dVH/RALH: Question about first 24 hours in bed post hysterectomy: worried about blood clots

My surgery is June 10. I am one of those people that google everything and scare myself. I worry about blood clots. My doctor said when I wake up I will be on a pain pump and have a catheter. She said i have to stay in bed the whole day after surgery with no walking around. She said the next morning i can get up and walk before discharge. This makes me really nervous. She said its because she is doing so much: removing all but one or both ovaries scar tissue and endometriosis. It is attached to my colon too. But this still scares me. The laparoscopy i had that found the endo I was up walking within 15 minutes of waking up in recovery. I went home and walked a mile that day. Never had gas pain at all. If anyone else has had to stay in bed the first 24 hours please reply.

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Originally Posted by Annjh My surgery is June 10. I am one of those people that google everything and scare myself. I worry about blood clots. My doctor said when I wake up I will be on a pain pump and have a catheter. She said i have to stay in bed the whole day after surgery with no walking around. She said the next morning i can get up and walk before discharge. This makes me really nervous. She said its because she is doing so much: removing all but one or both ovaries scar tissue and endometriosis. It is attached to my colon too. But this still scares me. The laparoscopy i had that found the endo I was up walking within 15 minutes of waking up in recovery. I went home and walked a mile that day. Never had gas pain at all. If anyone else has had to stay in bed the first 24 hours please reply.

I didn't have to stay in bed, I haven't had my surgery yet. But mine is scheduled the same day as yours. Just wanted to wish you luck
-Rachel

I had to stay in bed while I had my catheter, which was about 14hours after surgery. After it was removed I was allowed to get up and walk as much as I felt up to doing. However, I had inflating cuffs on my legs that I had to have on anytime I was in the bed. Similar to a blood pressure cuff, they were hooked by tubing to a machine on the foot board and would inflate to put pressure on my calves to prevent clots in my legs. I've heard many hospitals use these now right after surgery. It might be worth it to ease your mind and ask your Dr about them. Also ask what might be done in your situation to prevent or reduce the risk of clots. Best of luck with your upcoming surgery. 😇Lissa

I don't see why a pain pump and a catheter would prevent you from walking. I had a TAH with a three-day hospital stay. The morning after I had surgery - certainly less than 24 hours after the surgery started - a nurse showed up at my bedside and firmly "suggested" that I "might like" to go for a walk. At this point I had an IV connected to a one pump, an epidural catheter connected to another pump for pain meds *and* a Foley (urinary) catheter connected to a urine collection bag. The nurse hung the urine collection bag off my IV stand and off we went for a lap around the ward - me, my IV stand and the nurse.

We did another lap that afternoon. By the next morning, I felt much better and was walking multiple laps around the ward with only my IV stand for company, no nurse. I didn't lose the IV stand until the third day, a few hours before I was discharged, but I sure walked a lot of laps in that time!

The other thing is that when I was actually lying in bed (i.e., the evening of surgery and most of the first day), I had the leg massage thingy that AngelLissa describes. That was pretty cool.

I also I'm worried about blood clots my dr is using compression stocking on me instead of the inflatable ones I wish she would use inflatable ones feel more comfortable had those when gall bladder was taking out no problems at all

I had surgery last monday and stayed in bed till wednesday morning. Had compression stockings on but also rotated my ankles and generally moved my legs every so often.

I also had administered 3 heparin shots to prevent blood clots ~ they said it was standard procedure for gyno surgery. I was up 14hrs after surgery, wiggled my feet in bed and deep breathing.

Wishing you all the best,

I also had the inflatable leg cuffs. My stay was 24 hrs, but right out of surgery until the next morning I had the cuffs on. I still moved my legs often trying to get comfortable. I liked the cuffs. Almost like leg massage.

Annjh, jellyphish and tbear2913 - good luck tomorrow!