Recovering from TAH - OUCH!

• By 2Lake
• Posted August 28, 2008 at 11:56 am
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I had a TAH in January and thought the recovery was much harder than my previous c-sections. After 3-4 weeks I started feeling pretty good. It takes time, make sure you get your rest and have someone helping you. I know, easier said than done, especially with young children.

Take care!

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• By flowershoplady
• Posted August 28, 2008 at 2:13 pm
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i was very surprised at how difficult the recovery was after my tah as well. i assumed i was otherwise healthy and strong, and i'd be up and around and back to normal activities way sooner than they said. my assumption was very wrong! it's major surgery with major recovery!

moorleygirl, if i remember correctly, there were significant improvements in how i felt after the second week. take good care of yourself, and try to snuggle with your little one without picking her up too much....i know....that's probably a challenge. take care!

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• By MOOREGIRLY_MOM
• Posted August 28, 2008 at 4:14 pm
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ok, so it's not just me? Whew, yeah I thought I was a pretty healthy chic too but this surgry has taken me out for a while :) Today was a weeka and 2 days and unfortunately I had to drive today and lift the little one a good bit. I'm sure I'm going to be paying for it later!! Thank goodness they sent me home with pain meds. So after a few weeks you girls felt "normal" again?
Thanks,
Jessica

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• By flowershoplady
• Posted August 28, 2008 at 6:43 pm
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jessica, it was definitely a process towards feeling better again. after the second week, i was taking the vicodin only at night, and just took extra strength tylenol during the day, and that also made a tremendous difference in feeling like i had more energy (the vicodin would knock me out). i think that's also when i started to drive again. (i don't remember specifically....i had my tah/bso 3 years ago). i don't have little kids, and i'm sure that's got to hurt a good bit, especially at this point in your recovery. do you have someone to help you so you can avoid lifting her for another week or so?

it took a long time til i had my energy back the way i did before the surgery, but i was back at work a month or so after the surgery, and then it took a few months for all the swelling to go away and stay away. so, like i said, it's a process.

and, for me, i've never fully felt the same since the hysterectomy because surgical menopause has lots of issues. plus, i had an incisional hernia! hopefully you'll be able to feel back to 'normal' soon.

take care of yourself....that's so so important!

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• By flowershoplady
• Posted August 28, 2008 at 6:45 pm
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and, i don't recall your health issues....why did you need a hysterectomy?

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• By MOOREGIRLY_MOM
• Posted August 28, 2008 at 8:24 pm
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I had abnormal PAP's since last year due to moderate dysplasia, precancerous cells, and HPV, three weeks after having my daughter, a colposcopy showed that the dyspalsia had spread farther than visible by my doc. And although post pregnancy bleeding had initally stopped, I started bleeding again and continued to bleed for three months unexplained, even though we did two pills a day and depo shots! Also ovarian cancer runs in my family. After the hysto was scheduled, we found out I had adenomyisis. That's why I had to do an abdominal. My uterus was twice the size it should have been, and too large to take out vaginally.
Why did you have to have one? And why abdominally?
Thanks for the info on heal time!
My husband has been awesome but he did have to go back to work this week.
Jessica

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• By 2Lake
• Posted August 29, 2008 at 9:10 am
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My pap came back abnormal at my 6 week post partum check up and that is when everything started. I had the abdominal hysto just because they could use the same scar as my c-section. I thought the recovery would be a lot like a c-section but I was much more sore. The first two weeks were the hardest for me especially having a 6 month old and a 2 and a half year old. I tried not to carry them but you know how that goes...........

You will start feeling better each day. Plus, once you start getting off the pain meds your energy will boost too.

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• By Faith2
• Posted August 29, 2008 at 1:02 pm
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Hi Mooregirly,

I would just like to add to avoid heavy lifting and anything that increases abdominal pressure while you're healing - that includes vacuuming, mopping side to side, bending over at the waist, lifting laundry baskets, etc. This will be esp difficult when it comes to your little one. Try to use good body mechanics (bend at the knees, breathe out when exerting, etc) to help alleviate some of the ab pressure. I think you said you have older children - do you have anyone who can help you during the day until the older ones are home from school?

I noticed a gradual improvement with my TAH - somedays it felt like I'd take 3 steps forward and 2 back, but that didn't last too long. 4 weeks seemed to be a good milestone for me and then 6 weeks, too. The most important thing is to give yourself time to heal. When you're tired, take a break - don't push it. Don't be shy about letting others help you right now. It takes time, but if you take care now, you will feel better sooner.

The HysterSisters has a website and a free booklet that talks about hysterectomy and what to expect, do or not do, in the weeks of healing that follow. It would be worthwhile to visit the site. They also offer products for post-op discomfort.

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers that you heal well and quickly.

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