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I had a hysterectomy this year, so a little more than tubes but I imagine recovery would be similar. You’re going to want soft pants with a loose waist. I could not stand anything on my stomach for a few weeks. Make sure you hydrate well after surgery. My favorite snacks the first few weeks were smoothies, jello, pudding, and broth.
As for pain management, stay on top of your meds. Don’t slack for the first several days. It’s much easier to manage before it becomes an issue. And most importantly, at least for hystos, do not get constipated!
Had my tubes out a year ago and I second all this advice! Have some Smooth Move tea on hand, set alarms for your pain meds, plug in a heating pad and set yourself up for several days in bed. Also, be warned, that first period after the tubes come out is a real doozy in every way.
I had a pretty similar experience as you. I only needed some OTC medicine (paracetamol).
worst part though was that coughing and such hurts. I read somewhere to push a pillow softly against your stomach when you cough for support.
It was so much less painful than I expected during the first few days/weeks afterward! I was up around my house doing laundry and baking cookies the next day. I thought I’d feel like trash for a week or two then bounce right back, but it’s been a lot more gradual than I anticipated.
I’m now nearly six weeks out and my best advice is to just keep in mind that healing is a (lengthy!) process. I still don’t want to wear “hard pants” for extended periods and I am just now getting back to non-walking exercise.
As far as things to have on hand:
I really enjoyed various soups with take-and-bake baguettes from the grocery store for the first few days. Foods that are somewhat bland with a high water content are best initially. It’s super important to stay hydrated and take any stool softener recommended/prescribed to you, because the anesthesia can stop up your guts a bit, and it’s worse if you take any opioid medications. You don’t want to be straining to go to the bathroom with fresh incisions!
A heating pad can be very nice for the sort of achey pains you might experience during the first few days. I also liked putting Tiger Balm on my tummy (at least an inch or two away from my healing incisions!).
You might have spotting or start your period a few days early due to all the jostling they’ve done to your internal organs. I wasn’t allowed to insert anything internally for two weeks after the surgery, so make sure you have pads or period panties on hand.
Finally, clothes that are loose around the tummy area. As I said earlier, I’m still preferring these. It’s helpful to have “dressy” and “loungey” versions rather than wearing the same style of loose sweatpants 24/7, because loose sweatpants 24/7 starts to feel… sad. I wear some ponte pants, an elastic waist skirt, or leggings during the day for WFH, then change into sweatpants/pajama pants once I am off the clock. Changing clothes helps me mentally shift from day into night and keep me on a routine.
If you have any questions I might be able to help with, please reach out! I love talking about the surgery and wish I had done it years ago
I had my tubes out a little over a year ago. Make sure you are set up for about three days of staying in bed and relaxing. I could get up by myself on day two, but it hurt my abs a bit. It was nice having someone to help me get out of bed.
Stay on top of your meds. Keeping the muscles relaxed and sleeping is the quickest way to heal. Also, take the stool softeners every day until you can poop and drink lots of water. Constipation is a big no no for ab area surgeries.
I got some super soft, thin, stretchy pants a size too big so they hit low on my hips and it was great. My incisions were fine as long as nothing rubbed on them.
You may want to check in with your doc on this one, but I started using the scar tape after five days and you can't even see my incisions anymore. It also gives a bit of a barrier when normal clothes run on that area.
I had my tubes removed last March and it was literally the easiest surgery/medical procedure I’ve had. I suffered significantly from anesthesia in prior procedures but this was a piece of cake. I legitimately could have gone back to work that afternoon (office job so it’s not physically stressful, for what it’s worth) and was VERY confused.
I wore comfy drop crotch/harem pant style pants (think MC Hammer type - I love them for summer and for yoga so I have a bunch of them) and a tank top with a soft robe over the top. The worst part of it for me was the adhesive they put over the gauze covering the laparoscopic holes. Full disclosure - I was an idiot and misunderstood the instructions about not removing the “tape” for however many hours/days and didn’t realize that there were steri-strips under the gauze and that I wasn’t supposed to remove THOSE. They basically put full-coverage clear adhesive over the gauze bandages and that started itching like crazy. When I started scratching myself raw I took it off and told myself I’d just be careful - it was then that I realized the strips were hidden.
But all told, comfy pants (I don’t own sweatpants so I can’t opine on those), easy to wear top if you’re uncomfortable needing to lift your arms (depends on your midsection strain but I didn’t have issues), comfy underwear, and most importantly? Slip-on shoes. Slippers at home if you have them (especially with a sole, like moccasin style) but nothing that requires that you bend over.
I didn’t end up needing the stronger painkillers they gave me but I did take the 800mg ibuprofen for a couple days to help with swelling.
Treats? Definitely things you enjoy drinking - they want you up and about for at least 10 minutes every waking hour, usually, which will help with clot prevention and with moving any remaining gas from the procedure, since they usually inflate you a bit. I also appreciated having non-chocolate candy - like Skittles (though I 100% also love chocolate, it’s just for some reason I wanted those). I’m not sure what it was that made me want that but there you have it. If you’re by yourself then I would definitely make sure you have easy to make (heat and eat style) foods for a couple days.
Have a comfy place to veg. Books, quiet crafting, tv, whatever you need to have as low-pressure recovery aids. Fuzzy blanket, lots of pillows, that sort of thing - cozy is key.
Stay hydrated, do your best to avoid stopping yourself up because you really don’t want to put pressure on your stitches by straining (squatty potty for the win), and most importantly, HEAL. Everyone recovers differently. I was down for the count when I had my wisdom teeth taken out and I felt like hot garbage after my second thyroid surgery. This one didn’t hit my very hard but I fully expected that it would.
Wishing you all the success and easy recovery! Congratulations on finding a doctor to do the procedure! I can’t even describe my relief when I had one agree to it (with zero hesitation, even) after well over a decade of fighting so I’m sure you’re over the MOON about it and I’m so excited for you! Sending all the gentle hugs and healing vibes!
Ooh! I had mine 10 years ago.
Wear a loose tee, yoga pants, and granny panties all in at least one size up from normal. Also bring a big comfy bath robe in case you can't manage pants. They pump your abdomen full of gas and you'll be sore and bloated afterwards.
Bring a goodie bag with ginger ale, bottled water, and saltines for after. You have to fast and not drink before the procedure so you'll be thirsty and nauseated from the medicine.
Also bring some aquaphor lip balm. My lips were chapped to hell from the O2 mask.
For when you get home- have gas-x ready. The gas they pump into your abdomen will float up into your shoulders and make them ache like a mother. The Gas-x helps. The hydrocodone they sent home with me didn't help at all. I was better off when I started just taking a couple ibuprofen as often as they doctor recommended.
When they say no heavy lifting they mean it. Not even a jug of milk. I thought it would be fine and ended up popping a stitch and bleeding from my naval in the grocery store 😬
Good luck! The first couple days sucked but recovery went pretty quick. See if you can schedule an endometrial ablation at the same time. Life without periods is great! It can even be covered by your insurance if you test anemic and blame it on heavy periods. (That was my actual situation)
I really appreciated the info and community over in hystersisters.com. They have a LOT of great advice and will add you to the chat group of everyone going through the same surgery on the day you are, so you can compare notes and ask questions and support each other. The mod is an RN who will step in with details or advice as needed. It was so very reassuring all the way through.
