Ready to Embrace the Crown!! - few questions

I know, it souinds odd, but I think, in addition to a healthy dose of anxiety, I am looking forward to this. I've had surgery before so I know sort of what to expect in general, and this board has been AMAZING!!! Pre-op appt filled in some of my specific questions, friends and family jumping in to look after dog, son, etc, office is setting me up with remote access for after I get through those first few recovery weeks...and now I am thinking....here I am...7 mos into a great new job, just finished 1st year in my first house of my own, quit smoking, 9 mos shy of the big 40....and about to rid myself of tears, terrible recurring (MASSIVE fibroids, clots, bleeding, etc, ovarian cysts etc) pain, anemia and exhaustion, a few weeks of rest and pain meds ought to fix my back that a I threw out a few weeks ago, I will be coming out of the hospital with a "clean system" ready to start and stick with healthy eating, and I will have some forced down time to get my ducks in a row. Now I know the reason my tummy sticks out farther than my boobs is my inner alien and soon it will be gone (still need to lose weight and firm up, but this is something very different and I feel so silly for assuming it was just my body shape for 2 yrs) I will be starting fresh again with walking and weights....and I think I will be ringing in 2008 as one of the best ever and will be strong and recharged to live my life fully now.....(trying the power of positive thinking here )

So a few questions for the more experienced princesses...

1. Doc says I will have choice of Tylenol3 and Percocet when I go home...never had percocet..any body have any insight as to how they compare?

2. vertical incision - I have a bit of a droopy belly that flops over - how does that work when they cut vertically?

3. Will I really immediately notice those nasty fibroids are gone and feel a flatter or "lighter" belly - even though I have a little extra padding around the middle?

4. what brand/product do you recommend to avoid constipation? start taking as soon as allowed food?

5. for those of you who were very anemic - apparently I have been dangerously so for a long time and am so used to being tired and slow, I hardly even notice - how long until you feel more energy etc? I am banking on this happening but don't know realistically what to expect?

Thanks ladies!

Oh my Gosh! Love your GREAT ATTITUDE!! Good for you - wish I felt that confident! Maybe I'll get there!

I would expect a swollen belly for a little while after surgery. You may still be anemic for a little while, but those iron levels should come up as time goes on, if you're not bleeding heavily anymore, which will gradually increase your energy levels!

If you stay as positive as you are - in my non-medical, inexperienced opinion, you will do FABULOUS!

Good luck to you and keep us all posted!!

My daughter was given both Percocet and Tylenol#3 for a recent knee ACL surgery. She was in LaLa land with the Percocet. She was very confused so she stopped them and had pain relief from the tylenol#3's.

I've been taking Miralax for the past two days. I did take 2tBSP of MOM the day after I got home. My doc did not have me do a bowel prep so I needed relief!

I had to have a blood transfusion in early July. My preop blood work was better. My doctor told me to stay on the iron for atleast 6months to build back up. I feel much better already though!

You have a great attitude! I too am looking forward to a healthier 2008

Ask your doctor but....

1. Start vitamins and supplements now that will help with recovery later.
2. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and constipation.
3. Ask doctor if you should/can do a bowel prep before surgery. It was NOT that bad. Personally I do think it helped with post surgery. First, it gave the bowel muscles time to get back into gear and if you drink a lot and take some magnesium with calcium the first BM should be relatively soft and thus easier to come out. Also insure that you have about 15-25 grams of fiber in your daily diet. FIBER will also help to prevent constipation. Water, fiber, magnesium...you should be good to go (pun intended).

1. Doc says I will have choice of Tylenol3 and Percocet when I go home...never had percocet..any body have any insight as to how they compare?

Tylenol 3 has a fair amount of codeine which is often constipating. You absolultely do NOT want to be constipated. Percocet can cause drowsiness but that's not necessarily a bad thing right after surgery - be sure if you do have trouble with drowsiness that someone is around to help you.

2. vertical incision - I have a bit of a droopy belly that flops over - how does that work when they cut vertically?
Not sure on this - mine was horizontal

3. Will I really immediately notice those nasty fibroids are gone and feel a flatter or "lighter" belly - even though I have a little extra padding around the middle?
There may be some swelling from the surgery (swelly belly) and your flatter/lighter belly might not be noticeable right away but it won't be long!

4. what brand/product do you recommend to avoid constipation? start taking as soon as allowed food?
I just used generic stool softeners, lots of water and 2 large bowls of salad each day.

5. for those of you who were very anemic - apparently I have been dangerously so for a long time and am so used to being tired and slow, I hardly even notice - how long until you feel more energy etc? I am banking on this happening but don't know realistically what to expect?
Everyone is tired and "wiped out" from this surgery even if not anemic, so I would think it will be a little while before you notice a big difference. Maybe a couple weeks?

