Hysterectomy recovery

[justprance]

I started tackling my flabbiness 4 months ago but now have to have a hysterectomy next week!!! Am a bit scared but also wondering if anyone has had one of these and how did you start exercising again?

No but I had gallbladder out. If it is by keyhole surgery recovery is quicker and you are encouraged to walk as much as you can, as soon as you can. Little and often initially. It really, really helps with recovery.

I hope the op goes well.

I had a hysterectomy just over 3 months ago. Mine was the size of a 6 month pregnancy by the time it was removed, so had to be done through a cut across my belly. I'd not been able to exercise at all for several months before the op so my muscles were pretty wasted and I was worried about recovery. Turns out, I've just had to be patient with it.
In hospital, the physio had me out of bed and shuffling up and down the corridor starting the day after surgery, and I got a leaflet with really basic exercises to do in bed. For the first weeks, the goal is to keep your legs moving regularly to prevent blood clots, but allow your belly time to heal. As the weeks went on, I was able to walk and move about a bit more. If I felt any discomfort around the scar area, I eased off and rested more. After 2 months, I had an appointment with the 'womens health' physio, who gave me some slightly more intense Pilates-style exercises to do. After 3 months, she said I was OK to go back to the gym when I felt ready, but to start of gradually with light weights and always use any discomfort down below as guide to be careful. My 'milestone' moment was realizing I could do a full sit-up for the first time in absolutely ages 😀
Like everybody says, I am sooo glad I was able to get it done! For the sake of a few month's post-surgery down time, it is so good to feel that I can move forward with my health and fitness rather than constantly having to cut my lifestyle back to accommodate 'the blob' 👹
Good luck with your op, hope you're feeling lots better soon!

Thank you so much!!! This has given me hope

And another thing - don't fret about putting on weight during recovery. I found that my appetite was absolutely shot for weeks after surgery. The physio explained that when you have organs removed from your abdomen, your guts have to rearrange themselves into the new space, and it's really common to have nausea and bowel changes while they're settling. In fact, the hospital may advise you to stock up on gentle laxatives to keep everything moving along (you don't want to be straining on the loo in those first weeks!) There may be days when you feel too poorly to eat and too weak to move about, but just give your body time to re-balance. Even when you're resting, your body is working REALLY hard behind the scenes to repair all the cuts and stitches the surgeon has made inside your belly (especially important to remember if you're having keyhole and there's not much to see on the outside).

Hi @Northseacrone just jumping on this thread. I had full lap hysterectomy Friday. I bled afterwards so told to take it easy for first week. What leg exercises did you do in bed please? I have the sexy stocking!!

Hi @Knbd22 - hope you're doing OK, early days yet. I had lovely dark green surgical stockings - DH had to learn how to get them on and off me when I wanted a shower until my tummy muscles were strong enough to do it myself! 😊

I can't find the physio leaflet I was given, but the attached is similar. Basically, any way that you can move your feet and legs while reclining in bed (without discomfort) will do the trick. The physio told me that mild aching around the surgery after any activity is fine, that's just the muscles knitting back together. If you did anything to damage it, it would be very obvious.

Usual advice, take it slow, listen to your body, give it time to heal! Hope your recovery goes well and you're feeling better soon 💐

https://plr.cht.nhs.uk/uploads/317/csph0033%20v2%20Jan22%20Hysterectomy%20and%20Vaginal%20Repair%20A4.pdf?time=1644001890

Amazing thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I feel ok thanks, the joys of the wind but mint tea etc helping x