Surgery next week...didn't ask enough questions about what to expect afterward!

I need to have a hysterectomy, but the idea scared me so much, once I decided to do it, I scheduled it quickly and didn't ask my doctor a lot of questions. I'm hoping you can help! I have to have a complete abdominal hysterectomy, and I am one week away. I am severely underprepared!

How quickly after the hysterectomy do you start taking hormones?

Do hormones like Premarin, etc. help with libido post op? Do you have to take testosterone too? What about vaginal dryness?

How long should I plan on having a babysitter at home during the day for myself?

Will I feel like visitors in the hospital? I am staying 2 nights, so most people would come the day after the surgery.

How long do you bleed afterward?

When can I clean my house?

I am in between jobs right now. What is a reasonable timeframe in which I can start interviewing again? 2 weeks? 4 weeks? I work in medical sales.

Do you only wear the hospital gown in the hospital or should I take PJs? What about a robe?

Will I sleep a lot when I first get home? How long until I feel like doing anything? How long can I normally expect to take pain pills?

How long before we can resume sex?

Should I worry about laptops/ books for the hospital or will I sleep all the time?

I have one of those microbead pillows. Will this be enough for the seatbelt on the way home and for control during coughing/ sneezing?

I'm sorry I have so many trivial questions. I'm just severely behind in the information department.

Thank you in advance!

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur I need to have a hysterectomy, but the idea scared me so much, once I decided to do it, I scheduled it quickly and didn't ask my doctor a lot of questions. I'm hoping you can help! I have to have a complete abdominal hysterectomy, and I am one week away. I am severely underprepared!

Well you came to the right place. Lots of experienced people here.

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How quickly after the hysterectomy do you start taking hormones?

It depends on the age and diagnosis of the person. I'm older (56 this month) and had a C. diagnosis, so no HRT for me, but some get them right away, others not.

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Do hormones like Premarin, etc. help with libido post op? Do you have to take testosterone too? What about vaginal dryness?

Only your doctor can tell you. In my experience, Estrogen does not affect libido, but causes dryness. I am not on estrogen but my libido is fine, once the discomfort went away. But everyone is different.

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How long should I plan on having a babysitter at home during the day for myself?

At least two weeks. I needed one for three weeks. But other younger women seem to only need help for 2.

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Will I feel like visitors in the hospital? I am staying 2 nights, so most people would come the day after the surgery.

My sister visited the second day, and I was grateful.

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How long do you bleed afterward?

I spotted for at least three weeks, in fact, I spotted for a whole month. Some people don't hardly bleed, and then, two weeks later, have one big gush.

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When can I clean my house?

Don't bend for at least 3 or 4 weeks. Don't vacuum for six weeks. Seriously. Don't lift anything for at least six weeks. I had a handy picker upper thingie to pick things off the floor (like clothes) without bending. I also put anything that I needed to pick up at counter height. The bag of cat food, the clothes that are in the bottom drawer, etc.

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I am in between jobs right now. What is a reasonable timeframe in which I can start interviewing again? 2 weeks? 4 weeks? I work in medical sales.

I'd wait four, but everyone's different.

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Do you only wear the hospital gown in the hospital or should I take PJs? What about a robe?

I brought pjs (tunic type, no pants) and a robe to the hospital, and wore it the day I was allowed to shower. But it's up to you.

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Will I sleep a lot when I first get home?

Yes, with all the pain pills. For at least two or three days.

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How long until I feel like doing anything?

I didn't feel like doing anything for at least two weeks. But we're all different.

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How long can I normally expect to take pain pills?

It depends on your pain threshold, and if it's abdominal. I had a LAVH but I took nothing but tylenol when I went home (good drugs at the hospital, though) and after a week I alternated with advil, and in a few weeks was off painkillers, but I have a high threshold for pain.

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How long before we can resume sex?

Six to eight weeks, but trust me, you won't feel like it even after the doctor says you can. Minimum six.

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Should I worry about laptops/ books for the hospital or will I sleep all the time?

I enjoyed magazines and a tablet on the third day (before I was discharged) but had no attention span for books.

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I have one of those microbead pillows. Will this be enough for the seatbelt on the way home and for control during coughing/ sneezing?

I used a lumbar pillow and a regular small cushion to put on my belly. Aren't the microbead pillows kind of hard? I also held the belt with my hand to keep it from squeezing the pillow too much.

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I'm sorry I have so many trivial questions. I'm just severely behind in the information department. Thank you in advance!

