back to work/When did you feel "normal" again?

I was feeling very good about 3 1/2 weeks post-op. I've been doing most of the housework the last couple of weeks except for lawn mowing and vacuuming. At 6 weeks post-op, I feel I have about 95% of my old stamina, which is better than I've felt all year. I'm currently unemployed but I think I could probably handle any job other than manual labor right now.

As my bladder/bowels felt better & functioned more normally, that was almost a bigger lift than the surgical pain fading to a few jabs here and there. I realized that, over the first few weeks, I was constantly worried about being in pain in the bathroom (because the first few weeks were uncomfortable). Now that that's all better, it's like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. My body feels more reliable again.

If you have time to shop for a surgeon, you have to talk to doctors about how they view recovery. I should have thought about this a little more pre-op, because it was 4 years from the time I was first told I should have a hysterectomy until I had one. Generally, my doctor's been overly cautious. Six weeks out, he still thinks I need to take it easy and I am more active than he'd like me to be. Granted, I did have a fairly serious infection about 7 days post-op and I was very uncomfortable for about 10 more days after that. He treated the infection in such a way that I didn't have to be re-admitted, and I'm really grateful for that.

But now - I really feel like I'm recovered, but I still have to go back to see him 1 more time (8 weeks post-op).

Sitting in an office chair was the worst position for me. Changing positions often was really key. The swelling I caused myself from for ing myself to sit I the chair and work did not promote quicker healing, so if you can put your feet up while you sit and roll your back a little (slouch) it could help alleviate that pressure. Can't say that won't make your back ache though.
At four months I'm feeling stronger, but I credit it to the exercise I have been doing the last three weeks rather than just time passing. I didnt rush back to exercise since I still had stitches visible at 6 weeks. At 12 weeks I began Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds DVD (bought at Target for $11). It is a walk at home program with a one mile, two mile, three mile, and four mile walk. Very good at helping me build strength and endurance at home without risking injury. Tired as you may be I highly recommend this program so you can get back to normal quicker. It worked for me!!

Best to you!!!

I had a thought about dealing with being back at work. It may not work for you, but it's something to think about if you have a desk job.

If your job isn't customer-facing, and if you can work from a laptop, and if your workplace is understanding enough, you might be able to bring a recliner in to work. I knew a guy, a computer programmer, who worked in one of those REI zero-gravity camp chair recliners because he had a bad back.

I still have almost 3 weeks left on disabillity but am thinking about trying this when I go back. Sitting upright in one position for 8 hours when you aren't quite recovered from abdominal surgery could be really painful and tiring, I'd think.

I would err on the side of caution if you can afford to wait to go back to work. I am a week post op and doing pretty well. I know though that when I go back to work it won't stay part time. Once there, it is hard to leave. From all i've read on this site, better to take some time now to heal than return too soon and have a longer recovery. Am i right on that?

Halesredrose, you are right! I'm working from home today because the past few were so rough.