Bi lateral salpingo oophrectomy

I’ve recently started reading books again and have some word search books and a couple of magazines in the cupboard somewhere - I’m hoping to catch up with some sleep when I’m home and def not rushing back to work. Although I’m home based so obvs don’t need to drive to an office I’m not rushing back. I have 2 good friends - one of who is going to look after my cat for me and the other is reliable to visit and bring things into me (well I hope so I’ve not asked her yet!) - the hospital food isn’t good especially for a diabetic and I struggled with breakfasts as they were just bread and jam with sweet cereal and sweet biscuits with a cup of tea. Thanks for being so kind and reassuring lx

I would love to go down for surgery first - I’m not a great one to hand around! Lx

I was a bit gobsmacked actually that my hospital delivered the most unhealthy of breakfasts: toast, and sugary cereal!! Wouldn't you think they would make an effort to offer protein and fruit at the very least? My neighbour pointed out that they have hundreds of breakfasts to make, and not a lot of time - which I do appreciate. But does it really take much time to provide a banana? 

Re: constipation, every surgery I've had/come across/heard about, they warn that it may take a few days for the bowels to work properly afterwards - something to do with the GA, I think, or the other meds they give you such as painkillers. Hopefully you might not have this problem, which would be one less worry. I am a bit paranoid about constipation as I spent much of my early childhood constipated for two weeks at a time, regularly, and now if I miss even one day, I panic. Consequently, I have only missed two days in my life since I was 9 years old, and that was the two separate days I was in surgery! 

Pack yourself the snacks you need, for your breakfasts!! I had dried fruit, banana, hard boiled egg. All healthier than what I knew they were likely to provide for breakfast. When I went in for day hysteroscopy a few months before the hysterectomy, they offered me sandwiches and biscuits. I don't eat either. The only sandwich I eat - other than the occasional one I make for myself at home with lettuce, tomato, onion etc - is prawn sandwiches, and that's the only one they don't seem to offer in hospitals. 

You sound like you are getting into "prepared" mode now...the time will pass quickly and the time you are in hospital will likewise pass quickly and you will soon be home and relaxing and recovering. 

I did ask the first time, if I could go first (I actually asked for a sedative to even get me into the surgery!! but they pointed out that this would delay my surgery by an hour or so as they would have to wait until it took effect) and they saw that I was very scared, and put me first on the list without question. The second time, I was less fearful and could have waited around for a while if I had had to, but because they anticipated the surgery being three or four hours, they didn't linger too long before taking me down.

Yes I remember the breakfasts from before and they were awful - fingers crossed I won’t have to eat many of them! Last day at work today as on A/L till 9th and then op that day - next week is sorting bits out so I can hopefully just concentrate on recovery after - got some sanitary towels and liners in supermarket tonight - almost £7 for both, crikey that’s a lot of money. Spoken to both my neighbours and told them I’m going in hospital hopefully just for a day or two and asked if they can help me when I’m home if I need things out of cupboards or rubbish put out on bin day and they said that’s ok. Colitis isn’t brilliant at rhe moment but the pre op people didn’t seem bothered at all - only if I was incontinent with urine so I’m hoping that’s not a problem. Got a couple of travel size things today too like face wipes and toothpaste just going to concentrate next week on snacks etc - there’s a costa and M&S in my hospital but I don’t know if I’ll feel like going there or if I’ll be able to. Thanks again for your support, it’s lovely to log on and have a message lx

Oh that’s interesting I wondered about asking for a sedative and I def don’t want to delay things. My friend is dropping me off at 7.30am on the 9th as I don’t want my dad worrying - both parents are in their late 80s and only my dad drives - def don’t want them to know im anxious and hopefully I won’t be in long enough from them then to visit. During my 2 week stay it was dec 22 and they hour had terrible colds so my dad visited once and then no other visits other than a close friend who came a few times with clean underwear and some food and to keep my spirits up. Thanks for taking the time to message it’s lovely to log on and see someone has cared lx

In my hospital the canteen was a ten minute post-op walk from my ward, in Urology. (I didn't even know where it was when in Gynae two years before!!) and I had a couple of walks down there but didn't eat there in the end - had I been in longer, I would have done, as two days of meals with only one vegetable was ample and I would have been desperately craving better food after that! 

