Hysterectomy Post Op. Restrictions

[sigma]

The wife is soon to have a Hysterectomy. What physical restrictions can she expect during the 4 to 6 weeks recovery period.

[rockyracoon]

When my mum had hers, she couldn't drive for a few weeks or do housework/heavy lifting etc, nor could she walk the dog (she pulls). Things may have changed since then though, I'm sure your wife will get a leaflet explaining it all. Hope all goes well for her.

[slaney]

Everyone recovers at a different rate, but there is some basic information in this link...
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hysterectomy/Pages/Recovery.aspx

[AlwaysConfused]

She should not be doing housework! I would have thought no heavy lifting for the first few weeks. Check out the NHS sites, I would expect that they have most of the answers. Don't just look at physical restrictions, a hysterectomy can have an emotional impact on some women too, so you need to be her support, her rock

[katerich48]

I had mine in Sept and I was told recovery was 6-8 weeks No heavy lifting as Dr said that could give me a hernia...gym ok after 6 weeks but again no lifting weights...It doesn't take long really to get back into the swing..In the early days walking can only be done slowly (you just can't zip along) then you find you're walking a bit faster each day and you get tired easily in the first couple of weeks ...No housework so I stayed with my daughter for the first 3 weeks and then went home and took it easy...Bending is not fun in the early days... I must say though Do Do Do massage the scar with an oil daily (I used Bio oil) doctor told me to and I didn't and couldn't understand why after 12 weeks stomach was still really sore and I had to sit down very slowly like a pensioner so I was debating going back to the doctors. Then I decided to try the oil massage and pain went immediately so now I do it every day.They show you how to manage stairs before you leave the hospital so its not a problem you just take it slow one at a time.. And thats it really no problems..Bonus I lost about 12lbs...

[Wenners]

If the hysterectomy is done vaginally, recover is pretty quick. If via incision, around 6-8 weeks recovery. No heavy lifting, no running, just slow walking when and if she feels like it, no sex (sorry about that for you) for 6-8 weeks and certainly after post operative visit to OB-GYN for the green light. Best indication is the person themselves after the 6-8 period. Your body tells you what's oK and what is not. When I had one I was up and normal in around 6 weeks. No problems at all, but I did have a great specialist. It's also a good time to request that your bladder be checked and lifted if necessary.

[ladyalex]

I was told not to lift anything heavier than a kettle for 6 weeks.

How they do the hysterectomy really affects the recovery time.
A vaginal hysterectomy is the easiest to recover from, then a 'bikini line' (side to side) incision, then an up and down incision.
However, all recovery depends on many other factors, like how fit and well the person was before the surgery, whether the surgery goes straightforwardly as planned and if there is any infection afterwards.
I'm afraid your wife will have to play it by ear and see how things go for her.
As others have said, your body is pretty good at telling you when you are fit again and when you are not.
All the best to her. :-))

[boxtops]

The best advice I had was to take a couple of months out of my life to recover fully, and not to test it - I did that, and I have never had any post-op problems. Friends who ended up with problems could resist hoovering, or driving, or pushing a supermarket trolley - so stupid. I did very little for a fortnight (it hurt), then slowly did a lot of walking, ate properly, looked after myself. It certainly was worth it. No sex until the post-op visit after a couple of months...

I wish mrs sigma very well - that op was one of the best things I ever did.

[boxtops]

^ oops, couldn't resist hoovering etc

[ladyalex]

I did as you did, boxtops. Very little for about 8 weeks except for very short walks around the garden, then gradually built up my fitness with longer walks etc.
I had 3 months off work then went back part time for a month , then full time, but if I were doing it again I would have had 4 months off then gone back. Since then, though, absolutely no problems at all.

[ubasses]

I can only add a mixture of what the others have said. Her own body will be the best guide. I had total abodminal 5 years ago. Everything taken away and cut from hip to hip. Chucked all the pills in the cupboard as soon as I got out as I knew they were makiing me feel worse. Just kept some paracetamol for during the night as I was rolling onto my stomach. 5 days later I was doing the cooking, preparing everything sitting down and getting help with the heavy pans. Three days later in Sainsburys doing the shopping. Driving at 4 weeks. But came a cropper when I got stuck half way up the stairs with a bucket of water and had to yell for help. Consultant said that he was putting his foot down about exercise machines and long walks until 8/12 weeks though. If she has been suffering hopefully there will not be any psychological problems as she will be so pleased to be better.