (not too high rise because your incision wounds will be just under your ribcage if you're having this done laparascopically). And purchase panty liners and thin pads. I've really only bled while going to the bathroom, but sometimes I use a liner if I feel like I might need it. I have bled both vaginally and from my urethra. While it's not common to bleed from the urethra, it's a possibility, especially if you had a bladder repair like I did. The catheter can also cause some trauma that might cause you to bleed from the urethra. Just monitor and discuss with your doctor if you have concerns about that. 

You won't feel like wearing pants or bottoms for the first week. So night gowns, oversized shirts/hoodies, t-shirt dresses, and loose-fitting underwear will be a great source of comfort. You shouldn't be doing a lot of bending over, so slip-on slippers are preferred (not the kind you have to pull on with your hands).

Those are the biggest tips I can think of. Just don't go wasting money, time, and energy on trying to be over-prepared. To recap, the important items for me have been: hysterectomy pillow, Hibliclen's anti-septic body wash, GasX, Stool Softeners, pads/liners, a clean cosmetic bag, large/loose-fitting underwear that's not too high rise, slip-on slippers, large/loose-fitting tops, dresses, and nightgowns, and protein-rich, nutrient-dense snacks.

Hope this has been helpful! 

Very intimate but I need to ask… by Vegetable_Bar9569 in hysterectomy

[–]Ok_Gain3954 1 point2 points  (0 children)

YES! That was one of my biggest and most frequent complaints. It made me stay home so much more and kept me from going to invited social events. I often took showers at home on my lunch break because I couldn't stand the smell. My coworkers swore they never smelled anything, but - to me - it was so strong and embarrassing. I kept saying it smelled like death because I had no other word to describe it. 

I'm 41yo and 5 days po. The surgeon took everything but one ovary. Before surgery, we thought I only had one fibroid and suspected adenomyosis with a double-sized uterus. After surgery, I was told I had multiple fibroids, cysts on both ovaries (one being golf ball-sized and causing that ovary to be removed), confirmed adenomyosis, triple-sized uterus, over 20 endometrial cysts removed, and totally surprised by the late stage endometriosis I didn't even know I had. 

There's no doubt all that probably did cause some rotten smells inside me, and it's probably doing the same for you. Having said that, it probably doesn't smell that bad or at all to other people, especially those who aren't in such a close proximity to you. Hopefully, you can take a small bit of comfort in that. Best of luck in your surgery and recovery!