I get my sanitary towels from Lidl - 24 long ones in a pack for 84p and they are good. Non-scented. I have been wearing them instead of panty liners for many years, ever since menopause in fact, as they work out cheaper than panty liners and are a better size. If you don't have a Lidl nearby, Sainsbury's have been price-matching with Aldi and Lidl and their packs of 12 were 42p when I last got them but they changed them to scented and I found meanwhile the unscented ones in Lidl. The Aldi ones are slightly scented which is why I gave up on those and changed to Lidl ones. 

You are nicely organised, pre- and post-op now. You have some good neighbours there!

I thought of it as a little holiday, for both my surgeries. I took 6 weeks off work each time. I work a physical job in a local village store - 20 hours a week. So the no-lifting clause post-surgery was the best excuse to have a six-week R&R! as, half of my job literally entails lifting. Both times, I had excellent weather to enjoy after I got home - a few weeks the first time, and at least two weeks of heatwave this April. So I sat in my garden and enjoyed the weather, in between getting lots of rest and reading and puzzle books on my bed. I kind of looked ahead to this holiday time, when I was going in for the surgery each time. It was like a carrot on a stick to get me through the inevitable time in the hospital. 

Thanks for the suggestions about Aldi and Lidl if I need any more I’ll be going there - I don’t like the scented ones either. After BC I don’t like to use anything perfumed so I like Sanex as a shower gel. It’s hard sometimes speaking to friends and family as I feel like I drive them mad talking about it. Unfortunately I don’t have a husband or partner, no brothers or sisters and my parents are both late 80s and it feels like this op is taking over my life some days. Yes I will look at it as a little rest or holiday. It’s my nature to be very organised and planned and I struggle with anything unplanned so I know why I’m like this. Hopefully this time in 2 weeks I’ll be home by now, who knows how I’ll feel this time next week though lx

I have no siblings either. No parents - but I have a live-out partner I've been with since I was 19! - we never got married and we live a distance apart now but still see each other several times a year. He came down for two weeks when I had my kidney surgery, to look after my dogs and then walk them when I first got home and had to be careful not to be pulled. I also have a very good next-door neighbour who is a very good friend too.

I went off perfumed intimate products for a similar reason to you, but with me it was around the time I suspected I might have a problem - cervical, womb, I wasn't sure at the time. But my mum had breast cancer many years ago, and I have also been very careful over the years to not talc myself in my breast or intimate areas. 

I also like to have everything planned to the letter! - anything unplanned throws me, and I have to make my own plans with it in order to work through it. Hence things like the boxes of books and DVDs I think I may have mentioned, that I prepared for when I came home after my surgery each time!!

You sound like you have everything in hand...try and look past next week to the week when you will be coming home and can enjoy some rest, and relief from the anticipation of the surgery. I called it my "blip": the couple of days or so in hospital and then I got home and could get on with my life. 

Sounds like we’re very alike in a lot of ways - perhaps it’s being an only child makes you more controlled if that makes sense. I used to use talc but stopped years ago, I do miss perfume but as long as I’m clean I don’t really mind 

got things to sort out this week like eye test and cat booster just in case she ends up going to the Cattery and then I’m going to clean the house from top to bottom and try and get things down from cupboards that I think I’ll use often like saucepans etc.

still struggling to understand how they can hope to do keyhole if the cysts are 10cm and 12cm as they only do small incisions apparently? As I haven’t seen a consultant since Jan 2024 I’ll have a couple of questions to ask on the day

Hope uou have a lovely weekend