LAVH: Surgery Friday, Nervous, Scared and Lonely :(

39years old and LAVH /TAH Surgery on Friday 03rd Aug and my nerves are all over the place. I am so terrified, and feeling so emotional, not sleeping at night even though I have been trying to keep busy cleaning just about everything when I get home from work every day. My husband has a really bad hospital phobia and wont be able to visit me and my mum suffers from MS and I dont have any close friends so I am having to spend my time in hospital without any support. I just feel so alone, butterflies in my tummy and I feel sick all the time and my eyes just fill up constantly.
What should I pack to keep me occupied or do you just sleep all the time?? I am scheduled to stay in hospital 3-5 days depending on the proceedure. Is there a must have item anyone who is out the other side can suggest to pack. All support and advice would br greatly appreciated, Thank you xx

Could you be in touch by phone or texting? That might help. When you get settled, tell the nurses you'll be alone. If you'd like visitors, some hospitals have chaplains or volunteers who can drop in for a short visit. Sometimes the staff pays more attention if they think you are lonesome. But I suggest bringing a picture of your family to display or have nearby, and have your husband call the nurse each shift to ask how you are doing. I do believe you get better care if the staff knows you have someone who, if not there, is checking in. Also I'd suggest taking in a bag of candies for your room and offering it or putting a sign on it saying its for nurses to take as they come in. Not necessary, but I think it helps encourage staff to come in. Every little thing helps, when you are on your own Dont forget your phone and its charger. Best wishes for your hospital stay, I hope you get good nurses, that really helps.

Hi,
I'm sorry you are going to be by yourself. Even though my husband did come to the hospital, I found that their goal is to get you moving through a check-list to get you discharged as soon as possible. If you can use your cell phone or computer, you will feel connected.

You will be resting, but the ultimate goal is to get up and around... walking and bathroom successes. The sooner you can meet their discharge criteria, the sooner you will be able to go home.

I had a daVinci and only spent one night in the hospital. The first day was a complete blurr. The surgery was 6 hours and I'm horrible with post-surgery pain. The second day I moved through the check-list pretty fast.

Best of luck with your surgery and time in the hospital.

I too am so sorry you are going to be by yourself, and I also agree that phone/computer would be a way to stay connected. I was only in overnight so I didn't feel like I had the chance to be lonely. Whenever I feel alone anywhere I try to look around and see if anyone else looks as lonely as me...then I say Hi. Who knows who you may meet!

My LAVH only required one night in the hospital. I'm glad I didn't bring any pajamas because the lovely hospital gown worked best for me. Between the IV, leg pump things (which I loved, by the way--very soothing), and pad between my legs, getting up to go to the bathroom was just easier in that gown. I didn't really have much pain in the hospital because I got pain medicine every four hours as soon as I asked for it. Plus, they gave me some heavy duty stuff in recovery. Maybe I'm weird, but I kind of liked the post op experience in the hospital. My mom and sister left after I was settled, and I kind of enjoyed the rest of the evening. Huh? The best way I can describe it is the memory I have of it being like 3:00 am, pain meds had just kicked in again, and I asked for chocolate ice cream. There I was, totally loopy, watching Monk, and eating the best ice cream I'd ever tasted. The entire evening was a very peaceful experience.

The only worry was that despite drinking what seemed like gallons of water post op, I couldn't urinate. It was weird. Just sitting there with no results or a little dribble. The nurses kept telling me it was normal and then at about 5:00 am, success! Oh, and don't freak out like I did. They inject dye to measure your urine outpout. It was dark green, and I thought something was terribly wrong. The nurse tried not to laugh at me, bless her heart.

You'll really just need your phone and charger. Maybe get some easy magazines. There was no way I could focus on a book with those pain meds. Maybe some National Enquirerers short articles and lots of photos. Good, trashy stuff. You'll do great. Just try to think of the experience as some kind of alternative spa get-away.

I am sorry that you won't have someone there with you! Like everyone has already said, phone, charger and computer are a must! I brought books but didn't read at all. I mainly watched tv or rested. I was in the hospital for 3 days after an TAH and BSO. They wanted to keep me at least 2 more days but I begged the Doctor to let me out but I had worked hard to meet their discharge criteria (urinate after catheter removal, walk, that sort of thing. {{{{{{{{{Hugs to You}}}}}}}}} and soon, it will all be over and you will be home with your loved ones!!

Thankyou for you kind words of support I am going into a private hospital and on their not to bring list in bold writing is a mobile phone although I'm planning to sneak mine in lol A laptop is a total no no but I can get online with my iPhone I do hope I meet their discharge criteria quickly so I can get home to my Husband he is my rock but him and hospitals just don't go together he faints at the door ;(

Hi! I wish you all the luck in the world. I am also 39 (40 on Sunday!!!) having a TAH and both ovaries next wednesday. We live a way from the hospital, we own a pub/hotel so my husband can't visit and my mum too has MS and will not make it. I am getting very nervous; when you start to feel better, that is when the boredom sets in. Are you in your own room, because although that is nice, when I have had Gyn ops before the other ladies on the ward really rally round, I am still in touch with one 3 years on. I feel quite isolated at the moment, because it is impossible for those on the outside, with all the will in the world, to understand the emotions of waiting for major abdominal surgery. Fondest thoughts xx

Hi Betsymoo, I am in a room of own, it's a private hospital and all single rooms although it's just the thought of going thru all this with no family members to give you love and support, I am from N Ireland and my husband is a road racer and has a major race next week so I am hoping that I will be out on Monday so I can go with him although I will be spending all my time just lying in the caravan probably in agony after the surgery, it's comforting to know that I am not alone and you are going thru the same as me this site is just wonderful to find support and people who really do care. Good luck with your surgery I will go online and let you know how I am feeling after surgery and before you go in. Much love to you and keep strong x

Good luck for tomorrow! I feel better now I have had my pre-op...maybe is a short relief..but a relief all the same. Oh to recover in a caravan...you poor thing, but at least you will be with him. It is, as you said, nice to know that there is support and empathy here, we have so many factors the same and I wish you a speedy recovery. I look forward to hearing from you. Fondest thoughts and love to you...it will soon be a good story to tell I am surexxxx