The surgical procedure of a hysterectomy removes the uterus. The operation is usually recommended when other options have failed to relieve the symptoms the individual woman is experiencing. Some hysterectomies remove the uterus, other include the cervix, while a radical hysterectomy will see the removal of uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
By far the most common reason for needing a hysterectomy is menstrual problems in an older woman. Other reasons include pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, prolapse of the uterus, problems during pregnancy or childbirth and some cancers. The doctor you are seeing is the best person to ask why you need to have the hysterectomy.
There are two ways to perform this surgery; they are vaginal and abdominal. Recovery is usually faster and less painful with a vaginal procedure because it doesn’t involve an incision and stitches. Not all women are candidates for this method; it depends on the reason the surgery is required, the age and general health of the patient.
You will probably have some pain after your hysterectomy; more so if you had an abdominal procedure. Pain relief is given in hospital and you will possibly have a catheter in place for a day or two to drain urine away.
You will be kept in bed for the first day and then encouraged to walk around a little each day. To reduce the possibility of clots in the legs, is why patients are taken for walks soon after surgery. Vaginal hysterectomy patients are usually discharged after 3 or 4 days but abdominal hysterectomy patients have a hospital stay of up to one week.
You will need a recovery time of 6 or 8 weeks at home to allow wounds to heal and muscles to mend. It is important to rest during this time and don’t do any heavy housework, stretching or lifting.
You can expect some symptoms during your recovery. Expect some vaginal bleeding or discharge for a week or ten days; ask your doctor about it if you are concerned. After a hysterectomy, some women will have menopause-type symptoms, lasting for a few days to a week. Menopause symptoms include things like crying, confusion, sweats, hot flashes and feeling anxious. In cases where the symptoms don’t go away, doctors may prescribe some hormone replacement therapy to alleviate the discomfort.
Your hysterectomy should have no negative impact on your libido, in fact, many women report that it is enhanced. Vaginal dryness is a common symptom in patients who have had their ovaries removed, but this can be relieved with vaginal lubricants or HRT. it is best to avoid having sex for six weeks or so after your hysterectomy so that your body has time to heal completely.
You may have some emotional or psychological symptoms like feeling a sense of loss. Most patients find that they feel much better after their surgery that the symptoms disappear quickly. If you find that some of these issues are continuing, ask your doctor for advice. A physicians can always give you good information on hysterectomy recovery, Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Supracervical Hysterectomy.
About 3 weeks after your surgery, start taking short walks to help get your fitness back and prevent putting on weight. Don’t overdo it in the beginning, but gradually increase the length of your daily walk. This light exercise will speed your recovery and help to prevent boredom. The recovery period is six to eight weeks for a reason - this time is needed to make a full recovery.
THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVISE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR!