Laparoscopic hysterectomy- tell me about it

[Atissue123]

Having this done most likely late Jan - late Feb (on waiting list as semi urgent). Keeping ovaries. I’m 42. What can I expect in terms of recovery? I am not overweight but am not that fit. I am relatively strong (do weights) and walk but not much else.

worried about recovery. How long until I can:

• work from home (I’m a tutor so all online)
• walk about house
• walk outdoors
• drive
• cook/clean
• go to the cinema (just an example!)
• do weights / swim / proper exercise

im thinking 3-4 weeks of ‘full recovery’ but then would I be ok to start doing things? Eg could I book a holiday safely for May time abroad if surgery is February?

thank you

Brilliant recovery for me (total hysterectomy, but not allowed HRT until 8 wks post op for some reason).
The best advice I had was to walk 5 mins per day, every day, and to add 5 mins each week so that by week 6 I was walking 30 mins per day. I started this the day after coming home, I did need DH with me for the first couple of weeks, just for security really in case I felt wobbly. The walking kept my muscles strong and really aided recovery. Also do pelvic floor exercises several times a day (I did them daily prior to op any way but was doing them within hours of waking up from the op), and any physio exercises they give you. I was given none so I googled some.
I was cooking and loading the dishwasher, hanging out washing etc 2 days after coming home, not ideal but doable. I could have returned to my workplace by week 4. You could absolutely go on holiday in May, providing op straight forward and no complications. I was fine to drive within a couple of weeks but probably didn’t until around week 4, as long as you can do an emergency stop it’s fine. Cinema would be fine within a week or two if you aren’t too knackered.
Don’t drink with the blood thinning injections they give you post op as alcohol also thins the blood, so you could end up bleeding internally if blood is too thin.
I stuck to just paracetamol after coming home, co codamol (and the morphine during/after op) causes constipation and you really don’t want to be straining. Maybe get some dulcoease (NOT dulcolax) in case you need things softer to prevent straining.
The pain does ease remarkably quickly ime.

A friend who also had the op did no walking, no physio, no PFE and just lay around, typical pyjama paralysis, she took a lot longer to recover as when she then did start to try to do things week 6 she was too week and it took her longer to build up strength, and she was a lot fitter than me pre op!