Hysterectomy

[shewhobikes]

Happy New Year, everybody!

I have just learned that I will need a total H, now scheduled mid-Feb. They will try laproscopic but may need to open, just depending. Doc says 4-6 weeks off work. Down here in Alabama, I am usually on the bike by March getting ready for the season, so this is a bummer.

Anybody else with experience coming back after this surgery? I know it will be important to give my body time to recover. I also know I will be impatient and frustrated.

Thanks.

[Thorn]

It goes without saying...take the time your body needs to heal. Don't push it.

I had a laproscopic hysterectomy eons ago. I expected the 4-6 weeks, but was out taking slow walks a week in and back to work at 3 weeks. I didn't bike at the time, so I can't comment on getting back to ride.

I did make the mistake during the first week of accepting delivery of a plant at the door sent by my coworkers. Oops....a bit too heavy and I paid for it for a day.

The scope makes you think that they didn't do too much cutting....yes, you don't have the big abdominal incision, but you have all the internal slices and dices. Take the time to heal.

Good luck!

[makbike]

I underwent a laproscopic procedure in June. They removed a softball size mass and my left ovary. My doctor encouraged me to start walking the day after the surgery. She told me I would have to stay off my bike for 3 weeks That said I walked short distances three times daily while increasing the distance each day by a mile. I did end up having to carry a 40 lb bag of dog food in 4 days post-op (that is a long story). A week following my surgery I was given permission to start riding again - short, flat, easy pedaling - no hills, no traffic. I did this for a week and two weeks post-op I was back on my bike full force. I rode a century three weeks after my surgery. Getting back on my bike was extremely important to my mental well being given my partner at the time (now my ex) decided to end our relationship four days after my operation. Riding was life saver!

Listen to your body and your doctor. I would have climbed on my bike had my doctor said no way. The last thing you want to do is pop an internal suture or tear mending tissues.

Take care, stock up on soom good books, DVD's, music, etc. Keep us posted.

[divingbiker]

Mine was two years ago. They tried laparoscopic, but I had adhesions and when they pulled my ovary/uterus (don't remember what they said) away from my bladder, it tore a hole in the bladder. Not good. Another major emergency surgery, with two catheters, resulting in lots of scars on my belly.

I don't mean to scare you, but it's best not to minimize the seriousness of a hysterectomy and to be prepared for complications...I wasn't. I was out of work for 6 weeks, though I was doing well enough to travel for Christmas after 3 weeks. No lifting of suitcases, of course.

Don't push it. As Thorn said, they did a lot of cutting in there and it takes time to heal.

[SouthernBelle]

It's been about 10 years since I had mine. Complete and they opened me up. I was back to work at 3 weeks. That wasn't really a good idea as my hormones were wonked and I had a tendency to bite people's heads off. I'd guess I was able to do whatever by 5-6 weeks.

[shewhobikes]

Thanks, all, for both the cautions and the encouragement. Sounds like this is what I expected in terms of taking it slowly, listening to the doc and paying attention to my body.

As you all know, it's not just the physical, but emotional/mental health the bike ride brings. It has meant so much to me these last few years I get a little squirrely thinking of doing without (not that I ride hard in the winter much anyway.)

Have a good weekend!

[Aggie_Ama]

I have not had one but my mother did a few years back. The advice of preparing for complications is gold. My own mother knew it probably wouldn't be laprascopic due to the tumor placement but no one prepared her for what ended up coming. The tumor was much larger and she lost a lot of blood. It was definitely 6 weeks of recovery for her. I will say she was not in good shape prior to the surgery and I am sure this slowed recovery. Best wishes for a smooth recovery.

[sarahkonamojo]

Had mine in 2004. I still have an ovary, which I appreciate every day.

I was opened up. I was able to walk 1 mile within the week. Cycling took much longer than I expected. My abs were shot, as would be expected. I wasn't at full strength for a few months. It was a little frustrating. In the long run my life is much better and much less painful.

