Healing and Recovery from Hysterectomy?

In a few weeks I am scheduled to have surgery to remove my uterus & ovaries. I was hoping to get some encouraging advice regarding recovery times, how soon you were able and felt like getting back on the bicycle, and any other helpful hints or shared experiences. I am in my mid-50s, and in fairly good health and cycle often, usually about 50 miles a week or so.

I am hoping to get back on the bicycle in mid-February if possible, at least for a few miles. I really want to be fit enough to do the Seattle to Portland ride again this July (200 miles in two days).

This is a laparoscopic procedure, which they "say" the recovery time is faster, maybe two weeks to feeling good and four to six weeks feeling completely back to normal. No lifting for at least six weeks.

Just worried how this is going to affect getting back to my cycling routine.

I do not have personal experience with this, but one if my best friends does. She had a laproscopic hysterectomy, too. All I can do is urge you to respect your doctor's orders as to how long to rest. My friend started walking and running before she was cleared. Her bowel prolapsed months later. She got one heck of a lecture about it from her doc (and another surgery). The doc said that even when you start to feel fine, you are still healing internally. So, please be patient with the recovery process. Your bike will still be there when you're ready. I'm sorry to scare you; I just think it's important advice.

I had the same surgery in 2008, it was with the DaVinci machine which was a bit different. Recovery took longer than I was told..

Don't rush it, and you will want to make certain the wounds heal properly. You will be tempted to speed things up because externally it doesn't seem as major of a surgery as when they do it the old-fashioned way, but your body will need time to recover and heal properly. Your bikes will be there when you are fully cleared. If you go back too soon then your recovery period will take longer.

Good luck on your surgery and hope things go well!

I had a hysterectomy back in about 1990 or thereabouts. I felt great after a couple of weeks. Went on a trip to Florida with spouse, figuring to take advantage of the 6 weeks leave I had from work. Overdid it on a walk and couldn't make it back. Spouse went and got the car while I sat on the side of the road. I thought we were going to have to call an ambulance I felt so awful.

It's so individual it's hard to say. Listen to your body and do it gradually. I was back in action in about a week after an abdominal hysterectomy! But I was (unfortunately) young (31 yrs old).

I highly recommend Hyster Sisters forum. They are very supportive and knowledgeable.

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Originally Posted by Melalvai

It's so individual it's hard to say. Listen to your body and do it gradually. I was back in action in about a week after an abdominal hysterectomy! But I was (unfortunately) young (31 yrs old).

I highly recommend Hyster Sisters forum. They are very supportive and knowledgeable.

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This link was exactly what I was hoping to find. Thank you so much Melavai. Yes, youth makes all the difference in recovery time. :p

Indysteel, that was a cautionary tale for sure... omg. :eek::eek:

Thank you all for the warning to take it slow and easy. It is so helpful to hear from women who have gone through this experience. Somehow reassuring to know that I'll get through this eventually! Maybe not as quickly as I wanted, but still, will live to bike another day. :rolleyes:

Another recommendation for Hystersisters, it really is a great supportive forum with lots of good, solid information. My surgery was in 2008, but I still get an email from them on the anniversary of my surgery. I was very thankful for them, and you don't have to wait for the surgery to go there :)

That's so nice that they send emails to you on the anniversary of your surgery!

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Originally Posted by indysteel

That's so nice that they send emails to you on the anniversary of your surgery!

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They do quite a few supportive things, as I remember I got messages from them frequently during the first 8 weeks after my surgery. The messages provided good information regarding my stage of recovery. Then it decreased to once a month, then once every few months and so forth. While I don't visit the site any longer, it is nice to get those annual emails. They made a difficult situation easier than it would have been without the support.

I'll have to remember that if and when I or friends/family are in facing a hysterectomy. What a great resource.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

They do quite a few supportive things, as I remember I got messages from them frequently during the first 8 weeks after my surgery. The messages provided good information regarding my stage of recovery. Then it decreased to once a month, then once every few months and so forth. While I don't visit the site any longer, it is nice to get those annual emails. They made a difficult situation easier than it would have been without the support.

