Hello
I just found you all and joined. I am 2w1d post-op ( still a long way to go). I just wanted to share my story thus far and let other newbies who had surgery, it DOES get better! I had my 2 week post-op appt. yesterday and I wasn't feeling so good. I think seeing him and having him say, " You look good!" made me feel better lol. This may be long, so skip parts that may not pertain to your needs
My Story:
I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy due to very heavy bleeding ( over the last 3 years it had changed), to the point super plus tampon was being changed every hour to hour and a half. I thought it was because I was mid 40's and my body was changing. I saw my GYN and she said it was "normal flow" for me and everyone is different ( never did any testing or checks during my annual appt). I was not real happy with her. My family DR usually does my exams, but he had moved his office and I went to a GYN my mom was seeing. So I was under the belief it was normal, until one day I was in my garage and almost fainted. The next day, I almost fainted again. I thought it was from heavy bleeding and anemia. That is when I said to myself, " No, this is NOT normal for me or anyone." I made an appt with my family DR and he sent me for an ultrasound. It came back with large fibroids ( one was 8cm and the rest were smaller than that- total of 4, one was in the back and the other in the front). I went to a different OB-GYN that a neighbor recommended. He is FANTASTIC!
He gave me options, but none of them would get rid of the fibroids, just try control my bleeding. I decided on the laparoscopic hysterectomy, because I was not planning on any more kids, I wanted those tumors out of me, I was experiencing urine frequency, and tailbone pain/bowel changes.
I had my surgery and I did experience nausea/vomiting upon waking from surgery. I went in at 7am and was home by 4pm. I had minor pain and used 800mg Ibuprofen ( I hate narcotics to control pain, I was on Oxycodone after my C-Section and it gave me withdrawal headaches- NO THANKS). The minor pain lasted about 4 days, the rest of the time it was more of a discomfort. I had major intestinal gas pains, which was the worst part of this whole thing along with constipation. Major cramping, gas pains, etc. I took Senekot-S, and prunes, and plum juice, then I had diarrhea. I tried to find a happy medium ( I don't do well with laxatives, I wanted to use foods instead). FINALLY, eating pears ( canned and fresh), one half of a prune, plum juice, cranberry juice ( helps your bladder after surgery), Fiber well Chews, and eating Greek yogurt ( to put those good bacteria back in my gut to aid in digestion) all helped. I am finally having regular bowel movements as of today without any cramping or discomfort. My DR. yesterday said this is the number one complaint he hears from this surgery. I just want you to know it will get better!
I do have a fitbit watch and try to walk 2.5 miles around my house and a little outside ( still worried I may get a cramp and not make it home myself lol). I drink a ton of water also.
Things I bought and used:
---Wedge pillow ( 12inch height/slope memory foam) Best thing ever for sleeping. Easy to get out of bed using this as you are not lying flat. I used through most of second week. Now I don't need it anymore, but on it;s end it makes a great back support when you are sitting. My kids can use it now while lying on the floor watching TV.
---Abdominal Binder - excellent for keeping me feeling like I am all together. I used starting day 4 and I do not use it any more. Most of my swelling is gone now.
---Some not tight stretchy pants( not tight yoga style)- I ordered one size larger than my normal size because I knew I would be swollen.
---Slide Flip Flop shoes( for leaving hospital) I knew I could wear socks with the slides and not have to fumbler with laces or putting on shoes. I could wear them around the house too and the summer is coming up!
---Gas-X pills( helps with intestinal gas).
--- Stretchy white compression underwear( I bought a 4 pack from amazon they are better than the hospital ones) I used these for the first week or so.
---Cranberry Juice ( 100% cranberry juice, not the cranberry juice cocktail stuff) helped with my urinary system and bladder. Today I don't have the spasms anymore and it feels normal to urinate.
---Chicken noodle soup ( ate this everyday for lunch for a week)
---Fiber Well chews( I take one in the AM and one in the PM)
---Ricola throat drops ( my throat was sore after surgery due to breathing tube)
---Heating pad - helped with pain control
--- Large container of Ibuprofen
---buy all the food you may need ( walmart pick up is GREAT!) buy fresh fruit and yogurts etc that you might want and easy meals for your spouse/helper to make.
I know I still have a long way to go to recovery.
Let me know if you have any questions! This is no way a complete list, but it worked for me. Your Dr. is your number one source for info and will tell you what is right for you and not right for you. Some of this they may not want you to use.
2 weeks 1 day Post-op laparoscopic Hysterectomy
2 weeks 1 day Post-op laparoscopic Hysterectomy
If you have recovery questions to ask, feel welcome to start a new thread of your own on the Post-Op message board where members in all stages of post-op life can share. You can also reply on threads members have started to share from your experience. We have a no-reply forum called 
