Having Hysterectomy and need to know what PJs are good for after surgery

[beeb]

Hi all! I am asking anyone who has had a hysterectomy to give me some advice on what I will need while home right after surgery recovering. What kind of PJs, underwear, pads, etc. would you all suggest.

Any other things you think I need would be so helpful.

Thank you all so much,
Linda

[Topazz]

will it be TVH or abdominal surgery?

[chefchick66]

Hi Beeb, I had a TAH 4 years ago next month. I wore VERY loose fitting flannel and cotton PJs with an elastic waist. Kind of the "man style" that is so popular right now with the long sleeved, buttom up shirt. I bought them in an XL instead of my usual M because your tummy will swell (Swelly Belly...a "Hystersister" term I picked up... ) and you will not want anything too tight. I made a point of buying them in fun, bright prints because I knew I'd be living in them for at least a few weeks, and they made me smile!

Glad you found Hystersisters site. I LIVED on the site the months before, and, the months following my surgery. I even attended a "meet and greet" with some St. Louis sisters a few months after my surgery. It truly is a FANTASTIC place!

Wishing you an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery!

[chefchick66]

Wanted to add that yesterday afternoon I was at Target and they had the CUTEST Nick and Nora jammie sets for about $25.00. Fun prints, cozy flannel, and super comfy!

[manalu]

I had a hysterectomy 1 year ago.....I just had my "hysterversary"

I would suggest you get a small firm pillow for the ride home....you will feel every bump on the road. Make up alot of food ahead and freeze it. I got a bunch of precooked chicken breasts from Sam's Club, to nuke for a quick easy meal. I also ate alot of spaghetti squash....poke holes and nuke. I ate it with margerine and grated cheese.
I also took home the water pitcher and had it filled and left near my bed with my meds. I was home alone, alot of the time. So I did not have to get up the first day or two to take my meds.
Clothing....anything that has an elastic waste and is comfy. You also want slip on shoes...nothing you have to bend over and tie. Bring your own robe and nighties to the hospital, it helps you feel better. I got nighties that were sleeveless and a light weight robe, due to the hotflashes. Also bring slippers for when you get up and walk.
Bring an easy to read book or magazines for the moments when you feel up to it. I also brought a cd player and some of my favorite cd's to help relax me.
I also had some stool softener at home, because you will need it. You don't want to strain. Take the pain meds as you need them, it is easier to stay ahead of the pain. I only needed the strong stuff for 2-3 days....everyone is different.

Just so you know....while I found the hyster sister site was great, some of the women are a bit high strung and reading their posts can scare you. So try to keep that in mind when reading through the posts.
If you need any other information, let me know. I would be happy to help.

[beeb]

Don't know what kind of surgery I'm having, but will find out on the 19th of Oct. I am sure things will be alot clearer then.

I bought 2 nightgowns, one short sleeve, one long, but now I'm thinking maybe I should have bought pj top and bottoms? Will the gowns be a pain, do you think? Another thing, how long in the hospital?

Thanks all for the replies!

[manalu]

The gowns are fine.....that is what I wore, once they took out the IV. The less clothes I had on, the better

[chefchick66]

Beeb, it's all a matter of what you are comfortable wearing. I found the jammie top and bottoms worked well considering it was the end of November in St. Louis, MO and it was chilly! Whle IN the hospital, I just wore their gowns.

As for the hospital stay. I only was in for 1 night and even THAT was too long in my opinion. The hospital is no place to get any sort of rest and my roomie was a big time moaner and groaner. I pretty much slept the entire first day post op, drifting in and out as the anesthesia wore off and the next morning, I got myself out of bed and walked the floor. When my Dr. came in to check on me, I asked to go home. I think usually with a TAH you stay for 2 nights but, I was doing well and had no complications, so, he set me free!

I felt better wearing big "granny panties" with tummy control than anything else post op. I felt like they "held" me together considering my tummy was cut and healing. As for pads, I used the kind with "wings" don't remember the name. I didn't bleed for very long and switched to a small panty liner after a few days just in case.

I also filled my freezer the months pre op with meals so my husband would just have to heat and serve. And stocked the pantry and refrigerator. I was not allowed to drive for 6 weeks post op, so, stocking up was a pretty important thing! I also SCRUBBED the entire house extra good because I knew it would be weeks before I would be able to give the house a real DEEP clean. DH is not exactly as anal as I am when it comes to cleaning! A tummy pillow, I used a purple chenille throw pillow, was another must have. I held it tight to my stomach whenever I was coughing, laughing, etc. for a couple of weeks post op.

When is your surgery? I was in the same situation as you, going into surgery, I did not know if I was going to have an abdominal, vaginally, or lap assisted hysterectomy. After the Dr. tried with the lap, he saw there were other issues going on and had to cut. The small incision from the lap hurt more post op than the larger abdominal cut.

Quite honestly, I had a very easy recovery. My DH had taken the entire first week I was home off to help care for me and DD, but, after 2 days, I was fine, so he went back to work. After the years of suffering BEFORE the surgery, post op was a breeze in comparison.

