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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Help .starting to panick over hsyerectomy recovery time

52 replies

Mo819 · 25/10/2025 17:53

So im early 40s and due to medical issues im going for a hysterectomy on monday.
Im not worried about the surgery its the recovery after i have 3 children that need me fighting fit .my husband can only get 2 weeks off work i dont drive and its a mile long walk to the school. So hopeing to hear from other ladies who have had this do you think ill be ok to walk after 2 week ?

OP posts:
AbraKebabraa · 25/10/2025 20:30

You won’t be “fighting fit” but will gradually feel better and gain strength.
No way should you be walking two miles after two weeks imo. Call in help and rely on school mums and friends for this.
Take the recovery carefully and slowly to reach your goal.
Batch cooking and ready meals will serve you well. If you haven’t already done this, during the two weeks DH is off get him on to this and the cleaning.
Nourishment, rest and sleep are paramount. This isn’t the time to be independent. Lean on others. Heavily and without guilt.
(Been there, have the t-shirt.)

Mo819 · 25/10/2025 21:18

Thanks ladies to answer a few questions its only 1 child that really needs taking to school the older 2 two take them selfs .my husband can get the younger one ready before he leaves and sort the tea when he comes back. Ill have to ask friends for help i just really hate relying on people.

OP posts:
Waitaminutewheresmejumper · 25/10/2025 21:31

I was back in work after a fortnight but I got a lift to and from and didn't move around a lot - I definitely couldn't have walked 2 miles. I also found I was very tired mid afternoon for several weeks after the operation.

ByTwinklyDreamer · 25/10/2025 21:36

How are you getting it done?

wordywitch · 25/10/2025 21:42

I was doing the school run 12 hours after mine, went straight there from the hospital, and was riding a horse around the farm to do all my chores by day 3. Real women don’t need ‘rest’ after surgery and just get on with it. I don’t know what all the fuss is about, really.

🙄

phantomofthepopera · 25/10/2025 23:12

You’ll get loads of women telling you that they were doing Zumba three days later. I had a few complications after mine, and I wasn’t discharged until three weeks. I was in a lot of pain and on antibiotics for a further three weeks (infected haematoma). I literally couldn’t do anything for weeks.

Do everything you can to drum up some support around you. Do you have a friend or school mum who can do the school run for a couple of weeks after your DH returns to work?

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 25/10/2025 23:23

Abdominal at 40, due to a very large fibroid that had caused me to feel awful for years. Scar healed well, felt like a weight had been lifted, anaemia sorted, and after a couple of weeks taking it easy, I was back at work in 4 weeks, signed off by the consultant. I had no sick pay (an incentive to recover), but I'd over compensated for years to keep fit, whilst feeling awful, which helped in recovery. I don't think there's a standard recovery time and a colleague took six month's off, as she got paid for it!!

GFBurger · 25/10/2025 23:43

I think it very much depends on what kind of hysterectomy you are having.

I am 6 weeks post abdominal, with ovaries and cervix taken aswell.

Doctors did suggest walking every day… but not far - not like an hour hike. 5 minutes maybe to start and that includes the time to get back! You can really feel it if you over do it and there were a lot of naps1

I had 3 nights in hospital. Had a walk down the corridor a couple of times.

2 weeks after I could walk 15 minutes maybe. It hurts - and you are going very slowly with a large scar. And you kind of want to hold it all in…But maybe if there’s somewhere to sit and rest for bit you can go further.

Actually I think it’s just the being upright that hurts most after a while, not necessarily the moving!

Your older children will have to step up and help out a lot. Making you tea in the morning, helping you lift things. If you lift too much too quickly you will hurt yourself. The washing is going to pile up and it is not a problem!

You will be tired, your body will be healing. You need it to heal. And if they are taking your ovaries as well you’ll be heading for surgical menopause which is a wild ride!!

I am still numb in parts of my stomach area. I drove for the first time today and the jiggling that the car does makes it a little uncomfortable to be honest. But it was fine really, still walking a bit slower than most people.

So - yes, ask for help and eagerly take up all offers of help.

Hystersisters website gives lots of good advice about healing and what to take to hospital and my biggest win was taking my own pillow in a silk pillow case as you can move it around easier and use the hospital pillow as a side bolster, so you can position the pillow into the right place. Oh the joy!

SquishyGloopyBum · 26/10/2025 09:23

You get one recovery op - ask for help. Seriously it will be better in the long run for you.

Murfmeister · 26/10/2025 17:36

mydogisthebest · 25/10/2025 18:44

I had an abdominal hysterectomy when I was 36. The Consultant told me to go for a walk every day. He said one of the reasons it takes so many woman so long to recover is because they are told to literally lay around and do nothing.

I was up and walking along the corridor the morning after my op and I managed a shower. I was only in hospital 2 nights.

