PLEASE~What is recovery like after an abdominal hysterectomy?

My dear niece must have an ovary removed next week. It is larger than a grapefruit and they must cut her vertically for the removal. Doctor is planning a hysterectomy, too, pending results for endometriosis.

She has 4 little kids and a toddler. What will she be able to do and not to do? She's trying to get some help - but it's not easy to line up. Can she drive, bathe? Bend? Lift baby? They don't have a bed frame, just a mattress on the floor (baby sleeps with them). I don't think she'll be able to get in & out of that bed since it's like sitting on the floor. I cant't get off it LOL!

What supplies should she have on hand (sanitary napkins, etc)? Doctor said home after 2 nights in hospital. Shouldn't she stay longer?

She'll read these answers and hope it helps her know what is coming. Thanks for any information.

Unfortunately her mom and I do not live close and we both must work. We will each come for a weekend. Her husband will take a couple days off to watch the baby and take the children to & from school. I find even when I visit that it is just exhausting to watch her care for the little ones and the house. I can't keep that pace at my age!

The actual recovery is not bad, but does have it's drawbacks. I had one when I was 30 y/o. My only son was 11 months. Pain the day of surgery was bad I will admit, (worshipped that demerol pump & really hated to lose it), the second day it was alot better, 3rd day was a piece of cake. NOW the after care, I had no lifting over 4 pounds for 4 weeks. The doctor said no more than a gallon of milk. No driving for 4 weeks. She cannot lift & should not try to do so or you risk busting things inside such as where they attached the ligaments to the top of the vagina to hold it up, the arteries & vessels tied off/cauterized, it is just to dangerous to lift. I felt great with no pain so I called the doctor & ask him, "hey I feel great, no pain, nothing, can I at least drive to the grocery store?". I got yelled at LOL........ He was right. One night standing at the stove cooking, feeling great about 2 weeks after I just woke up on the floor. Judging from the way my hamburgers looked that were cooking & the stove clock I think I passed out about 3 or 4 minutes. I woke up felt fine. The doctor told me this was normal & was the reason I was told not to drive for 4 weeks. Bathing, I bathed fine, just made sure to dry the incision good as I had staples. The nights my husband wasn't home I slept on the floor with my son so I didn't have to worry about lifting him up if anything happened. I figured I would be on the floor with him. Rolled over got my legs under me, pushed up leaning on the arm of a chair or something & had no problem, just no straining the abd's. I stayed in the hospital 2 nights also, this is normal, some doctors are one night. Maybe have panty liners handy for a few days. I had discharge a couple weeks, but nothing bad at all.

I had this operation when I was 40 something. she will not be able to do much, no lifting,bending, It's no to every thing for at least 2 weeks,if she has no bed then a sofa? you are right she will not be able to get up and down
Does your niece have family to help her out? She is not going to manage with all those little humans she has to care for
Your niece should be able to get info from her Dr. or hospital
I shall pray for her

well my aunt had one she was almost the same besides she didnt have ne feelings for sex,n the scares on her stomach

I had hysterectomy a long time ago, and first had two surgeries called "cryosurgery". When they did the hysterectomy, it was painful recovery. The actual operation is not bad, since she will be asleep. However, I would not expect her to be able to do any housework or heavy lifting for at least six weeks, that's right, six weeks! When I had it they kept me in hospital for a week before allowing me to go home. I had little children and thankfully, my grandmother was able to come to my home and help out. I also was lucky in that my insurance plan covered a nurse to care for me at home during recovery for a while. My husband helped out as much as he could. The supplies she will need will be very large and long, sanitary napkins. Also, she may need to wear something llike Depend undergarments for awhile. It is humiliating, but it works. She need bed rest, and a lot of it.
That is the only way to ever get close to normal again. It is hard with little children who do not understand, but she can use it as a teaching tool. When they ask why she is in bed or about medications or see IV (if nurse comes by and gives her any). She can tell them that is good for her and it will make mommy well and feel better, so she can take care of them and play with them for a long time once she is well.
If the baby is heavy, she should not lift it. A floor bed is not good, it will bother her back and she may find she has painful back and stomach and bloating (indigestion and gas).
She definitely needs a good bed. Sometimes, there are used bedframes in the newspaper when people get new furniture or move. She may be able to find one for a nominal fee or someone in her family who can help her find one. It will be nice if members of family can rotate to give her care and take care of the children. It is nothing to take lightly. I do hope the growth is benign. I wish her good luck. I can say without hesitation, that even with the surgery and all that goes with it, it was worth it. I feel much better today than I would have had I waited or not gotten the surgery over with. Tell her to think of how much better things will be when she is recovered.

After a surgery like this they often give you some pages for aftercare. Ask them if you can get the paperwork ahead of time to prepare. She won't be wanting to pick up any kids or get up from the floor. Abdominal surgery makes you feel pretty helpless for a week or two. After any abdominal surgery there is air trapped inside that will give her gas pains which will subside but make her feel pretty useless at first. They generally try to get you moving in days and unless there are complications it's not necessary to stay longer. She will definitely need some help at home!

This doesn't answer your question, but please make sure your niece knows that a hysterectomy is not a cure for endometriosis.

Endo can and does grow outside of the uterus. If this is the only reason for a hyster, DON'T!!

I also had a cantaloupe-sized cyst removed along with an ovary and tube. I was taking narcotics for a solid week - I doubt that I could have cared for 5 children during this time. No driving for two weeks.

This is MAJOR surgery, and recovery shouldn't be rushed.
Are the older kids old enough to help a little?