Good evening. I am due to have surgery at the end of the month. From what I have read the first month is probably the most difficult. For those of you who have had surgery is there anything you would recommend that I can prepare for/purchase to male life more comfortable/practical in the first weeks. Thank you in advance.
Adhere to all advice, strictly! Initially you will have pain relief, and you will not be able to appreciate what major surgery you've had. There will be no external signs, maybe bruising and swelling if you dare to look!
Rest, rest, rest. No lifting, carrying, cleaning, hoovering, stretching, loading and unloading the washing machine.
Start gentle walking from day one, build up gradually, this will help disperse gas which may give you pain and a swollen tummy.
Drink lots of water, have sachets of Movecol, not a laxative, prunes and flaxseed to prevent constipation and straining.
Ask about pelvic floor exercises, I was told not to start until six weeks.
Ask for specifics. What exactly do they mean by no lifting, stretching etc.
If you're sexually active, they'll say six weeks, that's possibly advice from a male! My female surgeon said three months and that was realistic. ☹️
Prepare yourself by researching and asking every single question you want an answer to. I wish I'd discovered this forum prior to surgery.
All the best, the surgery, for me, was the easy bit, it's a long road to full recovery.
Xx
I am currently four weeks post op for cystocele, rectocele and endocele surgery. Things I wish I had known before surgery are to have as clean of bowels before surgery as possible. The heavy pain medications can cause constipation. Don’t wait more than five days to have a bowel movement! I was advised to take a stool softener once in the morning and once in the evening for weeks before surgery to get my bowels in a regiment. I am currently keeping that up after surgery. It works fairly well with an occasional milk of magnesia. I bought all my personal supplies that I would need for six weeks however I wish I had done it for 12 to 16 weeks.
Buy shampoo and bath wash in smaller bottles. The bigger bottles are hard on the surgery. Get a tool that helps you pick things up off the floor. I drop things all the time and I’m home by myself during the day. Are use it to get washcloths and towels out for myself. Put things in your kitchen where you can reach them easily like storage containers, cleaning supplies,
I’m not sure how much time you need off work or if you are working. My doctor told me I would need six weeks off but there is no way I can go back in 2 weeks. If I stay up longer than an hour, the pressure starts again or twinges or sharp pains. I have to lay completely on my side to take the pressure off my bottom. The last thing I want to do is tear up the surgery.
Leaning over to wash my hands in the sink was difficult until now. So I washed one hand at a time. No leaning over, roll out of bed, no pushing while trying to have a BM. Put a pillow between your knees while you’re sleeping. Brace before coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
Someone recommended Sue Croft’s book and I purchase that for my Kindle app. I wish I had read it before my surgery!
I have noticed differences in recommended post op care from the different countries. I am from the US using private insurance and have a six week follow up visit. They recommended I started doing pelvic exercises immediately following surgery. That was not a good idea win my bowels were spasming.
Hopefully you have some help with the laundry cooking and cleaning around the house. I still would not even think about driving at this point. I’m not sure I will at six weeks. I will check with my insurance to make sure I am covered when I do start driving.
Keep in mind that every person recuperates differently. I discovered Netflix and that kept my mind occupied during the first two weeks!
Good luck and let us know how you do on the surgery!
Hi Paddiwhack, yes excellent advice from the
other ladies. Get yourself a pedicure after a few weeks, you can't bend to reach your feet! I too also dropped everything, so borrowed one of those grabby hand things. My partner used to come home and laugh at all the things on the floor before I got one. Only fill the kettle wih one cup of water at a time, and no lifting anymore than that for at least two weeks. Get someone to change your surgical socks too! It's so difficult to ask for help, but to be safe, you have to. Wishing you a speedy recovery and any questions, I'm sure you will find help on here x
Really useful information
So helpful
Thank you so much Sheila! That is really helpful. I was going to purchase a memory foam ring for sitting and a tray table for next to my bed. I will add a helping hand too. I had no idea you couldn’t bend! Really appreciate the time for your reply. 😊
Dlee thank you for your comprehensive reply. Very useful indeed to me. I take it all on board.
I do hope your recovery continues well take care . X
Doolou thank you for your message. I will deffo buy a helping hand I had no idea you couldn’t bend I was also going to get a bed table and a ring.
I’m lucky my husband is fab. I’m getting meals in the freezer. I am paying for this surgery and do not want any damage done regarding recovery.
I will be really careful x take care and thank you
Hi everyone, I am also having Rectocele and Cystocele repair plus sacropinous fixation if required in 4 days time so have read with interest and trepidation the advice offered. Is there anyone in the forum who is already 3 months or so post surgery and is now feeling the benefits and now happy that they have had the surgery? I realise I will feel a whole lot worse before I will feel the benefit of the surgery, but hope there is a ray of sunshine out there that if the surgery is successful the pain will be worth it to have a quality of life back ......and I can put the misery of the prolapse behind me. Good luck paddiwhack with your surgery.
Hi Redhead! I wish you every success with your surgery. That all goes smoothly and you feel the benefit ASAP . Let us know how you get on x
Thank you and will do. Can't sleep with worrying whether I am doing the right thing by undergoing surgery!