I am not sure how far I walked each day but I am pretty sure I could have walked that 2 weeks after my op.

Same for me, to be honest.

Mo819 · 26/10/2025 17:49

Im being consented for both surgeries lapororscopy and open as the consultant wanys to try the lapo first .
I do have a few other health problems that may hinder my recovery for example i have a autoimmune diease that causes blood clots i take daily warfrin for this (on alternative for surgery) .
I really appreciate all your points of view ladies x

OP posts:
Hillarious · 26/10/2025 17:49

Can you husband do something imaginative with his leave? Break it down into half days to increase the time he’s around or work remotely?

MoreThanOverwhelmed · 26/10/2025 18:05

I had a open abdominal hysterectomy, retaining my ovaries aged 36 (bikini line incision) I was home the following lunchtime & as long as I took regular paracetamol, I was reasonably okay.
I got married at 7 days post op & I drove at 12 days post op. I too didn't have much choice as DH was on end of life care & I was juggling caring for him and 2 primary school aged DC.
I'm now almost 5 months post op and apart from a blip - an infection a combination of the hottest week of the year & spending all my time by my husband's bedside not taking care of myself. I've recovered reasonably well.

BoldAmberCat · 26/10/2025 18:09

I had to go back to work full time in a demanding physical job, two and a half weeks after my hysterectomy. Was also driving there and back. It wasn’t ideal and I was extremely tired, but I managed it. Have lots of painkillers ready at home and take them regularly.

Mo819 · 26/10/2025 18:40

MoreThanOverwhelmed · 26/10/2025 18:05

I had a open abdominal hysterectomy, retaining my ovaries aged 36 (bikini line incision) I was home the following lunchtime & as long as I took regular paracetamol, I was reasonably okay.
I got married at 7 days post op & I drove at 12 days post op. I too didn't have much choice as DH was on end of life care & I was juggling caring for him and 2 primary school aged DC.
I'm now almost 5 months post op and apart from a blip - an infection a combination of the hottest week of the year & spending all my time by my husband's bedside not taking care of myself. I've recovered reasonably well.

Im really sorry @MoreThanOverwhelmed that must have been hell. Hope you amd the kids are doing ok x

OP posts:
Mo819 · 26/10/2025 18:42

Hillarious · 26/10/2025 17:49

Can you husband do something imaginative with his leave? Break it down into half days to increase the time he’s around or work remotely?

Unfortuatly its not an option im his job.

OP posts:
Hillarious · 26/10/2025 22:40

Mo819 · 26/10/2025 18:42

Unfortuatly its not an option im his job.

So what can he do to help? Is there any flexibility his employer can offer? This is a problem for him too.

Mo819 · 26/10/2025 22:51

Hillarious · 26/10/2025 22:40

So what can he do to help? Is there any flexibility his employer can offer? This is a problem for him too.

As i have said already he is taking the first 2 weeks off will be doing all the cooking and house work going forward and will be able to get the youngest ready for school bed around work. I have good neighbours i can ask for help if needed during the day.

OP posts:
TreesOfGreen99 · 27/10/2025 05:49

@Mo819 Thinking of you and wishing you all the best for your op today. 💐

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 27/10/2025 07:47

wordywitch · 25/10/2025 21:42

I was doing the school run 12 hours after mine, went straight there from the hospital, and was riding a horse around the farm to do all my chores by day 3. Real women don’t need ‘rest’ after surgery and just get on with it. I don’t know what all the fuss is about, really.

🙄

I’m presuming this is a sarcastic piss-take of some of the competitive recovery posts!

wordywitch · 27/10/2025 07:57

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 27/10/2025 07:47

I’m presuming this is a sarcastic piss-take of some of the competitive recovery posts!

It is indeed. Those posts were ripe for the piss-taking 😄

Hillarious · 27/10/2025 14:07

Mo819 · 26/10/2025 22:51

As i have said already he is taking the first 2 weeks off will be doing all the cooking and house work going forward and will be able to get the youngest ready for school bed around work. I have good neighbours i can ask for help if needed during the day.

Sounds like you’re sorted then.

Mo819 · 27/10/2025 18:53

TreesOfGreen99 · 27/10/2025 05:49

@Mo819 Thinking of you and wishing you all the best for your op today. 💐

Thank you all well had op early today all went well fingery crossed for a speedy recovery!!

OP posts:
TheAmusedQuail · 27/10/2025 19:05

I was back at an activish job after a month. BUT that was because I took things very very easy for that month.

BengalBangle · 27/10/2025 19:19

Mo819 · 27/10/2025 18:53

Thank you all well had op early today all went well fingery crossed for a speedy recovery!!

Wishing you all the best in your recovery.

There is a Facebook group called Hysterectomy Sisters (UK) that really helped me.

Sending love.

X

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