Following
on from last weeks post of Acceptance, this week is about preparation
which is a practical approach to tackling things that are ahead of us.
Most of us I'm sure know now what it is like to be in hospital as a
result of living with endometriosis, I don't think having surgery ever
gets any easiar, the nerves remain and the last minute fears arise but
if we can prepare for our hospital stay and recovery time we are one
step ahead in coping with this emotional and physical ordeal. I recently
asked you all to answer two questtions regards surgery and recovery
time and I have used your answers along with my experiences to create
this Surgery Guide that I hope will help all of you.
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| (Photo Credit: Endo Happy) |
Things that you may not
know about your Surgery
·
Firstly please be aware that
Endometriosis can reoccur after surgery, educate yourself about the condition
and discuss with your consultant what treatment you will be given post surgery
to delay or prevent reoccurrences. Make healthy eating and exercise a priority
in your daily routine. Gluten, dairy and meat products are all thought to
‘encourage’ growth of endometriosis, consider cutting these out along with
keeping alcohol, caffeine and sugar to a minimum! Eat plenty of fruit,
vegetables, fibre, oily fish, legumes, nuts and seeds as well as drinking lots
of water and herbal teas. A healthy body is a strong body and will help you to
face whatever struggles you need to overcome.
·
If you are having a laparoscopy
be aware that you may need to stay overnight depending how you are after the
operation and what is done, however most of you will go home the same day. With
a laparotomy/hysterectomy you will likely need to stay for 3-5 days, again it
depends on individual circumstances. Recovery time for a laparoscopy is average
2 weeks and laparotomy/hysterectomy is average 6 weeks but your consultant/the
hospital will advise you on an individual basis. It’s important to tell your
employer how long you are likely required to need to be off work so that you
are not feeling pressured to return to work before you are ready.
·
When you wake up your mouth may
feel dry and your throat may be sore. You will may have a drain in your pelvis
too, you will see blood coming out of it but do not be alarmed, it’s a standard
procedure, doesn’t hurt, but can be uncomfortable if you need to sleep with it
in but once out the incision will heal quickly. You may also have a catheter in
depending on the procedure, this can be uncomfortable at times but is for your
benefit so you don’t need to get up to urinate, if it is bothering you try
changing position slightly, it can help and/or tell the nurse and they will
help!
·
After a laparoscopy you will
likely have 3-4 small incisions on your abdomen and one in your belly button,
they heal quickly and most of them will become very feint. After a laparotomy
you will likely have a 3-4 inch cut on your bikini line. Both will have a
dressing on them, again depending on what is done you may see some bruising on
your abdomen but this is normal. A cut will take longer to heal but will after
time become less noticeable too.
·
Be warned that the couple of
days after surgery can be the worst, as you come down from the anaesthetic you
may start to become very emotional, many endosisters found themselves crying,
if this is the case then just let the tears out. You may also feel overwhelmed
from the whole experience of the waiting for it, the fear that you may feel in
the days leading up to it, the actual experience of being in hospital itself
and the pain you have been enduring up to surgery. The pain itself can also be
worse in this time, do not be afraid to ask for additional pain relief if you
need it, you may also feel sick or have a headache, and again they can give you
something to help with this.
·
Whatever procedure you have,
you will be very bloated and have a lot of ‘gas’ inside you that needs to
escape, this can be extremely sore and often result in a painful shoulder, but
usually this will go with a few days and when you are up and walking about it
will help to disperse it. The bloating will stay with you for a while, but you
should see a slight change every day until it disappears.
·
Some of you have reported that
your incisions bled slightly and some of you experienced passing blood clots
soon after surgery.
·
The majority of you also
reported a ‘stinging/burning’ while urinating after the catheter is removed,
this usually passes within a few days, try to relax while on the toilet and
drink plenty of water! It may also take a few days for your bowel movements to
become regular again, I wouldn’t worry too much, again drink lot’s of water,
keep moving and you will soon hear everything gurgling away inside. Don’t
strain when on the toilet as this can be harmful, the hospital may give you a gentle
laxative to take home with you (more common after a laparotomy) but I wouldn’t
resort to a shop bought product.
·
It can be common for
incisions/wounds to become infected, once you are home, keep them dry, clean as
per hospital recommendation and get as much air to them as possible. My tip is
to lie on top of your bed, once a day, with only your underwear on for at least
30mins. An infection is usually very smelly, if you think you may have one
contact your GP to make an appointment, they are easily treatable, usually with
antibiotics.
·
You will feel incredibly tired
and will find simple tasks exhausting, the hospital will advise what you
should/shouldn’t do during your recovery time, please take the advice
seriously. If you don’t further complications can result, as many of you
reported!
·
Lastly many endosisters have
reported the first ‘period’ after surgery to be very painful and sometimes for
it to of come early, let your partners know this too so they can be prepared
for you need some sleep/rest for a few days if this happens.
Things to help you with
your recovery
·
Firstly acknowledge that your
recovery time is essential to your healing and is also an opportunity for you
to recover emotionally and physically from the pain and suffering you have had
as a result of your endometriosis. You may also get news after your surgery
that isn’t positive and be feeling overwhelmed from that too. It’s essential to
rest i.e. sleep/lie down, don’t rush back to work, school or college, those
that have did told me it just led to further complications. Those around you
may perceive you to be ‘recovered’ if you start rushing about again; remember
that nobody cares about your life more than you do.
·
Before you go into hospital get
organised! Get some grocery shopping done and/or prepare meals to be put in the
freezer. If you haven’t done so already register online with your favourite
supermarket so that post op you can get your shopping delivered (so much
easier!).
·
If you have children arrange
for childcare for perhaps 1-2 days longer than you may think is necessary. Look
ahead to what activities they have got and make sure kit/bags etc are organised
for them. Make a list of all essential numbers i.e. doctor, school etc and give
it to whoever is looking after them also. Depending on their age consider
whether you want them to visit you in hospital if you need to stay in, for
younger children it can be upsetting for them to see you in such an unfamiliar
environment, but only you will know what is best for you and your family. Again
if you have pets make sure their care is organised and vet numbers etc are left
with plenty of pet food purchased in advance.
·
Presurgery it’s a good idea to
cut down on alcohol & caffeine and increase fruit & vegetable intake, I
would also recommend to take vitamin C & zinc for the immune system and an
endosister recommends arnica tablets for bruising.
·
A supply of DVD’s, Books and
Magazines is essential, so get this organised before you go in, ask friends and
family for recommendations and/or if they have anything you can borrow, a ‘box
set’ is an endosister favourite. This is an easy way for people to help you, often
your friends/family just don’t know what to do, but anybody can help with
practical issues. I personally recommend not watching ‘daytime’ TV it can be
very repetitive and bring on cabin fever! Put the radio instead, music is very
therapeutic and the radio can be very entertaining especially when lying in
bed.
·
The following are essential
purchases for post surgery; mints (dry mouth) peppermint capsules (gas, wind,
shoulder pain) bottle of potassium citrate (stinging/burning while urinating)
eye mask (help you sleep) new pyjamas (to feel nice while resting) a loose
comfortable nightie (to wear in hospital if a longer stay) comfortable trousers
to wear home from hospital & while recovering, good suggestions are
leggings, sweat pants or yoga pants (if may be a good idea to get a size bigger
than you need, remember you will be very bloated) The Hospital should discharge
you with some pain killers but make sure you have some basic meds at home too.
I would recommend some vapour rub too (blocked/stuffy sinuses) Honey (to ease a
sore throat) big knickers, the type that cover your belly button (much more
comfortable than the smaller kind that can irritate/rub wounds that are trying
to heal. I recommend to buy a size bigger then you usually wear)
·
Depending on your length of
stay your hospital will advise you what else to bring, the basics are a
nightie, slippers, dressing gown, flannel for washing, body wash, shampoo +
conditioner, something to read and your iPod to listen to some music. I would
recommend taking your favourite snacks in with you, nothing like looking
forward to some chocolate etc when you are able to eat again. It may also be an
idea to take your favourite tea in with you also; just a few bags in a plastic
bag won’t take up much room in your hospital bag.
·
One of the most popular
mentions was to get yourself a soft ‘squishy’ pillow for the journey home from
the hospital (to place on your lap, under the seat belt) and to use at home to
make yourself more comfortable when resting, popular suggestions were a ‘v’
shaped pillow and a ‘feather’ pillow, all easily available online.
·
The most popular mention was to
have a heating pad and/or ice pack. Many endosisters use an icepack as a way to
sooth the swelling and cool you down and a heating pad to ease the pain.
Popular variations of a heating pad are a hot water bottle, electric hot water
bottle, wheat bag and one endosisters told of a ‘fuzzy’ bag! An electric
blanket sounds old fashioned but is a lovely way to warm up your bed ready for
you to get into it.
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Lastly everybody said that
support during this process was essential. Let somebody take you to hospital
and to come and see you after the op, you may not be up to much of a
conversation but just seeing somebody you love there is very reassuring. Don’t
be afraid to tell people about your surgery either, people can be very kind,
and just a few words of encouragement may help you through it. Many endo sisters
had partners/friends/family stay with them during the recovery process.
Thank you to Katie from Endo Happy for another amazing blog post!! This is a very
helpful list of tips for pre-surgery and recovery! If you are not already doing so,
What advice do you have for someone with an upcoming surgery? Leave a comment
below!
xo Heather
