recovery from surgery

[lhinman]

Dear Cycling Women,
I am a forty-something multisport athlete and I am having a hysterectomy in two weeks. I would like to hear from any others who have had major surgery like this . . . how did you resume activity? My doctor has told me about a 4 week recovery period is normal. Right now I am running 3 days a week (long run is 1:30), riding the mt. bike 2 days, and swimming (.5mile) 1 day. Thanks for any help or suggestions about resuming activity and training.
LH

[Irulan]

it would help to know if they are removing it vaginally ( the preferred option) or taking it out abdominally


Irulan

[trekchic]

I had a hysterectomy 3 years ago and it's the best thing I did! I was hemoraging uncontrollably and nothing stopped it.

I had to be cut open and only lost the uterus and had the cervix closed, of course. It took about 9 weeks to completely heal as far as the inscision was concerned (and the stitches closing the cervix...you can't really do anything until that heals). It was 6 months before I had my strength back. It comes back gradually. I wasn't riding back then, but I had to build up to walking a mile again over a period of a few weeks.

Good luck with your surgery. It really will be alright once it is over. You'll be glad you did it!

Kim

[aka_kim]

How do you resume activity? Slowly.

I had a nephrectomy two years ago (the incision is similar to that for an abdominal hysterectomy) and couldn't do much more than walking and tai chi for the first 4 weeks. I don't run, but even a short jog to get across a busy street was very uncomfortable. Simple activities like push ups were impossible. I did finally get back on the bike at around 5 weeks post-surgery, and even did a 100k at the 10 week mark. You will slowly regain your strength and stamina, and abdominal muscle, but expect to take it easy for the first few weeks and definitely don't try to overdo it (and develop a hernia like I did).

Good luck.

[newfsmith]

10 years ago I had a hysterectomy. I had some time to wait because I was anemic and they wanted me to try to get my hematocrit up before surgery. At the time I was nordic tracking. While I was waiting for surgery I increased my tracking time by 20%. I had an abdominal "bikini" incision, uterus and both ovaries removed. When I was discharged I asked if there were any activity restrictions and was told not to pick up anything over 5 lbs, so 3 days after I got home I started Nordic tracking again. I did move the pad you lean against up so it was above my waist line and only went for a quarter of the time pre-op and gradually increased. Every day I walked the dog until he started to pull for home. When it was time for my sutures to come out, I walked the 7 miles to the MD's office, and back home. I went back to work 4 weeks post op. Since my unofficial job title is "dog wrestler" I did spend some time at the gym getting my strength back, but 8 weeks post-op I was picking up 80 lb dogs again. I've recently read some articles that suggest that people that are active, or become more active in the weeks before surgery, recover faster. I believe it. You might find the saddle a little uncomfortable the first month, so take shorter rides. Good luck with your surgery.

[missliz]

I haven't had this- but am told the vaginal operation is much better, so I hope you can get that. I do know from long experience with surgical rebuilds that impact will pop stitches and Mt biking too soon (yeah, guilty) will make a mess of things. You really do get rattled around a lot. Maybe get some slicks and ride pavement? The low gearing might be just right.
So look at it this way- no more periods, cramps, or problems big enough to get the surgury. And down time is good- little things rest and heal, your body forgets bad habits but remembers good form. That's what off season is for, and it's winter anyway. The walking sounds good, I did a lot of that as part of PT over the last three years. Call me Humpty Dumpty. It's low impact, but you can train your gait and work on form. Go to the gym and use the mirrors with the treadmill and the spin bike. And you can fool around and try some new things for the heck of it, have some play time.
It's not down time, it's fine tuning time. You can use rest and slowing down very constructively. And don't feel bad if you find yourself splat on the sofa- it's major surgury.
Get well soon

Lizzy

[newfsmith]

The advantages of a vaginal hysterectomy aren't absolute. Before laparascopes, there actually was a higher risk of hemorrhage with that approach, and it is debated that there may be a higher incidence stress incontinence after the vaginal surgery. This is one where you push your surgeon to discuss the pro's and con's of each, and whether they think one is more appropriate for you and why. There is very little difference in recovery time.

[lhinman]

Thank you everyone, for the helpful info. My doctor is planning to do the vaginal hysterectomy. I have definitely scheduled three weeks rest and then hope to ease back to work (and play).
LH

[divscotty]

I had the same surgery 12 mo's ago. I was back to work in 14 days. I was tired but ok.

Take the pain medication they give you no need for pain and it will only last a while anyway.

Absolutely follow their instructions on no activity for the first week. If so you will be weeks ahead in recovery.

I was mtn biking again in 6 weeks.

Best decision I ever made - bar none. Best. Should have had the option 20 some years ago.

Divscotty