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2 days post op ( confused )

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cookie1969
cookie1969

Hi had vaginal hysterectomy and prolapse repairs 2 days ago home and feeling fine less than 24 hours later .with no recovery plan after reading a few bits on various sites I am now confused as to what I can and cannot do !!

Can I have a bath ? ( do not have a shower ) can I do housework ? Can I drive ?

Things I should of asked before I left hospital but was too excited to be going home and feeling so well .appreciate any advice x

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • phoebewhite
    phoebewhite cookie1969

    Posted

    Hi Cookie, I had a LAVH on 15th December, you shouldn't bathe until around the 4 week mark and even then don't use highly perfumed products, can you fit one of those shampoo spray things to your taps to freshen yourself up?  you most definitely can't drive yet, you can once you are able to do an emergency stop without pain again usually by week 4, also check your insurance to see if/when you will be covered. Only light housework, dusting etc, I have only just started to vacuum, it's the same as lifting do not lift anything heavier than 5lb for the first few weeks.
  • shani1953
    shani1953 cookie1969

    Posted

    Hi Cookie

    You sound very much as I was when I came out of hospital.  I had a vaginal hysterectomy 3 weeks ago and came out with not much information - just not do to do any lifting.  I felt fine when I was discharged - no pain, no discomfort virtually no bleeding and I didn't feel at all tired.  When I asked about what I could do they said just to go easy but to do a bit of walking whenever I felt I could manage it - they said I would know when it felt like I had done too much.

    I am normally a very active person (walking and jogging) so 'take it easy' is insufficient advice I feel.  As I result, I overdid things and at 2 weeks post op I had a really heavy bleed which scared me.  I had an emergency Dr's appointment and the option was to go home and rest or go into A&E.  I didn't want to be poked around inside any more, so chose to go home and rest and spent 2 days in bed, which worked and the bleeding stopped.  I am now finding that the simplest movement involving any twisting, bending, crouching etc can set off a small bleed so my advice to you is to try not to do any of these things at all.  One of the ladies on this site gave a link to another hospital's recovery list which is very good.  See if you can find it.  I have saved the list on my computer so could email it to you if you can't locate it.

    I wanted to take a bath when I got home and was not told I couldn't by the hospital but my partner said showers only.  I suppose it makes sense to keep any water out of the vagina etc.  If you don't have a shower I would just kneel in the bath and wash, and avoid submerging your bum if you can!  Housework is a complete no-no really - I have found it virtuanlly impossible to do any without twist, bending etc so best left to others!

    Best of luck with your recovery, but try not do do much at all, except short walks when you feel able, which I find do seem to help and haven't been the cause of increased bleeding for me.

    Let us know how things go.

    Shani xx

    • val29779
      val29779 shani1953

      Posted

      Hi I am 4 weeks post op and also had a vaginal hysterectomy and bowel repair. I was not told not to bath either and waited for 4 days then have been bathing ever since. I did have an infection on the second week and wonder if that's why then? Maybe just clean around the area instead. I wasn't given any advice, was in no the Friday and sent home the next day. No hospital beds etc. I am resting loads, don't do housework, I only walk a little around the house as I walked for about half an hour the second week and started bleeding a lot more so stopped. I get a lot of pain but mostly through trapped wind. Take laxative and lactose to help. Also drink prune juice to keep to from constipation. The discussions on here and one called hystersisters is great to get information and help from. Good luck.and take care X
    • cookie1969
      cookie1969 shani1953

      Posted

      Hi shani 

      thankyou for your reply I cannot believe how well I feel at the moment and am wanting to do things ie cleaning ect - but after reading things it has helped me realise I cannot do it or if I do then it will catch up with me ..

      so plenty of rest ( which I will find very hard indeed)

      the hospital should really give post op info out x

    • fugazi10
      fugazi10 cookie1969

      Posted

      Hi I had the same operation on the 11th Feb. I have been following the rules I was given at my post op appointment. I was told no lifting, no housework especially hoovering. I went out for a ten minute walk yesterday whoo! I hope to increase this slowly. Hope your recovery goes well x
  • lesley35654
    lesley35654 cookie1969

    Posted

    Hi Cookie

    Was reading your thread am including the link that was given to me, use it as a guide, there's a few things on it I'm not happy with ie hoovering any time before your 6 weeks check, hoovering is not light work it involves a lot of pushing twisting etc so don't do it. 6 weeks may seem like a long time, but I was reading hysteresisters and one comment struck a frequent cord, we all feel like frauds! Because the type of op we've had ( I had total on 3rd Feb)we feel fine, little pain. The artical said give ourselves a break take this opportunity to rest and do things you don't have time to do guilt free because you are recovering and you need to give yourself the time to do so. Also don't forget you've still had major surgery. Give yourself time now and reap the befits later.

