Hysterectomy - non-medical question

virgin_moneysaver

Been given the news today that I'm having a hysterectomy next month - just after tips & advice from other womens experience on how not to pile on too much weight and getting the day to day bits & pieces done around the house, & anything herbal/homeopathic that will quicken the healing process.

margaretclare

There's no reason why you should 'pile on weight', just eat healthily and sensibly.

If there's a stretch-and-tone fitness class, or aqua-aerobics, in your area, then go there. Keep your muscles toned and strong. Especially your leg muscles, to avoid DVT. Stop smoking (if applicable). I assume you've been told about pelvic floor exercises?

Just stay healthy, to come through surgery without problems and to get back to normal health. There are various threads throughout Martin's site on weight loss, if you need to.

peachyprice

Little and often is the key to a quick recovery from any major abdominal surgery.

Don't make the mistake of spending days sitting doing nothing, it will take far longer to get back to normal. Set yourself achievable targets and keep moving as much as you can without straining or hurting yourself, y9ou should be given information on excercises to perform after about the first week.

The days of post-hysterectomy ladies being told to rest up for 6 weeks have long gone! So there's really no reason whatsoever to pile on weight.

murphydog999

You don't say what your age or fitness levels are, as these make a difference to how well you cope with things. Also if you are being cut or it's being done vaginally, the latter is a lot easier to get over.

I can only go on my experience but I was 36 when I had mine (with the cut), didn't use any pain relief in hospital and was out in 3 days, for the older ladies in my ward it was a bit different.

One thing a hysterectomy does is make you realise how much you actually use your stomach muscles! So a month of strength fitness will be worth doing, especially your upper body as you will be using your arms a lot to compensate for lack of stomach muscle use.

I would suggest eating plenty of fresh fruit and veg when you come out to aid healing, but it will also be important to treat yourself, and make sure you are spoilt.

virgin_moneysaver

the only reason I ask about the weight as the blurb given to me said that the op doesnt cause weight gain but the resting up afterwards can - they say I'll be off for 10-12 weeks, in that time I cant walk the dog which is my main source of exercise, as I've had 2 ceasarians the consultant is going to attempt vaginally, but if there is a problem with scar tissue he may have to do abdominally, & because of these ops I'm aware more than most of using cut stomach muscles. I'm not a smoker and a within the normal weight range for my height (albeit at the heavier end of the range!) - I'm gonna just have to cut my portion size down!

peachyprice

If you've had two c-section, the healing process is exactly the same. I doubt they mean you can't walk the dog for the entire 10-12 weeks unless it's a huge dog, and if it because the dog is huge there's no reason why you can't take walks without it albeit shorter ones.

SpendlessKaren

Having my hysterectomy was the best thing ever but I was surprised how little I could do when I first came home. I couldn't hoover, drive the car or even push a shopping trolley to start.
But just take it slow and rest to give your body time to heal. If you can have a vaginal hysterectomy your recovery will be much, much quicker. A lady in the bed next to me had one and was up and about and doing more before I could
Good luck and I hope it all goes well.

virgin_moneysaver

peachyprice wrote: »

If you've had two c-section, the healing process is exactly the same. I doubt they mean you can't walk the dog for the entire 10-12 weeks unless it's a huge dog, and if it because the dog is huge there's no reason why you can't take walks without it albeit shorter ones.

he's a young, setter & still pulling a bit on the lead, I usually take my sisters Boxer as well, think I'll be giving the 2 of them together a wide berth for a bit!!

erdd2

All the women that had had a hysterectomy that attended my classes claim a variety of "it was the best thing I ever done/gave me a new lease of life/the short term pain was worth the wonderful gain/life is better"

Granted they were all no longer in need of a womb

nearlyrich

I had a hysterectomy after 2 CS at around age 36, I was completely zombified for 12 weeks, my SIL was 20 years older and was back at work in 6 weeks, it all depends on your body, since then I have been diagnosed with FMS so maybe my tiredness stemmed from this but whatever don't try to keep up with what other people think you should be doing, listen to your body and I hope the benefits outweigh the surgery. Get well soon.

Slinky_Malinky

when I had my hysterectomy last year, I was given a leaflet with advice on how much exercise to take. Cannot remember exactly but it was just walking starting off for x number of minutes and giving you guidelines as to building up the time over the weeks.

I also took arnica to aid my recovery, I have taken this after operations and dental treatment and I am sure it helps.

Good luck with your op, personally it was a huge relief for me to be free of pain and the constant fear of having an `accident` in public. I wish you a speedy recovery.