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Olegario Benford
Day of Surgery
I had my surgery at about 1 pm on Monday, Dec 7th and was home by 4:30 pm. I was sent home with a catheter and some packing in my vagina. I was also given some sexy hospital panties that were actually quite comfy and better than the mesh ones you get after giving birth.
I was quite dopy and even felt a bit woozy in the car but managed to not barf. I came home and went right to bed where I stayed for the rest of the day and night. My husband brought me some bone broth which was comforting,
The benefit of the catheter is not having to get up to go to the bathroom, but I could really only sleep on my back which I like for short periods of time so I found that I did not sleep all that well the first night. I made sure to take my pain meds and stool softeners before I went to sleep. Used a peri-bottle with warm water after going to the bathroom which was super soothing!
Post-Op Day 1 (Tuesday)
When I woke up in the morning I was excited to take out the packing and the catheter. I stood in the bathtub and cut the tube as instructed which deflated the balloon in my bladder - it was a bit of an odd sensation but didn't last long. Then the tube slid out and I was catheter free!
The rest of the day I stayed in bed and was only up to go to the bathroom. Speaking of going to the bathroom, I pooped! I was shocked! I did not expect to poop on the first-day post-op but I did...and it was shockingly successful! A bit tender and scary but I did it. That was one of my biggest worries...just like the first poop postpartum!
I slept and watched cheezy Christmas movies on Netflix and slept some more. I sipped bone broth, drank a lot of water, ate soup and rested. I stuck to the pain med recommendation of 2 Tylenol Extra Strength every 4 hours and 2 rectal suppositories a day. The pain was very manageable and I only ever had discomfort when I had a bowel movement or felt one coming on. (I had another really loose one later in the day).
Post-Op Day 2 (Wednesday)
I stayed on track with the pain meds for day 2 as instructed. I was in bed for the majority of the day but made sure to shift positions frequently. I took my pain meds and also my homoeopathic - arnica and hypericum. I also had several VERY loose poops...partly due to stool softeners but also the pain meds. I also used calendula cream on the incision starting on day 4.
I sat in my herbs and read my book for about 15 mins. Then I dried off (gently) and laid down on a towel and heating pad for my red light therapy. I had been using my Orion LT device for a few months prior to my surgery to support my skin, sleep and thyroid. I know the benefits of red light therapy for tissue healing as well so make sure to include a daily session to support my vagina/perineum. #hoohabiohacking (If you use code KVOPNI10 you can get a discount at www.orionlt.ca. I have the Orion 500 and LOVE IT!!!
I am treating my post-op recovery much like postpartum recovery and using many of the principles from Mother Roasting. Staying off my feet, drinking broth, eating warm soups, using heat, resting, taking supplements to support tissue healing and immunity like Vitamin C, and focusing on recovery.
I showered! After my sitz bath and red light therapy, I had a shower which felt good. I washed my hair, my face, my body and did not feel the need to shave. I soaped my hands and then gently washed my vulva and butt and then just let water rinse it gently.
I looked at my vulva and perineum. I was a bit nervous but it is important to look to monitor healing. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I saw the 2 stitches and looked for any sign of swelling or infection. I started using the calendula cream after my showers to help with healing and to soothe it. It felt a bit sore and tight when I moved in some situations.
Post-Op Recovery Day 5 (Saturday)
I stuck to my usual routine and then late afternoon I had an outing. We went to get our Christmas tree. My husband drove, I got out to pick the tree and then my kids and husband took care of the rest while I went back to the car. We also made a stop at my fave ice cream place (they have vegan ice cream which is sooo good - we are all pretty much dairy-free now and we all love their ice cream as a treat!)
Post-Op Recovery Day 7 (Monday)
One week since surgery and sticking to my routine but adding in some more kegels and pelvic tilts and bridges. Only 1-2 sets of 10 and doing them very slow and controlled.
My family and I also decorated the tree last night. The kids did most of it and I supervised. I am now sitting and looking at the tree and starting to feel the Christmas spirit even though this year will be very different!
All in all, the first week has been easier than I had expected. I had much less bleeding than I had anticipated (especially since my period decided to show up 5 days before surgery!), and the pain has also been less than I had anticipated. I was very well prepared for my recovery which I know played a role in reducing the disruption. I am also being very diligent in my recovery and will be working to retrain my core/pelvic floor, seeing my pelvic floor physio at 8 weeks post-op and then beginning a gradual and progressive return to fitness.
