Recovery from total hysterectomy

[Hysterhelp]

I need to have a total hysterectomy including removal of both ovaries and tubes. The gynaecologist hopes to do this via keyhole surgery and said recovery is 2-4 weeks.

Hospital leaflet also suggests this (although it points out everyone is different and they may need to perform abdominal surgery which will incur a longer recovery).

My mother had an abdominal hysterectomy (retained her ovaries and tubes) in the early nineties and had a prolonged time off work followed by a stay at a recuperation centre funded via work. She thinks 2-4 weeks recovery is nonsense even if the surgery is lapascaropic as I will also commence surgical menopause.

None of my friends have had any form of hysterectomy. Colleagues have stayed off work for at least 6 months.

I am trying to be practical as I have children and do not have a partner so need to make arrangements for support. I have other health issues to complicate matters. I am beginning to panic as I can not afford a prolonged absence from work. My contract is 6 weeks full pay for sickness.

In your experience, what is an average length recovery, ie until return to work, I have a busy, stressful job that also involves driving.

Another positive story. Thank you (please).

Also appreciate your post ratonastick.

Hysterhelp, bear in mind that everyone has different reasons for needing surgery and that has a huge impact on recovery. I have deep infiltrating stage 4 endo, adenomyosis and endimetriomas on my ovaries so hysterectomy for me will be radical and include very invasive surgery to excise all the endo which will increase recovery time. I’m due in soon for the op and will be taking 3 months off, I’ve had previous excision and know how long that took to recover from.

However I know people who had hysterectomies for fibroids that were contained in the uterus and didn’t affect surrounding tissues who had relatively quick recoveries.

Just don’t jump back into anything just because you feel you have to. Take your time recovering, last thing you want to do is get a infection or injure yourself.

I had an abdominal hysterectomy around the same time as SIL had a keyhole hysterectomy. I had 5 days in hospital, she was out after 2. I had 7 weeks off work (could really have gone back after 5 but I drive a lot and tge seatbelt sits exactly where my wound was so took an extra week), my SIL was back after about 3.

She was more tired than usual for a while but her recovery was so much easier and quicker than mine.

The huge wound I had compared to her keyhole wounds made a vast difference.

It might be an idea to check about the kids going unaccompanied in a taxi / Uber to school. I think , last time I checked, the age was about 10. Mine had to go to school by taxi a few months ago and it was OK because they were 10 and 14. But possibly it might be different in each area. Good luck ! You'll be so glad you had this done .

You definitely won’t regret having a hysterectomy, Everyone I know who’s had one; myself included has a new lease of life.
Mine was a mixture of key hole and then the rest was taken out though a small incision in my csection scar, as I had fibroids and was told my uterus was the size of a 6 month pregnancy.

I was driving within 4 weeks. I did have a bit of a “ pulling sensation” in my abdomen prior to that. I think a laparoscopic procure will have a much faster recovery.
I would at least try and send the children to school in a taxi for a couple of weeks and have that afternoon nap. You will still be healing internally.
Also take lots of homeopathic arnica. Speeds up healing.

Im fortunate not to have any fibroids or endo. I do have ovarian cysts and recurrent pre cancerous cervical cells post treatment plus almost constant flooding.

I am just praying I won’t need abdominal surgery as keyhole does seem to be a far quicker recovery.

Don’t worry - if I do have to use taxis for school runs I would accompany them there and back. School is too far to walk if I cannot drive. No way I would send little ones in a taxi alone!

Thank you all.

Had keyhole surgery approx 20 years ago. Was in 3 nights. Driving and walking the dogs around 10 days later. Main problem for me was reaction to anaesthetic felt like I had the hangover from hell. Sure things have improved since then. Get yourself a couple of those grabber things to save you bending and lifting, invaluable for picking things up, could use them to load/ unload washing machine etc.

Good morning hyster

They do warn you that keyhole surgery may convert to full abdominal surgery while you are under but I think it is unusual. I had full scale adenomyosis so the situation was messy and I was under for a long time but no question of abdominal cuts. I wouldn’t have been that surprised if surgery had converted as it was a ghastly mess in there but when I said that to the surgeon he looked faintly offended that I doubted his skills!

My surgeon did give me one piece of advice that is, I think, quite important. He said to be wary of online forums (apart from Mumsnet obviously) as people are rarely drawn to them if everything is ok and they are back up and at it in 6 weeks. The forums tend to be over dominated by people who have had problems and who need an outlet and reassurance so can skew your view of risk. As someone else said, I am yet to meet a post hysterectomy woman who doesn’t wax lyrical about its life enhancing properties!

Thanks both for messages. Yes, the local chemist sells those grabbers- I’ll get one, never thought.

It’s true people tend to go online more when things go wrong, to vent, find support etc. I just thought 2-4 weeks recovery was, quite frankly, taking the piss hence asking on here however it seems not! Don’t expect to be back to normal, just able to get by.

Thanks mumsnetters

Never regretted the surgery for a minute even when it took a while to sort hrt out!

It made realise how much I had suffered every month, I now have no pain, no heavy bleeds, no pmt, better bowel and bladder function as no fibroids. Win win!

That’s fabulous Sewrainbow.