Total hysterectomy on Monday - so anxious

[the-mental-one]

Are you not allowed to drink something?
I haven't had a hysterectomy but when I had a different operation I was encouraged to drink as soon as I was awake.

I'm sorry about the beeping of the morphine pump. Failing and beeping morphine pumps are a bit of a trauma with me when my father was ill. I hope things will settle and you'll get some sleep!

I was asleep and the morphine pump started beeping without me even pushing the button. It's been going off every once in a while, basically as soon as I'm almost asleep again.

Now I'm really tired, the other ladies in the room have finally stopped moaning in pain and I'm here awake with a certain amount of pain but dreading hitting the button in case the beeping starts up all over again and wakes everyone else up.

Like the entire ward is currently quiet other than the drips and electricity sounds mostly. Going to try and sleep without hitting the pain button, if I'm asleep I won't need it.

As to drinking and eating they said for me and the other lady who had a very similar procedure no food or water for up to a day after the op, so neither of us have eaten or drunk anything for over twenty four hours now. The doctor's will check on us sometime, probably late morning, and may give us the all clear to eat and drink if they think we're doing ok.

Malta might have different best practice, my assumption has been they do it in case something crops up during the first day and you have to be rushed back in to surgery but I haven't asked them about it.

 

[Antje77]

Ah, I hope the quiet in the room will last a bit so you can get some rest.
Sleep well, as far as possible, and if you can't sleep, just keep posting here.

Being in a hospital is one of my biggest nightmares, it sounds like you're handling it quite well with all the discomforts, physically and otherwise.
Hang in there!

 

[the-mental-one]

I made it overnight but am so tired what with the morphine pump beeping warnings randomly even when I hadn't used it.

After a while it just became annoying but to begin with it was triggering little mini autistic meltdowns which I feel ashamed about because I've been taught to be ashamed of showing that side of me.

I think I probably used it less than I might have if it didn't keep doing it...but the pain seems manageable mostly, like my worst period pain and trapped wind, whilst also having been kicked in the gut...but every now and then it just ramps up with a stabbing feeling and those are the times I hit for morphine.

Right now I can feel it but it's that awful internal pain that I can't touch...which might sound weird but I like to be able to touch the painful things as it makes me feel better.

My blood sugar kept rising after the op until it hit 9 at midnight but is back down to 7.1 this morning and they said I will start taking my Metformin again today once I'm cleared to drink and then eat.

 

[the-mental-one]

OMFG walking hurts, they had me try this morning having removed my catheter and I'm dreading the first time I need to go to the toilet.

 

[Pipp]

OMFG walking hurts, they had me try this morning having removed my catheter and I'm dreading the first time I need to go to the toilet.

Get the pain relief sorted. Don’t wait until it is be oming unbearable. I remember just standing and moving to a chair seemed a task too far, but it is important. It will improve things.

 

[AndBreathe]

OMFG walking hurts, they had me try this morning having removed my catheter and I'm dreading the first time I need to go to the toilet.

You'll be fine. Standing and moving will help any trapped wind move, and of course is great for the circulation.

As @Pipp says, get some pain relief sorted. Once you are cleared to eat and drink, you will likely be encouraged to use oral meds, in preparation for going home.

Those first few sips of water are like nectar.

 

[the-mental-one]

They gave me Diclofenac tablets but told me not to take it until after I ate and food is in just over an hour.

I have a drain still in the incision which is painful, it feels like it's pulling, hopefully they remove that this afternoon too, and the drip. I think then I'll be a lot more comfortable.

I've slowly sipped water about 0.25l so far this morning so that's encouraging.

The other lady didn't have a drain placed and has had the drip removed already and is managing to walk around on her own already... that's less encouraging as she was the one in more pain yesterday and we switched overnight

 

[flonvic]

OMFG walking hurts, they had me try this morning having removed my catheter and I'm dreading the first time I need to go to the toilet.

Don't put off going to the loo.It might get rid of some of your wind!

 

[DougDyl]

They gave me Diclofenac tablets but told me not to take it until after I ate and food is in just over an hour.

I have a drain still in the incision which is painful, it feels like it's pulling, hopefully they remove that this afternoon too, and the drip. I think then I'll be a lot more comfortable.

I've slowly sipped water about 0.25l so far this morning so that's encouraging.

The other lady didn't have a drain placed and has had the drip removed already and is managing to walk around on her own already... that's less encouraging as she was the one in more pain yesterday and we switched overnight

Your doing really well considering it is less than 24 hours ago since op. As the day goes on and some routine is established you'll start to get stronger. X

 

[lovinglife]

You’re doing amazing @the-mental-one

Take all the pain relief you can get - no medals for having the least pain relief managing your anxiety & your autism along side all this, I’m in awe of you, soon be home and in your own routine - that can make all the difference

 

[Pipp]

@the-mental-one . The drain can be uncomfortable, but is important. It will feel so much better when it is removed. There will be a weird pulling sensation in your insides, but you will have a bit more freedom of movement.
You are doing so well..

 

[Antje77]

to begin with it was triggering little mini autistic meltdowns which I feel ashamed about because I've been taught to be ashamed of showing that side of me.

Try not to be ashamed, autistic meltdowns are a thing, and you managed to keep them very small which is a very big win in my book.

The sensory overload in a hospital is enormous to start with, with all the people and beeping. Add to that your body feeling all weird and wrong and painful, and no safe place for yourself.

I'd like to echo the others, use those painkillers if they are offered, they'll help you get back on your feet. And if the morphine pump is beeping anyway, you might as well use it if you're still on it.

I hope you'll get well enough to go home soon, home is the place to recover!

 

[MrsA2]

And how are you doing now? 12 hours can make a huge difference.

