Looking for more information on abdominal surgery
May 10, 2018 7:10 AM Subscribe
I have abdominal surgery scheduled for next week and not finding many online resources about what to expect immediately after and long term and would appreciate any links, resources or personal anecdotes about what to expect.
Wondering if you could direct me to any resources or share any personal insights regarding a combined oopherecrtomy (which means immediate menopause at 41), a ventral hernia repair, diastasis recti repair plus a panniculectomy. Most resources seem to focus on tummy tucks, but i'm looking for more information regarding how the oophorectomy will play into all of this and what to expect. I previously had a bladder sling and a hysterectomy 2 years ago. Please direct any personal anecdotes to nicodee@hotmail.com if you'd rather not share here. Thank you.
Wondering if you could direct me to any resources or share any personal insights regarding a combined oopherecrtomy (which means immediate menopause at 41), a ventral hernia repair, diastasis recti repair plus a panniculectomy. Most resources seem to focus on tummy tucks, but i'm looking for more information regarding how the oophorectomy will play into all of this and what to expect. I previously had a bladder sling and a hysterectomy 2 years ago. Please direct any personal anecdotes to nicodee@hotmail.com if you'd rather not share here. Thank you.
this is probably obvious but I wish someone had told me: when you are recovered enough that you need to sit/get up from a lying position, remember to roll onto your side and use your hands to push yourself up. Don't forget and attempt to do it the regular way. Good luck.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:25 AM on May 10, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:25 AM on May 10, 2018 [4 favorites]
I had an oopherectomy about three years ago. I'm assuming you didn't have an abdominal incision for your hysterectomy, and this is your first time down that particular path? I'll echo what fingersandtoes said, you will be absolutely stunned how weak your abdominals are afterward. When they say six weeks recovery they mean it. You should be able to get up and around pretty soon, but you'll walk bent over like an old person, and bending down, lifting, doing anything with your arms - all will be a challenge for at least two weeks if not longer. I couldn't lift my laptop for at least a week, and had problems even holding my dinner plate for the first few days. This is all normal. Take it easy, but do walk around as they instruct, it does help.
As far as the menopause goes, it hasn't been terrible for me, but every person is a bit different. I do run hotter than I did before, and I have slowly transitioned my wardrobe to more sleeveless clothes than I had before. The night sweats are the worst part - I went out and purchased a nice, light blanket that breathes well instead of my old heavy quilt, and I have a box fan that runs all night now. But I haven't noticed any more difficulty sleeping, which I know some women have trouble with. Sex drive has increased, if anything, and I haven't noticed any problems or pain since the surgery. But I was ill before, so that's also very dependent on the person. Overall, little changes here and there, but it was all very worth it! Best of luck to you in your recovery!
posted by backwards compatible at 10:10 AM on May 10, 2018 [2 favorites]
As far as the menopause goes, it hasn't been terrible for me, but every person is a bit different. I do run hotter than I did before, and I have slowly transitioned my wardrobe to more sleeveless clothes than I had before. The night sweats are the worst part - I went out and purchased a nice, light blanket that breathes well instead of my old heavy quilt, and I have a box fan that runs all night now. But I haven't noticed any more difficulty sleeping, which I know some women have trouble with. Sex drive has increased, if anything, and I haven't noticed any problems or pain since the surgery. But I was ill before, so that's also very dependent on the person. Overall, little changes here and there, but it was all very worth it! Best of luck to you in your recovery!
posted by backwards compatible at 10:10 AM on May 10, 2018 [2 favorites]
I had an emergency unilateral salpingo-oophrectomy (one ovary, one tube) 20 years ago. So while my surgery was not as extensive as yours sounds, it was a rush job that didn't have the careful advance planning, and did require a 4-inch abdominal inciscion. It was 20 years ago, but here's what I remember.
I didn't honestly notice anything immediately afterward that seemed like it was a reaction to the ovary itself, and was more about "my abdomen was cut open ye gods". Your abs will indeed be weak immediately after. In the week immediately following surgery, the doctor recommended I get a pilllow and press it against my stomach to support it if I had to cough, sneeze, or laugh; not that it would risk damage, it was just painful. Backwards-Compatible is right about how to roll over to get up when you're getting up from lying down, and also about walking around hunched up a little bit; it wasn't painful, it just felt like the skin there wasn't stretching for me to stand straighter. That lasted a couple weeks.
Another weird thing I noticed during the first week or two - at one point I sat down in a chair to put some shoes on. I went to bend down to put them on - but couldn't. Not because it hurt, but my body just plain wasn't doing it. I sat there a second straining my arms to reach, wondering why the rest of me wasn't following, then freaked out and called my doctor. "Oh, yeah, sorry, that happens," he said, "it'll go away in a week or two." And it did. It freaked me out at the time, but now I think it was just strangely odd (and a ltitle cool).
Also - an orgasm within that first week will make you feel like you're going to pop your stitches. Never mind how I know this. (whistles innocently)
As for the ovary bit: i only had one removed, so I didn't get the insta-menopause thing. But I'm going through menopause now as well; I actually think my symptoms may be slightly milder than they would have been if I'd had two ovaries all this time. But I still had to deal with hot flashes and brain fog; although the brain fog was probably brought on by sleep deprivation more than anythign else, and it's a toss-up whether it was the night sweats or the stress I was also going through that caused it. There are some supplements that help with that, but my favorite system: I read that lowering your inner body temperature keeps hot flashes at bay, so I would sometimes just drink a glass of ice water real fast if I felt something coming on, and used that as an excuse to eat a little more ice cream than usual. :-)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:03 PM on May 10, 2018
I didn't honestly notice anything immediately afterward that seemed like it was a reaction to the ovary itself, and was more about "my abdomen was cut open ye gods". Your abs will indeed be weak immediately after. In the week immediately following surgery, the doctor recommended I get a pilllow and press it against my stomach to support it if I had to cough, sneeze, or laugh; not that it would risk damage, it was just painful. Backwards-Compatible is right about how to roll over to get up when you're getting up from lying down, and also about walking around hunched up a little bit; it wasn't painful, it just felt like the skin there wasn't stretching for me to stand straighter. That lasted a couple weeks.
Another weird thing I noticed during the first week or two - at one point I sat down in a chair to put some shoes on. I went to bend down to put them on - but couldn't. Not because it hurt, but my body just plain wasn't doing it. I sat there a second straining my arms to reach, wondering why the rest of me wasn't following, then freaked out and called my doctor. "Oh, yeah, sorry, that happens," he said, "it'll go away in a week or two." And it did. It freaked me out at the time, but now I think it was just strangely odd (and a ltitle cool).
Also - an orgasm within that first week will make you feel like you're going to pop your stitches. Never mind how I know this. (whistles innocently)
As for the ovary bit: i only had one removed, so I didn't get the insta-menopause thing. But I'm going through menopause now as well; I actually think my symptoms may be slightly milder than they would have been if I'd had two ovaries all this time. But I still had to deal with hot flashes and brain fog; although the brain fog was probably brought on by sleep deprivation more than anythign else, and it's a toss-up whether it was the night sweats or the stress I was also going through that caused it. There are some supplements that help with that, but my favorite system: I read that lowering your inner body temperature keeps hot flashes at bay, so I would sometimes just drink a glass of ice water real fast if I felt something coming on, and used that as an excuse to eat a little more ice cream than usual. :-)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:03 PM on May 10, 2018
On top of everything mentioned above for abdominal surgery, you may have to stay in clothes with a relaxed waistline for a few months. After my myomectomy (abdominal because huge fibroid) it took four months until I was able to wear pantyhose for an entire day, six months for jeans. Dresses are your friend, and longer skirts you can pull up to your bra line.
Also, the drain in energy is serious. My initial doctor's note was for four weeks and after the second day back to work I immediately headed to arrange two more weeks because I was literally unable to keep upright for 8 hours at a stretch. This passed at the six-week mark.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:35 PM on May 10, 2018
Also, the drain in energy is serious. My initial doctor's note was for four weeks and after the second day back to work I immediately headed to arrange two more weeks because I was literally unable to keep upright for 8 hours at a stretch. This passed at the six-week mark.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:35 PM on May 10, 2018
oh, another thing. I don't know exactly where your incision is going to be. But if it is low, like anywhere near your underwear's waistband is, then you don't want that. Go and buy some big granny panties, the ones they call "briefs", where the waistband is like up around your waist. Like this. A size or two big if necessary, so that elastic is nowhere near the incision spot. And some loose tenty dresses to wear.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:46 PM on May 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:46 PM on May 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's not clear from what you've written exactly how they are going to approach the surgery - I'm presuming from the complexity that it will be open, but there is so much that can be done laparoscopically now that I don't want to presume. As everyone above has said, it's less what's done inside the abdomen than how they get in there that will affect your recovery; I have had two relatively similar gynae surgeries, with the difference being that one was laparoscopic and the other open. Open surgery took at least double the time to recover from, and significantly more pain and reduced mobility. I must be more of a wuss than everyone upthread, because I went back to work at the 8 week mark after the open surgery and ended up crying in pain almost every day.
In the week immediately following surgery, the doctor recommended I get a pilllow and press it against my stomach to support it if I had to cough, sneeze, or laugh
A rolled up towel was advised for me - I preferred that to a cushion as it gave better support.
posted by Vortisaur at 1:21 PM on May 10, 2018
In the week immediately following surgery, the doctor recommended I get a pilllow and press it against my stomach to support it if I had to cough, sneeze, or laugh
A rolled up towel was advised for me - I preferred that to a cushion as it gave better support.
posted by Vortisaur at 1:21 PM on May 10, 2018
I had major abdominal surgery last summer, and there's lots of great advice above. In addition to the pillow for coughing/sneezing/laughing, you'll also want to keep a small something in the car to pad your mid-section from the seatbelt. I used a folded-over hand towel for a couple months. I used my oldest, elasticized shorts and dresses for a while. Fingersandtoes andBackwards Compatible are right about rolling to the side to get up, but use the reverse method to lie down, too - slide your arm along the bed until you're lying on your side, THEN roll to your back.
