Carenotes > Abdominal Hysterectomy (Aftercare Instructions)

Abdominal Hysterectomy

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• An abdominal hysterectomy (AH) is surgery to take out your uterus (womb). The uterus is the reproductive organ in a woman's body where a baby grows during pregnancy. Your reproductive organs work together to help you conceive, grow, and give birth to a baby. Your cervix is the narrow part of your uterus that is next to your vagina. During an AH, your uterus is removed through an incision (cut) in your lower abdomen (stomach). Other organs may be removed depending on the type of surgery you are having. After an abdominal hysterectomy, you will not be able to have a baby.
  
  
• You may need an AH if you have a tumor (growth) in your uterus or other reproductive organs. These tumors may or may not have cancer in them. You may need an AH if you have an infection in your uterus caused by germs called bacteria. An AH may be used to treat very bad pain caused by a disease called endometriosis. You may also have an AH if you have problems with your menses (a woman's monthly period). You may need an urgent AH if you cannot stop bleeding after you give birth. After an AH, you may have less pain and bleeding. If you have cancer, an AH may help prevent it from spreading to other parts of your body.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not use any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.

• Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and control vomiting (throwing up). Pain medicine may upset your stomach and make you feel like vomiting. Because of this, pain medicine and anti-nausea medicine are often given at the same time.
  
  
• Blood thinners: Blood thinners are medicines that help prevent clots from forming in the blood. Clots can cause strokes, heart attacks, and death. Blood thinners may cause you to bleed or bruise more easily. Do the following if you are taking a blood thinner:
  
  
  • Watch for bleeding from your gums or nose, or in your urine or BMs.
    
    
  • Use a soft washcloth on your skin and a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth. Doing this can keep your skin and gums from bleeding.
    
    
  • Tell your dentist before dental cleanings, and other caregivers before other procedures, that you take blood thinning medicine.
    
    
  • If you shave, use an electric shaver.
    
    
  • Do not play contact sports since you may bleed or bruise easily.
    
    
  • Wear a MedicAlert bracelet or necklace that says you are taking a blood thinner medicine. You may get one from your local drugstore or contact the MedicAlert Foundation.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take at home to take away or decrease pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often to take it. Take the medicine exactly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad before taking your medicine. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain medicine does not help, or if your pain comes back too soon.

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Your caregiver may need to do a pelvic exam. In a pelvic exam, your caregiver inserts a gloved finger into your vagina. You may have blood tests to check if your blood is at risk for forming clots. You may need an x-ray of your chest. If you had surgery for cancer, you may need imaging tests such as an ultrasound or computed tomography. These tests may help your caregiver see if all of the cancer has been removed. If you still have cancer, you may need to have treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Ask your caregiver for more information about these treatments.

• Chemotherapy:
  
  
  • This medicine, often called chemo, is used to treat cancer. It works by killing tumor cells. Chemotherapy may also be used to shrink lymph nodes that have cancer in them. Once the tumor is smaller, you may need surgery to cut out the rest of the cancer.
    
    
  • Many different chemotherapy medicines are used to treat cancer. You may need blood tests often. These blood tests show how your body is doing and how much chemotherapy is needed. Chemotherapy can have many side effects. Caregivers will watch you closely and will work with you to decrease side effects. Chemotherapy can cure some cancers. Even if the chemotherapy does not cure your cancer, it may help you feel better or live longer.
  
  
• Radiation: This is a treatment using x-rays or gamma rays to treat cancer. Radiation kills cancer and keeps the cancer from spreading. It also keeps cancer cells from dividing into new cells, which is one way cancer spreads. Lymph nodes with cancer are also treated with radiation. In some cancers, radiation may be given after surgery to kill cancer cells that were not removed. It may also be given with chemotherapy. Radiation may help decrease pain, control bleeding, and shrink the tumor.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever (high body temperature).
  
  
• You have pain during sex.
  
  
• Your stitches come apart.
  
  
• You feel pain or fullness in your vagina.
  
  
• You feel like something is sticking out of your vagina.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your surgery, medicine, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have bleeding from your vagina that does not stop.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing.
  
  
• You have chest pain.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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