Shaving?

As long as we are on the subject of what goes on pre-op, can you tell me if they always require a bowel prep? That is what I am most concerned about.(don't know why). Do you always wake up with at cath? Do they always use a vaginal pack. I am scheduled 8/26/02 for a LAVH/BSO for cervical cancer. I still have a month to go and I am driving myself crazy.

Smokey
I to was worried about the bowel prep. My Dr. ordered a Fleet enema for me to do myself the night before. I thought it would be horrible, but it really wasn't that big of a deal. I was also worried about the catheter, but it turned out that it was so nice not to have to get up to go to the bathroom the first day and night after my surgery. I didn't even feel the catheter or think about it. I'm sure the morphine helped in that respect. Also, when they took the catheter out the first day, I was worried that it would hurt. It didn't at all. I couldn't pee on my own the first day, so they had to put it back in. Again, I was worried that it would be painful, and it wasn't at all. So, from my point of view, anyway, the catheter was really not anything compared to what I was expecting. Good luck with your surgery.

My pelvic area was shaved in the O.R. after I was asleep. I have no idea who did it or what they used, but they did a great job. No nicks, razor burns or bumps & the itching has been minimal.
I'm thinking it would be nice to own the type of razor they used for "touch ups!"

to mention that I didn't have to do a bowel prep, but wished that I had. I was constipated after the surgery and THAT was no picnic.

This may be TMI, but I have shaved for years - I shaved prior to my lap, actually that day I believe - but I always use an electric razor - it doens't cause any nicks, no ingrown hairs, no itching, etc. Perhaps I should ask my dcotor about this too!

Hi...just giving my worth...

They shaved me when they had me change into my gown, after they gave me the pill to "relax" me. Since, I was having a tummy tuck, my incision is higher up on my stomach than it would have been for the TAH, so she shaved my stomach, (tickled) and about three inches down at the pubic bone. She used an electric razor and was done in three seconds! Hasn't itched at all.
The fleet I used the night before was no biggee, but I was very constipated after for many weeks...in fact still have problems but think it is just me and how I am anyway, just worse cause of all the trauma to my insides!
Take care and don't worry...I remember that the little things were what drove me crazy before the surgery and isn't it wonderful that we have this site to get all those questions answered!!!


Linda