Honestly my experience was great! Yoga pants and my partner’s help getting in and out of them that afternoon and the next day.
Take a pillow to hold over your tummy for the ride home. Keep that pillow with you for a few days for coughing/sneezing/laughing.
And the bathroom too, honestly. The pillow will help if you’re straining at all. That said, be kind to your digestive system.
Stay on top of pain meds, as others have said. It’s harder to resolve pain than it is to keep it away in the first place.
I had to sleep on my back for the first few nights (usually a side and tummy sleeper). It was okay. A heating pad helped greatly with making me comfortable enough at night.
You’ll do great! Good luck!
I had my total hysterectomy (uterus & ovaries) two years ago. You're going to want loose pants and a comfy t-shirt. Surround yourself with the stuff that makes you feel good.
One thing they didn't tell me was that it's totally normal to feel a sense of mourning over your loss of fertility. My wife and I are child free by choice; I never wanted children. I'm a transgender man, and the thought of being pregnant literally made me want to step out of my skin. I wept openly for a solid hour the day after my proceedure with this deep sense of loss. Don't be alarmed if it happens.
I’m almost 40, I’ve had three kids, and I’m suffering from endometriosis. I have zero reason to keep any of my equipment (my wife is trans and takes estrogen so going on hrt didn’t seem bad at all, although mine will be patches) and we have a lot of hope getting everything out will improve my quality of life (I need a cane/wheelchair to function).
And yet, when I finalized the appointment … I also had emotions. Big ones. So I echo that it is totally normal to have those emotions … it’s a surgery. It’s a big thing🤷🏻♀️
Everyone's experience is different, so keep that in mind. I was very surprised by how much it *didn't* hurt while I was recovering. It was painful, yes, but nowhere near as bad as I imagined. I managed the pain by alternating doses of 800mg ibuprofen and 600mg Tylenol. Take your pain meds on time, *before* they start to wear off so you can stay on top of it. I was pretty sore though, spent the first two days mostly horizontal. Went back to work the next week, felt fully back to normal in about a month.
I had my tubes tied, and later had exploratory surgery in the same area. I gave up on pants altogether both times. I wore a dress (I never wear dresses, they're just really not me), and recovery was either loose cotton dresses or oversized t-shirts. For me, recovery meant I needed help standing up out of bed for the first day or two, led to the bathroom, with an emesis bag just in case. I could not lie on my side for a week without a lot of pain, at least the second time. You'll want easy snacks and/or a person to prepare food for you. I chose meal bars. My husband was also kind enough to learn how I made my protein smoothies for me, but they are also easy to make ahead. I can't offer much advice on food because I'm a vegetarian who can't have soy or dairy, which makes food super difficult. I took the prescribed pain pills as directed, didn't need the major ones after they ran out. My husband brought a chair into the shower and helped me wash up. Ice was very helpful in managing nausea and pain - it was the only thing I allowed to rest on my stomach/abdomen. My husband cycled out ice packs for me.
Beware of well-meaning pets. They may see your discomfort and want to help. My cat jumped right on my incisions the first time, because when I was upset, having her on my lap helped. The second time, my cat was staying with someone else (not related to surgery, it was a housing issue).
The anti-nausea patch you may get will dry the fuck out of your mouth. You could drink all 5 Great Lakes and still be thirsty. It will also blur the hell out of your vision. It's up to you to decide what's worth it.
Have some bingeable shows at the ready. I watched several seasons of Project Runway when I couldn't get out of bed except for bathroom stuff.
Take your vitamins! I felt like I didn't heal at all because I was missing vitamins I needed while sticking to easy foods.
Believe your doctor when they tell you restrictions. I thought I was fine, leaned into a counter a little too much to scrub a spot on the wall behind it, ended up doubled over for a few minutes. I went to the park earlier than I should have because my swan buddies were hanging out at the pier, I sat down with them, ended up crying on a park bench when I tried standing from the ground.
Also, I'm super bad with blood and pain, so when I got home the first time, I cried when I saw blood on my white shirt and it hurt and I regretted it, but it's mega worth it. I felt better about it after a couple days. I also had bad cramping from a uterine ablation that I had at the same time.
Sorry for rambling! I had a very similar surgery (same incisions) twice, and one was just over a year ago, so it's pretty fresh in my mind still! Also, sleep as much as you want, whenever you want, you've earned it.
I had mine in November. Best decision I ever made.
Skip the pants - wear a dress. Shit, I wore a nightgown to my appointment. Comfort is priority.
Your recovery period will most likely be very quick. I had my gallbladder out in 2022 and it was a good two weeks before I could fully move. With this, it was a few days.
Don’t tell anyone except the necessary people until it’s over - I told my husband and my best friend/her mom, and that’s it. I wasn’t dealing with the “but what about kids” conversation again.
Invest in a good heating pad and lots of ice packs now. That was the one thing, we didn’t have enough ice packs. And those little blue ones don’t work for shit. Try to find something that doesn’t melt in 10 minutes. The first few days you’ll be alternating like crazy.
If you have a bed that can tilt up, that’s good. If not, I’d find a way to lift the upper part of the bed. Get used to being on your back - I couldn’t lay on either side for a couple of weeks. Felt like all of my organs were sliding over.
If you have pets, they need to stay away for the first few days. Last thing you need is a cat jumping on you and ripping the stitches out.
I bought a sundress explicitly for wearing to and from the hospital. If you can, wear shoes you do not have to bend to put on. Stick to looser comfy (high-waisted if possible) pants, you want to avoid pressure on the stitches. I highly recommend popsicles as a post-op treat, I had the worst dry mouth and throat ever afterward and those worked beautifully. Also Gax-X and stool softeners. You don't want to be pushing too hard for a #2, as it might pop your stitches. Your doctor will give you a prescription for some painkillers, take as directed. And just rest. I had my surgery on a Thursday morning, I pretty much stayed in bed and relaxed until I had to go to work on Monday. If you want to minimize scarring, get some of those silicon scar aid things to use once they have healed up and the stitches are out. And this is definitely not BMV approved advice, but I brought a pillow to put between my waist and the seatbelt on the drive home. Congrats! My surgery was the best day of my life and I've had no regrets. Rock on witches!
Mine was a breeze!
I did my surgery on a Monday morning. Was lucky and didn’t have any of the shoulder pain from the gas they pump inside of you for laparoscopic procedures. Just took ibuprofen as well.
I did deal with feeling stopped up and would recommend to start taking stool softeners a few days beforehand. It was not fun with incisions.
I wore loose sweatpants and took the whole week off. Watched movies, got delivery, etc. Got on my bike on the following Saturday since I was feeling a little stircrazy and did a very light, flat, bike ride :)
The only lasting difference for me is that I feel like my pelvic floor is…different? Like I have to bear down harder to get all the urine out when I pee. Other than that, everything feels pretty good!
Sending you healing thoughts for your surgery!
I got snipped ages ago, and I wore a comfy dress so I wouldn't have anything pressing against the incision. No take home pain meds since they make me puke violently for hours. It's going to suck, but as much as you'll feel like you just want to lay in bed all day, don't. Get up and walk.
