A few post surgery observations

Hi Janet, whether or not you have a catheter overnight post op will depend on your consultant’s/hospital’s policy. I really didn’t want one but had to have one. Some people don’t feel them, but I did and it was uncomfortable. I asked the night team when I could have it removed and they said probably about 8am or it might have to wait till after the staff handover to the day team. I said how much I hoped it could be sooner rather than later, and at my 2am blood pressure etc check the nurse told me I could have my catheter out at 6am or at 10am. I was so happy that 6am was an option! As soon as it was out at 6am I was out of bed, walking to the loo and back, up and down the corridor, round my ward, and I didn’t get back into bed again at all. I’d have much preferred to have had it removed before I came round. 

I'm hoping this op won't be anything like as bad as the diep surgery I had for my breast reconstruction.  I'm not sure when the catheter was removed but I could barely walk at all after that op.  Probably because being bent over affects your gait.  I'm told this operation is nothing like the breast cancer op so really hoping I'm going to be able to walk ok - presumably it can't be that difficult or it wouldn't be just an overnight stay.

You might find my diary thread of interest - I had my hysterectomy 6 months ago. I’d had abdominal surgery before - a C section in 1989 - and this was easier, maybe because my hysterectomy was laparoscopic. When my husband came to pick me up the next day, I got the lift downstairs and then walked the 5 mins to the car, even though he offered to bring the car to me. And when I got home I went for a gentle 5 min stroll round the block. Anyway, feel free to read more in my diary thread community.macmillan.org.uk/.../hysterectomy-day-and-after---diary

Thank you, I'll take a look at that.

To be honest Janet12 in the moment I didn't really care. I recommend a longish nightie so you can feel a bit more covered up. Check your ward details if you can. I was technically on a mixed ward but they still kept men and women separate and at either end. I didn't notice any men at all.

Janet, are you in the UK? Are you sure about the mixed sex ward? It’s just that I’d have thought recovery for gynae ops is usually in a gynae ward. 

Mine wasn't MarmiteFan59. I think the hospitals are so full from catching up atm anything goes!

That’s interesting Cakenport. It honestly wouldn’t have mattered to me though whoever it was as long as they were quiet! 

Well, it says in the literature they gave me that it's likely to be a mixed ward - possibly because I'm only staying one night and I think they initially put everyone on the same ward for the first night.  It's one of the many questions I wanted to ask the specialist nurses but I left a message on Tues and I've given up on them ringing back.  Nothing at all gives me confidence about this hospital.

Hi Janet, if they’re anything like the CNS team at my hospital (Southampton) they will be very busy looking after people. They have to attend MDT meetings and also be available to patients when they have a cancer diagnosis, or when they see the oncologist, and staffing levels may well be being affected by Covid. Answerphone messages can go astray so if I were you I’d ring them back. They only work Monday to Friday so best to call today. These people work every day with cancer patients and they do care, so I’d recommend giving them a chance. It will also help you to have a more positive mindset if you believe in your team.