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Just being on the site (I haven't signed up YET, but I am going to) I have learned so much on what to BRING to the hospital...so many things the doctor either doesn't have time to tell you or doesn't think about. Gas X?? :eek:

I have to say I am little nervous reading about this "swelly belly" stuff... I'm not sure I'm ready for that, I already have a swelly belly. :p:p:p

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Originally Posted by AppleTree

Just being on the site (I haven't signed up YET, but I am going to) I have learned so much on what to BRING to the hospital...so many things the doctor either doesn't have time to tell you or doesn't think about. Gas X?? :eek:

I have to say I am little nervous reading about this "swelly belly" stuff... I'm not sure I'm ready for that, I already have a swelly belly. :p:p:p

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Unless it turns out that you need to go the full incision route, you will likely only be in the hospital just under 24 hours - or at least that is how they do it around here. I am still amazed that a total hysterectomy is considered "out-patient surgery", but they do consider it that if you've not had the full incision. I had that years ago due to an ectopic pregnancy, and you do NOT what to go that route :eek: recovery is so much nicer with the less invasive procedures.

That being said, just make sure you have your Gas X at home :) I didn't really have a problem with "swelly belly", though some women do, I think this differs from woman to woman. I live alone, and also was at the time. I had someone with me overnight after my surgery, but then I was alone. Just lived on the couch for a couple of days...MUCH nicer than my first abdominal surgery... I was off work the full time, and really I did need it.

LOL @ "swelly belly!" I may have to use that term at home where we eat a lot of beans.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

That's so nice that they send emails to you on the anniversary of your surgery!

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They call it your hysterversary.
My hysterversary is Oct 5! :D

Interesting. The summer of 2005 my first year of bike racing was abruptly interrupted with an emergency abdominal surgery. Laparotomy for the removal of an ovarian cyst. I was over-zealous - I overdid it after the first week of recovery and ended up being bedridden for an extra few weeks. I still show a slight swelly-belly even though everything is intact. I was an outlier as far as my recovery was concerned. All I can say is that you can always regain your strength and fitness but you only have one chance to heal right. Take it easy and the best of luck to you!

Hysterversary, what a hoot... does Hallmark make a card for that one yet? :p

Chinook, thanks for sharing your story. I would be so tempted to overdo it myself. My cycling fitness thus far has been really hard won over the past few years, and I just hate the thought of losing it in a few months, but that's the way it goes. So far everyone's advice has been GO SLOW. I think I will take it.

To everything there is a season! A time to crank the pedals and a time to plant your butt on the couch and knit.

Thanks again TE sisters, for sharing your experiences with me.

I found my hysterectomy very freeing. No more birth control, no more bleeding. Nice :)

After reading a small selection of the hystersisters tales of recovery I am beginning to have 2nd thoughts about doing the surgery now. From what I've read it sounds like it will be at least six weeks and more like eight weeks to even begin any serious activity. And that is IF all goes well.

I am thinking of putting it off until October or so. At least then I'd have the summer to be active and achieve my cycling goals...and the winter to recover and slowly work my way back into shape.

There isn't a terrible urgency to have the surgery, my diagnosis was adenomyosis... nothing life threatening. The worst that could happen between now and then might be another horrible menstrual cycle, but I'm thinking there might be something the doctor could do to prevent that in the meanwhile? Hormone shots?

I feel like I am moving back from the brink, and I'm afraid my family might think I am crazy. Maybe I am?? :rolleyes:

I had this, and it got quite painful before the end - and not just during my periods...my surgery was actually precipitated by an ovarian cancer scare, but in the end it turned out I had a bad case of adenomyosis and while my ovaries were quite scarred I didn't have cancer :)

It is your body and your decision to make, but it is only early Jan, if you have the surgery now you will be back on the bike by spring.

FWIW, my specialist told me that the only trustworthy way of diagnosing adenomyosis was after the uterus was removed. Now my surgery was in 2008 (and no one thought about adenomyosis at the time), so perhaps diagnostic tools have progressed since that time.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

I had this, and it got quite painful before the end - and not just during my periods...my surgery was actually precipitated by an ovarian cancer scare, but in the end it turned out I had a bad case of adenomyosis and while my ovaries were quite scarred I didn't have cancer :)

It is your body and your decision to make, but it is only early Jan, if you have the surgery now you will be back on the bike by spring.