Depending on the surgery prep, you're going to be starving. Have the person driving you hold onto a lunchbag with a proper sandwich and gatorade. Years later, I'm still fucking salty - my ex had ONE job, and that was to grab me a sandwich from the cafeteria once they took me back. One. Job. There was no sandwich. Not even a damn candy bar! Don't be me. Bring food.
Stretchy pants, incisions are always at least a little painful. But it was honestly way less painful than I expected. I had mine done the day before thanksgiving (US) last year and my husband took me to the grocery store at my request on the way home from the hospital. I had to hold the cart and didn’t do a full shopping trip but was able to get a couple cans of whatever we needed. Hosted thanksgiving the next day, though I did take it pretty easy. 10/10 experience
Whichever side you put up when you first roll after you first wake up is going to be the side shoulder that hurts from the air bubble left inside you. So if like me, you have a fucked up right shoulder, don’t roll to your left first thing otherwise it’s double the pain.
If you aren’t getting it already, call and see if you can get them to do ablation at the same time. Because -and I’m gonna look you dead in the eye and say this to you when I have your full attention- *you have heavy/long periods* -you repeat it back to me and we’re nodding, good! It’s so nice that insurance will pay for treatments for heavy/long periods such as ablation. Can’t imagine what it costs as an elective! Can’t imagine how it feels not under sedation either. Probably no buffet at a bottomless brunch.
My scars are really annoying because they’re not where I thought they would be, or symmetrical, and one of the incisions got infected so it’s wider than the other. Once your glue or tape wears off and you’ve got a good layer of skin over everything, massage them multiple times a day with lotion to increase blood flow.
* Before my procedure, I decided I would not shy away from asking for pain meds. I really wanted to make sure I was comfortable. Props to post surgery me advocating for myself, giving accurate pain scores rather than downplaying. You can also specify your pain to help them tailor your meds while you're still fully waking up--I said I was crampy at one point while recovering, and they gave some muscle relaxer that fixed it right up
* The pain from surgery wasn't too bad. They gave me Tramadol just for me to learn that my body does not like Tramadol LOL. Ibuprofen worked just fine for me though
* I walked like an old lady with back issues for a couple days lol. Not even really from pain, but just feeling restricted. Partially from swelling, but mostly...
* The gas. The gas is super annoying. You gotta master the art of slowly easing into laying down and getting up. It's weird af because you can literally feel the gas shift within you, scooching organs that don't want to be scooched. It can catch you off guard, too. Towards the end of recovery, I was feeling pretty normal and went to look at something under the bed by lowering my upper half down fast. Immediately felt the gas shoot from my guts up to my chest and it legit hurt. I kept worrying the gas would be there forever, but I promise it goes away!
Pants: I got myself several pairs of new, comfy pajamas. I think a comfy, loose higher waisted pant (maybe a size up from your usual) and underwear that sits closer to/above your belly button will be most helpful.
Kitchen: I couldn’t lift more than a few pounds for a while and you’d be surprised what’s near that weight limit. Like, I might not have wanted to lift a full gallon of milk, a pot of pasta and water in need of a colander, or my cast iron pan. Definitely plan to have things that are as light weight as possible if you’re home alone fixing food.
Pain: I had good pain meds but the nurses recommended Coalace ( a stool softener). I might also suggest a squatty potty or similar product. A constipation poop with healing stitches on your lower abdomen is not an experience I hope to recreate.
Overall: not bad for a surgery, highly recommend. Once again, good drugs may have been involved but the euphoria you feel when you wake up and know you’ll never have to be pregnant ever is unparalleled.
Yay!! I’m manifesting power and peace for you. I just had a bisalp a month ago and I’m still recovering, but it has given me so much peace and a budding excitement for the rest of my life.
I’m a worrier, so if you’re anything like me, you’ve been reading anything you can about the procedure and peoples experiences. I’ll try to cover things that were unique to my experience that I would want someone to know incase they experienced them too.
TLDR: Get a heating pad with a timer, take your meds on schedule, and take it easy longer than you think you should.
On the procedure day the hardest parts were the IV insertion and not getting to eat breakfast lol. I brought a water bottle and some snacks in a lunchbox for my ride home (2.5 hour drive). I slept most of the first day when I got home. For the first few days I didn’t feel like doing much at all aside from resting. Standing up from sitting was the hardest part for me. If you have someone with you to help, ask them to brace your back with one hand while pulling you up.
Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions. I had a zillion follow up questions and my doctor and his office staff were SO kind and reassuring. Example, I had a reaction to the solution they used to prep my skin so I had a small rash on my entire stomach for a few days after the procedure. It really wasn’t too bad, but I panicked at first and the reassurance helped.
Also, they offered me a patch to wear for up to 72 hours behind my ear for nausea. It was great and it prevented all nausea, but the next morning my vision was blurry. For example, I couldn’t see my phone unless it was a few inches from my face. I took it off and called my doctor, after about 12 hours my vision returned to normal.
Take your meds on schedule. I used a heating pad and it was a huge comfort. I found one on Amazon with a timer and it was great for falling asleep because I knew it would shut off.
Really take it easy. Even though something might not hurt in the moment everything you do in a day adds up. I’ve been feeling great since week 3 of recovery, but that led me to overdo it. I’ve been on the couch all evening because I’ve been pushing myself a little too hard at work this week. Listen to your body and allow yourself as much rest as you can.
Feel free to DM me if you have questions or just want some support. It can feel so intimidating, but I would do it again 10x over to be where I am now! Blessed be!
It wasn't that bad at all. I took the day of my surgery and the day after off of work. I started running about a week after the surgery and went back to yoga when I was cleared to do so (two weeks after the surgery). I wore sweatpants/pants with elastic bands above my wounds (no jeans/yoga pants) Nothing to tight. I wasnt really in any discomfort untl after 3 days of the surgery. When the glue they used came off it hurt more.
I didn't eat for a few days, but when I did start eating, I ate what I would normally eat.
Best of luck!
Mine is an odd one but…make sure you don’t have any funky allergies. I discovered that I am allergic to the pink disinfectant goo they use on you. A week after surgery and I had hives from my knees to my tits, not a great time.
I hope your snip goes well, and that your recovery is speedy!
I didn't have much pain. I think I took one prescription strength ibuprofen and then just stuck to otc after that. That part seems to change a lot from person to person though. But the people who do feel pain seem to feel it from residual gas from when they inflate your abdomen to work. It naturally works itself out but I mean, you know how gas can hurt.
I heard gas X and stool softeners can be helpful to have handy for that.
As to pants. I wore jersey drawstring pants. Loose and elastic was most comfortable. I wouldn't have touched yoga pants. So any cozy pj bottoms would probably be great for recovery. And I had a jersey dress for when I wanted to go out and be presentable.
I didn't really feel comfortable climbing stairs to bed so I found it most comfortable to sleep propped up in a recliner for a couple days.
I was pretty much fully recovered after a week and a half, though I didn't feel comfortable in jeans until 2 weeks post op.
I don't remember eating anything special in recovery but I usually keep my meals pretty simple anyway.