They're not trivial, especially post-op, when you're stuck with whatever conditions existed before.
Also: Shave your legs before the surgery; do all your laundry, and unless you have someone cook for you, get enough food and snacks to have for when you're hungry or bored.
Good luck and God bless.

Thank you! I am having a complete abdominal hysterectomy. I'm not sure of the lingo/ acronyms. I'm basically getting cut open and they're taking everything. A milder form of surgery was not an option for me. I am 39 years old.

A microbead pillow is super soft...more pliable than a standard pillow...kind of like a bean bag. I was concerned it wouldn't be supportive enough.

I'm lucky in that I have people cooking for my husband and me for at least a week. But my caregivers are going home a week after my surgery. I wasn't sure if I should arrange for additional caregivers the second week or not.

One last question. I have 6 steps up my porch to get in my house, and my 70 year old mother will be bringing me home from the hospital. Can I get up the steps or do I need to arrange for someone to be here to help her get me up them?

Thanks again!

Test your pillow. Hold it up to your belly now and cough - see if it is enough support for you.

I came home alone - had lots of stuff in the freezer - but didn't have much of an appetite. How much will your husband be home/gone... you should do okay after the 1st week but maybe have someone on hand just in case.

As long as there is a railing - you should do fine on the steps. take it slow - one foot up - next foot up to same step - pause - repeat. I did a flight to my upstairs the 2nd day (a couple of times) with no problems.

Write down your questions for the doc - and ask someone to be there with you when they talk to you after surgery... you like many of us will probably not retain anything said the 1st couple of days.

Wow, that's encouraging. Thank you!

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur How quickly after the hysterectomy do you start taking hormones? Do hormones like Premarin, etc. help with libido post op? Do you have to take testosterone too? What about vaginal dryness? How long should I plan on having a babysitter at home during the day for myself? Will I feel like visitors in the hospital? I am staying 2 nights, so most people would come the day after the surgery. How long do you bleed afterward? When can I clean my house? I am in between jobs right now. What is a reasonable timeframe in which I can start interviewing again? 2 weeks? 4 weeks? I work in medical sales. Do you only wear the hospital gown in the hospital or should I take PJs? What about a robe? Will I sleep a lot when I first get home? How long until I feel like doing anything? How long can I normally expect to take pain pills? How long before we can resume sex? Should I worry about laptops/ books for the hospital or will I sleep all the time? I have one of those microbead pillows. Will this be enough for the seatbelt on the way home and for control during coughing/ sneezing? I'm sorry I have so many trivial questions. I'm just severely behind in the information department. Thank you in advance!

No questions are trivial!

Some of the questions should be answered by your Dr. though, everyone's treatment for hormones, recovery restrictions can be different, yet very normal.

I was fine being alone, just had easy things to eat and drink in handy locations.

You may feel up for visitors the 2nd day. I was only in overnight and was ready for visitors the first night actually. All depends on how you do with anesthesia and how well your pain is being managed. Guess the same answer applies to reading and using your laptop.

I have had no bleeding since I got home. A little spotting for the first week when I would wipe, but...nothing even panyliner worthy. Some have more and I was told I could expect it for up to 6 weeks or so especially when the stitches start to dissolve. So far, so good!

Your house cleaning will have to wait for a bit...trust me, it doesn't go anywhere, it will still be there when you're ready to do it. You will want to rest and relax as much as possible.

Sleeping once you get home? Depends on the pain meds you need to be on to keep your pain at bay - which is very important! I was able to forego the presriptions and only took tylenol/ibuprofen for the first week. So, I was not a sleepy person - but I did try to at least relax on the couch quite a bit the first several weeks.

I just wore their hospital gown and robe - but again, I was only there overnight. Was just easier for the iv access. So keep in that in mind if you take your own. I even wore their disposable panties. I came out of recovery with none on, just a liner on the bed, so I asked for them. I don't like going pantyless, so..that was a personal comfort thing.

It's usually 6 weeks for the sex thing, but again, that's up to your Dr. They will most likely give you a list of instructions/restrictions when you leave the hospital too.

The pillow should work, I just had a soft throw pillow and a 2 hour ride home and it worked fine.

These are all good questions, keep a running, written list to take with you to your surgery and hospital stay. They will most likely be more than willing to go over everything with you before you leave.

Good Luck!!

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur Will I feel like visitors in the hospital? I am staying 2 nights, so most people would come the day after the surgery.

I had a TAH/BSO and stayed three nights. The surgery was in another city two hours' drive away. A friend of mine who lives there came to visit - actually, she stayed in the hospital while I had surgery and was there when I woke up in my hospital room!

