Some questions

Hi there - I'm in the UK. I'm booked in for a VH in 4 months (having an already-booked holiday to the States first) and I wondered if anyone could answer the following:

- What's the typical bowel prep? When I had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago, I had to drink some orange stuff the day before and only eat/drink clear stuff for a couple of days before. Is it anything like that or will I have an enema?

- Will they shave me or should I shave myself?

- Do they always take the cervix with a VH, or does it depend?

- How difficult are stairs after the op? Our bathroom is on the ground floor and at the opposite end of the house to our bedroom. Should I consider sleeping downstairs on the sofa for the first few days?

It's early days for me - only found out yesterday I could have a hysterectomy (after 25 years of pain - I could've kissed the gynecologist), so I'll probably have lots of questions. Thanks in advance for any replies.

Greetings,

I can't answer many questions but I can share what I learned about the stairs, if you have a guard rail you should go up them slowly and backwards...it is supposed to be easier. My doctor told me no problem to use the stairs when I will be released after a TVH...and I have a lot of stairs at my house and my bedroom is on the top floor. Next time you see your doctor ask him what he advises; I heard it both ways here stairs, no stairs. Good luck!

Peace

[b]Here is the bowel prep I received.
Begin a full low fat liquid diet 48 hours before surgery. This includes creamed soups, milkshakes, puddings; Jell-O, etc. have only clear liquids the night before surgery.
Drink a fleet’s phosphosoda preparation around 6pm after your clear liquids.
Do not ear, drink, or chew anything after midnight.

I'll answer about shaving....only shave yourself if you do already. If not, it will be done in the pre-op. Many surgeons now don't bother with shaving so it could be one less thing on your checklist!

Also, ask your doc about your cervix if you're unsure, but usually TVH includes it to my knowledge.

Bowels preps seem to be all over the map. I had to drink a gallon of "Go-litely" (what an inappropriate name!). I didn't need the enema after because it did such a good job

Cheers

Hello,
You may not have to do any bowel prep - I didn't. Depends on the doctor. I just ate lightly a few days before surgery and day before just ate soup and yogurt.

They'll shave you as needed and it may be very little.

I'm pretty sure with a VH your cervix is coming out but check with your doctor to make sure what kind of procedure is being done.

Stairs are uncomfortable so if you can avoid them by all means do, in fact my doctor advised against going up and down stairs for a few days.
Good Luck

Hesperis-
I haven't had my surgery yet, but here is what my doc told me:
-no bowel prep necessary for me! YEAH!
-my doctor or hospital did not mention shaving. I have seen in posts that you should NOT do it if you don't normally. If hair gets in their way, they'll get rid of it.
-can't answer your question about the cervix, sounds like a good question for your doctor.
-my doc says I can do stairs after surgery, but only do what is comfortable. The motto "No pain, no gain" is completely FALSE during the healing process.

Hope that helps.
Julie

Hi Hesperis. I am having a LAVH and I don't have to do a bowel prep. Just nothing to eat after midnight. They are going to take my cervix but I would definitely ask your Doc. on that question. I know I am going to camp out on my couch for awhile. I figure the less I have to do right away the better. I'll be thinking of you.
Lynn