Realistic recovery expectations for a hysterectomy?

[lostpasswordagain]

I am going in for a hysterectomy in a few weeks and I just wanted to get a guage on what I might expect for recovery time from those who have had one and if there is anything you did/didn't do to help prep/recover.

It should be vaginal and fairly straightforward. I am having it because of a history of heavy bleeding and fibroids and failed ablation. Am already on HRT for perimenopause and have kids so no huge emotional issues around losing my uterus, more a relief.

There is a small possibility it will need to be abdominal because of a previous c section and the internal scarring I have from that. Probably won't know until the day.

Apparently I am booked in for a 2 night stay only.

Is anyone happy to share their experience? I know it is a bit of a how-long-is-apiece-of-strong question but it would be really helpful to get some idea about how long I am likely to be feeling awful and when I might be able to go back to work - from home first, then office with a commute.

My ablation turned out to be a bit crap and I had unexpected bleeding for about 3 months which was not nice. Turned out I also had infections. So that was fun. I can't remember how long it took to recover from the c section bceause that's all a bit of a baby blur now!

Hi I didn't feel crap at all. Tired and sore for a few weeks but absolutely no pain. I think sore and pain are different.
Walked lots for recovery, didn't drive for six weeks and went back work at seven weeks

I had an a laparoscopic hysterectomy. I felt absolutely fine two days later, but was told I had to take it easy for six weeks, or I might put myself back.

I was driving after a week, and doing light housework, just not hoovering, ironing etc.

I had abdominal surgery. I was off work a bit longer because I was an early years teacher and had to do a lot of bending and lifting. In the long term it was absolutely brilliant and I was a new woman. I had my ovaries out at the same time and went straight on HRT.

I had a total abdominal hysterectomy. In hospital for 5 days, off work for 2 months. I would say it took me a full 6 months before I really felt like my old self again just because I felt more tired.

I had a vaginal in July and went to my daughter’s graduation 100 miles away ten days later. Not much pain or bleeding. Walking was highly recommended by the staff.

Don’t let them stop your HRT. I had blood-thinning injections to take home against the highly unlikely chance of a clot.

Mine was 30 years ago.. things are different now.. mine was laparotomy...in hospital two weeks ( had adhesions stuck to it from my bowels and bladder). 6 months recovery..
So guess I'm no help..
Everyone is different.

I had a full abdominal hysterectomy just over a year ago. I went home the day after my surgery and was back to work after 6 weeks. I debated going back after 4 but glad I held out for the 6 as I was very tired starting back.
I felt fine in only a few days after but by god I was so tired for weeks. Best thing I ever did. Good luck!

Amazing replies, thank you so much. It sounds like I should be looking at min 6 weeks before going back in to the office but a little bit of work at home after 4 might well be feasible. I have my own business so that would help, even just for a bit of admin work. However, build in expectations that I will probably be very tired for a while and listen to my body.

Abdominal here, but kept my ovaries ... drove after 10 days, back at work in school after 6 (in hindsight too soon as I was very very tired but I felt ok!)
The first week WAS painful but after that I improved rapidly, and it was the best thing I could have had done!

I was back at work a week after mine too. I felt fine but looking back it was a stupid thing to do and I should have taken a lot longer off to recover properly. At the time I was a single mum and feared I’d lose my job if I took longer off but I now have my priorities sorted and wouldn’t make the same mistake again

I had a Laparoscopic hysterectomy, vaginally assisted. Only one night in hospital. Very little pain, up and about quickly, walking a couple of miles quite soon. Exhausted though, and brain fogged from surgical menopause. Went back to a full on job after 5 weeks as I felt physically well and strong. But was ridiculously tired. Got very lucky, I know.

I am 7 weeks post mine. Wasn't expecting any complications, me nor the surgeon, and there weren't.

Had it keyhole with four incision sites. Just had the waterproof dressing on for a couple of days.

I woke up on the recovery ward with just a cannula in my hand and no catheter or packing (some things I was worried about). I didn't have any shoulder pain which I was prepared for.

I packed for a few nights stay just in case. I took some ear plugs and an eye mask which helps block out ward noise a bit.

I ended up staying in one night as I couldn't have a wee. Drink as much water as you can as not only will it make you go for a wee, it'll sting much less.

Liquid laxative is really handy to have. Just 10ml twice a day keeps things moving so no need to do any pushing.

Have a cushion for the car ride home, to put between the belt and your stomach. I was amazed at just how much things moved when going around corners.

Wear comfortable trousers or whatever, no tight waist bands. You swell up quite a bit, plus any pressure does hurt.

Big pants really are so very comfortable for afterwards. I just worse them until my stitches started coming off.

I bought some V pillows for sleeping in bed. I actually found it difficult to sleep upright as I got some pressure pain from the hospital bed at the base of my back/top of my buttock, which went numb. It's ok now, but was quite uncomfortable for a while.