I had a breast reduction last Nov and now maybe having my hysterectomy exactly a year later -5days. I hope to not take tylonol 3's again because they also have caffeine in them that I found out and I couldn't sleep for a few days. it was horrible. I even tried a sleeping pill and all it did was drug my body but I was still awake and couldn't move my limbs.
After trying the regular tylonol It took a few days to get out of me then was fine. I plan to talk to the doc about it at pre op.
I go for a D&C and hysterscopy In oct with the scheduled hysterectomy in Nov.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by savoy 2. vertical incision - I have a bit of a droopy belly that flops over - how does that work when they cut vertically?

I had a vertical incision - around 20 staples, I think, which were removed this morning (2 weeks after). I have more than a little droopy belly and my doctor cut all the way down and under it. I did notice after about a week that the area below my belly where the bottom staples were was more red and irritated. I found out today that I have a yeast infection from the antibiotic in the hospital, so I am hoping it all clears up soon.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by savoy 4. what brand/product do you recommend to avoid constipation? start taking as soon as allowed food?

I prefer the old, natural standard of prunes. They worked well for me (sometimes a little too good, if you know what I mean).

Best wishes to you!

savoy - we'll be heading to the castle the same day!! I'll be looking forward to comparing stories with you! Like you I have a wonderful support system with Family and friends and feel so blessed in that! I am having a TAH-BSO with a horizonal incision. My Dr said it will be from hip to hip b/c of the size of the tumor in my ut and b/c I have never had children. I also have cancer we hope is "contained" and this will take care of it! Also like you seems there has been so much happening, but I just tell myself God won't give us more than we can handle - and looking back He never has! I am ready to "feel wonderful" and that's what everyone keeps telling me after we get through this rough part!! We're in that valley for just a short time longer and soon we'll be on top of that hill climbing to the top of the mountain with are crowns in hand!!! Woo-hoo! And what a wonderful thing the day I stumbled in to this wonderful Sisterhood!!!! You're ALL AWESOME!!!

1. Doc says I will have choice of Tylenol3 and Percocet when I go home...never had percocet..any body have any insight as to how they compare?

My doctor wanted to prescribe percoset for me, but I'd used it before and it really messed up my mind (I couldn't see if I was listening to something and couldn't hear if I was looking at something.) After telling him this he decided to prescribe Lortab for me. I never filled the prescription and just used Ibuprofen to control my pain.

2. vertical incision - I have a bit of a droopy belly that flops over - how does that work when they cut vertically?

I am more than a little fluffy and they did a vertical incision on me. I had a small (less than 1/2 inch) spot on the very bottom of my incision which was "open" meaning it didn't have a steristrip on it after surgery. I was concerned about this area when I first started reading on here about people with open wounds. I mine healed very quickly and I never had any of the negative things happen that some have reported. I attribute this to something my doctor put on me before I left the hospital. I can't remember what it's called, but it was basically something that looked like I was a shoe being laced up over my incision. This provided a bit of support in my fluffy stomach area in that it kept the two sides of my belly pulled together. The most important part if you have the belly hang is to make sure you keep the part of the incision under your hang dry. My sister helped a ton with that and we used thin feminine pads down there to keep it clean and dry. I think that is why my incision was fully healed after only 2 1/2 weeks.

3. Will I really immediately notice those nasty fibroids are gone and feel a flatter or "lighter" belly - even though I have a little extra padding around the middle?

I had a large fibroid (softball size) I felt almost immediately smaller even though I am obese. I could see the difference especially when laying down. Other people may not see the difference though because they don't know your body as you do.

4. what brand/product do you recommend to avoid constipation? start taking as soon as allowed food?

My doctor prescribed Colace for me and it was very helpful. I started taking that like 4 hours after my surgery. I would suggest that you remember to stay on the softener for two weeks past when you think you don't need it anymore. I learned that one the hard way (sorry, bad pun).

5. for those of you who were very anemic - apparently I have been dangerously so for a long time and am so used to being tired and slow, I hardly even notice - how long until you feel more energy etc? I am banking on this happening but don't know realistically what to expect?

I was severely anemic (general practitioner was ready to have me see a specialist for transfusions) and at my three week checkup I moved out of the danger range. We are expecting me to be in normal range over the next two months. Just moving out of the danger range has given me more energy. I knew that the anemia had affected my energy levels, but didn't realize just how much until after my surgery and I started getting energy back. This has been the biggest plus of doing the surgery for me!

I pray for the best results for you. Feel free to private message me if you have more "fluffy people" questions. I'm not the expert on hysters, but think I am on being fluffy as I have been for 15 years.

You know, it seems that when you go through all the pain and problems that each and every one of us has gone through a hyster is like Christmas morning! Well for me anyway, but I really love your attitude!!! I was jumping for joy when I finally was scheduled (Oct 5).
As for Percocet of Tylenol 3 - definitely Percocet after surgery. If anything you can switch to tylenol 3 when your up an at em. You'll need rest and youll want to be comfortable. Percocet is good for that.