recovery time again

Hi, I posted the day about recovery times. I am scheduled for a TVH on November 25th. I spoke to a nurse yesterday at "pre admission clinic" and she seemed very light hearted about recovery. . .

She said I would not feel worse afterwards than people do when they've had a vaginal delivery, in fact probably a lot better.

Longer term recovery would take longer, she did warn me not to lift things, but seemed to think 12 hrs after surgery (I am hoping not to have a gen anaesthetic, but a spinal/epidural instead) I'd be ready to eat normal meals, get out of bed, use the bathroom, have visitors etc.

And that other than the day of surgery (it is due at 9am) all the pain relief I'd need would be . . trying to translate from English to American here . . paracetamol (is that tylenol?) Nothing strong.

Is she be over optimistic, or am I being too scared?!

THanks
Hope

I had more extensive surgery with rectocele repair and a tummy tuck plus a TAH and BSO, so I can't really compare. But my co-worker had a TVH and her doctor told her she could drive home from the hospital if her husband was too tired. I could not drive for a week. She also was back working and said she was doing great a lot sooner than I was ready-and we had surgery on the same day. You might want to type in TVH recovery and see what you get as far as others with the same type surgery.

I was up and slowly walking the night following surgery. I was up to visitors the day after and walking all over the hospital by myself, and went home 48 hours after surgery. I was out shopping, eating lunch out, and going for long walks within a week of surgery. But I definitely needed something strong for pain for awhile just to get some sleep. I also had a huge hip to hip incision and had to walk hunched over for awhile until the skin stretched out a little.

I think it might looking through rose-colored glasses to treat it so lightly. It is surgery-a vaginal delivery is NOT surgery. Organs are removed, and things are stretched and pulled.

Not that you should get all panicky and worried-the best patients are the ones that have a positive outlook and are certain about their decision.

I wish you the best possible surgery and recovery!

Hope,

I find this awful that this preop nurse was saying it was like a vaginal delivery as far as recovery time. NOT true. You are having organs removed and to say that you won't need anything stronger than tylenol is absurd. I would let my surgeon know what she said and how it made you feel.
I don't mean to scare you, but she is being way too optimistic!
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the pain is going to be unbearable and the worst thing you ever go through, but she is on some other planet to say you will feel better than those who have had a vaginal delivery. Give me a break!
Talk with your doc at your preop appt with him/her and express your concerns about what this woman said.
And everyone is different, everyone tolerates pain differently, but in general I think she is wrong.

The woman who was told she could "drive herself home from the hospital"...that sounds scary! I had a TVH and would have been deadly at the steering wheel. It amazes me that some of these posts are from one end of the spectrum to the other as far as things one can and cannot do.

thanks. I realise recovery is all pretty individual, but dh wasn't v. happy at it beign compared to a birth . ..

(LOL, I can't drive anyway, and would be deadly behind the wheel, with or with a hyst.)

I am also having a repair for a rectocele and cystocele; plus a TVT for stress incontinence.

I am sorry if I am confused (please be kind to me : ) but am I allowed to mention having had children or not, I got the impression from the intro that I should not discuss it or mention it. (It is only relevant here cos of some of the births I've had , and my recovery from them

Thanks again
H

I had a TVH and rectocele repair on the 8th. The doctor also had to work on my bladder. The first few days weren't a lot of fun, but once they figured out the right drugs to give me (morphine and Percocet didn't work well) I was much better.

I'm feeling pretty good now, but sitting is very difficult due to the rectocele repair. It also doesn't take much to wipe me out. I had a catheter in for ten days, and just going to the doctor exhausted me. I'm not hurting though!

To be honest, I felt better immediately following childbirth than I did with this surgery, but I am so glad I had it done! I no longer have the bloating problems I had for several years prior to this. Many of the ladies on the board have complained of "swelly belly" after surgery, but I had it before and haven't had it since.

I wouldn't count on normal meals, or anything immediately following surgery though. I was on a liquid diet for two days afterwards, and really didn't want visitors.

I had a TVH on Nov. 3 and I did not need any pain med. after leaving the castle. I don't think vag. hyst is nearly as painful as a abdominal. The gas pains were the worst part for me, but we are all different and every surgery is different.

As with most things in life, I would rather expect the worst, and be pleasantly surprised than to expect "not too bad" and be unpleasantly surprised.

Most posts I have read here re: TVH mention relatives/friends thinking it's not a big deal, and the princesses feeling like they need to justify their feelings & pain. Don't let anyone downplay it- it's still major surgery....
I hope you have very little discomfort, and a wonderful recovery-Good luck!

I had a TVH and A & P repair on Nov. 3rd. It is NOT the same as child birth. My Dr. said no driving until you are off pain meds and can slam the brakes hard without it hurting. There is NO way I could have driven home. I was on pain meds slowly weaning off for 2 weeks after. I am feeling much better now in the past few days but I do know why you need 6 weeks off. Take it easy on your recovery. Although everyone is different your body needs time to heal.

Hope,
Everyone's experiences are different but I have never heard of anyone being released from the hospital and being told they could drive home! Some of us fare better than others. I had a TAH BSO and went in very optomistic thinking I would be fine in a week or so even though I was out of work for six weeks. Not so for me...I am at 8 weeks post op and although I am working and getting around I am still very sore and not close to 100%. Because I went in with so much optimism , I am now rather depressed that things are not moving along quicker. Finding the HysterSisters has greatly improved my outlook though, seeing that I am not in this alone. Just keep in mind ...you are still having major surgery and have to take it easy for a long time even when you start feeling better. Everytime I tried to do too much (even as simple as going up and down the stairs) I took a giant step backward.
Good Luck!!