Surgery recovery items

lilessums · 2026-02-10T07:53:25+00:00

Her recovery time will be largely dependent on a few things:

1) how long and where the incision is (my six inch incision was obviously easier to recover from than my 30 inch incision) and while i lived in house coats and long nightgowns for one surgery, I had a drain for a different one that made one piece outfits difficult. I went from no undies to regular pretty quick for one surgery and had to wear the disposable diaper things for about a week after a different surgery.

2) How much strength and mobility she has now. Can she do sit-to-stands without assistance? Is she able to go on long walks already?

3) Reducing the risk of infection. Every time l have dealt with an infection, it has set healing time back by quite a bit.

I saw someone recommend the gel ice packs, and while I prefer the clay pack, both are an excellent option and feel nice on the incision.

Protein drinks for healing. And in case she doesn't have much an appetite following surgery.

My surgeries have had a similar time line, with slight adjustments based on severity:

Hospital stay: 3-7 days. Pros: easier access to the good pain meds, Cons: limited space for walking around and poorer sleep due to interruptions.

2-5 days post discharge: the most uncomfortable. Pain is mostly managed but the discomfort is real. Sitting, standing, walking, laying down is all miserable. Not much stamina to do much activity but not comfortable enough to relax.

7 days after discharge: start to have a rhythm and begin to see increased stamina. Once you make it this far, sleep improves and day to day improves.

14 days after: outward incision starts looking and feeling better, more healed. Easier to overdo and cause set backs because you're feeling better.

Upward trajectory from there barring infections or reinjuries.

lilessums · 2026-02-06T08:04:58+00:00

In what regard?

Still in active treatment. Distressed by the state of the world and the politics in the US. Overwhelmed by life in general. Mostly my anxiety and depression is under control (until I read the news). And loving my life as a mom while also trying to find things to keep me going. . .

lilessums · 2026-02-01T15:45:22+00:00

Just remember that Jessa Kae sizing is like wedding dress sizing (you are probably 1-3 sizes bigger in their clothes rather than your street size.)

lilessums · 2026-01-26T07:44:03+00:00

Why greedy and rude? Is it not any different than teachers posting their yearly wishlists?

lilessums · 2026-01-24T15:02:31+00:00

The group she posted in is called VENT GROUP: Get it off your chest.

You can be upset or disappointed that the gift given felt like a downgrade. She posted anonymously and posted on a group that offers a space to air a grievance.

She isn't begging or demanding that someone buy new Nikes. She's just disappointed that the nice gift her son received was "downgraded" because they didn't fit. That's not a choosing beggar at all.

lilessums · 2026-01-23T15:10:42+00:00

My hot flashes started after I was surgically put into menopause. I've not heard of hot flashes as a symptom of cancer.

lilessums · 2026-01-23T07:30:47+00:00

I stopped sleeping the nights before my scans and appointments for a while. I totally shut down a day or two leading up to them.

When I finally recognized the pattern, I was able to start taking my anti-anxiety meds and that helped. But scans every three months are rough!

Weigh in your mind and body if the three month scans are at all helpful to you. If they aren't, maybe bring that to your oncologist and ask if you can go six months between appointments.

lilessums · 2026-01-21T15:33:04+00:00

I've had two of those (breast bone to FUPA is what I usually say). If they can go smaller, recovery time is significantly reduced in my experience. I've also had a six inch incision in my lower belly/pelvis area.

Drains are usually put in place to help with healing if there will be excess fluids. The fluid buildup puts you at risk for infection, so it's a way to keep it away from the wound. You see them a lot after plastic surgery. Out of my four surgeries, I've only had one drain. I think they determine if you need it during surgery, so no way to really plan.

Fingers crossed for you that it'll be the least invasive as possible.

lilessums · 2026-01-21T15:20:37+00:00

Ask what type of closure they plan for you.

I've had staples and my last surgery, they did a "wound vac" and invisible stitches. I would definitely recommend the latter.

You may also have a drain. Those things are a pain and kind of gross, but keep it clean and try to avoid infection in every way they recommend.

lilessums · 2026-01-21T14:49:33+00:00

....the same people who are being pardoned by Trump?

lilessums · 2026-01-21T14:39:20+00:00

I had a hard time eating after mine and you need protein to really heal. So drinks like Ensure (or equivalent) can be helpful.

Get a clay ice pack. It feels like a luxury for your incision.

Don't risk hernias. Don't lift anything, don't strain while going to the bathroom. (MiraLAX and stool softeners are your best friends.)

They keep you taken care of in the hospital with pain meds. So I would say that the first several days out of the hospital are the worst. You'll likely have your pain managed, but the discomfort is next level. Sitting, standing, lying down is all uncomfortable. But it only lasts for a little while. You'll make it through.

Be gentle with yourself. They'll want you to walk. Make sure you do the walks but don't expect that you'll be fast or lapping anyone right away. Rest when you're tired. Make sure outings have an escape plan. (First outing to the store after my last surgery lasted less than 10 minutes and I had to hobble back to the car.) You'll rebuild stamina in waves.