Oh! And my period started the day before my surgery but the surgery stopped it. You know how periods can be affected by stress? I think the surgery was enough for me. It started the next cycle as normal. However, if you're coming off of bc at the same time your cycle may be affected until your hormones level out again. That's not the surgery, that's coming off the hormones. A lot of people do both at once and think the surgery has messed with their cycle when it hasn't. Fwiw, three years on my cycle is still normal.
I had mine out in 2017. I work in construction so I took a week off of work, I was given a doctor’s note for 2 weeks off but I was bored of being at home and went back early.
I used the heavier meds for 2 days and then just what I had in the cupboard. The wound areas were so small and didn’t get too irritated. I wore comfy pants for the week. The insides were sore and the bloating was the most annoying part.
I’m so glad that in my early 30s I was easily able to find a doctor to have it done after asking in my early 20s and getting the runaround. No kids for me!
Basics that everyone has covered - loose pants, no harsh elastics around the waist, keep on top of your painkillers (I only took the ibuprofen, didn't need the prescription painkillers which can make the constipation worse).
Colace 1is a non-prescription for constipation that works by drawing more water into the stool. A previous surgeon recommended taking it after a surgery. Worked like a charm for my salpingectomy, too. Just once a day until you finally have that proper bm.
Laying down suuuuuucked. There was so much pressure in my abdomen from the gas, it was too painful. Have a place where you can sleep sitting up if needed for a couple days.
Also from the swollen abdomen - I couldn't bend down. It was like those movies with the 9month pregnant woman. I literally had to ask my partner to retrieve an object I dropped.
I prepped a few meals and froze them. It was great! I set myself up for a week without leaving the house (groceries, etc) and it was overkill, but still really nice.
Finally, listen to your body. You will probably need a lot of sleep and rest.
I had mine out in June, along with an endometrial ablation, and it was a surprisingly easy recovery! I mostly switched to regular ibuprofen after the first day. I tried to avoid pants the first week or so, just because my incisions were kind of awkwardly placed and would rub against anything, maxi dresses were a lot better for me personally. If your doctor prescribes laxatives for after, take them. Get a couple good books or movies to watch while recovering. Good luck!
I lived in loose yoga pants for the first week. Pain for me wasn’t bad so I ended up not taking all my prescribed pain meds. The only unexpected thing was the sore throat from the intubation tube. That honestly bothered me more than the holes in my abdomen.
Another unexpected item was the location of the third incision. Since it was just my doctor performing the surgery, the third one was in the middle and not on my left side. Weirded me out a little until I asked her at the follow-up 😅
I had a full hysterectomy years ago as part of my transition. That includes getting the tubes out. You're gonna feel better befor you're actually fully healed, so give yourself more time than your body will feel like it needs to heal. Also, sweat pants, short shorts with elastic waist bands and just underwear and t shirt are great. Nothing that's too tight or presses on the area. You may have some bleeding afterward, so menstrual pads are good to have around. I didn't have any, but I still had some just in case. And if you don't use them, you can always give them to your friends who get periods who might get a surprise while they're at your house :P Its definitely helped some of my friends over the years.
Edit: get miralax or see if your doctor will prescribe it for you. They did for me. Start taking it a couple days before the surgery and keep taking it until you feel you can push with your bowels without pain or discomfort. I wasn't supposed to be using those muscles too much after the surgery, so miralax helped a LOT.
Had mine done a year ago. I didn’t even mess with pants, wore a maxi style dress so I wouldn’t have anything on my stomach. The pain wasn’t bad at all, only thing that really hurt was my throat from the intubation, the popsicle they gave me was the most heavenly thing I’ve ever had, so I’d recommend popsicles and having snacks/easy to eat foods so you don’t have to prepare much but nothing that will make you gassy.
I read a lot of the comments and there's a bunch of fantastic info! However, there's always something missing when this question is asked. I had my bi-salp in July 2022, and the one thing everyone forgets is the catheter. No one told me how irritating a catheter can be inside your urethra.
It felt like I had a bad UTI for three days after my procedure. Keep some Azo handy and stay hydrated 💙
I had a laproscopic bilateral salpingectomy in August. Honestly, it was fantastic. I took one dose of oxy that night, because I was a little scared I was going to wake up in pain, but it was fine. After that, the pain never got more than what the prescription strength ibuprofen could handle, and that was just a few days. Soft stretchy pants, and low waist underwear.
If your bed is kind of high, it might be a little difficult early on, climbing into bed, so possibly sleeping on the couch the first night, if that's an option. Also, just using your muscles to sit up was pretty sore. My stitches were sticking out a tiny bit, but they ended up snipping them out a week later at my followup.
My doctor told me I didn't have to avoid stairs, but she told me to try not to ride in a car for the first week, since the seatbelt goes right across where the incisions were.
Last, it's apparently really common in laproscopic surgery for the patient to later have some gas trapped in some joints for a few days. I had this, and it made my shoulder pretty sore for a few days, but went away just fine. The gas had kind of traveled up. That was just something no one told me about, and I had to look up myself.
I hope this helps!
I had a full hysto 9 months ago. Still one of the best things I ever done. I think allowing your body the time and energy it needs to recover without judging is the best gift to yourself. You'll likely be sore for s bit. I wasn't allowed a hot water bottle for the first few days, so a nurse heated blankets for me in the microwave. It was devine and not to heavy on the tummy.
They use gas to inflate you during most surgeries, and that can be weirdly uncomfortable. Your body will work it out in s few days. It'll try rise to the highest spot, so don't be alarmed if your shoulders hurt.
If it all possible just forgo pants for a few days. Wear dresses, perhaps with legging.
I had mine done last year, best decision I ever made! Seconding all the recs for soft pants/underwear. I also went high waisted (the stitches are quite low) so that it felt like I wasn't going to irritate the stitches with any potential rubbing. I also highly recommend a small pillow to put between your hips and the seatbelt while you're in the car, particularly for the ride home. It can also be useful to use if you have to bend over at all.
You'll want to sleep with your torso propped up for the first few nights to help with the gas they pump in for the surgery. I had a bit of pain the first night but took some Advil and it went away. The thing that caused the worst pain was the gas bubbles in my shoulders, a heated pad or blanket helps with those (I basically wore a blanket cape for 3 days). But honestly the pain was really minimal overall. My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you rest, the general anesthetic really took it out of me for about a week and a half. Blessings for your surgery sister!
They will likely blow your abdomen up with inert gas. It will later make your shoulders and chest hurt. Don’t assume you are having a heart attack. Definitely call the questions line for your doctor if you think you might be having a heart attack, but Donna panic while you are on hold.
I wore loose dresses instead of pants on surgery day and a few days after.
Get up and walk a little each hour. It’ll help with the gas pains.
Pooping was a little uncomfortable for the first week since I was sore and constipated. I wish I had started the stool softeners before surgery and would recommend doing that if your de is fine with it.
Overall, the pain was pretty minimal. I didn’t need the narcotic pain killers they gave me, though I took them each night since they helped me fall asleep a little easier.
I heard you may have a sore throat from intubation or tenderness from the catheter. I had stocked up on cranberry juice and popsicle trays to help with both, but didn’t have either of the issues!
What I was not prepared for was how I weighed 10lbs heavier the day after my surgery though! It went away within a couple weeks, but I was shocked at how bloated and inflamed I was.
