TAH: Silly questions

I just found out I am having my hysterectomy in less than a month. What can I do to make recovery easier? I have a tiny bit of belly fat and looking at some of the bikini cut scar horror stories (I can't help googling) I am worried that I should hit the gym like a mad woman to avoid that weird folded belly look. Will working out and strengthening my core more help or hurt my recovery time?
Also on a separate note, I don't think my family is going to support my decision to get a hysterectomy. I found out that I have a pretty huge fibroid that has been making my life very difficult for 5 years. I'm tired of the bleeding and the pain. I had 2 months of lupron and trying to shrink it and have felt awful the whole time. When my mom heard that I was thinking of following my VA doctors advice to get a hysterectomy she said I'm emotional and I would regret it. I went for a second opinion to HER doctor and got the same diagnosis. I am relieved because I don't want to suffer anymore but how do I tell her? My 3 sisters all have lots of kids and it's never really been my thing. I would just like a little support..

Anything you can do to strengthen your core muscles *before* surgery will only help your recovery. Even if it doesn't reduce the time, it should make the recovery process easier. (Keep in mind that *length* of recovery and *ease* of recovery are two different things. Abdominal surgery typically has a long recovery, but it doesn't have to be a difficult one.)

*After* surgery, you'll need your doctor's clearance before "hitting the gym." Typically, this means walking as your only exercise for the first six weeks after surgery. When you start back at the gym, you'll probably find that you need to *ease* back in gradually over a period of a couple/few weeks. Listen to your body on this one. Save the crazy madwoman workouts for a couple/few *months* after surgery.

As for your family, your body and your pain are yours, not your mother or your sisters. If they're not supportive, look for support from other family members (aunts? cousins?), friends, co-workers, neighbours, etc. Support is where you find it. *grin*

Good luck!

Thank you

How big is your fibroid?

FWIW, I also had a very large fibroid (13cm x 10cm with another 4cm projection on the front), and my surgeon informed me that had I not gotten the surgery, eventually I would have died of kidney failure because the thing was squashing my kidneys. If you have to get it done, you have to get it done. *hug* Sorry your family isn't being more understanding.

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Originally Posted by Niborhood1 How big is your fibroid?

I don't have the exact dimensions right now but both of the doctors that I went to see have thrown around the word huge.. Bigger than a grapefruit apparently.

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Originally Posted by BornACrone FWIW, I also had a very large fibroid (13cm x 10cm with another 4cm projection on the front), and my surgeon informed me that had I not gotten the surgery, eventually I would have died of kidney failure because the thing was squashing my kidneys. If you have to get it done, you have to get it done. *hug* Sorry your family isn't being more understanding.

It's ok. Thanks for the hug at this point I'm ready to feel better and the hysterectomy isn't as scary as worrying about the scar it's going to leave.

I agree with the family sentiments but from what I've heard from other sisters that had large fibroids, your abdomen may shrink quite a bit. As far as hitting the gym post op however, you will have to be very careful when easing into it to avoid organ prolapse. This was a shock to me as I thought I would be able to jump back in to fitness but this surgery is just different than the rest.

I was told the same thing about my kidneys. The fibroid is pushing on them, and once they die, they die! Thus, I am getting it out on 3/10.

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Originally Posted by Jessabess02 I agree with the family sentiments but from what I've heard from other sisters that had large fibroids, your abdomen may shrink quite a bit. As far as hitting the gym post op however, you will have to be very careful when easing into it to avoid organ prolapse. This was a shock to me as I thought I would be able to jump back in to fitness but this surgery is just different than the rest.

I'm not really worried about the gym afterwards. I'm just wondering if there's something that I can do to be More fit before the surgery that would in turn help me after and during recovery.