OT This is a question for the ladies

[rosacer]

Hi ladies

I'm interested to know how many weeks does it takes to recuperate from a laparoscopic/vaginal complete hysterectomy (womb and ovaries).

The Dr told 2 month but that sounds a lot like the case of a normal hysterectomy. Some information tell 6 weeks but what can you do at 6 weeks? Are you able to have enough energy to work standing or even not need to take naps?

Thanks for the answers, comments, etc.

p.s. If your wife, sister, mother had it and you have information to partake you are welcome mister .

[chunkyfrog]

Sorry, can't help.
They gave me the zipper.

[jencat824]

i had mine in 1994 & it took me 2 months. There was little to no pain, but it zapped my energy level like nothing else before or since. Walking to the bathroom down the hall was a trip in itself. I went back to work after 6 wks, worked 1 day then was off another 2 wks. When I finally did go back I worked 1/2 days for a week. This is a physically draining procedure (at least it was for me). I've had 2 total knee replacements & both were much easier than a vag hyst, and mine was womb only, left in the ovaries. Hope this helps,
Jen

[Pugsy]

Had mine in 1978. I was back at work in 6 weeks.
Of course back then I was 27 years old and not much slowed me down.

[CruzTerri]

I had mine in '92; wasn't the same procedure; had a bikini incision but after two weeks I actually took a trip. Doctor approved so long as I didn't lift my own luggage. I was back to work in 6 weeks, I don't recall any lack of energy or strength by then. Of course, I was only 34 at the time. I actually quit taking pain medication after being home one week.

[chunkyfrog]

I think a lot depends on your condition before the surgery.
I was up and around within a very short time, as the large fibroids and heavy,
painful menses had been sapping my strength for several years (thanks to a crappy HMO).
Once relieved of this burden, I was bouncing all over the place.
I think I was back at work in about 5 weeks. (desk job)
(This was with the big, vertical zipper)

[BlackSpinner]

I had the old fashioned one and was off work for 6 weeks as per EI. I was a wreck. It took me a log time to recover, but I was in bad shape from bleeding and other issues before that.
However I was sooooo happy I did it! Migraines under control! No more passing out.

After about 4 months I started Yoga, then I started running and working out with weights. By the end of the year I was in better shape then I had been in years!

[rosacer]

Thanks so much for the comments ladies.

I see that most of you were very young, not funny situation For sure age has to do with the speed of the recovery. In that time I imagine most of you had the big zipper as Chunky call that

I'm 53 and the Dr said he makes a lot of laparoscopic work before taking the uterus/ovaries throughout the vagina Because of that, he said it is only a small provability that the surgery ends been a zipper. I hope it is true.

I watched some youtube videos of the laparoscopic/vaginal hysterectomy and it doesn't looks an easy one. I know the zipper is worst I have a friend who had one and after that she developed a hernia

One of my preoccupations is because of my back, I have hard debilitating back pain when I don't exercise the abdominal muscles. I know I can't do any abdominal effort after surgery and I don't know for how long because all will be loose inside.

If somebody else has other comments they are very welcome

[DoriC]

Can't speak for the lap surgery, I had the old complete zipper many years ago and it was rough going for about 2 months. From what I hear from others, the lap isn't as debilitating. Please keep us updated.

[SnorkelPuss]

I had only uterus removed but not laparscopy just the zipper. I was over it pretty fast. I took a month off but I was fine after a week. I was surprised.

[rosacer]

@Dorie, I will post again when I have more information from the nurse who schedules the surgery appointments etc. I'll see her coming Thursday, Yikes Only joking, I'm not afraid only concerned with the time I will have to wait to have surgery and the recovery time.

[BlackSpinner]

@Dorie, I will post again when I have more information from the nurse who schedules the surgery appointments etc. I'll see her coming Thursday, Yikes Only joking, I'm not afraid only concerned with the time I will have to wait to have surgery and the recovery time.

Allow yourself the "luxury" to recover. Pamper yourself, it is worthwhile and important to your recovery. Healing takes time.

[rosacer]

Blackspinner

I assure you that I like that kind of luxury the problem is I don't know if I will be able to have it. It will depend from the surgery date which I HOPE will be ASAP. It will go to Pierre Boucher Hospital and need to be at the worst at the end of January other way I will postpone it because I will not have 2 months before beginning April when I need to be ready to go to work or I will need to postpone it. It is a selective surgery it is not an emergency by any means.

Today I read it was a survey to know the hospitals with less and more death by year. Do you want to know that Verdun is among the worst? A friend of mine a nurse from surgery room had told me don't go to Verdun Hospital Now I will take her suggestion as an order

[DoriC]

That's good that it is elective surgery but if you can do it sooner than later it won't be hanging over you.

[jnk]

. . . If your wife, sister, mother had it and you have information . . .

As for the surgery, it is all about the individual surgeon, I think--number of procedures, so-called "conversion rate" of how many started out one type of surgery but ended up another, etc.

Recovery can be highly individual, I believe, depending on your definition and on how quickly you get moving again while still getting needed rest. And attitude, of course.

My wife was young and kept her ovaries. Entirely her choice. But she was definitely one HAPPY camper after her non-laparoscopic hysterectomy! As far as her activity level, she was close within 4 weeks and was MORE active than before within 8 weeks. I understand laparoscopic versions of the surgery sometimes have a recovery time much shorter than that, though, according to what some of my wife's friends have said.

Informative site, I think:

http://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/nc ... ectomy.jsp

"We encourage patients NOT to stay in bed. They should move around the house and resume normal activities as soon as they feel up to it. Some women are well enough to return to work one week after surgery. Women who have more physically demanding work should stay home for 2-3 weeks."

Naturally, it goes without saying that averages don't always apply to individuals.