FWIW, my specialist told me that the only trustworthy way of diagnosing adenomyosis was after the uterus was removed. Now my surgery was in 2008 (and no one thought about adenomyosis at the time), so perhaps diagnostic tools have progressed since that time.

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Catrin, I'm so glad that they found your issue wasn't cancer, that must have been extremely scary for you... what a relief to find out it was NOT. :)

My doctor also said about the same thing, he couldn't say with 100% certainty, until after the surgery, but from the ultrasound they did, and the symptoms it was fairly evident.

Yes, the menopause thing is scary in and of itself... ah well, we'll see how it goes. I'm calling the drs office tomorrow...

It's been so helpful to me to be able to vent here and get such helpful feedback.

Yes, it is great to be able to vent and also get feedback from other women. I guess my only concern about your putting off the surgery until the end of 2012 is the possibility of things becoming as painful as it was for me...while I wasn't riding or active in any way at that time - I would not have been able to have done much without pain at the time. Now every woman is different, and your doctor will have thoughts on this and since your specialist is pretty sure what is going on there may be good options to prevent it from becoming much of a problem over the season.

Keep us posted, whatever you decide.

Swollen belly for sure. I laid around all day for several weeks. I was tired, depressed, lonely. None of my friends came to visit me and I couldn't drive anywhere :( I ate a lot of peanut butter from the jar. So initially, my tummy was swollen from the surgery, but by the end of 10 weeks, I had managed to swell my belly on my own . . .

I'm all for waiting. If it gets very painful you can always go through with it, but once you've done it you can't go back.

I don't exactly regret the surgery but since I discovered what a difference eliminating sugar from my diet made, I wish I could go back and try that before going through a major abdominal surgery. I mean, it was really scary for me. I'd never had a surgery before, and some "helpful" friend just couldn't wait to tell me about so-and-so's wife who died of a blood clot immediately after her hysterectomy. (I mentioned this to the doc afterwards...he said "Oh you heard about her? Well she smoked and was overweight.")

I had the cancer scare too, but now I know a little more, and one high CA125 doesn't actually mean much. I'd have been ok with a little more wait and see, and repeat that test to see which way it's going, so long as we were doing something to combat the repetitively rupturing ovarian cyst. I've done those tests myself in the lab, I know how they work, and sometimes you just get an aberrant result.

Anyway, whatever you decide, great. Like I said I don't regret it, it all turned out fine, I just in retrospect wish I'd tried one more thing, before having a major surgery. Just so I'd know.

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Originally Posted by limewave

Swollen belly for sure. I laid around all day for several weeks. I was tired, depressed, lonely. None of my friends came to visit me and I couldn't drive anywhere :( I ate a lot of peanut butter from the jar. So initially, my tummy was swollen from the surgery, but by the end of 10 weeks, I had managed to swell my belly on my own . . .

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Oh Limewave, that is so sad.... :( I would have eaten peanut butter too... well, no I would have eaten chocolate. Lots and lots of it.

I talked to the nurse this morning and she agreed with me that no way I could be ready to ride like I want in July. So it's officially CANCELLED. I shudder to think of what I would have gone through, having the high expectations that I did, if I had not had the feedback from you guys. I feel like I've stepped back from the edge of a precipice. Truly.

Lots to look foward to! :D:D:D

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Originally Posted by Melalvai

I don't exactly regret the surgery but since I discovered what a difference eliminating sugar from my diet made, I wish I could go back and try that before going through a major abdominal surgery. I mean, it was really scary for me. I'd never had a surgery before, and some "helpful" friend just couldn't wait to tell me about so-and-so's wife who died of a blood clot immediately after her hysterectomy. (I mentioned this to the doc afterwards...he said "Oh you heard about her? Well she smoked and was overweight.")

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Don't you just "love" friends with this kind of helpful advice. Good gawd. :rolleyes:

I've wondered about this too, the sugar thing. I might give that a try...I don't eat a lot of junk food, but I do love my chocolate, sigh. I am glad that everything turned out well for you though.