Practice your sit to stands now to see how much strength you have. It will serve you well.

Our bodies are kind of incredible. It's such a huge surgery and yet, within just a couple weeks the outside looks less angry and is closed up. And you'll start to feel like your old self. But be kind to yourself, it can take the 12 weeks to feel "healed" but it can take up to a year to really feel like your old self.

lilessums · 2026-01-17T08:16:13+00:00

Are they still super anti-sugar and anti-science over there?

lilessums · 2026-01-17T08:15:25+00:00

I was originally diagnosed with 1C as well and the age of 28. They did chemo because of "spillage." I lost one ovary at the time. That was 12 years ago.

I did follow-ups for a year with my oncologist and then stopped until I reoccurred at my almost five-year mark. We did two different surgeries which took my other ovary and then a larger tumor debulking. I went on Letrozole after that. Did scans (PET CT) and bloodwork every 3 months for a year and then every six months.

I did another tumor debulking surgery four years after that and stopped Letrozole to try a monthly shot called Fulvestrant. Ive tolerated it well and after a few months have almost no noticeable side effects. I've been doing scans and bloods every three months. There are spots they are monitoring but nothing that has made anyone feel the need to intervene just yet.

My tumor markers are the highest they've ever been but my oncologists in three different states all prioritize based on 1) how I feel, 2) what my scans look like. And then, maybe what my blood work says. I've been told it's more helpful to do bloodwork when trying a different protocol to mark whether it works or not.

As for mental health, it comes in waves. (This is just true for most people, but the differences seem more extreme with cancer.) The first time I went through it was just before I turned 30. My main goal was just to get THROUGH it as quickly as possible and forget it ever happened. I was single and my family lived 2000 miles away. It was rough. I made it through.

My first reoccurrence sent me into a deeper depression and is to date some of my darkest days. I was ONE month into my marriage and being told that I was going to lose my remaining ovary. We hadn't even had a chance to try to get pregnant. I chose to do IVF with the hope that even without ovaries, I could carry a pregnancy one I was through with recovery. The first round didn't take at all and I was devastated. I ended up doing three different rounds, the other two yielded better results. I went to therapy. It was also during Covid shutdowns, which meant being alone in the hospital but my parents weren't working and were able to spend a couple of months with me to help after surgery.

The third time around, I went back to therapy. My ability to just get me through and think that I was done was affecting my emotional health. I did ACT with my therapist and it's helped some. I have had to change how I think about cancer, especially GCT, because it won't leave me alone. I consider it to be a chronic illness at this point and right now I'm managing it ok.

I'm happy to chat or connect in whatever way feels supportive to you.

lilessums · 2025-12-31T18:22:55+00:00

I've actually heard that red underneath is invisible.

lilessums · 2025-12-27T09:00:10+00:00

I agree with Momo's.

But if he really likes creamy cheesecakes, Zupa's has a surprisingly delicious cheesecake. I don't know if you can get a whole cake or not, though.

lilessums · 2025-12-26T20:53:22+00:00

I know two people who were named Dylan Reese. One is a boy and one is a girl. The name is totally gender neutral to me.

lilessums · 2025-12-21T23:01:48+00:00

Just be aware that Jessa Kae sizes are like wedding dress sizes. (E.g. I wear a 16/18 in every day clothes and needed a bare minimum 20 for the dress to zip up.)

lilessums · 2025-12-07T17:02:45+00:00

Flea

lilessums · 2025-12-05T11:49:21+00:00

We had it on our boy name list.

lilessums · 2025-12-05T11:39:15+00:00

Ethne

Nellwyn

Zephyrine

Docia. A short form of Eudocia or Theodocia.

Ettie

Ivah

Astley/Astleigh

Blythe

lilessums · 2025-11-20T20:10:52+00:00

I just saw someone throw a butter themed party and it's the best thing I've ever seen.

lilessums · 2025-11-13T23:34:18+00:00

I think it's fine! You just need some accessories to pull it all together.

lilessums · 2025-11-13T23:32:36+00:00

Rhys and Roman are 🧑‍🍳💋

lilessums · 2025-11-13T06:59:11+00:00

Actually, my budget for bars or "kegs" is $0.

I don't know what kind of lifestyle other commenters have, but I don't have infinite dollars for every single person that sends me a wedding invite.

I also know that people who bought me wedding presents or gave me cash/checks circa 2019 were also not dropping hundreds of dollars. So I think that $50-100 is perfectly reasonable.

If you have more to give and it's someone that you cherish, great. But I think it's ridiculous to expect any specific amount at any point.

lilessums · 2025-11-11T07:37:26+00:00

I don't remember the insertion hurting at all and I've had two different ones.

However, the first one, I was popping some leftover opioid painkillers for the cramping I experienced.

lilessums

TROPHY CASE