Information on Having Hysterectomy Surgery

The surgical procedure of a hysterectomy removes the uterus. There are several types of treatment that can be tried before the surgery is recommended, as a final approach. There are different types of hysterectomy performed for different conditions so you might just have your uterus removed, but ovaries, tubes and cervix may also be taken.

The most common reason for having a hysterectomy is extreme period symptoms in an older woman. Other reasons include pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, prolapse of the uterus, problems during pregnancy or childbirth and some cancers. Ask the doctor for the reasons he has recommended a hysterectomy.

You may have a vaginal or an abdominal hysterectomy. The vaginal hysterectomy doesn’t require an abdominal incision and so the recovery time is shorter and less pain is experienced. This method isn’t suitable for every woman; a lot depends on her medical condition, her age and her general health.

Some pain and discomfort are to be expected after a hysterectomy; this will be more severe after an abdominal procedure. Pain relief is given in hospital and you will possibly have a catheter in place for a day or two to drain urine away.

Bed rest for a day or two after surgery is usual but then staff will help you walk around a little. The reason for encouraging walking is to lessen the chance of blood clots in the legs. The stay in hospital for women who have had a vaginal hysterectomy is 3 or 4 days; for those who have had an adbominal hysterectomy, it is closer to one week.

You will need a recovery time of 6 or 8 weeks at home to allow wounds to heal and muscles to mend. It is important to rest during this time and don’t do any heavy housework, stretching or lifting.

Expect to have some symptoms during your recovery period. Vaginal bleeding is a normal occurrence after a hysterectomy but this should ease after about two weeks. You may experience some menopause-type symptoms, but these will usually subside after a week or less. The symptoms you may experience are hot flashes and sweating, confusion and anxiety and feeling like crying unexpectedly. In cases where the symptoms don’t go away, doctors may prescribe some hormone replacement therapy to alleviate the discomfort.

Many women are worried about how a hysterectomy will affect their sex drive but most women report an improvement in this area. Vaginal dryness is a common symptom in patients who have had their ovaries removed, but this can be relieved with vaginal lubricants or HRT. You will be advised to avoid sex for around six weeks after your surgery, because the body needs this time to heal properly.

Some women experience psychological and emotional symptoms after hysterectomy, including a sense of loss or feeling less of a woman, especially younger women. Because the majority of women feel so much stronger these few symptoms quickly fade. Your doctor is the person to ask about any concerns you have about symptoms that seem to be staying with you. A doctor should be the point of contact when trying to find info on hysterectomy recovery, Complete Hysterectomy and Supracervical Hysterectomy.

You need to get more active a few weeks after surgery by taking short walks each day. Make sure you start off slowly and then gradually lengthen your walks in time or distance. Light, frequent exercise like this will help your full recovery. The recovery period is six to eight weeks for a reason – this time is needed to make a full recovery.

THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVISE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR!

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