Having major surgery Nov 3 - please send thoughts of healing @ 12:30 PM EST!

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  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,779 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I don't know if I'm going to be hot or cold and have been overpacking for my 2-5 day stay at the hospital due to that.

    My experience at (Belgian) hospitals has always been that is 'ridiculously' warm there, no matter what the season. But habits might vary between countries/regions, YMMV?
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,586 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    claireychn074 wrote: »
    I had major abdominal surgery for something different so it isn’t completely comparable, but here are a few tips:
    1. Get BIG pants (knickers). I didn’t realise how swollen I would be and I just wanted loose and comfy clothing.
    2. Roll a towel up and keep it next to you in case you need to sneeze or cough. Hold it tightly to your tummy to support your muscles and reduce the pain.
    3. Take ALL the painkillers they offer and press the pain pump button as much as you can. No pain = much quicker recovery.
    4. When they say you’ll be healed in xx weeks and can rerun to normal activity, start really gently. I was given the all clear at 6 weeks and really hurt myself - it actually took me 6 months to get back to “normal”.
    5. Get some nice unscented oil to massage your scar to help healing and to desensitise it
    6. Eat little and often, try to eat vitamin e for healing (avocados) and pineapple for bromelin (fortunately I like both of those!) and get your protein in

    Finally, my road to recovery was longer than I wanted but my husband bought me stickers. I was 40 when I had the surgery but I was so excited to get gold stars for walking down the garden, to the lamp post, for standing up straight. It worked on me! Good luck, sending hugs xx

    I didn't know if I'd be smaller due to having a 9 month sized "alien baby" removed or the same due to being swollen. I'd packed smaller PJs and underwear but will pack my regular size as well - thanks!

    And thanks for the other tips as well :smiley:

    Yeah, I had a significant adrenal tumour removed and I naively thought I’d emerge smaller from the surgery, and because I wouldn’t eat much in hospital. I was like a balloon - no pants or bottoms fitted 🤣 I’d packed a bag for going home and put jeans in. I sat in the wheelchair with this ginormous belly protruding as my jeans wouldn’t do up, so we carefully arranged my coat over my belly and underwear.

    Also - sorry to say this - even with open surgery they sometimes inflate your abdominal cavity with gas. So when you come around expect burps. I was high on morphine and thought it was hilarious and couldn’t stop laughing, which then hurt as all my muscles had been cut. And, uh, wind from other areas too. Your intestines get moved around as they remove organs, and it causes wind. Again, I’m afraid I found that hilarious.

    The two biggest influences on my recovery were my fitness (you’re fit) and my determination to get up and about asap. You also have that. It got me through the diagnosis, the surgery and the resulting issues from the cancer. Everyone is different and I’d never judge someone who didn’t want to fight and get pissed off. But I was NOT going to let Mr T beat me. Come back as soon as you can and update us please!

  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Nothing but good wishes for you tomorrow and forever after.

    I will find it strange not reading references to the fibroids, but so looking forward to hearing about you moving forward without them.
    I’d throw a party for you if I could.

    Cheers, h.

    Also hope the problems with your brother get resolved (I do remember you posting about him over the years)
  • Jimibill
    Jimibill Posts: 1 Member
    Thinking of you and wishing you all the best..
  • JBanx256
    JBanx256 Posts: 1,479 Member
    Atheist here too, but you'll be in my thoughts today. Please post and let us know how it went! <3
  • navychickpensfan
    navychickpensfan Posts: 25 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    navychickpensfan wrote: »
    Sending positive thoughts! I had a 16 cm massive fibroid taken out by a GYN Oncologist with the same surgery you are having. I went with the GYN Oncologist just in case of cancer. My fibroid grew really fast. I had everything removed except for my ovaries. It was reassuring to know that most fibroids are not cancer. The surgery was worth it and I felt much better a few weeks after. I no long had the fibroid pushing on my bladder. Five years later I am still not in menopause!

    @navychickpensfan I know, my life currently revolves around my tiny bladder and I'm trying to imagine not having to go through that anymore :lol:

    I'm hopeful it's not cancer but am very happy with my doctor's qualifications in case it is.

    I'd like to hear more details about your recovery. For example, after week X you were able to do Y, etc.

    Recovery wasn't as bad as I thought. Get up and start walking the halls of the hospital as soon as you can. I had to stay two days longer because of an oxygen issue. Walking helped with gas that was trapped in the abdomen and to not have blood clots. Listen to your body. Only do what you feel you can do. By 8 weeks I was able to do almost anything except lift anything heavy. Five years later and all I have is a scar from above my belly button to right above my pubic bone. The scar isn't the prettiest, but I don't plan on wearing a bikini, so it doesn't really concern me.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,102 Member
    Just looked at the clock, saw that it was almost exactly the moment: Thinking of you, sending positive thoughts.

