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8 Weeks After My Hysterectomy

Posted by Misty at 10:15 PM 1.06.2008

I said I felt good last week, but that was because I didn't know how good this week would be! Seriously, things just keep getting better. Each day, my hysterectomy becomes more and more distant a memory, and my health just keeps getting better.

My mood is still up, my energy is increasing, and my pain is virtually nonexistent. The only time I even feel twinges is when I'm doing my ab exercises in Beachbody's Slim in 6. That's a great workout, by the way. I highly recommend it. But, back to my point... when I'm on the floor doing my ab work, I do feel sore and tender. Is it from the surgery? Some. Would I feel sore even if I hadn't had a hysterectomy? Probably! My abs were weak and out of shape anyway, and abdominal hysterectomy only intensified that, so my tummy muscles do scream out mid-crunch. Other than that, I'm feeling wonderful!

How about you... how are you feeling?

There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!

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14 comments:

  1. Rebekah said...:
    January 7, 2008 5:31 PM

    Misty - Is it okay for your to be doing crunches after only 8 weeks? I'm curious because I just had a hysterectomy and adhesiolysis 10 days ago. I am just now feeling somewhat better -- at least I no longer feel like I want to die which is how I felt day 3 and 4. I am glad to hear how well you are doing.

  1. Misty said...:
    January 8, 2008 12:58 AM

    Hi Rebekah,

    Glad to hear you're feeling somewhat more human now. It'll only get better as the days go by-- I promise.

    My doctor cleared me for exercise at 6 weeks, but I waited till 7 weeks. Ab exercises are actually important after hysterectomy, but you should definitely listen to your body... and your doctor.

    I'm not pushing it as much as the videos suggest because I think it would be too much for me. I just do what I can, and figure anything is an improvement! At this point, I figure some discomfort is normal, but real pain is probably a sign that the body has had too much.

    Thanks for visiting... feel better soon!

  1. MissMichelle said...:
    January 19, 2008 11:04 PM

    So glad I stumbled upon a "human" perspective" of what I am dealing with. I just had a total hysterectomy, including my tubes and ovaries...6 days ago. To say that I feel awful, would be an understatement. I had NO idea how much I would mourn the loss of my female organs. Being 38, and having 3 beautiful, almost grown daughters...I still had not "closed up shop" in my mind. I have spent today crying over my loss. I am experiencing difficulty in getting my bowels to move again, therefore am NOT hungry or thirsty. I am passing on everything, because I feel naseuos and can't "clear out" my system. I have Fibromyalgia, and never thought I could get more exhausted than I previously was. WRONG!! Just getting up out of bed or off the couch leaves me so tired, that I have to catch my breath.

    I understand that my operation HAD to be done, due to large, recurring tumors. I just always heard from friends how "thrilled" I would be once it was done. I saw these ladies dancing through fields of flowers, overly content with their decision. Unfortunately, I guess I over-estimated that dream just a little too much. Right now, I just pray to get back to SOME kind of "normalcy" in my life...and I can't find it anywhere. I've had surgery before...but, this has left me nearly distraught. I am guessing that much of this has to do with the hormones that I have lost (even though I was immediately put on a hormone patch.)

    Thank you, so much, for sharing your experience with the rest of us. It does offer hope.

    ~Michelle~

  1. Misty said...:
    February 6, 2008 5:57 PM

    Michelle,

    I just saw your comment. I hope you're feeling better now. So much of the initial depression is hormonal, but some is really... depression. It's a huge loss, no matter how much you need the surgery, no matter how many kids you have, and no matter how happy you "should" be. It's a loss. The good news is, you will feel better. Your depression will subside, your energy will return. It's been nearly three months for me now, and I feel so very good. I don't even think about the surgery everyday, and that's something! I hope you're recovering nicely.

  1. Sher said...:
    February 10, 2008 11:46 PM

    I stumbled on to your blog by searching on Yahoo... I am 42 and a sufferer of endometriosis. I recently went back on the pill to stop my period for 3 months at a time and it really is quite pointless as I ache and cramp all the time.

    I am ready to make the hysterectomy decision, but feel a bit hesitant...scared of other isues happening such as bladder issues or more pelvic pain down the line.

    Everyone I know say it was the best thing they ever did, I am hoping that would be the case for me too.

    I don't know what other alternative there is for me.

    I heard the recovery of a hysterectomy done laparoscopically is best...and less recovery time. Any thoughts on this?

    Sorry if I'm jumping the gun here since I haven't read your whole site yet, I just feel like I am on some fence, not knowing what direction to go in.

    Thanks in advance.

  1. Misty said...:
    February 17, 2008 7:45 PM

    Hi, I'm no expert here, but a lot depends on how severe your endo is. Doctors often want to go in abdominally so they can really look around and remove all the endo. That was the case for me and most of the endo sufferers I know. I guess only you and your doctor can say for sure.

    Good luck... I hope you feel better soon, one way or another. Oh, and for me, hysterectomy was a real blessing!

  1. Anonymous said...:
    April 22, 2008 7:44 PM

    I just had a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy 6 days ago. I am an active person and I am worried about overdoing and getting adhesions but its hard to just lie around.
    How soon can I get active?

  1. Anonymous said...:
    May 3, 2008 11:00 PM

    To: Anonymous April 22, 2008 7:44 PM

    Be sure to talk to your doctor about becoming "active". I guess it would depend on your definition of "active". The best piece of advice a friend gave me was to buy a cane. It helped tremendously.