I wish you a speedy recovery both emotional and physical.

sarah

[Tokie]

I have had everything(cervix,uterus and ovaries) removed, and am quite happy. I called my ovaries the Little Time Bombs (I'd had two prior surgeries to take stubborn complex cysts off of them) and was glad to get them out. Less parts to worry about getting cancer in!And I always think of this type of surgery as a 50,000 mile check up. The doctor can even see your liver when he's working in there, how great is that? (Ok, I am a nurse, so I think that's great). The question of hormone replacement is important if you haven't gone through menopause yet - it might be hard to stay positive during your resting and healing time if you were troubled by hot flashes. I am 52, and will stay on estrogen for 1 more year because I have osteoporosis. Then my doctor is going to wean me off of it over a period of maybe 4 to 6 months, decreasing my dose by 25% at a time. Hopefully, this will help my body get used to the idea! And I highly recommend vaginal estrogen(my favorite is the expensive Vagifem tiny vaginal suppository) It helps keep your mucous membranes and vulva in sturdier condition than menopause does. Do be patient with yourself - don't compare yourself and your progress in recovery to anyone else! This can be your year to make a great comeback after surgery! Be sure to eat a healthy balanced diet as you recover, even if you feel like a slug. Sleep in, pamper yourself,take nice walks and experience life at a different pace! Wishing you a great recovery! Tokie

[rocknrollgirl]

I had mine three years ago. They had to open me up. Took my uterus and a huge tumor. Left the ovaries. It was a full 6 weeks before I could move without thinking about it and 8 weeks for me to be up and going again.

I walked every day. Day one was to the corner...and then to the end of the block, etc.

My advice is take it slow and easy the first time around. It is major surgery. You do need time to heal and you don't want to have set backs.

[auntiebobo]

I had mine almost 2 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Lost 20 pounds and still losing. Feel great. I had severe endometriosis and had everything removed.

Recovery was fine - I was 5 weeks out of work. I did a lot of walking in that time. As for biking - I wasn't a rider before the surgery. But bought my Trek hybrid that summer after surgery - because I could and I felt so great! Started commuting on my bike. I just ordered a road bike today and am planning on the STP this summer!

Anyway, all the other advice you got is great. Don't push too hard, listen to your body. Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions of your Dr. if you don't understand what's going on. My doc still chuckles at what a hard time I gave him but in then end I'm glad I did. I made the right choices for me in terms of surgery vs other treatments. And HRT afterwards. No regrets.

[IFjane]

SWB - I had a complete hysterectomy last April 25. Vaginal. No incisions but yes, slices and dices. My doctor is a marathoner and understood my desire to get back on the bike. He told me to wait a week, then get on the trainer & see how I felt. I did - and felt great. I asked him (just after surgery) if my planned flat century on May 5 (10 days out of surgery) was too much to consider. He said yes, to take it easy. So....(fellow TE'er KayTee will vouch for me here!)....I only rode 75 miles that day (because it was COLD and RAINY).

My point here is, listen to your body and don't overdo it. I did find that I could ride all day long on the flat - we don't have much of that around here - but mountains and climbing were VERY tough all year due to blood loss and almost non-existent iron reserves. My hematocrit was not up to normal levels until late September.

Good luck!

[Nora]

What is the reason that you're scheduled for a hysterectomy?

Some basic anatomical information about the functions of the uterus may be helpful to you.

The uterus is a hormone responsive reproductive sex organ that supports the bladder and the bowel. The vagina is shortened when a hysterectomy is performed, and women who experience uterine orgasm cannot experience it without a uterus. Women who have only their uterus removed have a three times greater incidence of heart disease. When the ovaries are removed the incidence of heart disease is 7 times greater.

There is a 12-minute video: Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs that will give you information you may want to discuss with your doctor before signing a Hysterectomy Consent form. This is a surgery with serious, permanent consequences. If you are not in a life-threatening emergency you may want to take your time and gather more information before making this irreversible decision.

You can view and download the video at www.hersfoundation.org/anatomy

[Melalvai]

I still have an ovary, which I appreciate every day.

Me too!
I was back on my bike 15 days later, though the dr. said no. Full incision, hysterectomy + one ovary. Do what makes you happy. No point waiting around for some magical "6 week" number if you are ready to go 15 days later, and no use feeling guilty about not being ready at week 7 though you have the dr's blessings to ride at week 6.

[Melalvai]

One more thing--Hyster Sisters was a great site, lovely community like this one. Funny ladies. There will be a lot of people with the same surgery day as you. It was my first major surgery and I was scared, so I appreciated having their experiences ahead of me, and their support.