Pelvic Surgery Success is a one-of-a-kind program that will take you from feeling depressed, anxious, and consumed by fear of surgery to informed, confident and calm so you can put your nagging symptoms behind you and get back to living life with spontaneity and joy!
Not into an assessment and not ready to jump into a program or coaching with me? Start with the 28 day challenge - easy, affordable and it get results! Many women are leak free or have felt a reduction in symptoms by day 14!
Abdominal surgery is a broad term for a variety of surgical procedures focusing on your abdominal cavity, its walls, as well as the organs located in your abdomen. They can include appendectomy, hernia surgery, and cholecystectomy, just to name a few.
While the cause and subject of your abdominal surgery can vary, preparing for surgery and recovery can look roughly the same no matter what type you have scheduled. In fact, many of these guidelines apply to multiple types of surgery!
Abdominal surgery is a physically demanding experience that requires a lot of rest to make a fast, full recovery. By knowing what to expect, you can plan ahead and get back to your old routine as quickly as possible!
Many of the tips for abdominal surgery preparation apply to multiple types of surgeries. Prehabilitation for abdominal surgery can be just as important as recovery. In fact, taking the time to prepare for your surgery can actually help speed up your recovery time and allow you to experience less pain.
You already know that smoking is bad for your health, so it may come as no surprise that smoking can also have a negative impact on recovering from abdominal surgery. Multiple studies have shown that quitting smoking is one of the best ways to ensure that you have a speedy and complication-free recovery.
Your surgeon may enlist the help of your primary care doctor to help you do this. Together, the three of you will work to get your A1C hemoglobin levels below seven before surgery. This will reduce your risk of infection in comparison to that of a non-diabetic.
If you require abdominal hernia surgery or are experiencing abdominal wall issues, you may not be thrilled about the idea of exercise before your operation. This is completely understandable given the type of pain you experience.
It may go without saying, but you need to avoid any strenuous activity while recovering from abdominal surgery. Your body will need time to heal, and physical activity can slow healing down or possibly even reverse it. Your doctor will tell you how much weight to avoid lifting with the average weight being anything more than 5 lbs.
All women should ideally have contact with a maternal care provider within the first 3 weeks postpartum. This initial assessment should be followed up with ongoing care as needed, concluding with a comprehensive postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks after birth.
Women with pregnancies complicated by preterm birth, gestational diabetes, or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy should be counseled that these disorders are associated with a higher lifetime risk of maternal cardiometabolic disease.
Optimizing care and support for postpartum families will require policy changes. Changes in the scope of postpartum care should be facilitated by reimbursement policies that support postpartum care as an ongoing process, rather than an isolated visit.
Currently, as many as 40% of women do not attend a postpartum visit. Underutilization of postpartum care impedes management of chronic health conditions and access to effective contraception, which increases the risk of short interval pregnancy and preterm birth. Attendance rates are lower among populations with limited resources 9 10, which contributes to health disparities.
Increasing attendance at postpartum visits is a developmental goal for Healthy People 2020. Strategies for increasing attendance include but are not limited to the following measures: discussing the importance of postpartum care during prenatal visits; using peer counselors, intrapartum support staff, postpartum nurses, and discharge planners to encourage postpartum follow-up; scheduling postpartum visits during prenatal care or before hospital discharge; using technology (eg, email, text, and apps) to remind women to schedule postpartum follow-up 11; and increasing access to paid sick days and paid family leave.
Optimal postpartum care provides an opportunity to promote the overall health and well-being of women, and evidence suggests that current care falls short of that goal. In a national survey, less than one half of women attending a postpartum visit reported that they received enough information at the visit about postpartum depression, birth spacing, healthy eating, the importance of exercise, or changes in their sexual response and emotions 12. Of note, anticipatory guidance improves maternal well-being: In a randomized controlled trial, 15 minutes of anticipatory guidance before hospital discharge, followed by a phone call at 2 weeks, reduced symptoms of depression and increased breastfeeding duration through 6 months postpartum among African American and Hispanic women 13 14.
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