    Good luck with your recovery

    Lesley xx

    http://gallery.mailchimp.com/a5692c6457e86f0e2182630fa/files/sbs_recovery.pdf?utm_source=Free+Hysterectomy+Booklet&utm_campaign=30c61c525a-Booklet-14&utm_medium=email

    • phoebewhite
      phoebewhite lesley35654

      Posted

      Crumbs, I just read the things suggested in your link, I was doing the dusting on my first week which I was told I could do, I was walking for about 20 mins each morning out in the fresh air, (walking is encouraged to prevent DVT) and going up and down stairs and, by week 4 where it says increase walking up to 20 minutes, I was already walking my dogs for an hour each morning and have done ever since then, I drove each day by 4 weeks, yes I know we are not all the same but I think to have to play things by ear, take each day as it comes, my consultant said to me, if you can't do something one day, wait a couple of days then try again, listen to your own body, I have to say that I do still find hoovering slightly too much, but he also said I should let my hubby do it for at least 5 years lol!
    • lesley35654
      lesley35654 phoebewhite

      Posted

      Hi Phoebewhite,

      wow you've been busy, the link I passed on was one sent to me as was asking if anyone had been given more help as on leaving hospital was only given rest, don't lift anyhing heavier than a liter and walk about a bit and looking at there were things I'd not push to do so soon.

      glad you've had no problems. You probably know but your not advised to drive until 6 weeks and are able to do an emergency stop, as I know what insurance companies are like I phoned mine to inform them of my change of circumstances and did they have any differing requirement, they said no they agreed with what the doctors generally say, and to let them know when I'm fit to drive after the 6 weeks. In the event of driving before that time I would be uninsured.

      Right from the night of op I got myself out of bed and once had the catheter and drain out was walking about the ward evey hour and similar once I got home I walked about the downstairs frequently, this was to prevent DVT, not the sitting still which is where the danger lays. Walking is good and and gradually building it up gives the body time to adjust and is a gentle form of exercise in readiness to return to work.

      youll soon be fit to return to work, bet you'll be glad x

    • phoebewhite
      phoebewhite lesley35654

      Posted

      Hi Lesley,

      I am 9 weeks post LAVH.

      I don't work anymore as I am 62. I have been incredibly lucky, I had an absolutely amazing surgeon whom I think waved a magic wand and didn't use a scalpel, I haven't needed any pain killers right from waking up from the anaesthetic, I have had no bleeding to speak of other than spotting for the first couple of days, this is all great and good but it is easy to forget I have had surgery of any kind, the only reminder I get is if I do overdo things a bit my tummy swells up as if to say 'woah Mrs slow down', it;s the infamous 'swelly belly', I am suffering with it today as I foolishly lifted a bucket of water without thinking, so I will be more careful tomorrow. smile.......I promise.

    • lesley35654
      lesley35654 phoebewhite

      Posted

      Hi Phoebewhite,

      very similar experience with surgeon and recovery, Wed.sees me starting 4 th week post op. Again no pain like yourself, just tenderness. Thought I was pregnant after op....doh! That's supposed to be impossible now! You should have seen the consultans face when he said "you know you've got to have a total hysterectomy", and I looked at him and said "does that mean we can't have any more children?" glancing at my hubby I continued "and we were thinking of having 4 more"!!... Bearing in mind I'm 58 I looked back at the consultant and said.. Joking!   I'm afraid I have a strange sence of humour.

      went to Westfield Stratford Sunday for my walk just off the train and into M&S had a walk round had a coffee and back home, my lower keyhole area felt a bit draggy so maybe still a bit far but no bleeding and ok, today went for walk around the block. So things seem to be moving in the right direction.

      lesley x 

       

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