Upcoming Hysterectomy Concerns

[lenjac]

I have a hysterectomy scheduled for next month. My biggest fear is staying at the hospital and not in control of my food prep. When I had outpatient stuff done last year (tubes tied, cyst removed, and ablation--which didn't work as promised) the nurses kept insisting on trying to feed me crackers. After I explained why not for the umpteenth time they then tried to make me eat WARM applesauce! Any ideas for surving the hospital stay?

thanks in advance,

jackie

[Mother of Jibril]

Hi Jackie,

That's a tough one! I'm constantly amazed at the poor nutritional quality of hospital food

I have two suggestions...

1) Take a stockpile of your own snacks. It won't be enough for meals, but at least it could help tide you over while you're waiting for something other than crackers.

2) Since you have a little time before the surgery, maybe you could contact the head of the nursing staff in that area of the hospital? Explain what you need in writing so copies can be distributed and put in your chart. I did that before my son was born in February and it made a big difference.

I hope your surgery goes well!

[Green Eyes]

I had surgery 2 months ago and survived without getting sick. The key - I took my own food!!! My GI doctor advised me to prepare my own foods ahead of time and have my husband bring my meals to me. We did this and it really worked. The nurses were very accomadating and even allowed me to use their refrig. for the leftovers and the microwave for warming. Let me re-phrase that. My husband was allowed to use the refrig and microwave!!!! I ate on my own schedule, when I wanted to and all went perfectly.

I later met with the hospital dietitian (a month after my stay), she told me the hospital was working on the issues and hoped to be better prepared for gluten free meals. I personally think it would still be to great of a risk.

I prepared meals in advance and stored in microwaveable containers. I lived within 5 minutes from the hospital so we just took a cooler of what I needed and went to get it after I got to my room (after surgery).

Hope that helps,

Jennifer

[lenjac]

Thanks for the advice! It's the lack of control that is scarier than the surgery at this point.

[jerseyangel]

I had a TAH a year and a half ago. Things went smoothly for my 2 night stay. The key is planning-- at my pre-op appointment at the hospital, I let the nurses know about my Celiac and other food intolerances. They were wonderful, noting this in several places on my chart and agreeing that it was best if I supplied all of my food during my stay.

I reminded them about any oral meds needing to be checked (you need not worry about IV or injectables), and that was also noted. I was on 2 meds daily at the time--one was a gluten-free name brand drug which they supplied to me while I was there, and the other, a generic, they let me bring from home. My red hospital allergy bracelet also had this info printed on it.

They showed my husband to a microwave on the floor I would be on where he could heat up my foods. It worked out very well. While I was on liquids the first night, I had my Pacific Broth I brought in individual containers and tea. After that, my husband brought up what I needed from home--and of course I had packed things that needed no refrigeration. (I did a lot of cooking beforehand and froze lots of meals in individual containers.

Best of luck with the surgery

[Jestgar]

I did everything that Patti told me to do

I brought my own crackers for taking pills with and some broth.

The hospital cafeteria was a "call and order food when you want it" type and when I called to order my watery rice cereal the person on the other end said "...gluten..., soy..., corn...ok, you can eat this"

[Juliebove]

When my SIL had her hysterectomy somewhat recently, they didn't give her any solid food, except perhaps just before her release. Could be that she got it and didn't remember. The only things they gave her were Jell-O and broth. I can see how the broth might be a concern. But the Jell-O should be okay, unless perhaps you don't like it. If I were you, I'd still pack some food that could be used just in case.

[darlindeb25]

I had a hysterectomy 1 yr ago last August. Just be prepared. I was prepared, I made sure any medications they would be giving me would be gluten free, I informed the dietician that I was gluten-free, corn, soy, and nightshade free. In pre surgery, a nurse brings me an antacid the doctor had ordered, "Is it gluten free?" She didn't know, didn't even know the brand...I refused it. Then I asked if I could leave my glasses with my daughter, "We will take them right to your room honey, don't worry about them." I didn't see my glasses again until 1 hour before I went home, which left me with no way to read ingredients. I was to have the surgery on Wednesday afternoon, and go home on Thurs morning. On Thursday morning, the nurse brings me a vitamin supplement the doctor ordered...once again, they had no idea if it was gluten free, or what brand it was...I refused it.

I was taking Topamax at the time and was told to bring it with me to the hospital....never give your medicine to them either...a pharmicist later told me often times they throw your medicine out, and you go home with nothing, and usually your insurance will not cover to refill what was thrown out. I handed over my med as told, when it came time for my Topamax, the hospital pharmacist did not like the fact that I was taking 2-25 mg at the time, so he switched my med to 1-50mg, I refused it, made them bring me back my own, thankfully they still had it.

My doctor never came in, no one said anything to me about why I wasn't being released. The nurses kept telling me my doctor was busy and would be in as soon as possible. No doctor on Thurs afternoon still, and I still had an IV...I just knew I was not going home. No one told me anything. Friday morning, finally the doctor came in and told me I had been running a low grade fever, so they couldn't release me...WHY couldn't anyone tell me that, I didn't know. My doctor came in, gave me a RX for pain, and released me...then an hour later, a 2nd doc came in, his assistant, and he released me too, trying to give me a 2nd RX for pain meds.

The surgery itself went very well, I had very little pain. BUT, the aggravation and stress of not being able to read ingredients, and having them bring me meds and vitamins they couldn't identify, was more than I could handle. They did give me jello the first day, I hate jello, but it was better than nothing, and gluten-free. Thurs night, they brought me chicken breast, and mashed potatoes (nightshade). For breakfast, they brought me custard (with corn ingred), and scrambled eggs. I had a rice cake with me and peanut butter, that's what I ate. I went home so stressed, I broke out in a bad case of the hives, that did not go away for weeks. We do not know if it was from the stress, or maybe something they used during surgery. The hives were worse than the surgery, they covered my bottom and the backs of my legs, the itch was horrendous.

Just be prepared for anything. Not all hospitals are like this. My sister is a celiac, and a dietician in a hospital, her entire staff knows how to feed a celiac. I did not tell you this to scare you, just to make you aware. I wish I had been better prepared, and I thought I was!

Good luck, and godspeed.

[Lisa16]

I am very sorry that on top of having to go through what is usually a very upsetting surgery, you have to worry about the food issue too.

I had a hysterectomy about 7 years ago, BC (before celiac,) because of fibroids and other issues. The food was awful, even when I wasn't worried about gluten. They also gave the me wrong medicine (I am allergic to sulfa and oxycontin) and I had a reaction. You can't really trust them.

Do you have somebody who can bring you your meals from the outside-- kind of sneak them in for you? My mom did this for me and I was very grateful. Otherwise, I would make some quickie-keepie meals up ahead of time-- canned tuna or chicken, lara bars, pamela's cookies, fruit, peanut butter and glutino crackers, chips and salsa-- that sort of thing. And don't forget the chocolate (unless you arew CF!) That surgery requires a little gluten-free TLC.

Hang in there! And remember that you aren't alone.

[lenjac]

thanks to all my gluten free friends! Your support is amazing!