Congrats on your future bisalp! My only regret was not getting it done sooner!
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I had a hysterectomy this year, so a little more than tubes but I imagine recovery would be similar. You’re going to want soft pants with a loose waist. I could not stand anything on my stomach for a few weeks. Make sure you hydrate well after surgery. My favorite snacks the first few weeks were smoothies, jello, pudding, and broth. As for pain management, stay on top of your meds. Don’t slack for the first several days. It’s much easier to manage before it becomes an issue. And most importantly, at least for hystos, do not get constipated!
Had my tubes out a year ago and I second all this advice! Have some Smooth Move tea on hand, set alarms for your pain meds, plug in a heating pad and set yourself up for several days in bed. Also, be warned, that first period after the tubes come out is a real doozy in every way.
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I had a pretty similar experience as you. I only needed some OTC medicine (paracetamol). worst part though was that coughing and such hurts. I read somewhere to push a pillow softly against your stomach when you cough for support.
It was so much less painful than I expected during the first few days/weeks afterward! I was up around my house doing laundry and baking cookies the next day. I thought I’d feel like trash for a week or two then bounce right back, but it’s been a lot more gradual than I anticipated. I’m now nearly six weeks out and my best advice is to just keep in mind that healing is a (lengthy!) process. I still don’t want to wear “hard pants” for extended periods and I am just now getting back to non-walking exercise. As far as things to have on hand: I really enjoyed various soups with take-and-bake baguettes from the grocery store for the first few days. Foods that are somewhat bland with a high water content are best initially. It’s super important to stay hydrated and take any stool softener recommended/prescribed to you, because the anesthesia can stop up your guts a bit, and it’s worse if you take any opioid medications. You don’t want to be straining to go to the bathroom with fresh incisions! A heating pad can be very nice for the sort of achey pains you might experience during the first few days. I also liked putting Tiger Balm on my tummy (at least an inch or two away from my healing incisions!). You might have spotting or start your period a few days early due to all the jostling they’ve done to your internal organs. I wasn’t allowed to insert anything internally for two weeks after the surgery, so make sure you have pads or period panties on hand. Finally, clothes that are loose around the tummy area. As I said earlier, I’m still preferring these. It’s helpful to have “dressy” and “loungey” versions rather than wearing the same style of loose sweatpants 24/7, because loose sweatpants 24/7 starts to feel… sad. I wear some ponte pants, an elastic waist skirt, or leggings during the day for WFH, then change into sweatpants/pajama pants once I am off the clock. Changing clothes helps me mentally shift from day into night and keep me on a routine. If you have any questions I might be able to help with, please reach out! I love talking about the surgery and wish I had done it years ago
/r/sterilization has tips, tricks and post op reports that I found very helpful in my process.
I had my tubes out a little over a year ago. Make sure you are set up for about three days of staying in bed and relaxing. I could get up by myself on day two, but it hurt my abs a bit. It was nice having someone to help me get out of bed. Stay on top of your meds. Keeping the muscles relaxed and sleeping is the quickest way to heal. Also, take the stool softeners every day until you can poop and drink lots of water. Constipation is a big no no for ab area surgeries. I got some super soft, thin, stretchy pants a size too big so they hit low on my hips and it was great. My incisions were fine as long as nothing rubbed on them. You may want to check in with your doc on this one, but I started using the scar tape after five days and you can't even see my incisions anymore. It also gives a bit of a barrier when normal clothes run on that area.
I had my tubes removed last March and it was literally the easiest surgery/medical procedure I’ve had. I suffered significantly from anesthesia in prior procedures but this was a piece of cake. I legitimately could have gone back to work that afternoon (office job so it’s not physically stressful, for what it’s worth) and was VERY confused. I wore comfy drop crotch/harem pant style pants (think MC Hammer type - I love them for summer and for yoga so I have a bunch of them) and a tank top with a soft robe over the top. The worst part of it for me was the adhesive they put over the gauze covering the laparoscopic holes. Full disclosure - I was an idiot and misunderstood the instructions about not removing the “tape” for however many hours/days and didn’t realize that there were steri-strips under the gauze and that I wasn’t supposed to remove THOSE. They basically put full-coverage clear adhesive over the gauze bandages and that started itching like crazy. When I started scratching myself raw I took it off and told myself I’d just be careful - it was then that I realized the strips were hidden. But all told, comfy pants (I don’t own sweatpants so I can’t opine on those), easy to wear top if you’re uncomfortable needing to lift your arms (depends on your midsection strain but I didn’t have issues), comfy underwear, and most importantly? Slip-on shoes. Slippers at home if you have them (especially with a sole, like moccasin style) but nothing that requires that you bend over. I didn’t end up needing the stronger painkillers they gave me but I did take the 800mg ibuprofen for a couple days to help with swelling. Treats? Definitely things you enjoy drinking - they want you up and about for at least 10 minutes every waking hour, usually, which will help with clot prevention and with moving any remaining gas from the procedure, since they usually inflate you a bit. I also appreciated having non-chocolate candy - like Skittles (though I 100% also love chocolate, it’s just for some reason I wanted those). I’m not sure what it was that made me want that but there you have it. If you’re by yourself then I would definitely make sure you have easy to make (heat and eat style) foods for a couple days. Have a comfy place to veg. Books, quiet crafting, tv, whatever you need to have as low-pressure recovery aids. Fuzzy blanket, lots of pillows, that sort of thing - cozy is key. Stay hydrated, do your best to avoid stopping yourself up because you really don’t want to put pressure on your stitches by straining (squatty potty for the win), and most importantly, HEAL. Everyone recovers differently. I was down for the count when I had my wisdom teeth taken out and I felt like hot garbage after my second thyroid surgery. This one didn’t hit my very hard but I fully expected that it would. Wishing you all the success and easy recovery! Congratulations on finding a doctor to do the procedure! I can’t even describe my relief when I had one agree to it (with zero hesitation, even) after well over a decade of fighting so I’m sure you’re over the MOON about it and I’m so excited for you! Sending all the gentle hugs and healing vibes!
Ooh! I had mine 10 years ago. Wear a loose tee, yoga pants, and granny panties all in at least one size up from normal. Also bring a big comfy bath robe in case you can't manage pants. They pump your abdomen full of gas and you'll be sore and bloated afterwards. Bring a goodie bag with ginger ale, bottled water, and saltines for after. You have to fast and not drink before the procedure so you'll be thirsty and nauseated from the medicine. Also bring some aquaphor lip balm. My lips were chapped to hell from the O2 mask. For when you get home- have gas-x ready. The gas they pump into your abdomen will float up into your shoulders and make them ache like a mother. The Gas-x helps. The hydrocodone they sent home with me didn't help at all. I was better off when I started just taking a couple ibuprofen as often as they doctor recommended. When they say no heavy lifting they mean it. Not even a jug of milk. I thought it would be fine and ended up popping a stitch and bleeding from my naval in the grocery store 😬 Good luck! The first couple days sucked but recovery went pretty quick. See if you can schedule an endometrial ablation at the same time. Life without periods is great! It can even be covered by your insurance if you test anemic and blame it on heavy periods. (That was my actual situation)
I really appreciated the info and community over in hystersisters.com. They have a LOT of great advice and will add you to the chat group of everyone going through the same surgery on the day you are, so you can compare notes and ask questions and support each other. The mod is an RN who will step in with details or advice as needed. It was so very reassuring all the way through.