Keep us posted and if you have any additional questions, feel free to ask!

[Topazz]

My personal experience was with a TVH. I used gowns the first few days, as I had a bit of bladder leakage issues. I wore "grannie panties" and a pad. But after that I switched to my PJ tops and bottoms in soft baby flannel and cotton.

This was the first surgery I ever had in my life and I was scared to death. But now, looking back I am so grateful to have it done and it ended years of suffering. My recovery was remarkably easy and I didn't have to rely on the pain meds much. I used them mostly to help me sleep, which was more of an emotional discomfort than a physical one. I went through a horrible week of what is like post-partum depression. I literally felt as if I had lost a child. I have no idea why, since I did not want any more children. But the doctor said it was normal and was caused by the body adjusting to the missing parts, and their hormones. I got to keep my ovaries, but they were not producing hormones or eggs. Doc said if they started working again, it could take up to two years to notice a difference. I made the choice to do that without hormone replacement and so far have had very little trouble. It is harder to lose weight, and I am more sensitive to weight fluctuations, which I recently discovered is a sensitivity to sodium now. If I eat too much sodium, I get "swelly belly" sooooooooo bad that I look 9 months pregnant!

I hope you have an easy time with your surgery. I personally did not care for hystersisters. I did find some useful information there, but did not enjoy the message boards. I agree, some of the people there take things too far.

I am sure you will find support right here in this thread if you would like for us to keep writing to you. I know I would not mind it a bit.

[werkn'it]

I would suggest pj's that won't get twisted. It'll be difficult to keep them straightened out. Nothing worse than getting in a comfortable position then having a wad of jammies under ya!

My experience has been great - I feel so much better now than before. I had little pain and hardly any hormone issues.

I hope that you have just as easy a time...

[MonicaAZ]

I had a TVH w/BSO on July 13th. My 'swelly belly' has finally gone down (after 3 months), and it doesn't swell up at the end of the day anymore. I can walk fast again, and bend, stoop etc., without pain. I get an occasional twinge in my lower right pelvic area, but that's it.

As for comfortable clothing: big old granny panties! or boxers. I wore both under baggy pj bottoms (my husbands). Keep a small pillow around to put on your tummy and under it if you sleep on your side. I used ultra thin pads and that was sufficient. Good thing that you found the hystersisters site. It was and still is very useful for me (I'm now on HRT, with no problems at all).

Good luck, and take good care of yourself! Don't push yourself. It only delays the healing process.

[wettahook]

I had an total hysterectomy five years ago. It was the best days work that doctor every did! I bought short sleeve gowns and night shirts. I just didn't want anything around my waist. I took a long bathrobe to the hospital because you will be up and walking the same day as surgury. Just didn't want all that leg showing
Here are some things that I took to the hospital: wipes (it was refreshing just to wipe over my arms and face), Kleenex (the ones you get at the hospital are too harsh), air freshner for the room, pen and pad of paper. magazine. The best thing I took was a pillow with a pretty case on it. Somehow this brightenend up the room and made the bed cozier. It was great for the trip home.
I wish you peace and good health!

[kycowgirl]

I had a partial back in 1991. They left my ovaries, but I got cysts in them and had to have them removed in 2000. I took a long gown with short sleeves . Trust me, they will be doing alot of peeking down there to see how your doing and wearing a gown will be alot easier on you. Bring a long robe to wear while your walking around too. It was the best surgery I ever had. No more TOM's !!!! I havent had any problems with hot flashes, but I am on Estratest. I did gain weight. They told me it happens, to deal with it !!!

[sunset]

I had a total vaginal hysterectomy in 2000. I took night gowns, because they do check for bleeding. I went home the next morning.

[kycowgirl]

Same here, just a 1 day stay. The worst part was where the gas they give you settled in my shoulder. That hurt worse than the surgery itself.

[goodcelt]

Hi, Beeb.

When you get home, I would suggest light weight gowns. I don't wear regular pjs anyway...I like gowns. But it is so much easier when you go to the bathroom, etc., to just go and not have to worry about pulling the pants down. I bought some huge panties and only wore one pair. I just don't wear any...why bother? I'm wearing a tummy binder and my nightgown. I'm not bleeding at all. I guess because it wasn't vaginal...I don't know. I was all prepared, thinking I was going to bleed bleed bleed. But I'm not bleeding at all.


Keep your water and meds on your bedside table. I timed my phone to go off thru the night at first to keep ahead of the pain == very important to keep ahead of it (and the pain management staff at the hospital told me this). I stopped my percocet last week. I tried going w/o them one night after I got my staples out because my doc told me that I didn't need to wake myself up and man...I woke up feeling like I was in labor. Ibuprofen is really a great thing...any anti-inflammatory is your friend. I also keep my lip balm on the table and a backscratcher. I couldn't read afterwards because I just would make my eyes go past the 2nd sentence. Music heals...tv is good.

Slip-on slippers are great. Keep your tummy pillow handy. I have a regular-sized velour pillow from Walmart. It helps me when I need to cough.

Water - keep one of those personal containers near you. Water is good for you to drink.