Your Expereince w/hystorectomy recovery time

[ananda]

Hi

If you have had a hystorectomy (excuse my bad spelling) and/or a bladder "swing" installation...how long was it before you could go back to work, drive, an especially have sex!!!!

I'm going to be having both done at once (the hysto the kind where they go through the vagina) and the doctor said some people are back to work in 3 or 4 days and for some it takes 4 weeks.

Just want to see what others have expereinced. The dr. says its up to me on how i feel, but i'de like to be realistic when i talk to my boss.

Thanks.

[51anna]

Hi Ananda,

I don't have the experience, but I'm sure others who have will post soon. I have had friends who have had the hysterectomy done through the vagina and the recovery time is really quite fast. I hope you will be pleasantly surprised by how good you feel, but make sure to take enough time to recover.

[Sugah]

Don't lift anything! I had a vaginal hysterectomy. Two weeks post-surgery, I lifted my then two-year-old daughter and hemorrhaged. I turned around and did it again three days later - after having sex. Your doctor is the one to ask for specific restrictions. I believe I was told to wait six weeks for sex, running a vac, lifting anything over ten pounds.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[ananda]

thanks sugah....i have already decided to wait about 4 months to get it....due to the sex issue....it's really quite funny cause i havent had any in 15 years, but i'll have one year sober next month and am hoping my "friend" will ask me out....you'de think what differrence does it make after 15 years...but that's me

ok - thats a whole nuther thread!!!!!

Really - thanks for you guys impute....and i will be careful, i can't afford to screw up by pushing it and ending up off work even more (not to mention I don't want to die anymore!)

[lightseeker]

sorry to hear that you need surgery but it's a good thing to get fixed if you need it. If you take care of yourself and follow your doctor's orders then you should do well. It really is important not to lift anything or over do it. I had an abdominal hysterectomy wasn't and it took 6 weeks to be able to get back completely to my normal life. It really wasn't too bad.

There is a great web site for women preparing for a hysterectom and recovering from one.

Hysterectomy Support Discussions, Before Hysterectomy, After Hysterectomy, Recovery - HysterSisters

happy healing when it's time!

[laurie6781]

I had abdominal and then he stapled. Staples came out at 13 days.

Day 14 I moved (yeah I know no heavy lifiting, kind of didn't follow that one too well and I was sober, rofl) and by 3 weeks I was back at work, Sore, but I did office work so wasn't too bad. I was tired a lot as my body healed but it got better.

By 6 weeks I was back to my old self and no PMS, no lying on the floor in a fetal position screaming my head off, no 3 weeks of the month feeling like I want to rip heads off of people, etc. It was and is WONDERFUL!!!!!!

So glad I had it done. Sex didn't occur for about 10 weeks as my 'friend' was out of the country for his job, but oh what a 'home coming' we had!

Hope that helps answer your question.

Love and hugs,

[ananda]

Thanks guys....i'll check out the web site...and laurie...the sex probably won't be an issue.....but a girl can always hope

[serenityqueen]

I had my hysterectomy back in '91 when it was still the enormous incision held together with staples big enough to hold the bed on a pick up truck!

I can't give you any advise on time off work because I'm sure the recovery time with a vaginal surgery is far less than what I had.

I do want to emphasize that when the Dr. gives you restrictions, please follow them! I thought, like in most other areas of my life, that I knew better than the Dr. and way over did it. (I was still using at this time, and took so many pain pills that I wasn't feeling anything) I ended up back in the hospital for even longer than I originally spent following surgery.

After you're healed up, it is so wonderful not having to worry about Aunt Flow's unwelcomed and unwanted visits all the time!

Judy

[Lily]

hystersisters is a GREAT site! I too had a hysterctomy w/ bladder and bowel repair, but mine ended up a little weird. Couldn't pee for 6 weeks w/out self cathing then I had to have the sling loosened and the scar tissue in my vag repaired. UGH! I am sure you will fair better though!

Watch out for those pain meds though! use you accountability! Sheila

[Freedom1990]

I had the same surgery as you are describing, and the doctor recommended waiting 3 weeks before working again, and then, only half days. I did go back to work the end of the second week, half days, and it was completely exhausting. I think I started driving about a week after the surgery. Even though that is a less invasive surgery, it still takes the body up to a year to completely heal after major surgery.

[DSodaNow]

I haven't had this surgery, but I wanted to wish you the best with it. It is great that you are seeking advise from people who have experienced it prior to the procedure. I am learning more and more about how important it is to educate yourself in regard to your health!

Good Luck!