I was glad to see her and we chatted a bit, but that first evening and the next day, I was pretty much stoned on dilaudid. One of the great things about this particular person is that she kept an eye on how I was responding and said her good-byes when she sensed I was starting to fade. This is really important - your visitors are there for *your* sake, not vice versa.

I don't think I could have coped with having more than one visitor in my half of the hospital room - it would have been quite crowded. Then again, I've got mild Asperger's and don't deal well with crowds in any situation, so your experience may be different.

One fantastic thing that my friend did was to send out e-mail updates to a list of other friends and family members I had given her beforehand (with their permission). That meant that I didn't have to field questions from each and every one, which is something I wouldn't have had the energy to do.

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur How long do you bleed afterward?

I needed heavy pads while in the hospital and for the ride home. I had some clear, pinkish discharge the day after I got home (Day 4). That was it for me.

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur When can I clean my house?

Give it a good scrub before you go. Do lots of laundry, stock up on groceries and spray silicone lubricant on sticky windows. Then don't worry about it for the next 4-6 weeks. I washed dishes in the sink and scooped the cats' litter box as needed, and that was it.

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur I am in between jobs right now. What is a reasonable timeframe in which I can start interviewing again? 2 weeks? 4 weeks? I work in medical sales.

At two weeks, I had *just* gotten back to my regular stride and pace while walking. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to do a job interview then. Points to consider:

1) Do you have to drive to interviews? Your doc won't clear you to drive right away.

2) Almost everyone deals with some degree of "swelly belly," which means that your interview clothes won't fit. This *may* be true even at four weeks. If you want to start interviewing then, you may have to buy a new outfit, or at least something new for your lower half.

3) Medical sales sounds as if it involves a lot of travel. Are you prepared, if you're offered a job, to say, "Great, thanks, but I can't start until my doctor's cleared me"? My doctor cleared me at 4 weeks to return to a part-time desk job. Yours might not clear you until 6 weeks.

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur Do you only wear the hospital gown in the hospital or should I take PJs? What about a robe?

The hospital gave me a fresh gown and mesh panties every day, and I was glad to have them. I also got a lot of use out of the light, long-sleeved bathrobe and Croc wannabes I brought with me. The nurses will have you up and walking around the ward on your first day after surgery. On my second and third days, I took myself for walks. :-)

So you want slip-on footwear with non-slip soles and maybe something more covering than the hospital gown. Also, I have long skinny arms and they got cold in the short-sleeved hospital gowns.

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur Will I sleep a lot when I first get home? How long until I feel like doing anything? How long can I normally expect to take pain pills?

You'll sleep more than usual, but not all the time. When you're awake, you'll probably feel like doing things, esp. relaxing, low-energy kinds of things - I went for short walks, read, walked, sewed, walked, worked on the computer, walked, played with my cats, walked...

I was off narcotic pain meds by the time I was released from the hospital. I was told to take ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen as needed for minor pain, call the hospital for major pain. I took the OTC painkillers pretty regularly the first week, occasionally the second week. Actually, I had more pain from my lower back than from my abdomen! (The hospital bed was softer than I'm used to.)

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur How long before we can resume sex?

Nothing inside the vagina for at least six weeks. However, you can do *most* non-penetrative stuff at about four weeks. The exception is you being the recipient of oral sex, since people's mouths (including your partner's) are full of bacteria.

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur Should I worry about laptops/ books for the hospital or will I sleep all the time?

I was pretty out of it on my first day after surgery, but would have gone bonkers on my second and third days without something to read. I brought three levels of reading material: a fall bulb catalog with pretty pictures to look at; a collection of light, fluffy cat stories; and a collection of geological essays. I blasted through the catalog and the cat stories and got into the essays my second day after surgery.

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Originally Posted by Joymcarthur ...One last question. I have 6 steps up my porch to get in my house, and my 70 year old mother will be bringing me home from the hospital. Can I get up the steps or do I need to arrange for someone to be here to help her get me up them? Thanks again!

Good grief, woman, you're going to be only two days out of surgery! Get *two* people there - one to help your mother up the steps and one to help *you* up the steps! *grin*

I could do a short flight of steps on my fourth day out if I got a good grip on the handrail and used it to pull myself up.

Okay, sorry, I misread the question. If you can hang on to a sturdy handrail - sturdy enough that you can use it to help pull yourself up - I'd say you'll be okay.

Response deleted - misread question

Haha. My mom is actually a very agile 70 year old who works circles around me. . We don't have a handrail. I literally wasn't sure if I'd have the strength to step up or not. Sounds like I'll be ok as long as I can hold onto her for stability. Thanks EVERYONE for your answers!