Sister preparing for surgery-trying to help

[Scarlet65]

Hello all,

First of all-thank you with all my heart in advance for anyone that takes the time to read this!

My sister will go into surgery Wednesday march 5th. They plan to remove an ovary and a partial tube (Sorry-doing my best to relay this right!).

Here is what the surgeon has written:

Wide adnexal right mass with cystic and solid components
Suspcicious for cystadenocarcinoma.

The wall of the mass measures three to four millimeters..contains fluid and a 1.8 demonstrates
blood flow within the solid elements


*****
A couple of questions:

After such surgery (which they say will be "open)-is there anything helpful you can tell us in preparation? Food..fluids...what will she need? How does the bladder and bowels work after the surgery-during recovery?*(sorry..I know..but I want to find out to help her).

Also-if you recognize the notes from the surgeon-or understand them at all-can you give me your input?

Thank you so very much for even  reading this. I know there is ALWAYS hope-and I want to do what I can to comfort my sister and have some knowledge too!

She is 44 years old.

Peace and Thanks,
Scarlet

[Scarlet65]

Hello, my friend. Thanks so much for adding this. My sister is set for surgery early tomorrow morning-which will be 7:30 am Anchorage Alaska time. You are such a very kind soul and I just want you to know how much I appreciate your helpfulness!

I know my sister will be packing a few items for comfort as well. A funny note-my mother wanted to get my sister a pillow-which was PINK and had the words "Princess" on it! LOL! My sister said NO way-this is not Scarlet's surgery-it's MINE! Hhahaha-it's me-I am the girlie girl. Too funny. So mom went and found sister Tina a wonderful simple pillow that she is very happy with.

Many bright Blessings!
Scarlet

[PinkTissue]

I hoped it is not too late to catch you.
I do not know what is the religion of your sister. It may help your sister to pack a bible/cross/koran/buddhist scripts. Or if your sister is a free-thinker, perhaps a picture of your family or lucky charm that has a personal significance to your sister
My mum is a Buddhist and she keeps the picture of the Goddess of Mercy beside her hospital bed. She said that she felt it comforting to her when my sister or myself is not around.
Best of luck to your sister for her surgery  - I hoped it is smooth surgery and that you sister belonged to th 99% non-cancer group.

[Scarlet65]

Thank you so very kindly for your post!

Speaking about food-GREAT information! I forgot about the appetite thing. I am going to send your information on to my Mom as well-so she can be on the lookout for my Sister in relation to how she is eating. They have purchased some items they know my sister likes to eat-but I understand that sometimes after surgery-food..can taste..just..well ICKY! :)

I am also going to make sure she is reminded about the comfy clothing-that surely will help make her feel more comfy too.

I wish I was able to better express what this board has done in terms of supporting me and my sister-and really -anyone we talk to. Information is like GOLD at a time like this!!

Many Blessings back to you and your's!
Peace,
Scarlet

[MeMaw2005]

In January of this year I went through this typw of surgery.  Thankfully mine was not cancer.  As far as  what to be prepared for.   you can not really be prepared ....I had thought I knew it all...I  had a hysterectomy(partial) 9 years ago and it was done as you say open.  I did fine then.  This time I had a few complecations..My lower lobes of both lungs collapsed and my blood chemistry went haywire!  They had to give me calcium,Potassiom and other electrolytes.  I still wanted no food.  Even when I got home It took me an hour to get just a  small applesauce down.  Patience is your best friend.  Give your sister  anything she wants to eat,but if she says she does not want it do not push her to keep trying to eat something...She  may take a few days to get back into the groove of eating.  It has been 6 weeks for me and I still do not want very much of anything.  
You will probulary not want anything with a waistline to be put on her this causes pain. so for me  the panties were off!  I figured  if they had not seen it  they   should not be in there during that time.LOL
Seriously though  I am still wearing my binder and  can now wear undies without not problem but  for about  2 weeks they were off!
Take care of yourself and your sister!  I wish you Luck and most of all BLESSINGS!

[PinkTissue]

Scarler65 -

I would be praying for your sister's recovery. You would be her cheerleader! With you at your side, I am sure you sister would be just fine.

Err.....just one more thing. I told my mum about your sister. She conveyed her best wishes and told me to tell you to tell your sister that this is not the time to be a heroine. If there is discomfort or pain, do not be shy and voice out her concerns.

tubacgal -

I hoped you have a full recovery. My mum had her surgery last week and she is 63. Wow....you could walk around the first day? My mum could sit up the 2nd day and walk on the 3rd day - I thought that is fast. I am going to tell my mum someone beats her record. My mum is now quite vexed that she could not walk long distances - your real life experience would spur her on.

[tubacgal]

Thank you Scarlet!  I think most people who have gone through what I just did would be happy to do anything to make it easier on the next "sister".  Have faith, the world is filled with wonderful people and they will all be there for your family.

