Hysterectomy Info please

Been there
Hi S73. I had a hysterectomy at 39 (9 years ago) and don't regret it. It sounds like you will go through pretty much what I did. I had help for about three weeks with most of my work at home, but I was up to cooking the second week. I took six weeks off work, but I think I could have gone back after four. I have an office job. I recommend you follow doctors orders on lifting. About the second or third week after surgery, I thought I was up to carrying a basket of laundry up the stairs and found out it wasn't a good idea.

The pain was manageable for me with extra strength Tylenol after the first week. I'm not big on taking pain pills. I developed pretty hefty hot flashes within a few months after the surgery, but I take Effexor and that really helps me (once I found the right dose for me).

It's like any other surgery, there will be some pain and we deal with it. The same with the healing time, it takes patience and following doctors instructions. I have a hard time letting others help me, but learned it's ok. I now look at it that it makes others feel good to be able to help someone when they need it. Kind of like I'm doing them a favor!


Good luck with your surgery.

Barb A

Barb A said:

Been there
Hi S73. I had a hysterectomy at 39 (9 years ago) and don't regret it. It sounds like you will go through pretty much what I did. I had help for about three weeks with most of my work at home, but I was up to cooking the second week. I took six weeks off work, but I think I could have gone back after four. I have an office job. I recommend you follow doctors orders on lifting. About the second or third week after surgery, I thought I was up to carrying a basket of laundry up the stairs and found out it wasn't a good idea.

The pain was manageable for me with extra strength Tylenol after the first week. I'm not big on taking pain pills. I developed pretty hefty hot flashes within a few months after the surgery, but I take Effexor and that really helps me (once I found the right dose for me).

It's like any other surgery, there will be some pain and we deal with it. The same with the healing time, it takes patience and following doctors instructions. I have a hard time letting others help me, but learned it's ok. I now look at it that it makes others feel good to be able to help someone when they need it. Kind of like I'm doing them a favor!


Good luck with your surgery.

Barb A

I haven't had a
I haven't had a hysterectomy, but, I wanted to wish you good luck.


Hugs, Leeza

poplolly said:

The hysterectomy was the
The hysterectomy was the best thing I ever did. I had mine when I was in my 30's. The doctor told me it would take about 6 weeks to heal, but I started my normal activities much sooner than that. The only thing I did avoid was heavy lifting at first. There was very little pain and I was so happy to end my monthly cycle!!

The robot
I didn't know anything about a robotic hysterectomy or even a laparoscopic hysterectomy until a year ago, either. You can Google Davinci Robotic surgery for more info. They're using the instrument for a lot of surgeries these days, including heart surgery. It's really amazing. My dentist had prostate cancer surgery with the Davinci. So did my primary care physician's husband.

I think the procedure is pretty much the same as traditional laparoscopic hysterectomy, it's just that the instruments are manipulated remotely and the magnification/visualization is supposed to be better. There's also typically less blood loss. For cancer that's important (seeing).
Many (actually most) of my friends have had hysterectomies - a couple open via a low horizontal incision, and others vaginally. They could not believe how good I felt. It was hard to not do too much. The gyn oncologist kept reminding me "it's still major surgery - just major surgery through small incisions". Everytime he has a medical student with him he makes me recite my adventure to them.

I've heard the same scenarios from women who had traditional laparoscopic hysterectomies. I hope you do well, too.

Suzanne

I had one
I had a total hysterectomy for persistant cysts too--probably caused by tamoxifen. Everything turned up normal after it was all out but it did make me a candidate for AI's instead of tamoxifen. I did have considerably more noticable hot flashes after surgery. I have a ceiling fan and wore shortie pj's for about 2 years even in the winter. Wet washcloths can help a lot if you're overheated. So can layers you can remove quickly.

As for surgery, I had a bikini cut that would have been considerably bigger (up to the belly button) if problems showed up. The hair grew back and you can hardly tell now--surgery was back in 2004. I don't miss having periods though I wouldn't have minded having another baby. I quit having monthly headaches totally. The only headaches I've had since was after skipping coffee for the whole day. I used to have major migraines monthly so that was a blessing. I opted to keep my cervix so I still have pap smears. Some folks think that's a good idea that prevents problems but the research is mixed. I did what the doctor said and didn't pick up anything heavy or drive until he gave me the okay to do so. Gift cards to a restaurant that did take out seemed better than flowers to me so I told my friends to skip the bouquets. I made some freezer meals that I could nuke quickly and that helped too. I had a desk job and was back to it about a month and a half after surgery, but I couldn't lift any boxes on my own. The nurse at my school wanted me to stay home longer but I figured I could sit at my desk at work as easily as I could at home and at school they paid me! It took about a month and a half longer before I was back to the gym. You will recover quicker because you will have smaller incisions. Call the doctor or his nurses to find out typical recovery time. Don't rush getting back if you don't have to. Your body needs time to recover.