Is a hysterectomy recovery like a C-Section recovery?

[havesomepatiencechild]

Hello.

I am having a hysterectomy in the next few weeks at age 37 due to a bad triple prolapse (womb, bladder and bowel) caused by injury from repeated use of forceps and a shoulder dystocia five years ago (first birth). They're leaving my ovaries because of my age, not wanting me to go into menopause, although I wish they'd take them because I've had PCOS all of my life and they've done their job child-wise, but they won't hear of it.

My second birth was a planned CS. I recovered really well from that. It was sore of course, bloody sore for a few days but I was looking after a toddler and newborn when DH went back to work after two weeks and pretty much back to normal at about week four.

It'll be keyhole, vaginal removal rather than abdominal unless something goes badly wrong. Then a repair of the walls to make sure everything stays where it should from now on!

Everything I've been given from the hospital says twelve weeks recovery, and I've been reading and it seems to be more fairly accurate. Has anyone got experience of both - do they compare? My CS was only a couple of years ago so it's fresh in my mind!

DH will be able to take a few weeks off work again and I'm scheduling it for when my eldest is back at school and youngest will also be at preschool a couple of days a week so I will be able to rest - but not for 12 weeks! I'm getting a bit worried about that.

Any info will be helpful, thanks.

It's harder than recovering from a c-section. You really won't be able to move about easily for a couple of days and will be wiped out. You'll feel better quickly, but should take it very easy for a few weeks at least. My husband took a few weeks off, and by the time he went back to work I could potter about a bit and sort myself out. But I feel my recovery was much longer than my csection. My kids are older, I couldn't have carried a toddler for the first few weeks at least.

I don't have experience of CS. I did have a vaginally assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy in March this year. Recovery was MUCH easier than I imagined, and I was back at work in a physically and mentally demanding job in 5 weeks. The first week was hard, the second tiring, and then from then on I felt able to push on a little more each day.

I’ve had both and found them both equally quick to recover from but I am lucky to recover from ops fairly easily. My friend really really struggled with post op recovery and def needed the full 12 weeks before feeling ok.

I went home the next afternoon ( had to stay a while due to low oxygen) - spent 2 days on the sofa then was back to normal life except from driving ( have 4 kids with additional needs to look after). I had a week in Italy 2.5 weeks post op and felt fine.

However I say this as a positive view point - I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to think that everyone recovers that easily and i would recommend taking it as easy as possible!!

Ps - best decision I ever made

I had mine at the beginning of January and went back to work at the end of April. 12 weeks is probably about right for getting back to your pre-op normal. Not back to fitness, but able to do most things.

Good luck with the op!

I should add that I don't mean to sound smug. It's not a race, and people's experiences vary widely. But there are as many people right as rain in 4-6 weeks as 12 weeks. I guess plan for the worst but hope for the best?

I had to wear surgical stockings for three weeks! Couldn't have gone on holiday anywhere 🤣

My youngest is 3 now so doesn't require much lifting or carrying anyway, and DH can have a couple of weeks off then work from home, so I'm not worried about lifting. My eldest has additional needs but she will be in school full time and DH can do the manual stuff.

That sounds manageable, you should be fine if you manage your pain relief and don't do too much too soon.

I was told 12 weeks to be well enough to safely resume most activities, but 6 months to feel human again and 12 months to feel normal.

Everybody's different, and it's kind of luck of the draw how your body reacts and recovers.

Moving key stuff around the house up/down to waist height in advance can be helpful. So raising stuff that's low down, and lowering stuff that's high up because reaching and holding a weight above you is not great either. Having a bag or basket or box with useful things on a table/chair can help too.

Practising the physio approved method for getting yourself out of bed and standing up from chairs might also help make it less frustrating when the time comes! (Roll onto side, drop feet off the edge, push up with opposing arm etc).

Little things that make the physical challenges of recovery less intense/overwhelming basically. Even when it's a wanted procedure, the change to your body can be emotionally tough so it helps to reduce the pressure on yourself by reducing the number of things each day that remind you because you can't do something.

Hope you have a smooth recovery.

I haven’t had a c-section but have had a hysterectomy.

Week 1 - felt tired and lethargic. I think the anaesthetic knocks me out a lot.
Week 2 - felt better and was more able to do things.
Week 3 - felt back to normal. Went for half an hour walks. Cooked etc.

Had to be careful lifting, wasn’t allowed to Hoover, couldn’t drive etc for six weeks. Went back to work after six weeks.

It’s not like hysterectomies of yesteryear. You do recover quickly, you just have to be a little careful, and the area where the op was can be sensitive.

Be warned, the trapped wind and constipation can be uncomfortable.

Oh god, constipation! I hadn't considered that. I had it horribly as a result of morphine and codeine after both of my births and it was horrible, truly very painful. I will get some lactulose in, thanks for letting me know!

@user16395699

Moving key stuff around the house up/down to waist height in advance can be helpful. So raising stuff that's low down, and lowering stuff that's high up because reaching and holding a weight above you is not great either. Having a bag or basket or box with useful things on a table/chair can help too.