I am now doing pretty much all my usual things, walking dog, doing dinner, hoovering and making the beds. I am still being careful about lifting anything really heavy like bringing in logs for the burner or taking the full basket of wet washing upstairs to hang up to dry.

I did feel tired for a while so do allow yourself time to just rest.

I hope it goes well for you. The relief of never having the bleeding, flooding and clots again is such a relief.

I had an abdominal hysterectomy 33 years ago when I was 36. I was only in hospital one night.

I was lucky in that I had no pain and did not need any pain relief. I got up the morning after the op and had a shower. My consultant got me to walk along the corridor and said as I could walk ok, shower ok and was not in any pain I could go home.

He told me to go for a walk every day (which I did) and although not to do anything like hoovering or changing the bed not to just sit or lie around doing nothing.

I went back to work in an office (hour and a half commute each way on train and tube) after 5 weeks

I’m having a hysterectomy in 2 weeks (laparoscopic/vaginal) for the same reason, failed ablation with has caused adenomyosis. I have been told I will stay in for 24 hours but it will depend how I am. Some people even go home the same day, others stay in for a few days, it will depend if you’re able to walk around and if your pain is under control. I have packed my overnight bag, packed a nightie, big pants, phone charger, dressing gown, slippers and wash bag.

I am hoping for an easy recovery but have mentally prepared myself for a longer recovery. I think the first week is probably hard, getting in and out of bed can be tricky at first and opening your bowels for the first time can be painful and take time.

I totally get the anxiety after ablation, mine was exactly the same, ended up with a infection and seemed to take ages to feel human again, I don’t think I have ever fully recovered, I had sterilisation at the same time and have had pain ever since in my pelvis. I am hoping hysterectomy will actually stop the pain and I can’t wait to be period free.

Hope your surgery goes well.

Thank you for all the newer messages, too. Really helpful to hear about the tiredness in particular. I hadn’t really thought that bit through so much. Also so good to hear how happy you all are having had it done! I know it might be easy or might have complications but this definitely helps. As do the packing lists. Thank you.

I had a lap assisted vaginal hysterectomy. Was in overnight. Found the pain pretty bad for the first 48 hours but fine after that. Wasn't expecting the vulval swelling - I'd recommend one of those ice packs you can put in your pants! I was fine pottering around the house straight away, driving day 6 (had to pick my car up from the hospital an hour away as I'd driven myself there on the morning of my op), took the kids to center parcs after 2 weeks (was fine swimming and riding bike). Back to work at 3 weeks but could have gone after 2.

I went straight onto HRT so avoided menopausal symptoms too. Genuinely the best decision ever, I feel so much better than I did before surgery, it was totally lifechanging.

@lostpasswordagain I'm going in for the same in April. I take arnica before operations as it reduces bruising/swelling.

I had lap assisted vaginal, once I was over the anaesthesia sickness I felt fine. I did have wind (peppermint oil capsules were fabulous) and I had to wear those gross stockings for 6 weeks! I went back to full time work on day 43, and I have never looked back.
A bonus for me was the lovely consultant surgeon who took the opportunity to re-do my 30 year old bodged episiotomy scar, for which I am extremely grateful!

This is all really helpful. Thanks for starting the post.
I am going for hysterectomy and bilateral oopherectomy in a month or so but as I have PMDD making me suicidal as well as the heavy bleeding.

Brilliant. So…
arnica tablets in advance
peppermint oil capsules
liquid laxative
ice pack
v cushion and cushion for the car
big pants, loose trousers or tunic thing that doesn’t dig in
Expect first 48 hours or so to be the worst
Get walking asap but don’t lift anything for several weeks
4-6 weeks is stage 1 recovery, stage 2 and tiredness could be similar or several weeks/months later depending on type of op and how I personally respond to it
no-one regrets it!

For those also waiting to go in, masses of luck and if you feel up to updating with your experience after your ops, then that would be very helpful for me but also anyone else who finds this thread later.

Thank you!

See how you go but a few weeks before you can drive like other ops, but beware picking up anything heavy. Infection rates can be high so don't overdo it.

I was fine after 2 days but couldn't bend down e.g. to tie shoelaces, take plates out of dishwasher, without getting a bad twinge, so minimised bending over in case it affected internal stitches. Cushion over tummy in car felt sensible. When getting up from lying down, try to use arms to raise you, not your core muscles.

It’s great to hear other peoples stories of recovery, seems it’s different for everyone.

Has anyone had their appendix out and can compare it to that? I had mine out a few years ago by keyhole, I’m expecting hysterectomy to be a lot worse with longer recovery? I recovered pretty quickly from having my appendix out but remember the first few days struggling to get in and out of bed. Would be interesting to know how much worse it’s going to be 😬.

I had my surgery a month ago. Dissolvable stitches finally fell out yesterday. Recovery made harder due to unexpected side effects from the painkillers and was readmitted to hospital a week after the surgery - now more problems from that than the original surgery. Started feeling much more myself about a week ago.