There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!
I haven't written in such a long time, and I'm sorry for that. It's just that, no matter how overwhelming it seems in the beginning, life does return to normal. Eventually, the hysterectomy becomes just a memory, just a fading scar on the abdomen.
At six months post-op, I feel great. My energy is back and I've managed to lose close to 30 pounds. In fact, I'm feeling so good that I'm considering getting a breast reduction. I want my outside to match my insides-- young and energetic.
I am so very grateful to my doctor for doing the hysterectomy. It was truly the best decision I've ever made. Life without constant pain, bleeding, and mood swings is lovely.
There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!
When you're facing total abdominal hysterectomy, one of the biggest concerns is the recovery time: how much time will I be out of work? How long will I need help? When can I drive? When can I have sex? When will I be back to normal?
My answer will be frustrating, I'm sure, but it really does depend. Depend on what, you ask? Well, on so many things, such as:
For me, I felt better physically than emotionally. I was sore, tired, and bloated, but the pain wasn't as severe as I expected. Emotionally, though, I was beat. I didn't want to do much at all for a while, so I might have waited longer than necessary. I really believe it all worked out for the best, though, because I feel great and have healed well.
If you have people offering help, take it! You're going to be exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and you'll need plenty of rest. Even though walking is good for you after surgery, there are still many things you can't do. Examples include sweeping, vacuuming, laundry, lifting things, and cooking. Take all the help you can get!
My husband took off a week and a half after my hysterectomy, and it was such a blessing. It's the little things you don't even think of that really hurt after surgery. I remember reaching into a high cabinet to get a glass and thinking I had pulled something beyond repair! An extra pair of adult hands can make all the difference.
Although it sounds like a minor thing, beginning to drive after hysterectomy can be a little scary. It's a real milestone. Even though driving isn't that hard, it is tiring on a post-op body! Plus, the whole prospect of getting in an accident is frightening. My first few times in a car after surgery, even if I was only a passenger, I was convinced we would crash and I would tear my stitches. I actually punched my husband in the arm once and accused him of wanting to rear-end another car so he could tear my stitches! I did mention I was an emotional wreck, didn't I?
Doctors vary in their recommendations about driving, so listen to yours. He knows more about your specific situation, so his advice is much more valuable than something you read online! For me, I started driving at four weeks, but I took it slow. I only made very short trips for a solid two weeks. Being in the car just wore me out!
I work from home, so this wasn't an issue for me. If you work outside of the home, make sure your doctor understands the specifics of your job, so he can make an educated recommendation. For most types of jobs, six weeks is a reasonable amount of time away. Even at six weeks, more than part-time might be too much. If possible, I would stay away closer to eight weeks just to give your body, mind, and heart time to heal, mourn, and move on.
My doctor told me I would be fully recovered by four to six weeks. I didn't find that to be true at all. I felt much better at those points, but not fully recovered. I was still extremely tired and sore back then. I'm just starting, at eight weeks, to feel back to normal. I no longer have to pass everything through my hysterectomy filter! I don't even think about it everyday, and that's saying a lot. For several weeks, it's been, "I can't do that because of my surgery..." or "Maybe I can do that after I heal..." I'm not thinking that way now, so maybe I'm finally back to normal!
There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!
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!
I've been avoiding the "S" word on this blog, mainly because my mother reads it, but it's an important topic, one I have to address. Cover your eyes...
First things first... do not, I repeat, DO NOT have intercourse before your doctor clears you. You will regret it. If your cervix was removed during the surgery, you now have a vaginal cuff. That means you have stitches-- many, many stitches-- inside your vagina. Ouch! Imagine the pain of ripping and tearing vaginal stitches and needing vaginal surgery, not to mention a lengthy hospital stay. All for a little action between the sheets... worth it? I think not.
Most doctors clear their patients for sex four to six weeks post-op, but some say wait eight weeks, or even longer. It really depends on the specifics of your surgery and your unique recovery. Only your doctor really knows what is going on internally, so it's in your best interests to listen to him.
Immediately after surgery, I thought I would never, ever desire sex again... and I was okay with that! My insides felt like they had been put through a meat grinder, and I couldn't imagine ever wanting below-the-belt activities. I found myself hoping my doctor would say I had to wait three months! I actually had a plan to tell my husband that the doctor said that, no matter what my six week checkup held. Sneaky, eh?
Somewhere between the four to six week mark, however, I started feeling more alive, not quite so sore and tender. I was actually thrilled when I got the nooky go-ahead. Thrilled... but scared to death. Would it hurt? Would I bleed? Would it feel different for my husband? And on and on...
So, the big night finally came... and it was absolutely fine. Not exactly fireworks, because we were both so nervous and afraid of hurting me, but... nice. I'm happy to report that everything still works exactly as it should. There was no bleeding, but it's perfectly normal and okay to have light bleeding after the first couple of times. There was also no pain, discomfort, or dryness. Whew, what a relief! Oh, and by the way, it gets better every time.
There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!
First off, I'm sorry I haven't been posting regularly. I'm just feeling so much better that I've been forgetting! Seriously, I've been catching up on my "normal" life-- working, visiting friends, and schooling my kids. I've even starting working out. I'm far, far from in shape, but it feels so good to have started.
Apparently my belly bloat is finally showing real progress-- I'm wearing my pre-hysterectomy jeans today. Yay me! I'm so excited about this. I was really starting to think this overhanging tummy was my new look. Granted, these jeans are still quite a bit bigger than I'd like, but at least I'm back to normal. Did I mention I've started working out? Some time in '08 I will be back in single digit jeans...
There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!
Six weeks post-hysterectomy, and I'm almost feeling like my old self. Actually, I'm feeling better than my old self in many ways. For example, I feel much more even emotionally. My husband told me that he's amazed by my "transformation", he's never seen me laugh so much!
And I really feel like a different person. For one thing, I haven't gone more than two and a half weeks without bleeding in years. It's amazing! Life without bleeding, cramping, and the haywire emotions of PMS is just great. I keep forgetting that I no longer have a uterus. I keep waiting for the bleeding to start; keep wondering when the good mood will be replaced by irritability and moodiness. When I found pads stashed in my purse, I realized it hasn't quite sunk in that I'll never have another period. Simply an amazing thought.
I'm feeling much better physically, too. My abdomen no longer hurts, although it is still slightly tender to the touch. The swelling is going down, too. I still tire easily, but my endurance is getting better.
There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!
There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!
It has been exactly four weeks since my total abdominal hysterectomy. How am I feeling? Am I completely recovered? I am definitely feeling better than I was four weeks ago, but I'm not at all fully recovered. Here's a recap of how I'm feeling these days:
All in all, I'm feeling better than I expected to feel at this stage in my recovery.
There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!