Practising the physio approved method for getting yourself out of bed and standing up from chairs might also help make it less frustrating when the time comes! (Roll onto side, drop feet off the edge, push up with opposing arm etc).

Little things that make the physical challenges of recovery less intense/overwhelming basically. Even when it's a wanted procedure, the change to your body can be emotionally tough so it helps to reduce the pressure on yourself by reducing the number of things each day that remind you because you can't do something.

Hope you have a smooth recovery.

This is really useful, thank you.

Whats a general anaesthetic like? I know I'm a big baby but the thought of it is really scary! Zero control, just knocked out. Argh. I know I've got to have it and I need to woman up and get on with it but that's the one thing that really puts me off.

@Standrewsschool

I haven’t had a c-section but have had a hysterectomy.

Week 1 - felt tired and lethargic. I think the anaesthetic knocks me out a lot.
Week 2 - felt better and was more able to do things.
Week 3 - felt back to normal. Went for half an hour walks. Cooked etc.

Had to be careful lifting, wasn’t allowed to Hoover, couldn’t drive etc for six weeks. Went back to work after six weeks.

It’s not like hysterectomies of yesteryear. You do recover quickly, you just have to be a little careful, and the area where the op was can be sensitive.

Be warned, the trapped wind and constipation can be uncomfortable.

Pretty much the same as Standrews. No experience of C-section but hysterectomy the same. Went back to work after 5 weeks because I was bored. Yes to taking it easy and not lifting.

I haven't had either op but plenty of GAs. Don't worry about that bit! One minute you're chatting to the anaesthetist, the next you're waking up in recovery. You really don't know anything about actually getting knocked out, you're just not aware of it.

Good luck!

Do you have to have a general? I thought a spinal was preferred. Is it because of the prolapse?

I've had a general anaesthetic and it was fine. Bit like being switched off and back on again tbh.

My Mum had a full hysterectomy and went home the next day. She felt sore for a couple of weeks but actually, the benefits of no long having terrible bleeding and pain from cysts and fibroids meant that in many ways she felt better than ever. She had a spinal though which her consultant said reduced recovery time and pain levels. Her dad's funeral was 4 days post op and she caught a train to the venue and was up and about, albeit moving gingerly.

I've looked after people with hysyerectomies, and had a c section. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the hysterectomy is probably harder and longer recovery (even keyhole). Bowel involvement and bladder involvement add a little extra risk of complications like nausea, vomiting, catheter etc. It'll take you a bit longer to get on your feet.
However, I will say, if you're determined to get up and going you can do it!! A positive attitude really really helps! Take the pain relief, take the anti sickness meds, and get moving. You'll be great. Good luck.

I’ve found general anaesthetics fine, although it’s natural to be nervous. It always surprises me how many people are in the anaesthetist room - about four in total. One minute you are chatting to them, the next you wake up in recovery.

Hiya, I am 45 and just had a Total Hysterectomy (Abdominal) due to heavy bleeding and the presence of Intramural fibroid X5 largest 12 cm and I had had 2 previous C-Sections. Today is day 15 of my recovery. I must say that C-Secs are far easier, I take them any day lol. I asked for Patient Controll Anesthesia (PCA) for 3 days, best thing ever as you administer your Morphine by pressing a button! pls don't forget to have laxives alongside the PCA. Regular Enemas are also great I had 2. Also ask for regular antiemetics as the last thing you want is to be sick. Hardest thing beside trying to cough or sneezing. Unfortunately I developed an infection 2 days post surgery and had to say in for 6 days instead of the 2 days planned. Once at home I took Co-Codamol 30/50 X 2 and I have been managing fine. My husband took 3 weeks off work to look after me and my boys are 11 and 12 so they are more than capable to look after themselves. I consider myself to be a very strong person and baring that in mind, I consider a Hysterectomy to be the hardest things I have ever experienced in terms of how little you can do for yourself at the beginning and how slow the recovery is. Pls.pls don't stretch to reach out for things, bend down or lift anything heavy. My max lift is the kettle with 3 cups of water that's it!
All the best....xxx

Hi, I had 3 sections then a hysterectomy, open not vaginal. I found recovering from the hysterectomy was much better than any of my sections. I had no baby to look after and lots of painkillers. A morphine drip for 24 hours, pain killers and a muscle relaxant suppository daily.
Good luck.

My DM has recently had surgery for a stage 4 prolapse/hysterectomy in April (had to pay for it herself as couldn’t face another year’s wait after waiting 40 weeks for the consultant appointment 😡). She is 80 years old but even so it has been a long recovery and now has to be redone as the surgery did not work (not paying for this op fortunately). She came home with a catheter in situ as it took a while for her bladder to work properly (consultant thinks because the bladder hadn’t worked properly for months due to the prolapse). Definitely no bending or lifting for 3 months and on laxido indefinitely to prevent constipation etc. I have had 4 c sections and wasn’t allowed to do anything for 3 months after the fourth one.

Good luck with the op!