Best thing to do is keep busy. I continued working, working out, cleaning, decluttering, putting frequently used things in easy reach, and freezer meal prepping.
The most rewarding was prepping freezer meals, because the hospitality meals brought by friends and neighbors eventually run out. I went for clean eating style meals which didn't have a whole lot of highly processed ingredients. For me, casseroles were way too rich and heavy after surgery. I stocked up on frozen veggies and fresh easy-prep veggies that I could make myself, and sometimes that's all I had for my meals early on. I also cleaned house, almost to the point of "nesting". After surgery, I kept my stress level low by letting hubs and teen daughter do it how they saw fit... and staying out of their way.
Check your selection of comfy, non-binding expando-waist clothes. I went for elastic-waisted skirts, skorts, shorts and pants - wide soft waistbands like the type found yoga pants or workout clothes worked the best. You don't want them tight or around your belly button, or they'll feel like some kind of weird tourniquet. Same with fixed-waisted clothes: even if they're loose, there's no give. So yeah, I recommend a shopping spree - woohoo!
Find a cozy recovery area. I preferred the hub's easy chair in the living room with strategically placed throw pillows to keep me in a reclining position. Have a project you can work on from that reclining position. Lucky me, I had 2 years worth of magazines to go through for recipes and fitness articles
. Record some TV shows or select something to binge watch on those days where you need more rest.
A good springboard link is
10 Tips for Preparing, with each tip having an additional link or two for more details. The
Pre-Op Checkpoint page is a great place to start organizing your thoughts, too.
Best wishes! We're here with you every step.
Preparing for hysterectomy on 2/1
