Vaginal hysterectomy ladies (no incision), can you chime in here?

I am having a hard time knowing what to expect and how to prepare. I am having a vaginal hysterectomy at the end of April. I see recommendations for special pillows and panties and other things, and I am not sure if they are only recommended for those who have abdominal incisions or for everyone.

If you had a vaginal hyst, what helped with your recovery? What did you NOT need? Any words of advice???

Hi and welcome,

As I had incisions, I will just offer some general advice until others chime in to share their TVH experiences.

You really don't need to buy anything special if you already have loose comfortable clothes to wear. I personally wore granny panties - while not a fashion statement, they were very comfortable. The key is to wear comfortable non binding clothes. Plan on rubber soles slippers for safely marching around the house. Nighties, PJ's, yoga pants, sweat pants, boy shorts, shifts - whatever you prefer. Some gals love lightweight support panties too.

I strongly recommend small pillows. You will find them helpful on the car ride back home to cushion bumps in the road. These pillows Need not be expensive - just squishy and comfortable. They also come in handy for pets or little ones jumping in your lap, and to cushion sneezes and coughs. I bought a ten dollar body pillow for laying on my side and that came in really handy for finding a comfortable position to sleep in.

You can also discuss with your doctor the pros and cons of an abdominal binder - this is up to personal choice.

Here is an article with some general tips: Tips for Preparing for Surgery

Hugs and best of luck.

I had a TVH, so no abdominal incision. I bought nothing special, didn't know about any of that, and didn't need it. All my clothes were loose enough, and I didn't need extra pillows for any reason. No binder needed. So I would say, use what you have, and if you feel the need for an item, get it then. A grabber device might be helpful if bending over bothers you. I know some ladies do get and use different aids, I just personally didn't need or want them.

I had an LAVH, so some incisions, but everything came out vaginally. For that, I recommend an ice pack of some sort. I was very swollen down there and felt like I had a tampon "stuck". Ice helped tremendously.