Recovering from Hysterectomy

[girlontheroad]

Hi, I haven't been here long but this is such a great forum. I've been riding for about 1 1/2 years and this summer I really started to get my mileage and time on the bike up by being able to ride more often. Unfortunately I then had to have a hysterectomy a couple of weeks ago and I am off the bike until at least the middle of October if not later. And I will probably be off it longer in effect because I work for myself and I travel so making up the traveling I'm missing on my forced vacation means I'll be gone a lot more for a couple of months. As I know you all will understand, this is driving me crazy! Any suggestions or experiences on how to pass the time and length of recovery from similar surgery would be welcome. Thanks for listening! Really I just had to vent!

[redrhodie]

If I couldn't ride for a month, I'd knit. I used to be pretty obsessed with it.

Have a speedy recovery! Let yourself heal fully. Your trusty bike will wait patiently.

[indysteel]

I have no personal experience with this, but I'll share a friend's as a cautionary tale on what NOT to do. She started walking and running before she was cleared following a partial hysterectomy. Several months later, she experienced a prolapsed bowel. She had to have a second surgery and a second long recovery. So, the best advice I can offer is tone patient. Follow your doctor's orders with respect to physical activity. The recovery process will eventually end. Good luck!

[Catrin]

I had a full hysterectomy 4.5 years ago (including ovaries), and you want to be very careful to follow their orders regarding activity and healing. Yes it is hard to stay off the bike that long, and I am assuming that they were able to do it with one of the less invasive techniques rather than the "old fashioned" way. The less invasive procedures are great (I've had abdominal surgery twice - once with the Da Vinci machine and the other the "old way"). The only problem with the less invasive procedures, if you want to call it a "problem" is it becomes tempting to do things too early since there aren't all of those healing muscles slowing us down.

Is there some hobby that you used to enjoy, or would like to learn? Personally, I would either do needlework or crochet during this recover period. Good books and good music. Your body needs to rest right now, so take advantage of that.

[girlontheroad]

I had a full hysterectomy 4.5 years ago (including ovaries), and you want to be very careful to follow their orders regarding activity and healing. Yes it is hard to stay off the bike that long, and I am assuming that they were able to do it with one of the less invasive techniques rather than the "old fashioned" way. The less invasive procedures are great (I've had abdominal surgery twice - once with the Da Vinci machine and the other the "old way"). The only problem with the less invasive procedures, if you want to call it a "problem" is it becomes tempting to do things too early since there aren't all of those healing muscles slowing us down.

Is there some hobby that you used to enjoy, or would like to learn? Personally, I would either do needlework or crochet during this recover period. Good books and good music. Your body needs to rest right now, so take advantage of that.

Thanks all for the support. This might be the only time I can remember that my mother has praised me for NOT doing things (like pushing a grocery cart). Unfortunately I had the old-fashioned kind with the big abdominal cut but have been fortunate that the recovery hasn't been too bad. I miss my bike but know that it will be there when I get back and that I don't want to have to have more surgery to correct making bad decisions after this one. I'm looking around for more things to do...thanks for the support...perhaps I will play more with my digital photos and scrapbooking!

[Catrin]

Thanks all for the support. This might be the only time I can remember that my mother has praised me for NOT doing things (like pushing a grocery cart). Unfortunately I had the old-fashioned kind with the big abdominal cut but have been fortunate that the recovery hasn't been too bad. I miss my bike but know that it will be there when I get back and that I don't want to have to have more surgery to correct making bad decisions after this one. I'm looking around for more things to do...thanks for the support...perhaps I will play more with my digital photos and scrapbooking!

I remember well recovering from that type of surgery, glad to hear that it hasn't been too bad so far. Patience will certainly be your best friend and your bike will be ready and waiting for you when the time comes Scrapbooking and digital photos sounds like fun!