21 replies to this topic

[Nessa1977]

How have you ladies coped with "that time of the month", especially if it happens to coincide with your surgery.

[Lins]

Hi Nessa1977!

Funnily enough that time of the month came the day before my surgery. But dont worry, when you go in before your surgery, tell the nurse. She will give you some sanitation along with their standard underwear. I have heard of people being able to wear their own underwear but I wasnt allowed when I had my surgery. If you want, you can ask your surgeon before your surgery date to wear your own underwear and he should be ok. But make sure that you tell your nurses this.

hope this helps!

[-kirsty-]

It seems to be quite common to have your period on or just after the surgery! I got mine the day before, I was told tampons were OK, but I chose to use pads anyway, even tho I hate them, and I was glad I did as I didn't have the energy or co-ordination to deal with tampons lol.

[Nadia Rachel]

Hhahah I love this one! I got my period a couple of days before my surgery and was pretty bummed about it, but they had heaps of pads and stuff in the hospital in the room where I was changing. I couldn't wear my own undies which was a bummer because the disposable ones were uncomfortable but it didn't really matter. Make sure you bring your own pads/tampons that you prefer because I left mine in the car and I had to use GIANT ones from the hospital whereas I prefer the ultra-thin style. It was like trying to smuggle a huge pillow between my legs! I didn't have any period related cramps during my recovery time or in the hospital so it wasn't a major deal in regards to pain or discomfort. I was lucky enough to have wonderful nurses that helped me get changed into my own undies and stuff after my surgery because I was sore and a bit embarrassed.

[girlbaby41]

Lins, on 31 January 2012 - 04:08 PM, said:

Funnily enough that time of the month came the day before my surgery.

Same here! unbelievable ! Nurse was great about it all and said it happens all the time - I ended up with a catheter as I couldn't wee for 24 hours so that was very embarrasing! We stress more about it than they do - and I kept telling myself - I am not going to see these people again so it doesn't matter (I tried to believe it)

[Lins]

wow Girlbaby41!!

how come you werent able to pee if you dont mind me asking?

[.Kylie.]

Mine were due the day of surgery, luckily enough they didnt arrive until a week later. Apparently the anasthetic (sorry cant spell it) can delay your cycle as well. Im sure it happens to many women so dont be worried, i also had to wear the disposable undies, they were so uncomfy.

Girl baby im also interested as to why you had a catheter?

xx

[Nessa1977]

When I had my gallbladder removed, I was expecting mine, so I wore a pad during the surgery and my own undies.

[girlbaby41]

Apparently anaethetic n(sp??) affects all your organs and sort of shuts them down - well my bladder didn't wake up when I woke up! That is why they always want you to wee and sometimes even poo after you have had surgery to make sure your organs are working properly, so I had not gone that night after surgery or the next morning and they wouldn't let me go home until I wee'd - and as I had not been by the time the surgeon came around he said stay in another day and in the catheter went to drain my bladder - 890mls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it is normally supposed to hold 350mls! I felt full but not busting or in pain thank god. Took another 12 hours before I could wee on my own and then they kept measuring it and doing ultrasound on my bladder to make sure it was empty. I am somewhat of a camel - can store alot of fluid and hold on for a long time. - I just wanted to get home to my girl as I have never been away from her for more than 1 night at a time. She was very sooky when I got home and I was pretty sore so popped the tv on and I had a lie down. Bladder fine ever since.

It is quite a common thing that can happen after surgery and luckily my stepdad had the same problem with one of his surgeries so I was not scared or phased by it - just damn annoying - those hospital beds are sooooo soooo uncomfortable

[.Kylie.]

That's really interesting. Glad I'm becoming a nurse haha didn't know that it could shut organs down like that! I guess these will be all the wonderful things I will learn in my next 2 years at uni. Glad everything Is back to normal for you. My hospital bed was super comfy, I slept for 8 hours straight other then waking for pain killers but as soon as I swallowed the tablet I was back to sleep. My hospital visit to ED the following day wasn't pleasant though, all I wanted to do was sleep but I couldn't

[Lins]

.Kylie., on 31 January 2012 - 09:49 PM, said:

That's really interesting. Glad I'm becoming a nurse haha didn't know that it could shut organs down like that! I guess these will be all the wonderful things I will learn in my next 2 years at uni. Glad everything Is back to normal for you. My hospital bed was super comfy, I slept for 8 hours straight other then waking for pain killers but as soon as I swallowed the tablet I was back to sleep. My hospital visit to ED the following day wasn't pleasant though, all I wanted to do was sleep but I couldn't

Oh dear! why did you have to go to the ED??

[rockabette]

Totally off track here ladies but girlbaby41 experience made me wonder how long the actual surgery is..... so does anyone here know how long you are under for and how long the actual surgery takes?

I am curious as I have had 2 x semi major surgeries in the past and have had issues with really low blood pressure afterwards. Had tubal ligation (sp?? for ectopic pregnancy) 3.5yrs ago and hemi-thyroidectomy last October. The hemi-thyroidectomy was a 30 min procedure and I believe I was out of it for 3 hours and was monitored closely throughout the night yet was fine the next morning and sent home at 8am!!!

[Lizzy51]

Hey Rockabette, I think it takes about an hour. I actually had low blood pressure after mine which was strange because I have had other surgeries and never had issues with low blood pressure before. I was really sleepy and had to have the oxygen mask on all night because of it. But same as you by the next morning I was fine and able to go home.

[girlbaby41]

I think surgery is 45 mins to an hour

[rockabette]

Thanks Ladies..... I have my second appt with surgeon next Friday after almost a year as I had to get my thyroid issues in check first. Hopefully set a date then!!

[LBA]

I too can now join you're lovely group of people unlucky enough to get your period the day before surgury ( 2nd feb for me), really weird how this has happened to lots of people, the female body sure is a strange thing, it's as though the body does it for a reason, don't know why??

[callthenurse24]

I'm totally going to chime in here- Dr Brancatisano insisted that we wear undies, i wore very nice new frilly ones (bahahaha).

The day after the banding, still in hospital mine came about a week 1/2 early!! It happened to me last time a had surgery too. Boo!!!

[Jomal]

Mine came 1 & half weeks early too - 2 days after the surgery.

Weird.

[jacquij]

I had th op in the morning about 8am and got them about 3pm that same afternoon, i knew they were due any day so i just took some pads with me, was no dramas though, and the nurses were so helpful.

Jacqui x

[Maryannstime]

I got mine the day before surgery - two weeks early mind you??? They let me wear my own underwear and pads for surgery.