random post-op questions TAH/TT

Just wondering about several things post-op w/ TAH/TT

How long was your hospital stay?
Could you wear pull-over tops or did you have to wear button-up?
How soon did you see your PS and Gyn after leaving the hospital?
How long did you have the drains?
What advice would you give prior to going in for the procedures?

Looking forward to hearing from some of you ladies out there! I'll be going out of town for my surgery and I have 6 children, so I want to be prepared as possible.

Thanks and have a great day!

Hey Wendy,
My hospital stay was 2 nights-be sure to tell your doctor to have nurses keep up on pain meds at scheduled times.
I wore button up to hospital to wear also on trip home. At home I wore pullovers. Put your head in first.
I left hospital on a Sun. and saw PS on Wed then agan on Fri and go back on Mon to get stitches out. I see my Gyn in six weeks.
I had the drains for seven days.
Advice for prior: Have everything ready at home and look at the post called something like Top 5 things to have on hand post-op. It has some very good info. How old is your youngest?

Thanks rilessmiles!
I will definitely check that post before I go in for the procedures. My youngest is 4. I have all girls ages 17, 15, 11, 9, 7, and 4. I've had 3 miscarriages. My first was 20 years ago, but I've had 2 in less than 2 years. I homeschool so I will have lots of help from my girls when I come home. How about you, what are the ages of your 5?

Hi Wendy,
I have two boys and three girls, their ages are 28,26,21,19 the youngest is 15. Only two are still living home, two of my girls ages 19 & 15. They have been a tremendous help. My 26 year old came and spent the day Friday and is making a chicken tetrizzini this weekend for us. You will have wonderful help also. btw I did not inform any family members outside of my 19 year old that I was getting a tt at the same time (she was going to be the one to help me bathe) I felt it was personal. I did end up telling my in laws because, of course, they stop by when we were out to the PS getting my incision & drains checked and my mother in law knew I was not scheduled to see my gyno. They called my husbands cell because they thought something went wrong. It's no secret, I just didn't want to hear any negatives beforehand. Oh well, I had better try to get to sleep. It is late for me. Take care and bless you for homeschooling. Esther

Hi: Had my TAH/BSO/TT on 12/8/08. I was in hospital for 4 days, 4 drains for 2 weeks. I had an abcess in my pelvis and infection. I wore sweats to hospital and wore them home. Make sure you have an abdominal binder to wear home. I had to wear in hospital and still put it on for support when going out. Have someone with you constantly for the first week, keep up on pain meds, always know where the remote is. Drink lots of water. Good Luck.

Hi
Thanks for your reply. How are you feeling now? I'm hoping to have @ least have 4 days in the hospital. That will be a help because I'm travelling out of town to have this done.

Hi:
I traveled 2 hours out of town for surgery. I feel good. The pain I have now if from the packing of my open wound which is healing up nicely. I have swelling everyday at the end but I guess that is normal and can take 6 months to go away. The only thing I seem to be suffering from is insomnia and night sweats. Geez, those are interesting. I am not on any HRT. I need to discuss with doc on followup on the 4th. Good luck and let me know how your surgery goes.

I am 10 days post op now and feel pretty good. I can stand up most of the way, but not completely yet. I got my stitches out this morning, some are dissolvable. I slept very well last night from 10 on. I am still sleeping in the recliner with pillows but am very comfortable. I am tired now from going out this morning. Still taking two tylenol every 4 hours for discomfort. The doctor says I look wonderful and everything is coming along good. I go back to him in 2 weeks so he can check my progress. I am black and blue in many areas but the soreness is starting to lessen. I can put cocoa butter or vitamin E on my scar now, so I will. I alresdy had ordered raw cocoa butter from where I get my supplements. So, overall, I am doing good. Still taking it very easy and listening to my body. How are you?

You sound wonderful. I am so glad to hear your recovery is going so well. I am still healing from inside out with wound packing. I have no pain, just antsy. Ready to get this over with. I too started with the vitamin E after all the staples were out. I have been told I am healing well, off all antibiotics and energy level is doing better. I can go all day at home without a nap. Well keep me posted on your recovery. I go back to the doc on Feb 3rd. Hopefully all will be ok.

Hi Becca,

This is great! So, tell me, what do you mean by open wound and packing? I mean, I know what that is but what do you mean in your case? And, how are the results so far with the tt? I, like you, am having hot flashes and mild night sweats, but I have been having them for about a year. I am going to talk to my doctor also when I go back or I might talk to my regular doc and see if there is a specialist in that field that is close to home that he would recommend. I'll figure that out when the time comes. I also had some lipo and the way my scar goes around and my ps talks about the smoothing out of my butt, I think he threw a little butt lift in too! I ordered some body briefers from JC Penney at his recommendation for when I get done with the binder. I sure am glad it's wintertime! Hope you have a great day and looking forward to hearing back from you.