Recovery from Laparoscopic excision is NO JOKE! I am now just 7 days post laparoscopic surgery, and want to share with you the 10 must haves for excision recovery.
I honestly don’t know how I would have managed without the help of my husband and the many things I did to prepare for recovery. The pain from excision is on a whole other level when compared to the pain from ablation, but it was all to be expected.
Expected or not, it’s not easy and I understand that my pain is very REAL. And honestly, it has become very obvious to me that the pain that I would feel during my worst endo flares is comparable to the the post-surgical pain I feel now. That says so much about what we all live through on a monthly, sometimes daily, basis.
I digress. Today I want to share with you the 10 must haves I bought and borrowed in preparation for my excision surgery. Hopefully it will bring you value and give you some things to think about as excision surgeries start to be rescheduled . . . or any surgery, for that matter.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no extra cost to you and I only recommend products that I believe will be valuable to my audience.
10 Must Haves for Excision Recovery
1. Walker
Having a walker has been a GODSEND! I wasn’t sure if I would actually need it, but I am so happy I decided to have one on hand, because it was very much needed for the first 2 days post-op. Luckily I was able to borrow 2 from family members (one for my main floor and the other for my upstairs floor).
Due to my occupation, I have seen a lot of walkers in my day and this one really impressed me when my patient came in with it. Its lightweight, sturdy, and not very expensive when compared to the typical prices on the market. Alternatively, a cane would be helpful too.
2-5. Mobility and Safety Aids for the Shower
Since surgery, taking a shower has been very draining on my energy. These 4 items have made all the difference in helping me safely take a shower, while maintaining some sort of independence during recovery.
6. A Stool for . . . stool.
Having a bowel movement post surgery is one of the scariest milestones. Likewise, it can take some time before the bowels wake up, which makes it even scarier when that time comes. To help make the process a little smoother, talk to your doctor about taking twice daily docusate sodium (a stool softener) and daily Mirilax (a mild laxative). But when it comes to the actual moment, having a foot stool in the bathroom can really help you pass stool easily, since it creates the optimal anorectal angle for evacuation.
Many people swear by the Squatty Potty brand, but really, any stool will help. I bought 3 stools from Target, one for each bathroom.
7. Disposable Menstrual Pads
It is normal to have some vaginal bleeding post surgery, so for this first week, I have found it helpful to have overnight menstrual pads available. Though I would usually recommend more eco-friendly counterparts, after surgery you will want to focus on the ease of everything so disposable options will be best.
8. Disposable Bathing Wipes
Having disposable bathing wipes handy has helped me feel fresh in between the very energy sucking showers. Just be careful not to accidentally flush them down the toilet.
9. Abdominal Binder
Of all the things that have helped me during my excision recovery, this one was THE BEST! And if you have to pick between this and any of the other items, then this is the one to get!
It was given to me by the hospital, and it has made all the difference in my pain and my ability to move. From what I’ve seen, and experienced (from my first surgery), these are not always provided to patients, so I felt its worth adding to this list. And if your hospital ends up giving you one, its honestly a good idea to have 2, because you will need to hand wash it eventually. For me, that day is today and having it off all day as it lays flat to dry has not been fun.
10. Food Storage Containers
The meal prep that I did prior to surgery, has also been very helpful. Since I made so much, I quickly ran out of food storage containers. So when I went online to buy more, I made sure to get storage containers that were BPA-free and safe for the freezer, microwave, oven, and dishwasher. They have all easily become my favorite containers.
BONUS: Plant-Based Recipes to Meal Prep
In the week leading up to surgery, I was avoiding all food triggers and eating a plant based diet. Below are the delicious recipes I made. They all resulted in a large amount of leftovers, which has been perfect for my post-op recovery. I was able to freeze the leftovers and I’ve been heating them up as I need them. Happy cooking!
- Protein-packed Vegan Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa Bake
- Healthy Vegan Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Brown Rice Breakfast Pudding