I love Alaska!  How wonderful that your sister has your mom there and you in CA gathering information for them.  

I will pray for your sister's upcoming surgery.

[Scarlet65]

Hello!

I surely hope you are starting to feel better and better each day.Your information is invaluable for me! To know you were just there and have experienced it-is not only helpful but is VERY unselfish of you. I just wanted you to know that not everyone would be like you. Thank you. :)

My mother lives with my sister in Alaska and I am the girl down in California trying to gather information and ideas for the girls *mom and sister. I just know they are both going to do much better now-because of this support and information.

Best wishes back to you and I look forward to hearing about your recovery.

Peace
Scarlet

[tubacgal]

I just had surgery 2 weeks ago in which both ovaries, uterus and cervix, omentum and all nodes were removed.  I am 62, a retired nurse and have never had any major surgery.  Because of my nursing background I thought I was fairly well prepared for what I would feel like post op.  I was unprepared to wake up with an nasogastric tube down my nose and into my stomach to keep my stomach empty the first few hours post op.  That was THE WORST thing to me.  My mouth was very dry and I was allowed only to moisted my lips and tongue with those sponge like things moistened with water.  For pain control I had a PCA pump which let ME decide when I needed pain medication.  I also had a new thing called a pain buster which delivered marcaine directly into my peritoneal space.  I had excellent pain relief and for that reason I was up and walking the lst day post op.  I was allowed clear liquids and once I passed gas (took 3 days) they started me on solids.  I would say for your sister to go slowly on the solids until she feels really like eating.  They will have her on stool softeners so that she doesn't get constipated.  I didn't wear any abdominal binder; just tried to stand up very straight when walking and sitting.  It is very important that your sister do her deep breathing and coughing exercises as due to her abdominal incision she will be loathe to take deep breaths and that increases the chance of pneumonia.  Once I got home in my familiar surroundings (discharged day 5) I did better.  I am just now feeling as if my GI system is working properly!  I am not taking anything for pain other than Tylenol.  I totally agree that if you can stay at the hospital with her that would be the best thing.  My son and DIL stayed with me and they were a Godsend.  You are doing all the right things by asking these questions before she goes to the hospital!  Best wishes to your sister for a rapid recovery.

[Scarlet65]

Hi Katie,

I really do thank you for your information. I do think that knowledge helps reduce at least some of the anxiety. I talked to my sister today and she said she just really wants to get going with this surgery so she KNOWS in which way to deal.

I really appreciate your support and information!!

Hugs,
Scarlet

[Scarlet65]

Hi Chris!

Thank you for your kindness and support! I will definitely stick around and try to learn more. And as soon as I know the results of my sister's surgery-I will post too!!

hugs and thanks!
Scarlet

[katie40]

It sounds like the dr. thinks she has cancer with cystandocarcinoma.  I hope she does not.  There is nothing you can do to prepare her for this ..only be there for her, especially being there to talk to her.  If possible, stay the night so you can be there for her as needed.  It will be a great comfort to her to have you there.  I hope all goes well for your sis.  

[crecco]

I too wish that Pink Tissue was my sister! What a caregiver she is. I wish I had her advice with me when I went in for my surgery.
Please knoe that we are all here for you to help in any way that we can, even if it is just a shoulder to lean on.
  Yuour sister will be in our thoughts and prayers. And we will anxiously be waiting to hear how her surgery went. Wishing her all the best.
       Love Chris

[Scarlet65]

Thanks SO much, Marie,

I have a few tears this morning-because of your kindness. It REALLY does mean so much to me!

I feel like I have found a safe place to share and to get information. I hope I can lend some support here one day too!!

Thanks so much!!
Hugs,
Scarlet

[marie3B]

I wish PinkTissue was my sister! She is obviously a great care-giver! All surgeries seem to be different. I was allowed to drink after mine. The most difficult for me was #2 on PinkTissue's list! Getting the bowel to function was not easy. In fact it kept me in the hospital an extra day. I was in the hospital 7 days, but I had HUGE tumors and metastasis to the colon & rectum. Her stay may be much shorter. If you get any reports you need help understanding there are many here willing to help. We will all do what we can. I hate that your sister must go through this and I pray for the best possible outcome. Love, Marie

[Scarlet65]

Hi!

Thanks again-I am forming a really great list to send off for my sister and Mom! So very helpful!!! You are very kind!!!

Hugs,
Scarlet

[PinkTissue]

Er.....2 more things maybe to prep for the surgery

1. The hospital would be giving your sister to clear her bowels. She would keep running to the toilet. 12 hrs prior to the surgery, she would not be allowed to eat/drink anything.