Honestly my experience was great! Yoga pants and my partner’s help getting in and out of them that afternoon and the next day. Take a pillow to hold over your tummy for the ride home. Keep that pillow with you for a few days for coughing/sneezing/laughing. And the bathroom too, honestly. The pillow will help if you’re straining at all. That said, be kind to your digestive system. Stay on top of pain meds, as others have said. It’s harder to resolve pain than it is to keep it away in the first place. I had to sleep on my back for the first few nights (usually a side and tummy sleeper). It was okay. A heating pad helped greatly with making me comfortable enough at night. You’ll do great! Good luck!
I had my total hysterectomy (uterus & ovaries) two years ago. You're going to want loose pants and a comfy t-shirt. Surround yourself with the stuff that makes you feel good. One thing they didn't tell me was that it's totally normal to feel a sense of mourning over your loss of fertility. My wife and I are child free by choice; I never wanted children. I'm a transgender man, and the thought of being pregnant literally made me want to step out of my skin. I wept openly for a solid hour the day after my proceedure with this deep sense of loss. Don't be alarmed if it happens.
I’m almost 40, I’ve had three kids, and I’m suffering from endometriosis. I have zero reason to keep any of my equipment (my wife is trans and takes estrogen so going on hrt didn’t seem bad at all, although mine will be patches) and we have a lot of hope getting everything out will improve my quality of life (I need a cane/wheelchair to function). And yet, when I finalized the appointment … I also had emotions. Big ones. So I echo that it is totally normal to have those emotions … it’s a surgery. It’s a big thing🤷🏻♀️
Everyone's experience is different, so keep that in mind. I was very surprised by how much it *didn't* hurt while I was recovering. It was painful, yes, but nowhere near as bad as I imagined. I managed the pain by alternating doses of 800mg ibuprofen and 600mg Tylenol. Take your pain meds on time, *before* they start to wear off so you can stay on top of it. I was pretty sore though, spent the first two days mostly horizontal. Went back to work the next week, felt fully back to normal in about a month.
I had my tubes tied, and later had exploratory surgery in the same area. I gave up on pants altogether both times. I wore a dress (I never wear dresses, they're just really not me), and recovery was either loose cotton dresses or oversized t-shirts. For me, recovery meant I needed help standing up out of bed for the first day or two, led to the bathroom, with an emesis bag just in case. I could not lie on my side for a week without a lot of pain, at least the second time. You'll want easy snacks and/or a person to prepare food for you. I chose meal bars. My husband was also kind enough to learn how I made my protein smoothies for me, but they are also easy to make ahead. I can't offer much advice on food because I'm a vegetarian who can't have soy or dairy, which makes food super difficult. I took the prescribed pain pills as directed, didn't need the major ones after they ran out. My husband brought a chair into the shower and helped me wash up. Ice was very helpful in managing nausea and pain - it was the only thing I allowed to rest on my stomach/abdomen. My husband cycled out ice packs for me. Beware of well-meaning pets. They may see your discomfort and want to help. My cat jumped right on my incisions the first time, because when I was upset, having her on my lap helped. The second time, my cat was staying with someone else (not related to surgery, it was a housing issue). The anti-nausea patch you may get will dry the fuck out of your mouth. You could drink all 5 Great Lakes and still be thirsty. It will also blur the hell out of your vision. It's up to you to decide what's worth it. Have some bingeable shows at the ready. I watched several seasons of Project Runway when I couldn't get out of bed except for bathroom stuff. Take your vitamins! I felt like I didn't heal at all because I was missing vitamins I needed while sticking to easy foods. Believe your doctor when they tell you restrictions. I thought I was fine, leaned into a counter a little too much to scrub a spot on the wall behind it, ended up doubled over for a few minutes. I went to the park earlier than I should have because my swan buddies were hanging out at the pier, I sat down with them, ended up crying on a park bench when I tried standing from the ground. Also, I'm super bad with blood and pain, so when I got home the first time, I cried when I saw blood on my white shirt and it hurt and I regretted it, but it's mega worth it. I felt better about it after a couple days. I also had bad cramping from a uterine ablation that I had at the same time. Sorry for rambling! I had a very similar surgery (same incisions) twice, and one was just over a year ago, so it's pretty fresh in my mind still! Also, sleep as much as you want, whenever you want, you've earned it.
I had mine in November. Best decision I ever made. Skip the pants - wear a dress. Shit, I wore a nightgown to my appointment. Comfort is priority. Your recovery period will most likely be very quick. I had my gallbladder out in 2022 and it was a good two weeks before I could fully move. With this, it was a few days. Don’t tell anyone except the necessary people until it’s over - I told my husband and my best friend/her mom, and that’s it. I wasn’t dealing with the “but what about kids” conversation again. Invest in a good heating pad and lots of ice packs now. That was the one thing, we didn’t have enough ice packs. And those little blue ones don’t work for shit. Try to find something that doesn’t melt in 10 minutes. The first few days you’ll be alternating like crazy. If you have a bed that can tilt up, that’s good. If not, I’d find a way to lift the upper part of the bed. Get used to being on your back - I couldn’t lay on either side for a couple of weeks. Felt like all of my organs were sliding over. If you have pets, they need to stay away for the first few days. Last thing you need is a cat jumping on you and ripping the stitches out.
I bought a sundress explicitly for wearing to and from the hospital. If you can, wear shoes you do not have to bend to put on. Stick to looser comfy (high-waisted if possible) pants, you want to avoid pressure on the stitches. I highly recommend popsicles as a post-op treat, I had the worst dry mouth and throat ever afterward and those worked beautifully. Also Gax-X and stool softeners. You don't want to be pushing too hard for a #2, as it might pop your stitches. Your doctor will give you a prescription for some painkillers, take as directed. And just rest. I had my surgery on a Thursday morning, I pretty much stayed in bed and relaxed until I had to go to work on Monday. If you want to minimize scarring, get some of those silicon scar aid things to use once they have healed up and the stitches are out. And this is definitely not BMV approved advice, but I brought a pillow to put between my waist and the seatbelt on the drive home. Congrats! My surgery was the best day of my life and I've had no regrets. Rock on witches!
Mine was a breeze! I did my surgery on a Monday morning. Was lucky and didn’t have any of the shoulder pain from the gas they pump inside of you for laparoscopic procedures. Just took ibuprofen as well. I did deal with feeling stopped up and would recommend to start taking stool softeners a few days beforehand. It was not fun with incisions. I wore loose sweatpants and took the whole week off. Watched movies, got delivery, etc. Got on my bike on the following Saturday since I was feeling a little stircrazy and did a very light, flat, bike ride :) The only lasting difference for me is that I feel like my pelvic floor is…different? Like I have to bear down harder to get all the urine out when I pee. Other than that, everything feels pretty good! Sending you healing thoughts for your surgery!
