Vestibulectomy Recovery - Supplies List
I purchased a lot of things for recovery from my vestibulectomy. Some things I used hundreds of times, others not at all. I wanted to share my list to give you an idea of what might be most helpful. I have blogs about my experience with the surgery and recovery as well, if you want to know more about that.
Sitz bath $12
I took a sitz bath 4x daily for two weeks and 2-3x daily for about three more weeks. The baths helped to keep everything clean, prevent infection, and aid in healing. I bought a plastic, reusable bath that came with an IV bag for warm water. The tub itself held up just fine and I washed it each time I used it. The plastic water bag got a little grimy because it wouldn’t dry in all the corners.
Squatty Potty $25+
If you don’t have one already (and I think everyone should!), I recommend getting a Squatty Potty. Elevating the feet while using the toilet makes it easier to go, which is important when you have fresh stitches. Plus, I liked having my feet higher while using the sitz bath. It helped me sit deeper in the water (the water height will depend on the shape and location of the opening at the back of the tub where the water flows out into the toilet bowl) and kept my feet from falling asleep while I sat there for 15 minutes at a time.
Gel bead ice packs $15*
I used ice packs on my vulva all day and night for the first 48 hours and all day for at least a week. I really liked the gel bead ice packs because they stayed flexible when cold and stayed cold for a decent amount of time. Two was enough to always have a cold one. I also bought some smaller ice packs that I sometimes used more towards the front of my vulva while I had larger gel one between my legs. They warmed up too quickly to use alone. *This isn’t the same one I got; that one isn’t on Amazon anymore.
Paper towels
I thought I would use wash cloths, but I preferred to wrap my ice packs in paper towels because of the bleeding.
Peri bottle $16
This bottle was great for rising off after using the bathroom. Totally worth the $16!
Puppy pads $18
I laid on puppy pads to catch the blood and ice pack condensation. I didn’t have to worry about it soaking through because they’re waterproof, and I just threw each one away once it got dirty.
Wedge pillow $30
Since I was laying in bed all the time, I loved having a sturdy pillow to use to sit up to eat, write, etc. Much better that a pile of normal pillows that would have needed constant adjusting.
I bought normal, overnight, and liner style pads from Veeda that are 100% cotton. I got my period on day 9 after surgery, so that’s when I started wearing underwear again. I used these for my periods over the next few months. I eventually went back to my preferred Always Infinity brand (I know these are irritating for some.)
Lap Desk $35
I used a lap desk to eat and do work while laying or sitting in bed. I liked the option to tilt it upward for writing.
Heating pad $15*
Laying in bed all the time made my lower back sore. I’m glad I invested in a nice heating pad. *This isn’t the same one I got; that one isn’t on Amazon anymore, but it was similar.
Shower handle $12
I bought a handle to suction to the shower wall and it was helpful for when I was still moving awkwardly. I didn’t have to worry as much about falling down in the shower. I have a tile shower and got lucky that the suction cups landed perfectly inside the tiles. If you have tile, you might want to measure to make sure it’ll work.
Ibuprofen $9
I didn’t end up taking any heavy pain pills, just ibuprofen.
Fleet enema $8
I was really worried about breaking stitches with my first few bowel movements. I’m always constipated, and anesthesia and medication can also make you constipated. When I tried to push, I felt an uncomfortable pulling sensation. I used three enemas in the first week to make bowel movements easier while the wounds were still fresh.
Prune Juice and Metamucil
I drank extra fiber and prune juice to keep my stool softer.
Soft, easy food
It took me a few days to be up for eating meals. I ate a lot of chocolate pudding, jello, soup, and ice cream.
Cough drops $9
My throat was sore the first few days, presumably from the tube down my throat while I was under anesthesia.
Nightgown and Robe
I didn’t wear any underwear or pants for the first 9 days. A nightgown made it easier on my mom and friends. Haha. Plus, having something soft to wear made me feel better.
Coloring Books & Netflix
For the first two weeks, I wasn’t up for doing real work and I napped a lot. I entertained myself with coloring, and watching TV shows and movies.
Cozy blankets
Like I mentioned, I didn’t wear any pants at first, so my blankets kept me warm and covered. I’m always cold, so I like lots of blankets.
Tissues
I didn’t cry as much as I thought I would, but still good to have around.
Doughnut Pillow $40
I was hesitant to spend $40+ on a pillow, but I’m so glad I did! I bought the “Simple Soother” pillow by Cushion Your Assets and it’s been so worth it. I carried it with me in a bag everywhere for months and I was glad to have a high quality cushion that didn’t look obviously like a doughnut. It was more comfortable for me than the traditional round pillow too. I didn’t buy the tote bag that is made for it, but I wish I had. I used a large zipper tote bag I already had and sat on it inside the bag.
A few things I bought, but didn’t use at all:
Wash cloths
I preferred to use paper towels around my ice packs since I was still bleeding.
Hand Grip Strengthener
I thought I would be so uncomfortable with laying around that I would exercise by working on my grip strength. I did not. Haha.
I tried these, but they didn’t seem to work for me. I used enemas instead.
Spray bottle $4
I thought I might use a spray bottle of Witch’s Hazel for itching, but never bought any.
I hope this was helpful! If I forgot something that was important for you, let me know!