2. Get some sweets handy - those hard sweets that you can bite or suck till it melts slowly (e.g. hax) and not the chewy type that you need to suggest. Get those flavored ones - like orange or lemon. It helps for the first few days when your sister is not allowed to eat anything. Just remember to cut them small pieces so that your sister would not choke on it. The sweets would stimulate saliva and the taste would sort of work up the appetite of your sister.As the sweets 'melts' by your saliva, you are not breaking the no food/no water rule after the surgery.

[PinkTissue]

Hmm...just a few more things

If your sister is the shy type, get her to shave 'down there' before she goes to the hospital. I think it could be quite distressing for a stranger to shave you 'down there' if you are really shy.

And also plan for what your sister would want to wear on the day she leaves the hospital. My mum did not want to wear any pants which would press on her wound. She got one of those stunning night gown with batik prints when she left the hospital. She also bought her make -up along and a very nice looking coat. LOL - told my mum that she only needs to put on the sunglasses to look like a film star leaving the hospital after giving birth.

Bring a few straws along in case your hospital is those stingy places.  Even when your sister is able to drink water, it would be difficult for her to drink off from the glass if she is lying in the bed - easier to suck using the straw. We bought one of those small mineral water bottle, half filled it with water so it is light enough for her to reach out for it by the side of her table and she need not call the nurse or anyone to help. It also gives some control back to her on her life and not dependent on anyone - she may not want to trouble anyone to get her a drink - allowing to have access to water would ensure that she has enough to drink without calling for anyone.

Actually, my mum finds that planning what to bring therapatic as it puts her mind off the surgery. It also makes you feel 'more prepared' and in control of your life. Agonizing what to bring

[Scarlet65]

Hello! How kind you are to take such time to write great information for us! I really do appreciate it-and I am saving all that you wrote. It means so much when we don't really know what will happen and are frightened and concerned for our loved-ones. Thanks so very much again!! :)

Scarlet

[PinkTissue]

Hi! My mum just went through a major surgery.

This is what I learnt:

1. Pack a few panties. After your sister feels better, she would want to wear normal panties - disposable panties are uncomfortable. And you would need a few because accidents would happen - my mum said she could not quite control the urine/pass motion. Bring those that do not absorb liquid - so you can wash and dry in the toilet (if the ward has a toilet). Also bring a few disposable ones if your sister is ok with them (save the washing) because the nurses sometimes do not come in time with the needed underwear.

2. Your sister would feel bloated. No quick way to get rid of the gas - my mum prayed to pass gas immediately after the surgery. Walking helps - that is why the nurses forced you off the bed after 2-3 days. My mum also swears by ginger tea to help to get rid of the test.

3. If your sister takes sleeping pill, ask her to bring her own sleeping pill. My mum took sleeping pill regularly so that when she went to hospital, she asked the hospital to give her sleeping pills to sleep for the first few days. The brand of sleeping pill in the hospital is different from what my mum takes so all of a sudden, she has mood swings. Despite this, I would still think that the sleeping pills is quite essential as you need to rest/sleep after the operation and this is almost impossible in the hospital.

4. If it is open surgery (not laproscopy), your sister would be wearing a girdle with a cotton pad thing (looks like tampon)  to keep the wound 'secure'. If you can, start hunting for a comfortable girdle - the one issued by the hospital is a bit too big and too hard for my mum - fortunately, her firend has one comfortable girdle to loan to my mum. After changing the girdle, my mum gave a sigh of relief - just 1 inch makes a BIG difference. The cotton pad pressing the wound to absorb the leaking blood is really big and pressing upon the wound. When my mum is better, we bought sanitary pads - Whisper, ultra thin, regular, NO WINGS (important) to replace the cotton pad so there is no this huge cotton pad pressing against her wound.

5. If you are the caregiver, DO NOT BE ALARM if your sister starts talking to thin air. It is the normal reaction of morphine.

6. You are not allow to drink water 1-2 days after the surgery. But your mouth would get dry and stinky which makes the patient feel uncomfortable. You can dab water on the lips but would not help much. We asked for ice cubes for my mum to suck. Make sure the ice cubes are small and your sister would not choke on it. I think on average, I must have asked for 6 glasses of ice cubes the first few days.

7. If it is possible, call up the hospital and ask where your sister would be placed at. If it is the maternity ward, just be wary of noise and may hit your sister emotionally if she keeps seeing happy mothers with their babies. If you are sharing the ward, ask if it is possible to ask the nurses to put patients have women problem with your sister - new mothers attract the most number of visitors and would disrupt your sister's rest.

8. If your sister says it is painful when putting the drips to the veins, do ask the nurses to identify the best 'poker' for your sister. It can be really painful to have a heavy handed nurse to do the 'poking'. If the location of the hand where the drip needles are poked in turned red, call the nurse to change into another side - the site is probably infected and painful. If done correctly, the drip needles should not hurt the patient.