And its done..... here is my take on it.

Hello

You poor thing!  The first day post op is horrible, but you’ll soon start to feel much better.  Like you, I get very sick after anesthesia and I was given a spinal anaesthetic as well as an intravenous one which was supposed to help with this. Nonetheless I spent the day following my op throwing up!!   I also had an excruciating  headache and terrible rib and shoulder pain.  Apparently that is normal after keyhole surgery and it eased after about 48 hours.  It will get better, I promise!  I found walking about helped a little and I also took windeze tablets, which were good too.  It’s all perfectly normal, although it feels horrible.  

Now you’re home you can rest and recover properly - you really will start to feel a lot better after a day or two.  A good sleep tonight will help too.  I was advised to put a pillow under my knees in bed and that helped to keep me comfortable.  Really thinking of you and sending love xxx

Hi,

So glad your surgery is over. For trapped wind I had a few glasses of full sugar lemonade, allowed to go flat, because if it’s still fizzy it makes the wind pain worse, this helped me to burp. Full sugar not diet too because it stopped me feeling sick. I also had mint imperials close by as well.

Andi x

Sounds like you've had a horrible time Birdie. I'm so happy you're now back home in your own bed - makes such a difference. The shoulder pain really is gruesome, and nothing they tell you about it beforehand really prepares you for it. I found yoga breathing helped a little bit - the pain is caused by  pressure on your diaphragm from your head-down position during the op, which then irritates the phrenic nerves (at the front of your shoulders). Painkillers will help - I took paracetamol for the first week I was home. Hope you manage to get some sleep despite the pain.

Take care,
Dx

Hi Birdie,

Glad you are done and home.

I didn't suffer with sickness, but I remember the lady opposite me did. I didn't have wind problems, either, but wonder if you may feel better once your bowels have moved. Don't wait for that to happen more than 3 days. I took Movical which was very gentle. I went back to hospital 4 days after getting out as my bladder wouldn't work properly!! They checked me over and said things were just settling down.

Take it easy. It gets better. xxxxx

Hi everyone, 

Thanks for the kind messages.

I have been taking windeeze which seems to be helping. I was given a bag if medication but I am sticking to the paracetamol for now on a regular basis.

Standing is actually more comfy than getting up and down and sitting as that pulls a lot. 

I am planning on walking a few meters outside as I need some air later.

Nobody has told me anything about showering etc , do I get the dressings wet? Do they stay on? I will be damned if I am not washing this greasy hair of mine today lol

I was told to shower for the first few days, after which it would be ok to have a bath, but not to stay in the bath for too long.  I was also told to take my dressings off after three days.  When showering it was ok to get the dressings/wounds wet, but I was advised to dry them after by gently patting them with a clean towel, or to let them dry in the air.  I washed my hair as soon as I got home too!  So nice to feel a bit more normal!

I’m so glad you’re starting to feel a bit better - you’ll notice improvements every day now.  If you google “Laparoscopic Hysterectomy recovering well leaflet - RCOG” you’ll find really helpful information from the Royal College of Gynaecologists  which says how you’ll feel and what to expect at each stage etc.  It really helped me.

Take care - and keep on getting better! Xx

Oh Birdie22

What a rotten experience for you! Isn't it weird the way some of us breeze through the whole procedure with little more than mild discomfort and others get the whole shebang! I did suffer with wind and constipation. I used Movical that they'd given me at the hospital, but they did make me feel nauseous. When I finally let rip Nottingham must've thought something on the Richter scale had occurred. Hate to admit I don't have any suggestions to offer, sorry.

Anyway that's that hurdle over, onwards and upwards. Take it easy and stay safe.

Sending you big hugs Barb xx 

Oh Birdie, what an experience you've had, I agree with all the wonderful advice given. Yes its true some of seem to breeze though others have problems. I remember being the only one that wasnt sick on the very first time standing up, I suppose its the anesthesia. Movicol can be really helpful as being gentle on the bowl which has a little sleep during your op so they can be a bit slow at first. Prune juice I hear can be very helpful and regular peppermint tea. The wind pain was weird though. As for the dressing well again its different what people get told I was told I had to keep them on the first day home then take them off carefully as the stitches can cat h the dressing, although I could shower with them on which was fantastic. I was told not to have a bath until the stitches dropped out if disposable or removed otherwise. Gentle movement will help the trapped wind but I also know its easy to over do things. 

Gentle hugs your way

Hi Birdie,

I was OK standing or lying, but the bit in between was painful!!!  If you walk out remember you have to get back. I started with 5 minutes walking and gradually increased the time. The first time out I didn't go far at all and I had had enough!!! 

Can't remember if you had keyhole surgery? I did and was told I could have a bath when I got home.  I washed my hair in the bath to save bending over! I don't remember having dressings on, just lots of iodine and dissoluble stitches.

xxxxx