Recovery after hysterectomy

[Cherryann]

Hi, just looking for some reassurance really.

I had a vaginal hysterectomy just under a fortnight ago- cervix, uterus, ovaries, tubes all gone.

Surgery went well - laparoscopic cuts seem fine, no infection, and no vaginal bleeding at all, but I am still feeling not myself at all! Quite a bit of crampy pain where uterus would be, pain in the side bits (where ovaries would be I guess), bloating (I feel I have to protect my abdomen from being touched) and just so tired! Still having to use paracetamol ibuprofen codeine & noritriptyline to get through the day.

I feel really guilty about this as we hear so much about how a vaginal hysterectomy is easy, and you’ll be leaping about drinking wine, working, dancing, whatever within a fortnight.

So is my experience abnormal? Am I being self-indulgent / hypochondriac? Or have any others felt like this?

Perfectly normal to still be bloated and in pain ime. However, I knocked the codeine on the head asap. That makes you really tired so won’t be helping you tiredness wise when you are already tired through recovering.
Try and get out for a little walk each day, just 5 minutes each day initially, then add 5 minutes more each week. You lose muscle tone really quickly not doing much and that can cause it’s own problems. Also do your PFE 3-4 times daily.
I hope you feel better soon.

I didn't have a great deal of pain after the first few days but was extremely tired and weak for several weeks. I had an afternoon nap for six to eight weeks. It was around 4 months before I felt fairly normal but still ached (a bit like period pain) if I did a lot.

Some people are back to work in six weeks but others over four months. Don't push yourself too much, you need to rest, though a short daily walk is also good.

I had a vaginal hysterectomy last April. The tiredness was something else! I managed without pain killers from about week 3 but was still so tired all the time 10 weeks on. Do your physio exercises and walk when you can.
When I went back to work and had a better routine the tiredness subsided.
Take each day as it comes. A year on I feel better than ever.

The tiredness was debilitating. I had to go straight onto oestrogen (patches, 75 strength) as I was sweating buckets. The pain from the gas that had been used was very painful for weeks. I felt desolate.

The moving around of my bowel during the operation has left long-term gut issues, and I ended up being referred by Gynae to Gastroenterology who were no help at all, unfortunately. I worked out a diet plan for myself that is gentle on my guts (low FODMAP that accommodates an existing autoimmune condition).

I don't regret the surgery but I really wasn't prepared for it. And I had a very well-respected gynae surgeon.

And one night in the hospital was both not enough and yet 'enough' - noisy environment, my medications locked away and unavailable, resistance on the ward to providing the prescribed pain relief ... food that choked me as my throat had been damaged during an emergency re-intubation ... ah happy days 😕

If you are on Facebook you might find Hysterectomy Sisters a useful group to join.

Your recovery will be individual to you and if you still have pain or need to take it easy that's fine. I don't think many people will be leaping around two weeks after surgery. I'm a month post op and I'm certainly not!

Thanks all, obviously not good to hear of others’ difficulties but a relief to know not just me!
Weirdly surgeon told me not to do PFE for 4 weeks! He said it increases pressure in the vagina & can cause hernia. This seemed odd to me - and to the hospital physio, who said all the same to follow his instructions. Pressure in the vagina? 🤔