Instead of the overly large granny briefs, I found better luck with lower cut maternity undies that are designed to rest under the "bump" - these were farther from my incision and more comfortable. YMMV, depending on your incision.
And get all the rest you can. It's draining, but it gets better if you let your body sleep as much as it possibly can for several weeks.
posted by writermcwriterson at 2:36 PM on May 10, 2018
Instead of the overly large granny briefs, I found better luck with lower cut maternity undies that are designed to rest under the "bump" - these were farther from my incision and more comfortable. YMMV, depending on your incision.
And get all the rest you can. It's draining, but it gets better if you let your body sleep as much as it possibly can for several weeks.
posted by writermcwriterson at 2:36 PM on May 10, 2018
I've had two c-sections and second everything said above. Take stool softeners for two weeks before and a long time afterwards. If you can go to a liquid diet for a while beforehand that might help too. I am not kidding that pooping was worse than everything else put together, and I have had nightmares about it since then.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 4:32 PM on May 10, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 4:32 PM on May 10, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yes to big pants, rolling over, lack of strength, towel to hold on the incision
Yes yes yes to constipation - stock up on remedies before hand and put a stool or stack of books in the bathroom to raise you feet.
Good luck
posted by Heloise9 at 8:50 PM on May 10, 2018
Yes yes yes to constipation - stock up on remedies before hand and put a stool or stack of books in the bathroom to raise you feet.
Good luck
posted by Heloise9 at 8:50 PM on May 10, 2018
I had my gall bladder removed, which is totally minor in comparison.
Have a pillow nearby and use it to splint your gut if you feel you need to cough or sneeze. It helps a lot. Otherwise you find yourself twitching and wondering if you popped a staple (do they even really use stiches anymore? My mother had a freaking hip replacement and they stapled it shut).
It is, as others have said, very draining. I went back to work after two weeks and the best I could do was a slow walk. A walk that took me seven minutes normally took me almost 15, and there was the "fun" of crossing busy streets at the same time.
If they take out the wound-hold-closers, be prepared for a leak of serum fluid from the incompletely-closed wound. That happened to me and no one bothered warning me and I freaked. Thankfully my insurance at the time had a decent 24 hour nurse-by-phone service and the nurse was very reassuring to me and explained why it happened and how to deal with it.
Leave a note in your work area or someone might move in. (this happened to me.)
posted by mephron at 12:41 PM on May 11, 2018
Have a pillow nearby and use it to splint your gut if you feel you need to cough or sneeze. It helps a lot. Otherwise you find yourself twitching and wondering if you popped a staple (do they even really use stiches anymore? My mother had a freaking hip replacement and they stapled it shut).
It is, as others have said, very draining. I went back to work after two weeks and the best I could do was a slow walk. A walk that took me seven minutes normally took me almost 15, and there was the "fun" of crossing busy streets at the same time.
If they take out the wound-hold-closers, be prepared for a leak of serum fluid from the incompletely-closed wound. That happened to me and no one bothered warning me and I freaked. Thankfully my insurance at the time had a decent 24 hour nurse-by-phone service and the nurse was very reassuring to me and explained why it happened and how to deal with it.
Leave a note in your work area or someone might move in. (this happened to me.)
posted by mephron at 12:41 PM on May 11, 2018
I had ovaries removed when I had a hysterectomy 20 years ago. I was 37. They had already placed an estrogen patch before I even came out of surgery. I have been on estrogen ever since so have only experienced menopause symptoms if I ran out or went on vacation and forgot to take extras. Both my PCP and the dr that supervises my yearly mammogram say there is no reason not to continue. Your situation may dictate differently but don’t assume menopause is a given.
posted by tamitang at 6:59 PM on May 11, 2018
posted by tamitang at 6:59 PM on May 11, 2018
great advice already here! if they do go laparoscopically, be prepared for crazy abdominal bloat that lasts for several weeks-- they pump your abdomen full of gas so they can work, and it takes a surprisingly long time to dissipate. I couldn't fit into normal waistband for 2-3 weeks after surgery because of that.
Also, general surgery stuff but make sure to have plenty of easy and bland food, especially if you'll be on painkillers. I managed saltines and apple slices for a few days but anything more than that was out of the question.
And absolutely 100% agree on constipation, whether or not you're on painkillers. If you're on any opoids, they have a constipating effect, so even more important to seriously increase your fiber intake through the day. I started taking psyllium husk tablets a few times a day, which really helped.
good luck!
posted by lettezilla at 10:28 AM on May 12, 2018
Also, general surgery stuff but make sure to have plenty of easy and bland food, especially if you'll be on painkillers. I managed saltines and apple slices for a few days but anything more than that was out of the question.
And absolutely 100% agree on constipation, whether or not you're on painkillers. If you're on any opoids, they have a constipating effect, so even more important to seriously increase your fiber intake through the day. I started taking psyllium husk tablets a few times a day, which really helped.
good luck!
posted by lettezilla at 10:28 AM on May 12, 2018
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posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:13 AM on May 10, 2018