care of toddlers after op

Hi all. I'm due to have my op on 6 July, pre-op check tommorow. I'm really scared. Not sure if I'm having a TAH or TVH. My big concern is the care of my kids after the op. I have an 18mth old and 3 1/2 yr old. How long usually until I'll beable to lift them both? My hubby can get a week off work and after that we'll be struggling to sort out help. I'm really upset because I've been really crook with another neurological illness (orginally thought it was a stroke because of blood clotting pills I was on for my heavy bleeding) over the last 3 mths as well as my woman's problems and WINZ has been subsiding nanny care for me for 40 hrs pweek and that stops end of this week... arggggghhh. Due to a recent change in government law we no longer qualify for any help. We have minimum family support around and are considering getting a loan to keep paying someone to help. How long will I need help? Your suggestions and experiences would be greatly appreciated.
I feel like a blubbering mess today. Thanks.

I had a laproscopic hyst. and I had a 4,5 and 1 year old at home. After 2 weeks I was able to care for them on my own. I am sure if you have a abdominal hys. it might take longer. I had a lot of complications following my surgery (over bleeding during surgery and a post op infection) and was still able to take care of the children. I probably should of rested longer but I didnt really have any help after 2 weeks plus I am pretty bull headed and wanted to get back to my life. So I pushed myself a little extra... Listen to your body if you need more time to rest get help if possible...
I think age and physical condition has a lot to do with your recovery. Your body will tell you if you are doing too much mine sure did!! good luck, KRis

Hi there. I have children ages, 9, 6, 4, 3, and 19 months. My Dh was only able to take baout two weeks off - used up all his vacation time. :-/

But I have been able to care for them myself since. My oldest two were still in school when Dh had to go back to work, so I didn't have them to help during the day.

I had people that were able to help, but really didn't need it. I was careful on carrying my children - I didn't do it. If needed, I'd help boost the baby onto the bed- it's really high, or into our van. But other than that, she didn't get lifted. She ate on the couch, becaue I wasn't about to lift her into the high chair. We made do with what we could and it has been going well. I'll be 6 wks post op tomorrow.

I also ran into a glitch in my healing, I ended up back inthe hospital after I had come home for 5 days due to an infection from the surgery. So that limitied my recovery, but I am doing a lot better.

You really shouldn't lift them. I can see helping hte baby onto something a bit higher, but there's no need to lift the 3 yr old. I have a lifetime limit of 20 pounds to lift. My baby is over that, she's around 25. And I haven't even gotten teh "okay" for the 20 pounds yet, still on only 5 pounds!

But I'm being careful and doing just what absolutely needs done. Everything else either she finds a way to climb up or it doesn't happen until Dh or my oldest lifts her.

I had a TVH and bladder repair.

I had a TAH and am not supposed to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 6 weeks - and believe me - I don't want to. It's hard. I have a 16 month old (as well as a 11 and 6 year old) My DH has been taking care of the baby. Maybe you could get a chair that would sit on the floor with a tray for meals, so you wouldn't have to lift the baby into a chair. Our baby will also sleep on the floor on a sleeping bag rather than having to lift him into a crib for naps. Maybe you could get a teenager to come in to help once in a while?