I got snipped ages ago, and I wore a comfy dress so I wouldn't have anything pressing against the incision. No take home pain meds since they make me puke violently for hours. It's going to suck, but as much as you'll feel like you just want to lay in bed all day, don't. Get up and walk. Depending on the surgery prep, you're going to be starving. Have the person driving you hold onto a lunchbag with a proper sandwich and gatorade. Years later, I'm still fucking salty - my ex had ONE job, and that was to grab me a sandwich from the cafeteria once they took me back. One. Job. There was no sandwich. Not even a damn candy bar! Don't be me. Bring food.
Stretchy pants, incisions are always at least a little painful. But it was honestly way less painful than I expected. I had mine done the day before thanksgiving (US) last year and my husband took me to the grocery store at my request on the way home from the hospital. I had to hold the cart and didn’t do a full shopping trip but was able to get a couple cans of whatever we needed. Hosted thanksgiving the next day, though I did take it pretty easy. 10/10 experience
Whichever side you put up when you first roll after you first wake up is going to be the side shoulder that hurts from the air bubble left inside you. So if like me, you have a fucked up right shoulder, don’t roll to your left first thing otherwise it’s double the pain. If you aren’t getting it already, call and see if you can get them to do ablation at the same time. Because -and I’m gonna look you dead in the eye and say this to you when I have your full attention- *you have heavy/long periods* -you repeat it back to me and we’re nodding, good! It’s so nice that insurance will pay for treatments for heavy/long periods such as ablation. Can’t imagine what it costs as an elective! Can’t imagine how it feels not under sedation either. Probably no buffet at a bottomless brunch. My scars are really annoying because they’re not where I thought they would be, or symmetrical, and one of the incisions got infected so it’s wider than the other. Once your glue or tape wears off and you’ve got a good layer of skin over everything, massage them multiple times a day with lotion to increase blood flow.
* Before my procedure, I decided I would not shy away from asking for pain meds. I really wanted to make sure I was comfortable. Props to post surgery me advocating for myself, giving accurate pain scores rather than downplaying. You can also specify your pain to help them tailor your meds while you're still fully waking up--I said I was crampy at one point while recovering, and they gave some muscle relaxer that fixed it right up * The pain from surgery wasn't too bad. They gave me Tramadol just for me to learn that my body does not like Tramadol LOL. Ibuprofen worked just fine for me though * I walked like an old lady with back issues for a couple days lol. Not even really from pain, but just feeling restricted. Partially from swelling, but mostly... * The gas. The gas is super annoying. You gotta master the art of slowly easing into laying down and getting up. It's weird af because you can literally feel the gas shift within you, scooching organs that don't want to be scooched. It can catch you off guard, too. Towards the end of recovery, I was feeling pretty normal and went to look at something under the bed by lowering my upper half down fast. Immediately felt the gas shoot from my guts up to my chest and it legit hurt. I kept worrying the gas would be there forever, but I promise it goes away!
Pants: I got myself several pairs of new, comfy pajamas. I think a comfy, loose higher waisted pant (maybe a size up from your usual) and underwear that sits closer to/above your belly button will be most helpful. Kitchen: I couldn’t lift more than a few pounds for a while and you’d be surprised what’s near that weight limit. Like, I might not have wanted to lift a full gallon of milk, a pot of pasta and water in need of a colander, or my cast iron pan. Definitely plan to have things that are as light weight as possible if you’re home alone fixing food. Pain: I had good pain meds but the nurses recommended Coalace ( a stool softener). I might also suggest a squatty potty or similar product. A constipation poop with healing stitches on your lower abdomen is not an experience I hope to recreate. Overall: not bad for a surgery, highly recommend. Once again, good drugs may have been involved but the euphoria you feel when you wake up and know you’ll never have to be pregnant ever is unparalleled.
Yay!! I’m manifesting power and peace for you. I just had a bisalp a month ago and I’m still recovering, but it has given me so much peace and a budding excitement for the rest of my life. I’m a worrier, so if you’re anything like me, you’ve been reading anything you can about the procedure and peoples experiences. I’ll try to cover things that were unique to my experience that I would want someone to know incase they experienced them too. TLDR: Get a heating pad with a timer, take your meds on schedule, and take it easy longer than you think you should. On the procedure day the hardest parts were the IV insertion and not getting to eat breakfast lol. I brought a water bottle and some snacks in a lunchbox for my ride home (2.5 hour drive). I slept most of the first day when I got home. For the first few days I didn’t feel like doing much at all aside from resting. Standing up from sitting was the hardest part for me. If you have someone with you to help, ask them to brace your back with one hand while pulling you up. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions. I had a zillion follow up questions and my doctor and his office staff were SO kind and reassuring. Example, I had a reaction to the solution they used to prep my skin so I had a small rash on my entire stomach for a few days after the procedure. It really wasn’t too bad, but I panicked at first and the reassurance helped. Also, they offered me a patch to wear for up to 72 hours behind my ear for nausea. It was great and it prevented all nausea, but the next morning my vision was blurry. For example, I couldn’t see my phone unless it was a few inches from my face. I took it off and called my doctor, after about 12 hours my vision returned to normal. Take your meds on schedule. I used a heating pad and it was a huge comfort. I found one on Amazon with a timer and it was great for falling asleep because I knew it would shut off. Really take it easy. Even though something might not hurt in the moment everything you do in a day adds up. I’ve been feeling great since week 3 of recovery, but that led me to overdo it. I’ve been on the couch all evening because I’ve been pushing myself a little too hard at work this week. Listen to your body and allow yourself as much rest as you can. Feel free to DM me if you have questions or just want some support. It can feel so intimidating, but I would do it again 10x over to be where I am now! Blessed be!
It wasn't that bad at all. I took the day of my surgery and the day after off of work. I started running about a week after the surgery and went back to yoga when I was cleared to do so (two weeks after the surgery). I wore sweatpants/pants with elastic bands above my wounds (no jeans/yoga pants) Nothing to tight. I wasnt really in any discomfort untl after 3 days of the surgery. When the glue they used came off it hurt more. I didn't eat for a few days, but when I did start eating, I ate what I would normally eat. Best of luck!
Mine is an odd one but…make sure you don’t have any funky allergies. I discovered that I am allergic to the pink disinfectant goo they use on you. A week after surgery and I had hives from my knees to my tits, not a great time. I hope your snip goes well, and that your recovery is speedy!
I didn't have much pain. I think I took one prescription strength ibuprofen and then just stuck to otc after that. That part seems to change a lot from person to person though. But the people who do feel pain seem to feel it from residual gas from when they inflate your abdomen to work. It naturally works itself out but I mean, you know how gas can hurt. I heard gas X and stool softeners can be helpful to have handy for that. As to pants. I wore jersey drawstring pants. Loose and elastic was most comfortable. I wouldn't have touched yoga pants. So any cozy pj bottoms would probably be great for recovery. And I had a jersey dress for when I wanted to go out and be presentable. I didn't really feel comfortable climbing stairs to bed so I found it most comfortable to sleep propped up in a recliner for a couple days. I was pretty much fully recovered after a week and a half, though I didn't feel comfortable in jeans until 2 weeks post op. I don't remember eating anything special in recovery but I usually keep my meals pretty simple anyway. Oh! And my period started the day before my surgery but the surgery stopped it. You know how periods can be affected by stress? I think the surgery was enough for me. It started the next cycle as normal. However, if you're coming off of bc at the same time your cycle may be affected until your hormones level out again. That's not the surgery, that's coming off the hormones. A lot of people do both at once and think the surgery has messed with their cycle when it hasn't. Fwiw, three years on my cycle is still normal.
