Article: How Others Can Help During Hysterectomy

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Article: How Others Can Help During Hysterectomy
I was thinking I could print out a list of wishes and post it on my refrigerator so my family might know ways they can pamper me! Can you help me with some ideas of how others can help me?

Sure! This is just the beginning of a list. Add your own ideas for your refrigerator list:

HysterSisters Suggestions: How to Care for a Punctured Princess

Make sure your Princess has access to the computer
Plenty of herbal teas (variety of flavors)
International Coffees (variety of flavors-no caf)
Scented candles for her room
Fresh cut flowers
Bedside Telephone
Control of the Remote when she is awake
A good variety of ice creams
Crushed ice in the freezer for cold, icey water
Interesting fruit juices in the frig
One last box of "supplies" for the spotting until she is healed
A water squirt bottle for toilet encouragement and gentle cleanup
A card or two, with special notations about love could be WELL received right now
A hand written love note
Keep meals simple but tasty. (Avoid gassy foods.....but make sure they have plenty of fiber)
A breakfast in bed every now and then
A simple candlelit dinner when she's ready to sit up for an evening meal, even with the kids - make mom the guest of honor - have her remain in bed until everything is ready!
Offer to have her lay back in your lap to watch a movie and brush her hair
Massage her feet
Encourage her to walk regularly around the house
A safe environment to walk and heal....keep all toys, clothes, newspapers picked up and off the floor. (This is physical safety, so she won't slip and emotional safety, so she won't get upset)
Or better yet, clean the house, especially the recovery room, or hire a cleaning service to clean the house a few weeks after she is home.
Buy her extra pillows (A body pillow is GREAT, a donut pillow for bottom repair)
Buy her a new robe/pjs...no long gowns. They get tangled in the bed.
Encourage her to sleep late and nap alot during the day.
Perhaps prop the head of the bed up with a few blocks. A tilted bed sometimes helps with restless sleep while recovering with incisions.
If you have to leave during the day, check with her before you leave. She may need her fruit juice re-iced.
Provide a warm (not hot) hot water bottle or heating pad. This can be applied to the tummy or back as needed.
Provide prepared fruits & vegtables such as carrots, celery, apples & oranges.
Give back rubs.
Emotional support is as important as physical support during the first couple weeks.
Give lots of hugs especially when the princess is feeling a little emotional.
Spend time with her when she is not resting. The more time you spend together the better she'll feel. A lonely princess is a sad princess.
Rent a movie she'd like, and watch it together.
If her doctor allows walks - go for a walk together.
When you princess has lots of emotional support she may not notice the dust bunnies taking up residence in your home.
Take good care of her now so she can take good care of you later.
And remember: A happy princess heals faster. Encourage her to rest now and she will be up faster. It trully is a good 6-8 weeks before she should do anything and it trully does take a full year to be back to "normal". She has been through a lot. A hysterectomy is major surgery. Take good care of her!

Do not allow the recovering princess to:

lift anything over 2 pounds
drive
do laundry
cook
do grocery shopping
walk up and down stairs
vacuum
dust
or any other housework until the doctor releases this princess to do such work

This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.