Hysterectomy survival kit

A hysterectomy is a major operation that may lay you up as you heal for weeks, maybe months. The process of healing from major surgery takes time, but you’ll need some survival kit items to make it more comfortable.

Hysterectomy Recovery Tip #1

Understand that you have undergone major surgery and lost a major player in your abdomen!

You’ll need help, you need to be cared for, it’s going to hurt, and it’s gonna be tough sometimes.

You are going to have possibly major ups and downs, feel exhausted, and maybe feel sad.

Don’t think your recovery is going to be easy. It might be straightforward, but you’ve done a big thing.

Give it the space it requires. If you can’t afford to take as much time as you need to off work, organise to only do minimal duties for a while if possible.

Options include possibly switching jobs with a less physical job, taking sick leave, taking holiday leave, working from home sometimes or all the time, or offering to swap with someone later on.

Hysterectomy Recovery Tip #2

Get yourself some nice flowy dresses and veeery stretchy tights

You don’t want anything that binds at the waist – just big cotton muumuus. You don’t need to spend a fortune on these dresses and keep in mind that you may get pus or blood on them.

Make sure they are a breathable fabric, like cotton. Do not buy polyester.

Depending on the weather, you may want to get some very stretchy loose tights that don’t bind at the waist, and big T-shirts to drape over yourself.

Most brands of leggings do bind at the waist, so check first.

Hysterectomy Recovery Tip #3

Bind your belly

Your abdomen is going to swell up, so you may want some extra support by using belly binders.

Talk to your doctor about the right type to buy, and prepare in advance.

Hysterectomy Recovery Tip #4

Prepare your pain relief ahead of time

Talk to your doctor about pain relief. Surgery hurts, and you will need some relief.

If you can’t or don’t want to take pharmaceutical painkillers and anti-inflammatories, see your naturopath or herbalist for some herbal anti-inflammatories and painkillers.

You can get some advice from an acupuncturist or reflexologist for pain relief and to support healing using pressure points.

Top Hysterectomy Tip #5. Ask about the best tricks to relieve the pain from the gas

If you get a laparoscopic hysterectomy, they fill you full of gas so they can see what they’re doing via the camera. This gas goes all through your body and hurts, but is harmless.

Movement is the only thing that gets rid of it, so book a massage (not for your abdomen!), and do whatever else is recommended by your surgeon for post-op gas removal.

Hysterectomy Recovery Tip #6

Remember that opioid painkillers cause constipation!

You may wish to take a stool softener, eat plenty of vegetables, and drink lots of water.

Hysterectomy Tip #7

There will probably be lingering effects

You may feel scar tissue pulling inside your body, your belly may stay swollen for a long time after surgery, or your body won’t feel or behave the same as it did.

This is normal, but if you are in pain or discomfort, make sure to tell your doctor so they can investigate.

You may also have unexpected emotional outcomes from a hysterectomy. Expect the unexpected, roll with the punches, and seek help.

Your age, health and the state of your tissue will determine how long and how well you heal.

Hysterectomy Recovery Tip #8

Listen to your body

If you are being told to do something that feels bad, don’t second guess yourself. Our bodies are pretty clever, and the feedback systems that keep us safe work well.

Unless you have it explained to you why something should feel like you are tearing, in pain, or ripping when you move, you should question your instructions and get examined.

Don’t be afraid to talk back to your doctor, ask every question, or even to ask for a second opinion. Take your time if you need to, and don’t let anyone rush you.

Talking to your healthcare professionals about your surgery before and after

Talking about your concerns with your doctor before and after surgery is important, but it’s not always easy to do. It can feel as if you don’t have much of a choice in whether you proceed or not.

You may be concerned about a pre-existing condition, your age, the experiences of others you’ve heard about, and fertility. Your life may be at risk if you don’t undergo the surgery.

There is also the perception of stigma from not being ‘whole’ anymore or being ‘less of a woman’. Becoming infertile due to a hysterectomy can be traumatic for many, and needs to be treated as such.

Getting support

Your doctor’s confidence can be extremely meaningful, alongside social supports such as family, partners and others who have undergone the procedure.

If you have had time to consider your options pre-surgery, you’ve likely spoken to some trusted people about it, and sought the experiences of others.

If your hysterectomy was an emergency surgery, this mental, emotional and physical preparation is not an option. Having your fertility options reduced suddenly can come with its own problems too.

The joy of the hysterectomy

Many of you will be overjoyed to be free from your symptoms – pain, discomfort, heavy bleeding, painful sex. Having the source of so many years of pain removed can be nothing less than joyful for some of you.

Scarring after hysterectomy

Scarring may be of concern. Talk it over with your doctor. There are ways to reduce the appearance of scarring which should be implemented sooner rather than later – see a scar-specialist dermatologist or plastic surgeon for advice if one is not available to you.

Most hysterectomies are now done laparoscopically, which means very small cuts and scars.

Sex after hysterectomy

You aren’t going to want to have sex for a while – you’ll be in recovering and in pain, with swelling and bruising.

Emotionally, give yourself some time out. Your recovery is going to be different from everyone else’s and probably different from what your doctor has told you.