    Let us know how you're doing when you feel up to it. 🤗
  • 406MamaBear
    406MamaBear Posts: 48 Member
    Good vibes and healing thoughts to you!!!
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    Hope the surgery went well and all is good with you!
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Hooray and congratulations. Glad you are up to posting.

    Not sure of the time zone difference but I had thoughts of you at around 10 am west coast time.

    Thanks for your update.

    Cheers, h.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,089 Member
    Congratulations! I'm so happy for you.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,102 Member
    Wonderful news: So glad to hear it!

    I hope this will put you on a path to feeling better overall, once healed.

    Let the smooth and speedy healing begin!
  • BartBVanBockstaele
    BartBVanBockstaele Posts: 623 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I've spent 15 years trying to get to menopause without having a hysterectomy due to my very large uterine fibroids, but I am almost 56 and there is no sign of menopause yet. (The decreased levels of estrogen would shrink the fibroids.) I am a veteran and get my health care through the VA. I've no complaints with them for regular medical issues, but over the years have found them sorely lacking when it comes to female-specific issues.

    After 2 or 3 denials, I was granted a Community Care referral to Mass General Hospital in Boston. Last March, my fibroid specialist at MGH expressed confidence that she could "bridge" me to menopause with a 6 month course of Lupron, an anti estrogen. Unfortunately, instead of the fibroids shrinking 50%, my uterus instead grew 4 cm, which technically brings me up to a 9 month pregnancy uterus, although my alien baby bump is visually more like 4 months. That growth and the crazy bleeding which should not have occurred at all while on Lupron alarmed her, and she referred me to a GYN oncologist. There is no pre-surgery test for the type of cancer I might have.

    Despite fighting a hysterectomy all this time, I have now accepted that it is medically necessary.

    Because my uterus is so large, nothing minimally invasive is possible, and this will be an abdominal hysterectomy with a vertical incision starting above my belly button, as the largest fibroid lives between my belly button and my diaphragm.

    Interestingly, my uterus has gone back down 4 cm since my brother, who has been verbally abusive to me and my partner since April, moved out 4 days ago.

    I'm reading Peggy Huddleston's "Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster: A Guide of Mind-Body Techniques" and finding it very helpful.

    Please send thoughts of healing Nov 3 @ 12:30 PM EST! I'm an atheist, but prayers are welcome too :blush:
    Best wishes from another atheist.
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,586 Member
    Yayy! Great news, and now just focus on getting better. Rest, recovery and eat when you can.
  • BarbaraHelen2013
    BarbaraHelen2013 Posts: 1,940 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    @BarbaraHelen2013 Thanks for the epidural recommendation! They did suggest it, and it sounded like they were expecting pushback, but I did not give them any. As long as I am not moving, I am in essentially no pain. Shifting position isn’t that bad.

    The worst part was the first half hour in recovery. My throat was sore from the tube that had been in it, the catheter was bothering me then, I was thirsty, cranky, and bored. I think perhaps original pain meds had worn off and new ones had not yet kicked in.

    @kshama2001 - Happy to have given you the chance to think about it ahead of time making you more receptive to the suggestion when it was put to you. I wish someone had done that for me! 😂

    So pleased that you’re up to posting to let us know how you’re feeling. I agree that the sore throat is the worst bit when you first wake! Just brutal!

    Know that you’ll feel better every day moving forward and I’m absolutely sure you’ll look back on the surgery as the best thing you ever did for your health and well-being, especially since you’ve been suffering for many years with all the insidious effects of living with large fibroids!

    I continue to wish you a swift and uncomplicated recovery.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    Yay! Glad you're doing well.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,393 Member
    Yay! You're a RockStar!

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,102 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    The catheter came out four hours ago and I have just peed for the first time on my own in 49 hours!

    Yay for progress! Wishing you excellent continuing positive momentum!
  • californiagirl1969
    californiagirl1969 Posts: 57 Member
    Glad everything worked out for you and that you're on the mend. Thanks for sharing some of ladies go through so much, Including me and it's good to know our options and how it works out for others. Best of care 🙂
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,089 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    On the negative side, my old roommate was discharged and my new roommate has two noisy young adult children and has the TV on. There are no other available rooms. I am relocating to the chapel. Glad I am well enough to do that. Oh, and I am dressed for the first time since Thursday.

    Chapels are for everybody, even atheists ;)

    I'm glad your recovery is going so well.

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