Do I have a good plan?

I have really enjoyed this site, started reading it while getting second opinions about a hysterectomy for uterine prolapse. I am having the hysterectomy (TVH) on July 10 and may need to have my bladder "tacked up", he said he'd have to see when he gets in there. I am off for the summer as I am a teacher's aide but I am caring for my own 8 yr. old daughter, and our neighbor's 10 & 5 year old. My husbands grandmother also lives with us and is pretty self sufficient other than not being able to get her own meals.

Here's my plan: I go in on Tuesday, Dr. said out by Thursday. My husband will be with me Thursday, Friday, Sat & Sun. I'm saying the kids can come back on Monday because they are all good kids and all play together nicely. Iv'e been talking to my own daughter and the 10 year old girl and they are going to take over "lunch detail" each day and make sandwhiches for us all. They all love to play playstation (would all day if I let them) and watch movies or play in my daughter's room with the hampster. There are many days now when I barely see them until 2 or 3 in the afternoon when they are ready to swim! I figure I would be able to sit outside and watch them swim (they all are good swimmers). I assume I will sleep alot and will just need to lay around, I really feel I'll be able to do this even with the kids and then I'll get my little bit of exercise when I walk out to the pool with them. Does this all sound crazy???

Sounds like a great plan! But can grandma help with watching the kids when they are in the pool? God forbid if something were to go wrong, especially with that 5 year old, you'd really be pushing it to have to jump in and save a life if it depended on you. Best of luck to ya!

It sounds like you have really thought this thing through, but you have to remember that your first priority after surgery is to rest, rest and then rest.

I would recommend that your neighbor find someone else to use as a standby to watch her kids just in case you do not feel up to it. That way you can take it one day at a time and they will have someone just in case you have a day when you are not feeling well.

Sitting by the pool is considered an activity. Maybe there are some older teenagers that you know that might want to come over and swim and help you out with keeping those kids safe in the pool.

I admire your desire to get back to normal really fast, but this surgery is a major blow to your body and it will take some time to get over.

The Best of Luck with your surgery, and please let us know how you are feeling.

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It sounds like a great plan, unfortunately, IMHO, it is an overoptimistic plan.

I had my TVH last December on a Thursday morning and only came home on the Monday morning, since my dr. was monitoring me due to heavy blood loss.

Initial recovery from a TVH is the same as for a TAH: 6 to 8 weeks. During those weeks, you will not be bed-ridden, but you will be very tired and might even be sore. Around the 3rd week, most of us also start feeling our surgery more and need to rest even more.

Sitting sure is an activity and it is an activity that puts a lot of pressure on all those internal stitches. Therefore, you shouldn't sit for more than 30 minutes at a time. Furthermore, even though the children are good swimmers, there is still the odd chance that something may happen, and you will not be able to jump in the pool (swimming and bathing restrictions). Even if you did, you wouldn't be able to reach or lift the child out

My daughter had just turned 5 when I came out of the castle and there is no way I could have looked after her, and she IS a good child too, a child who tends to do a lot for herself.

You only have one chance to heal, please don't blow it in order to do a favor for your friend. Also, you will be doing your friend a favor by telling her well in advance that you will most likely not be able to help her for several weeks.

Wishing you the best of luck.

Hi,

My concern about the plan is being responsible for the kids in the pool. I think lying on a chaise lounge would be OK, but you'll not be able to take care of any problems that come up with the kids. Remember....no lifting, bending, stretching . I think you should have someone with you and the kids who can jump in if necessary. Maybe you can arrange a teen to come in.

Hopefully, Grandma will be able to keep an eye on the kids while you nap....so they don't go for a swim at the wrong time. Good kids get distracted and forget the rules sometimes.