    You will think that you are ready but you are not. Give your self time to heal and not develop new scar tissue. It was months before my scar tissue went away and I stil have some areas of slight numbness.

    I stayed with my parents for four weeks after surgery. Funny story: I wanted to start walking to rebulid my strength but I also did not want to walk to far from home and then not be able to return. I improvised; my parents have along lot and I would get out there in my floppy hat and cane and walk for 30 minutes from the back gate to the front gate. My three year old niece would try to walk with me but since I never went out of the gate let alone to the park she abandoned me after three days.

    At this point I should mention that in June 2007 (age 38) I had a total abdominal Hysterectomy due to Endometrial Cancer which included the removal of lymph nodes. It was one year ago this week that my doctor informed me of my condition.

    Back to getting active, this is actually a good time of the year because you can get out and move about. Take time to get used to your "new body" as some things may work differently. Many weeks after surgery I could only get up the stairs on one leg. Seriously, if I placed my left leg on the stair and then tried to move my right leg I would get this searing pain in my groin. I talked to my surgeon, she was perplexed and gave me Celebrex. I used half of the prescription and have been fine ever since.

    I know this is long but there is so much that happened and no one told me...

    Back pain: At four - five weeks I developed excrutiating back muscle pain. It would hit me so bad at times that I would have stop and stand still until the muscle stopped seizing.

    Anesthesia, Dilaudid and Norco: Of the many things I was told, no one ever told me that Anesthesia would stop my digestive system to the point that I did not have a bowel movement until one week after surgery. Afterwards I talked to friends who told me that it could have been two weeks before I had a bowel movement. Let's just say that three days after surgery I was going nuts. Be sure to take a stool softener with every meal even when nothing is moving. When it starts up, it will move and not look like anything you have ever seen before. While you are on painkillers continue to take a stool softener until you are finished with the painkillers. Just be careful that you do not become dependent on the stool softeners.

    Weight gain, loss, gain: You will pickup fluid weight after surgery. You will lose the fluid weight and then some. You will then regain weight. It is the latter that you need to be prepared for and act on as soon as possible.

    Sadness and Depression: This will happen. For each of us it will occur at varying degrees and times. If you have dealt with depression previously, let your doctors and caretakers know so that if the symptoms return you can get help. If you never have dealt with depression before, learn about the signs and tell your caretakers it can sneak up on you and blindside you.

    Skin Scars: Buy a tub of 100% shea butter. Once your wound heals use the shea butter twice a day.

    Back to work: When you first return to work you will be exhausted by the evening. Take your time and go to bed. If you carry a bag besides your purse, get one that you can carry on your shoulder. Carrying items in your hands for a distance may pull on your abdomen.

    Afterwards: You are now free from pain and a lot of worries. Seize the moments and enjoy your life. I know you may have had other plans or at least wanted to be able to make plans. I too wanted to have children but now I cannot. I do struggle with it but I try to find things to be grateful for. And sometimes I cry and move forward.

    Each of our journeys will be different but we have one thing in common. We are healthier now that we were before.

    Be well and be safe. ;-)

  1. Anonymous said...:
    May 16, 2008 6:41 PM

    To the person who replied to the anonymous my name is Lisa Thanks for your reply.
    As you said the info all comes after.

    When I said I was an active person my job is a joiner so I am accustom of lifting lumber daily and I usually play soccer a few evenings a week, and I have a six year old that I do everything for, so it is really hard to be quiet.

    I had a to force myself to keep quiet as I don't want to cause any problems but I am out and about quite a bit I have a little discomfort but mostly I feel like I am myself thats my problem I am ready to get back out but I am afraid as I said to do damage guess that the 6 week mark is soon here anyway Thanks again

  1. Anonymous said...:
    July 2, 2008 12:30 PM

    Almost 7 weeks post TAH and left ovary taken, suffering severe vaginal wetness had tests to rule out problems with bladder leaking my consultant thinks its fluid on Abdomen causing problems and told may need surgery anyone else had this prob, glad I had Hysterectomy as previous prob gone but feeling a little down at the moment good to read all comments hoping to feel human soon!!

  1. Anonymous said...:
    July 17, 2008 4:38 PM

    I'm in my 3rd week of having a partial hysterectomy. There are areas on my stomach including the stitches that are very itchy. Does anyone know what I can do for relief? Also will my stomach size ever go back to normal?

  1. Anonymous said...:
    August 3, 2008 6:36 PM

    I had a LAVH on the 8th of July. Every that I know that has had one told me I would feel great. I am still waiting for that. Then yesterday I started getting severe vaginal pain that drops me to my knees. Today along with the pain I am starting to bloat any ideas if this is a normal thing?

  1. Allison said...:
    September 15, 2008 7:54 PM

    Tomorrow will be seven weeks after a complete and total hysterectomy do to many years of problems and an endometrial 9 cm mass. I can get back in my clothes and have returned to work, but I am having awful bladder problems (UTI has been ruled out by culture). It hurts the worse at night when I wake up and need to pee even if its only a tablespoon. It is keeping me from sleeping in bed. I can only sleep in recliner or bladder just hurts too much. Any thoughts or similar experiences. Thanks.

  1. Anonymous said...:
    October 22, 2008 8:14 PM

    allison,same problem ask dr for detrol helped my bladder spasms

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