New to group

Hi Honey and welcome!  I had laparoscopic radical hysterectomy in 2018 and it was about 10 weeks until I could say I was back to normal. I did have brachytherapy about a month after my surgery so that may have delayed my recovery a bit. I tried to pace myself and rested when I needed. I went out for a walk most days gradually increasing the distance. Don't lift anything heavier than a kettle for a few weeks as it could do a lot of internal damage. I'm sure other ladies will come on here and give you more info. 

Take care xx

Nannasuki 

Hello Honey,

Welcome to the group, I  had my hysterectomy for womb cancer in August 2019, it was keyhole and just one night in hospital, I  went home with two weeks of injections and recoverd well. I started taking short walks after I had been home about 4 days, gradually increasing  them daily. I  think it's  really important not to lift anything which I stuck too!  I think it was nearly six months before I  did any hoovering.  Just over 6 weeks after my opp I was due to go on a walking holiday, at first I wasn't going to go but as I felt so well I went, not intending to walk too  much though I did manage  two walks of 6 and 7 miles. My cancer was stage 1A  grade 1 and the opp was my only treatment, I  am now on the patient initiated follow, I  just had my first letter the other day asking if I  was okay and reminding me of any symptoms to look out for.

Take care, and please ask any questions however small or silly and the lovely ladies here will help.

Hi Honey,

Glad you were able to have your op. I had a radical hysterectomy, followed by brachytherapy in November 2015. Grade 2 Stage 1b. As the others have said, I walked and did light things at home for 4 weeks. I started my new, very part time job exactly 4 weeks after op. I think it was about 3 - 4 months before I felt strong enough for normal activities but by June I was able to do a 16 mile charity walk. 4.5 years later I've been discharged by the hospital, feel great and have changed my life for the better. I hope it all goes well for you. 

Hi Honey,

I was 72 when I had everything taken away by keyhole surgery.

I was Stage 1A grade 2, so just needed the operation. I began to walk each day from Day 4. I found walking across the car park at the hospital was enough for Day 3!!! I went a bit further each day and stopped when I ached.  I managed a bit of gentle weeding the first week at home, kneeling down. We went away in our motorhome after 3 weeks. I was dubious about bending down for pans, but managed and put my feet up every afternoon. The change did me good.

I would say I was back to my normal fitness after about 3 months (which is what my consultant had told me) I still got twinges and niggles after that, but nothing that stopped me. Just take it slowly. You will get there!!!  xxxx 

Hi Honey 

I has total abdominal hysterectomy also removal of ovaries tubes appendix and omentum with vertical incision on march 4 this year.

I'm now 5 weeks post op I feel basically back to normal now however they did find out I had womb cancer grade 2 stage 3b so I now need to go on to have chemotherapy and radiotherapy just waiting to hear back from them as to when that will happen. 

I literally did hardly anything for the first 3 weeks as I was scared I would have a prolapse or pop my inner stitches. So it was only from week 4 that I started getting active and I feel absolutely fine I'm glad I waited until then before I started getting more active. I didnt really feel tired only in the first week or so but I do have to do more now and go out daily for a walk or I dont feel tired at bedtime !

My advice would be to stay active by moving around but dont actually do anything No housework etc no tidying or pushing yourself and definitely do not go out walking too far. Just staying mobile is enough for the first few weeks.

Just listen to your body and take each day at a time and stat safe ! 

Best wishes 

J

I had total hysterectomy Inc all adjacent bits in mid November 2019;a was pretty much back to normal by mid January.  Then I had brachytherapy in mid Jan 2020 and afterwards I was physically OK but got very easily  tired for 4-6  weeks. But it can have longer lasting effects and I do seem to have developed a weak bladder recently which  not I did not have before. But it is still relatively  recent, will see if it heals up over time.. 

Hi Honey

Glad you were able to have your operation in the current situation and wish you a good recovery. I would say from my own experience please take it very easy for at least 4 weeks and I believe it generally takes about 6 weeks to feel like normal. I had a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy not keyhole with everything taken out and was then given a Grade1 stage 2 diagnosis as the cancer cells were found in the top of the cervix as well. I live in Portugal and they then recommended a lymph node removal which I had done on 1st April (big mistake) as they didn’t manage to remove them but opened up my scar again so now I have to recover all over again. This time I’m taking it slowly as last time after 2 weeks I started to do housework and walk to far and I ended up in severe pain and then my und started leaking (seroma) so don’t be tempted ok now I’m waiting for Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy treatment and feeling very anxious about it all.

Hello Hovehoney and welcome to the forum. 

I had my LAVH-BSO in mid-January and was Stage 1/Grade 1 so luckily didn't need any further treatment.  Like you, I'm in my 60s but very active, although I'm no longer working.  I kept a diary during my recovery period and when I was where you are now I was definitely still feeling quite tired every day and sleeping more than usual.  Don't forget there is an awful lot of healing going on inside and your body is using all its energy for that.  I did walk every day but had plenty of time on the sofa as well!  In week 3 I went into London a couple of times but took it very easy the following days.  I started driving again in Week 4.  Felt I was going backwards in Week 5 as I was getting frustrated at not being back to normal.   It was around Week 6 that the spotting/light discharge finally finished and external scars had pretty much gone. I would say I was back to my normal activity level by then and was just starting to enjoy life again when we all went into lock-down just a few weeks later!  I think if you have a busy job (and maybe a long commute too?) you would be wise to take at least 6-8 weeks off.   Of course at the moment you will need to consider Covid19 precautions as well, depending what work you do and how pressurised it might be.

Good luck with your recovery.  I know how frustrating it is not to have the energy to do things.  Do post any other questions you have, as everyone here is very supportive.  It's a brilliant place to share experiences.

xx

Wendy

Hi honey. I hope u are healing well. It truly is an anxious time without the added stress of covid 19. How r u doing? I waiting my mri results keyhole not an option need open hysterectomy. How long does it take to get results after surgery??

Hi Shell and everyone,

Thank you all for your replies both informative and reassuring. After a rough start to the 3rd week I awoke yesterday feeling more energetic and like myself again. 

I got the pathology result 9 days following surgery which was quicker than I thought and rather blindsided me, the result was as  expected and I don’t need any further treatment. I think that I exhaled at that point and allowed myself to fully relax. I remember thinking what should I do now as up to that point it had all been action. It was 3 weeks from first symptom to operation just 6 weeks ago I am starting to catch up with myself and realise that at this point there is nothing for me to do other than take life easy, rest and allow the healing to happen. Early hours of Sunday morning I was awake and my crazy mind started planning a tattoo, I will be 64 years old next month and have never considered a tattoo before this, already working on the design and found a great tattoo artist in New Zealand .

Anyone else had off the wall ideas?
So glad I have you all here, thanks.

Best wishes to all

Honey