So I'm getting a hysterectomy - any recovery advice or tips?

azulvioleta6

I was encouraged to start walking right away.

Something to be aware of--my recovery was in the same area of the hospital as the labor and delivery unit. This was very traumatic for me, as well as for my parents who will never get to have grandchildren. Ask about this if it might be an issue for you.

I was told 6 weeks for exercise. I was still walking every day, and got back in the pool for some gentle stuff ASAP. I was back to full workouts in about 8 weeks.

RaeBeeBaby

Wow! I'm surprised at the 1-2 weeks in bed recommendation. I had a complete laparoscopic hysterectomy about 3 years ago. They sent me home the next day with Darvocet. I did have 1 additional day of bed rest before I switched to ibuprofen and just started moving around my house doing usual things like cooking and laundry. I was feeling pretty good within 2-3 days. As I recall, no lifting more than 5 pounds for 3 weeks was the only major restriction.

Now, my best advice - drink LOTS of water and pee as much as you can. Since I wasn't that active for several weeks I wasn't that thirsty either. Remember you've had a catheter up there, which isn't normal. I was having some pain "in that area" that I assumed was from the hysterectomy but I actually ended up with my first UTI in 20 years. That took 2 rounds of antibiotics to kick out and I've had some bladder inflammation issues flare up off and on ever since.

As far as sex is concerned, I did notice a bit of a difference in the orgasm. Although, thankfully, I still have them with no problem you won't have the uterine contractions anymore since the uterus is bye-bye. Probably not everyone has these anyway, but if you do you may notice that change.

Donna6017

I just had my hysterectomy on 11/13. Took everything but ovaries. I was in the hospital less than 24 hours. Once the catheter came out, they had me up and walking. Walk as much as you can. Drink lots of water. Take the stool softener. Coughing and sneezing will suck for a few weeks. I also couldn't sleep comfortably in the bed for about a week. I slept in a recliner. I was told no lifting over 10lbs for 6-8 weeks. M 4 week check up went ok. I go back after the holidays for another check up and we'll go from there. You'll be fine.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

I'm having a vertical cut total hysterectomy on December 20th and they told me I will be up walking within hours.

No pushing or lifting until week 6 but I have been told that walking is an expectation to help lower infection risk and lower risk of DVT also.
I am meant to increase my walking each day.

Just wanted to give you an update that will hopefully put your mind at rest.

Surgery was 3 weeks ago. I was home in 24 hours, off strong pain relief within 3 days. After 5 days I could leave the house and start walking. The walk was more of a shuffle but I was out.
After 9 days I was doing 3000 steps.
Fast forward to today and my steps are full sized and normal, just a little slower. I have done 9k steps the last 3 days.

The worst thing is not bending much or not lifting. Tiredness and swelling are also an issue but it's very early days.

Please update us when you get your surgery date.

Wishing you good health.

dsboohead

The insurance stuff is crappy alone. I had hysterectomy in late 80's. Not vaginally but thru abdominal wall. Had to have grapefruit sized fibroid removed too. Yup 8 to 12 weeks for me. My mother caught me vacumming 2 weeks after and she nearly lost her mind.
I just focused on eating healthy and just walking.

DanyellMcGinnis

I had a total abdominal hysterectomy on October 31 (had one 16 cm fibroid and one that was smaller; Dr. said if you have more than one, you can get more in the future, and I didn't want to have another surgery later on, so they took everything but my ovaries; for reference I am 40 and don't have or want kids).

I had a private room at the hospital, which was awesome. It was quiet. The worst part was after they took the catheter out, but left the IV in with constant fluids, calling the nurses every 2 hours to take me to the bathroom, because I was swollen enough internally that pressure in my bladder was painful everywhere. During the day, my husband would unhook me from all the machines so I could pee.

However, no clots, no pneumonia, no infections for me. I have hypertension but am otherwise in great health and was in shape before the surgery.

I had this magical post-surgery period where I could grossly overeat, like 500-800 calories over my daily goal, and not gain weight (once the fluids from the constant IV drip were purged from my system). That is slowly going away, but I am now able to do a fair amount of exercise (I'm up to burning about 500 calories/day with deliberate exercise; I was at about 700/day before the surgery).

I am holding off on the Insanity and Focus T25 for awhile yet (!) but am doing kickboxing workouts without the jumping, recumbent bike, treadmill (not going above 3.7 mph and I worked slowly up to that), 10 lb kettlebell (I was doing more like 20 before the surgery), low weight dumbbells, and kundalini yoga with some modifications. My goal was nothing the first week, 2000 steps/day the second week, 4000 steps/day the third week, and so on. I am now getting 14,000-15,000 steps/day and climbing 8 flights of stairs to my office twice a day. (I went back to work after 7 weeks.)

This is feeling SO SLOW for me but is less frustrating as time goes on and I can do more. I stopped the Percocet after the first week and the 800 mg Ibuprofen, I took for a bit longer.

I was able to work from home and do like 80% of my job duties so that was cool. My husband also worked from home the whole time so he could walk the dog (87 pound Rottweiler who pulls on the leash) and scoop the litterboxes (we have 5 cats) and such. One of my cats' eyes ruptured at about my 5-week point so my husband was great going to the emergency vet and veterinary ophthalmologist with me to transport the pet carrier. (For the record, kitty is doing fine after having 1 eye removed.)

I still have a little swelling and my abdomen looks a bit strange (hard to describe) but I asked my doctor about it at my last post-surgical appointment and she said I was progressing normally. I don't really hurt and my clothes still fit (I am a size 2, was hoping to drop to a 0 with the removal of a 16 cm mass from my belly, but I guess that was not to be). But to be honest I am mostly wearing dresses and tights because they're comfy.

Insurance was not a problem at all for me. I have a high-deductible plan and I'd already met it before the surgery due to all the pre-surgery imaging/testing and an ER visit so Humana took care of everything.