You're welcome paddiwhack. Just noticed you said about getting a ring? Do you mean a ring type cushion? If so, I have read that this is a definite no, no. Although it may sound comfortable, it would be bad for your vaginal area to drop down the gap? It will be very uncomfortable to sit, especially in the first couple of weeks, but I found sitting slightly to oneside, and laying down for at least an hour a day, which is part of the recovery for the first couple of weeks at least, is the answer. Hope this helps. Best wishes x
Hi, I'm 4-weeks post surgery tomorrow for a rectocele, cestocele, bladder suspension, and vaginal repair. I bought a PikStick 32" and revolves from amazon (you will carry this around like it's your baby!) No bending!! My Dr told me absolutely no lifting anything more than 5 pounds for 3 months. No driving for 4 weeks. Put all my pots and pans on the counter tops for cooking. I can load the top of the dishwasher and my hubs loads the bottem. I bought slip on tennis shoes for walking. He encourages me to take short walks all day. Sleeping in my bed at night and and napping on the sofa or recliner. Showers only for first week and after that soaking in the tub once a day for 15 min then showering. Use hand help shower if yiubhave one to spray you vagina and using a squeeze peri bottle when using the bathroom just to feel clean. I wore medium bass for he first week and now I wear thin liners. You will have discharge for a couple of months. My dr said my stitches will not dissolve for a couple of months. He will release me for intercourse once the stitches are gone and the tissue is healed (poor hubs!) buy small containers of detergent and softners and leave on top of the washer/dryer. Buy everything a head of time. I've been on merilax twice a day beginning 2 months before surgery and will continue for another couple months. I add it to what ever I'm drinking and it has no taste. Eat a pear with skin everyday for the fiber. I'm still doing that as well. I have not done any house work other than putting dishes in the dishwasher and light laundry. You have to take each piece out of the washer one at a time and put in the dryer. I started laundry my 3rd week. But very light. Put pet supplies where you don't have to bend to reach them. Place everything you use on the top shelve of your fridge. I bought baby wipes to keep by the toilet bc after you wipe with toilet paper it cleans you much better. I know this is a lot of info and I hope it helps😃 If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. I just went for my 3 week check up and everything was looking good and I can start driving again Tuesday (thankfully) my dr didn't want me sitting on a inflatable bc it pits to much pressure on the repair area. He recommend soft pillows. I have to drink 2 liters of water per day. Yikes! I hope this helps. Many blessings to you!🙏🏻
Hi Trudy
Thanks so much for all this info. I’m beginning to feel nervous of this surgery and and a little concerned about restrictions regarding recovery. Your comments are really helpful. Wishing you a trouble free and speedy recovery
Xx
Hi, just want to say it's really been okay. The first couple of days after surgery was a little painful but not bad as long as you take your meds. I quit taking the pain meds after four days and just took Tylenol bc I wasn't really hurting. It's really a very easy surgery and you will feel like you can do everything but you have to just be careful. I was walking up and down the sidewalk on day 2 after surgery which is encouraged (light walking not fast.) I was very sceptical before surgery as well. One thing that really helped me with building strong tissue for the stitches was the getting the Mona Lisa Touch treatments. It did SO MUCH GOOD FOR ME. Did you have that done? Thank you so much.
Hi again
Thank you. I feel better now! 3 days till op. Loads of meals in the freezer In Throw away containers.
No I haven’t had any treatment but have been reading as much as possible and will just listen to my body. I hope you’re doing well still take care x
Aha ok I hadn’t thought about that. Looks like I’ll be catching up with long forgotten tv programmes 🤣. Thanks v much x
Hi again
How are you doing. Sorry I haven’t been on for s bit. I hope you are coping okay?
Hi Paddiwhack, thank you for your message.I am 13 days post op and am feeling so much better than I thought I would. I was 3 nights in hospital, had 3 procedures ( posterior & anterior repair plus sacropinious fixation). I was kept pretty much pain free in hospital but a combination of one of the painkillers and becoming anaemic post op made me faint several times, so I was confined to bed with a catheter. However, this sorted itself out quickly with change of painkillers and building up iron count. (Redheads are prone to bleeding out in operations...... Who knew!). I am far more mobile than I thought I would be, but had regular naps during the first week as so exhausted and am now taking only paracetamol and one or two doses of ibuprofen each day. I haven't done any heavy chores but i am able to bend,twist, walk, carry light items etc. Just slowly and carefully....not running up the stairs yet as I would normally do! Had a look down below and was absolutely amazed and delighted to see nothing untoward ......no bruising, swelling,or stitches poking out and best of all no prolapse hanging through. I actually wept with joy as I felt whole again so that in itself has given me confidence and hope. Aside from the prolapses which had taken over my life in the last 6 months or so, I was otherwise relatively fit and healthy, about the right weight, but I am now menopausal and need oestrogen to support vaginal atrophy which contributed to making me vulnerable to prolapse.
I still find sitting uncomfortable and camp out on the bed if I need to with laptop, phone, paperwork etc but am trying to do a little walk most days and have been a passenger in a car too......the latter being quite challenging and I won't repeat that again too frequently yet! Take care and good luck.