What is Removed During a Hysterectomy?
Hysterectomy is the name given to the surgical removal of a woman’s 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.
There are numerous reasons why a hysterectomy needs to be performed, but the most common is painful, heavy periods in a woman passed her child-bearing years. There are a range of other reason from endometriosis and prolapse to cancers and pelvic inflammatory disease. Ask the doctor for the reasons he has recommended a hysterectomy.
The two methods of performing the surgery are vaginal and abdominal. The recovery time after a vaginal hysterectomy is often short and with less pain because there has been no incision or stitches. This method isn’t suitable for every woman; a lot depends on her medical condition, her age and her general health.
As with all surgical procedures, some discomfort and pain are to be expected, but this will be more severe with an abdominal hysterectomy. Pain relief is given in hospital and you will possibly have a catheter in place for a day or two to drain urine away.
You will be kept in bed for the first day and then encouraged to walk around a little each day. Walking reduces the risk of blood clots forming in the legs. Patients who have had a vaginal procedure stay in hospital for about 3 or 4 days whereas those who have had abdominal surgery stay for 6 to 7 days.
You will continue your recovery at home for 6 to 8 weeks so that your body can heal and you can regain your strength. You will need to have some help around the house during this time because you shouldn’t lift or stretch.
Expect to have some symptoms during your recovery period. Expect some vaginal bleeding or discharge for a week or ten days; ask your doctor about it if you are concerned. It is quite common to have some menopause symptoms after your surgery, but these usually go away after several days. Some of the symptoms you may have are confusion, anxiety, sweating, hot flushes and emotional distress. If your menopause symptoms continue for longer, you may be a candidate for hormone replacement therapy or HRT.
Many women are worried about how a hysterectomy will affect their sex drive but most women report an improvement in this area. However, if your ovaries have been removed, you may experience vaginal dryness, which can be helped by using a vaginal lubricant or taking estrogen. You should abstain from sexual intercourse for 6 weeks after your hysterectomy, to allow your body to heal.
You may have some emotional or psychological symptoms like feeling a sense of loss. The majority of patients feel so much better physically that these symptoms are short-lived. See your doctor if any of these symptoms continue. A doctor should be the point of contact when trying to find info on hysterectomy recovery, Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Supracervical Hysterectomy.
After a few eeks at home, start going for a short walk to regain fitness and maintain your normal weight. Start slowly and increase the distance you walk gradually. This light exercise will speed your recovery and help to prevent boredom. It is important not to push yourself; you will need the full 6 weeks for a full recovery and many women require 8 weeks.
This not not medical advise always consult your physcian for medical advise