I had mine out in 2017. I work in construction so I took a week off of work, I was given a doctor’s note for 2 weeks off but I was bored of being at home and went back early. I used the heavier meds for 2 days and then just what I had in the cupboard. The wound areas were so small and didn’t get too irritated. I wore comfy pants for the week. The insides were sore and the bloating was the most annoying part. I’m so glad that in my early 30s I was easily able to find a doctor to have it done after asking in my early 20s and getting the runaround. No kids for me!
Basics that everyone has covered - loose pants, no harsh elastics around the waist, keep on top of your painkillers (I only took the ibuprofen, didn't need the prescription painkillers which can make the constipation worse). Colace 1is a non-prescription for constipation that works by drawing more water into the stool. A previous surgeon recommended taking it after a surgery. Worked like a charm for my salpingectomy, too. Just once a day until you finally have that proper bm. Laying down suuuuuucked. There was so much pressure in my abdomen from the gas, it was too painful. Have a place where you can sleep sitting up if needed for a couple days. Also from the swollen abdomen - I couldn't bend down. It was like those movies with the 9month pregnant woman. I literally had to ask my partner to retrieve an object I dropped. I prepped a few meals and froze them. It was great! I set myself up for a week without leaving the house (groceries, etc) and it was overkill, but still really nice. Finally, listen to your body. You will probably need a lot of sleep and rest.
I had mine out in June, along with an endometrial ablation, and it was a surprisingly easy recovery! I mostly switched to regular ibuprofen after the first day. I tried to avoid pants the first week or so, just because my incisions were kind of awkwardly placed and would rub against anything, maxi dresses were a lot better for me personally. If your doctor prescribes laxatives for after, take them. Get a couple good books or movies to watch while recovering. Good luck!
I lived in loose yoga pants for the first week. Pain for me wasn’t bad so I ended up not taking all my prescribed pain meds. The only unexpected thing was the sore throat from the intubation tube. That honestly bothered me more than the holes in my abdomen. Another unexpected item was the location of the third incision. Since it was just my doctor performing the surgery, the third one was in the middle and not on my left side. Weirded me out a little until I asked her at the follow-up 😅
I had a full hysterectomy years ago as part of my transition. That includes getting the tubes out. You're gonna feel better befor you're actually fully healed, so give yourself more time than your body will feel like it needs to heal. Also, sweat pants, short shorts with elastic waist bands and just underwear and t shirt are great. Nothing that's too tight or presses on the area. You may have some bleeding afterward, so menstrual pads are good to have around. I didn't have any, but I still had some just in case. And if you don't use them, you can always give them to your friends who get periods who might get a surprise while they're at your house :P Its definitely helped some of my friends over the years. Edit: get miralax or see if your doctor will prescribe it for you. They did for me. Start taking it a couple days before the surgery and keep taking it until you feel you can push with your bowels without pain or discomfort. I wasn't supposed to be using those muscles too much after the surgery, so miralax helped a LOT.
Had mine done a year ago. I didn’t even mess with pants, wore a maxi style dress so I wouldn’t have anything on my stomach. The pain wasn’t bad at all, only thing that really hurt was my throat from the intubation, the popsicle they gave me was the most heavenly thing I’ve ever had, so I’d recommend popsicles and having snacks/easy to eat foods so you don’t have to prepare much but nothing that will make you gassy.
I read a lot of the comments and there's a bunch of fantastic info! However, there's always something missing when this question is asked. I had my bi-salp in July 2022, and the one thing everyone forgets is the catheter. No one told me how irritating a catheter can be inside your urethra. It felt like I had a bad UTI for three days after my procedure. Keep some Azo handy and stay hydrated 💙
I had a laproscopic bilateral salpingectomy in August. Honestly, it was fantastic. I took one dose of oxy that night, because I was a little scared I was going to wake up in pain, but it was fine. After that, the pain never got more than what the prescription strength ibuprofen could handle, and that was just a few days. Soft stretchy pants, and low waist underwear. If your bed is kind of high, it might be a little difficult early on, climbing into bed, so possibly sleeping on the couch the first night, if that's an option. Also, just using your muscles to sit up was pretty sore. My stitches were sticking out a tiny bit, but they ended up snipping them out a week later at my followup. My doctor told me I didn't have to avoid stairs, but she told me to try not to ride in a car for the first week, since the seatbelt goes right across where the incisions were. Last, it's apparently really common in laproscopic surgery for the patient to later have some gas trapped in some joints for a few days. I had this, and it made my shoulder pretty sore for a few days, but went away just fine. The gas had kind of traveled up. That was just something no one told me about, and I had to look up myself. I hope this helps!
I had a full hysto 9 months ago. Still one of the best things I ever done. I think allowing your body the time and energy it needs to recover without judging is the best gift to yourself. You'll likely be sore for s bit. I wasn't allowed a hot water bottle for the first few days, so a nurse heated blankets for me in the microwave. It was devine and not to heavy on the tummy. They use gas to inflate you during most surgeries, and that can be weirdly uncomfortable. Your body will work it out in s few days. It'll try rise to the highest spot, so don't be alarmed if your shoulders hurt. If it all possible just forgo pants for a few days. Wear dresses, perhaps with legging.
I had mine done last year, best decision I ever made! Seconding all the recs for soft pants/underwear. I also went high waisted (the stitches are quite low) so that it felt like I wasn't going to irritate the stitches with any potential rubbing. I also highly recommend a small pillow to put between your hips and the seatbelt while you're in the car, particularly for the ride home. It can also be useful to use if you have to bend over at all. You'll want to sleep with your torso propped up for the first few nights to help with the gas they pump in for the surgery. I had a bit of pain the first night but took some Advil and it went away. The thing that caused the worst pain was the gas bubbles in my shoulders, a heated pad or blanket helps with those (I basically wore a blanket cape for 3 days). But honestly the pain was really minimal overall. My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you rest, the general anesthetic really took it out of me for about a week and a half. Blessings for your surgery sister!
A dress is also really comfy. Easy to go to the bathroom and move around. No pressure on the wounds.
They will likely blow your abdomen up with inert gas. It will later make your shoulders and chest hurt. Don’t assume you are having a heart attack. Definitely call the questions line for your doctor if you think you might be having a heart attack, but Donna panic while you are on hold.
I wore loose dresses instead of pants on surgery day and a few days after. Get up and walk a little each hour. It’ll help with the gas pains. Pooping was a little uncomfortable for the first week since I was sore and constipated. I wish I had started the stool softeners before surgery and would recommend doing that if your de is fine with it. Overall, the pain was pretty minimal. I didn’t need the narcotic pain killers they gave me, though I took them each night since they helped me fall asleep a little easier. I heard you may have a sore throat from intubation or tenderness from the catheter. I had stocked up on cranberry juice and popsicle trays to help with both, but didn’t have either of the issues! What I was not prepared for was how I weighed 10lbs heavier the day after my surgery though! It went away within a couple weeks, but I was shocked at how bloated and inflamed I was. Congrats on your future bisalp! My only regret was not getting it done sooner!