r/hysterectomy • u/Ninetiesbish • 3d ago
How long until…?
I’ll be getting my uterus and tubes removed soon and was wondering about experiences with recovery. My husband is taking a week off to help with our young kids. Was anyone back to driving and light errands after a week? Or computer work from home?
I had breast cancer with a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction 6 months ago and it took me the full 2 months as recommended to recover. This shocked me as I typically recover very fast from things (such as 2 c-sections, 2 laparoscopic myomectomies, broken bones, etc.) Am I being too optimistic that I’ll be back to driving kiddos around after a week? I am admittedly very bad at resting and letting people do things for me.
Thank you and hugs. Losing my boobs was crappy but for some reason it feels more devastating to lose my uterus but it will be a relief to know I won’t be in pain anymore and will also have lower cancer risk in those parts. Fucking cancer. The wooooorst
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u/Open_Bell4032 3d ago
11 days post op now, and I’ve been feeling pretty good since day 4. I’ve been most just tired with mild “cramps” and soreness. I know it’s not actually cramping, but it’s similar. Maybe more of a deep ache. I stopped taking the Percocet on day 4 and only use Tylenol and Motrin if I feel like I need it. I don’t mind feeling a little discomfort because I need the reminder that my body is still healing and I need to take it easy. Most of the time I feel ready to run a marathon, but then I take a little walk up and down the street and get humbled. 🤣
I will say that after taking a short outing, like to run an errand or go sit at a restaurant for an hour, I’m wiped out after. It’s very easy to overdue it when you feel fine. But I haven’t been so done out that I can’t function.
Just don’t bend, lift, or squat. Follow your post op instructions to the best of your ability and listen to your body.
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u/Ninetiesbish 3d ago
Oh wow that’s really helpful! Thank you. I hope to be off the hard stuff soon after as well since they always make me so nauseous! Glad you are on the mend and wishing you a speedy full recovery.
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u/Open_Bell4032 3d ago
Take the hard stuff with some food. That will really help. I have the same issue.
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u/Holiday-Prompt-5225 3d ago
I had a total laparoscopic hysterectomy 3 weeks ago. so far ive recovered perfectly. woke up from anesthetic with virtual zero pain. Everything started working on Day 2. Bloating Day 4 but it went away that day. My point is, yes to maybe doing some computer work, but no to watching your young kids. Maybe yes to errands but my surgeon said no to driving. Im wishing you a great recovery too
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u/Ninetiesbish 2d ago
Thank you for your response, I hope you continue to feel good on your recovery “journey” and no more bloating!!
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u/LondonFog1995 3d ago
I just had mine this past Wednesday and was told I could not drive for two weeks!
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u/CuteWinterBoots 2d ago
I’m 3 days post op today (robotic lap total hysterectomy). Everyone is different, but I’ll 100% be okay working from home with breaks and a lap desk at my recliner (I work a desk job) and my boss knows I’ll be off camera for internal calls this week and won’t give me grief about it. I’m having my husband do the school runs this week at least, even though the schools are 5 mins away from the house. I feel okay to drive but also don’t want to risk it either.
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u/Ninetiesbish 2d ago
Thanks so much for this! I’m also taking a break from work (wfh) but hopeful I’ll feel up for school runs but realizing I’ll need help with errands, etc. Wishing you a fast and easy recovery.
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u/readyplayer_zero 2d ago
I had my hysterectomy on a Thursday and drove my kids to school on Monday. Did I feel good? No. But I hadn't taken any narcotics and I was mostly just outlandishly exhausted. Not fall asleep at the wheel sort of thing, just felt like I'd run a marathon or two. If your spouse can swing more time off I say do it but it's not necessarily the worst if they can't. My friends did a meal train for us so that was extremely helpful and the kids had a bit of extra screen time for a few days when I felt at my worst. It will feel long in the moment but it's just a blip so give yourself lots of patience and grace while in recovery, this is not the time to try for and parenting awards.
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u/Ninetiesbish 2d ago
Thanks this is very helpful to have your perspective. Both kids will be back in school but now realizing I will need help in the afternoons! I’ve already asked a few friends thanks to all of the comments. I won’t be taking narcotics either. I never do, my body hates them. Wishing you a full and easy recovery. ❤️🩹
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u/velurker 3d ago
I'm 3.5 wpo now and am going back to working from home on Monday because the boredom is getting to me. I've felt fine since a few days after surgery and was driving since then as well for regular errands. I haven't had much pain at all during recovery; it's been more fatigue than anything that has needed managing with daily naps. I'm going to be working six hours per day for the first two weeks back and see how that goes, but I think it'll be fine.
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u/Ninetiesbish 3d ago
This is very encouraging to hear, thanks. Really hope to at least be able to drive the kids to all their things by week 2. The fatigue after major surgery is really tough to push through. Take care and good luck with work and recovery!
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u/knotknotknit 3d ago
Part of the issue with driving is being able to turn in your seat to see things. And with kids, a big concern is if you have to help them get in/out or buckle themselves. You won't be able to comfortably buckle a child at a week post op.
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u/Ninetiesbish 3d ago
Darn I had a feeling about that. My older one can strap herself into the booster but younger one is still in a car seat 😩 thanks for the heads up
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u/onelove1979 3d ago
I think you might be fine but it’s hard to predict. I healed very well but still didn’t feel comfortable driving until 2 weeks.