 

[the-mental-one]

Removed the drain about 4 hours ago and that hurt, enough that it set off another meltdown afterwards and the babies crying and consistent ultrasound heartbeats haven't helped that. Anyway it made me feel worse again but once I've recovered a bit from that I've been able to walk around much more easily.

I've eaten twice, the same meal each time as it is all they can give me and it is chicken breast that tastes like it has come out of a tin with the jelly around it, carrots so overcooked they might as well be mush, and potatoes. Plus a very dry roll... I managed to eat half of the food each time but if I'm here until Friday (or possibly Thursday) like my doc said I am going to be very bored with it.

I've asked dad to bring me some mini peperami and a kiwi tomorrow, might also ask about some ketchup packets or anything just for some flavour to the food.

They are giving me paracetamol and Diclofenac and Metformin 3 times a day (well started with twice today as had to wait until I was allowed to eat). I had the painkillers around 8pm but the Metformin they will give me at 10pm, so in about half an hour now.

I managed to drink just over a litre of water plus a cup of jasmine tea and had half an orange, still not convinced that's enough hydration but it's definitely making me go pee a lot. Luckily I've figured out a better way to get out of bed than how the nurse tried to show me because her way hurt a lot.

My bloods have hovered around 7 all day.

 

[Pipp]

When I am in hospital I just make an effort to eat some of whatever food is offered, even if it is distasteful to me. The staff are generally monitoring food in and waste out. They want to see that everything is working as it should , perticularly after abdominal, or gynaecology surgery. So I eat so that there is another tick in the right box that will lead to me being allowed home.

Hope you sleep better tonight, @the-mental-one .

 

[Dinet]

My total abdominal hysterectomy is scheduled for Monday 17th February and I'm becoming quite nervous about it.

I live with my dad, I stayed after my mum died (was a full time carer for her as she had dementia) since dad didn't do well alone but he's not the best at understanding my dietary requirements so I was planning to cook a load of meals that can be frozen for him to just reheat since I need a specific diet but not sure I will even be able to eat or how much. Can anyone suggest things that a diabetic (with onion, peanut, and nut allergies) could eat after an op like this?

We have three dogs and a cat so I need to be careful around them as they will want to be around me and jump (this is two of them right now as I am sitting downstairs in our front room) or be on my lap, and I can't sleep in my own bed because it's up a ladder...so I will probably be taking over my dad's bedroom as we can keep the pets out for a while, plus it has room to walk around and there is an ensuite bathroom with a shower.

Just for fun my body decided I needed another period, started on Monday, that makes three in a row that were just two weeks apart and you'd think that would make them easier but they are just as heavy as ones that are 28 days apart or even 3 months apart (thank you PCOS for such unpredictability for most of my life)...and that has made me unable to do any meal prep yet because I'm just feeling awful. My flow rate has been insane because of fibroids that are big and numerous...and I have a 10cm cyst on one ovary and a 5cm cyst on the other so all in all I think it's a necessity to have the op but that doesn't stop me from being panicked about it.

Does anyone have experience with this and can give me some ideas of what I can do to prepare for the recovery period? What to expect that the doctors maybe don't tell you? General things to help me calm down a little?

i hope your op went well and u r on your way to a speedy recovery.
Lots and ots and lots of positive thoughts sent your way .
Take good care

I was asleep and the morphine pump started beeping without me even pushing the button. It's been going off every once in a while, basically as soon as I'm almost asleep again.

Now I'm really tired, the other ladies in the room have finally stopped moaning in pain and I'm here awake with a certain amount of pain but dreading hitting the button in case the beeping starts up all over again and wakes everyone else up.

Like the entire ward is currently quiet other than the drips and electricity sounds mostly. Going to try and sleep without hitting the pain button, if I'm asleep I won't need it.

As to drinking and eating they said for me and the other lady who had a very similar procedure no food or water for up to a day after the op, so neither of us have eaten or drunk anything for over twenty four hours now. The doctor's will check on us sometime, probably late morning, and may give us the all clear to eat and drink if they think we're doing ok.

Malta might have different best practice, my assumption has been they do it in case something crops up during the first day and you have to be rushed back in to surgery but I haven't asked them about it.

u sound very brave to me!!!
wishing u a very speedy recovery.
Sending your way lots and lots and lots of positive thoughts

 

[lovinglife]

Babies crying is one of my sons triggers, he can’t bear it for even a few seconds and we have to move away, I appreciate how hard it is for you not to be able to take yourself out of the situation. It may be too late now but could you possibly speak to someone and try and get moved to a side ward or room of your own? In the few times we’ve had to access a hospital situation, medical appointment they have always been very accommodating with my son. It may be worth a try if you’ve still a few days left of your stay

 

[the-mental-one]

Babies crying is one of my sons triggers, he can’t bear it for even a few seconds and we have to move away, I appreciate how hard it is for you not to be able to take yourself out of the situation. It may be too late now but could you possibly speak to someone and try and get moved to a side ward or room of your own? In the few times we’ve had to access a hospital situation, medical appointment they have always been very accommodating with my son. It may be worth a try if you’ve still a few days left of your stay

The hysterectomy recovery is next to the caesarian section recovery so I think it just is what it is. right now it's a really noisy ultrasound going off again that's keeping me up.

 

[the-mental-one]

Found out one of the normal delivery rooms is next door to our recovery room, hence the very loud ultrasound heartbeat monitoring any time someone goes into labour.

 

[Pipp]

Have you asked for earplugs, @the-mental-one ?
I needed them in ICU because everytime I tried to sleep alarms went off on the oxygen monitor. I was provided with some and enjoyed an undisturbed sleep after. When ever I go into hospital since I take my own, just in case none are available on the ward.