Hi there ...

Well don't know if I'm much help as I had my hysterectomy some 20 odd years ago ... when it was classed as a major op ... with 5/6 days in hospital and a big scar ... I've a feeling lots have changed now .. but so glad they took my ovary s   away too .. 

The one thing in common with every op is ,  listen to your body .. don't over do things or try to run before you can walk .. enjoy the "down time" and get books / D V D's in ... have games on your comp .. pad ..  I was told the hole it leaves in our stomachs has to be gently filled nateraly ... over exercise can make your intestines fall too quickly and cause more problems ... so baby steps ... listen and stop when your body tells you ... no heavy / medium lifting .. think I was told not to drive for 4/5 weeks .. May have changed ..

Well fingers crossed all will go smoothly ...  Chrissie x

Hi Chrissie

Thank you so much for your reply.  I hadn’t thought about the hole that would be left & how it would be filled.  I’ll definitely bear that in mind before doing something I shouldn’t be doing (like lifting things).  I’ll take it as easy as possible for as long as possible!

Thanks again. I’ll Hope you are doing well. 

S x

Hi, I have had a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy almost 4 weeks ago, It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting to be honest, I only spent 2 days in hospital. you are very limited with what you can do, stick to the hospital instructions, no lifting, housework, long walks etc.. u won’t have any energy, your stomach will be swollen, bruised & very tender & numb. You will need to rest. You will find yourself to be slow especially walking, listen to your body, that is the key, DONT do anything that u find hard.. you head tells you can do it but body saying NO.. don’t do it. Except all help offered.. 

week 1 was painful & tiring, spent a lot of that week in bed & analgesia & not to forget to keep your anti embolism  stockings on for upto 2 weeks, (ask hospital for an extra pair). Couldn’t eat a full meal. Found myself constipated, ( that increased my pain) so had some lactulose, ate more fruit & veg and drank more fluids. Your bowels may be  sluggish after. 

week2, Out of bed & walking around the house, up & down the stairs, less painful, less analgesia, I felt a bit emotional & did cry but it’s normal. Had a bit of spotting 1st time after surgery, that is normal also. Still  no house work, heavy lifting, shopping nothing. Do your pelvic floor exercises.. stomach is less swollen & less bruising. 

week 3, no analgesia at all, walking more & not so slow, started driving, did minor things around house like dusting  nothing above my head, just waist height.. cooked small meals for myself.. still no heavy lifting. Bowels a lot better.  Stomach less swollen, less tender but still numb. Eating better, went shopping with partner. Still no heavy lifting. 

Week 4,  few days into week 4, up & about more active, walking a bit faster than last few weeks. Still no heavy lifting, full appetite, no pain. Feel more active, still listening to my body... 

hope this has helped. 

Mj68 x 

Hi, i was just reading your post and wondering how everything went for you, i will be having a hystorectomy as soon as our hospital starts operating again and i am a little worried about it all now to be honest, even though after suffering for a good few years now i am looking forward too, if that makes sense, very much mixed emotions. X 

Hi Robs74

Do you have a date yet for your hysterectomy procedure? 
I'm due to have mine next month and feeling the same as you. Mixed emotions, scared, anxious, unsure. I am also looking forward to having it done because I'm fed up of suffering for so many years. 
Do you still feel the same or are you feeling more positive about it all?

I suppose we have to focus on why we're doing this in the first place and think of positive things to keep us going.

Im already preparing myself for the procedure and made lists of things to do before and after the procedure to help with all my emotions. Even though I'm not sure how I'd feel after, I suppose it's good to prepare yourself for what's to come.

Hope you're ok.

Hi, 

Did you have your operation? I'm 42 and was advised last week to have a hysterectomy. Shii oi UID be within the next 3 months. Have a few things concerning me ie recovery, I'm a single parent.

thanks x

Hi,

yes I had the operation. It's been 5 weeks. The first two weeks I couldn't do much. After the 2nd wk I did a bit more walking around. I'm getting around a bit and doing more. It's still uncomfortable and very sensitive. I'm healing slowly.

you definitely need to take it easy, don't lift anything, hold a cushion against your tummy if you sneeze or cough, rest, but do the exercises they've recommended.

everyone's different I suppose. So it depends on how quickly your body takes to recover.

hope it goes well for you.

Like Chriss my hysterectomy was long ago but I remember how weak I was!  Just be careful with lifting things, even a kettle can be too heavy so use as little water as possible so you can lift things easily.  My main thing was having a bath, my Mum came to help as I had two young daughters.  She helped me into the bath, don't forget me mum I said as she was going to do some homework.  Well she forgit me and I could not sit up or get out that bath for love or money, frozen to death she suddenly appeared and I was carefully lifted out.  So be warned don't do things on your own or keep a mobile phone handy!!  Good luck. Carol x 

Hello MJ

Hope you are doing well.

Your diary goes up to 4 weeks, what happened after that?

I am at 5 weeks and interested to hear how you were then. I had uterus and ovaries out. First weeks very much like you and at 3 weeks felt a bit better and had horrendous constipation which set me back I think, it just didn't want to come out.

At 5 weeks yesterday my tummy is still very sore and when I stand up I can feel it kind of drop down and there's a pressure hanging over the incision which is now tight and healing well.  It's sore to get up and down and move in bed. Next week is the time they say you can cycle again and have sex....I can't even get dressed or put anything over my tummy. 

Interested to hear your feedback MJ.

Thanks Karon

Hi Karon, 

I noticed you haven't had a reply from MJ just yet, so I just wanted to offer you a very warm welcome to the community and let you know your post has been seen.

Having looked at MJ's profile I can see they haven't been on the forum since making that post back in 2020 so unfortunately, you may not hear back. I really do hope that isn't the case, but if you don't receive a reply then you're very welcome to start your own discussion.

If you'd like to speak with one of our cancer nurses, you can contact them from Tuesday onwards on 0808 800 4040 between 9a.m - 5p.m.

Wishing you all the best with your recovery Karon.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator