Long term recovery & exercising

I am 5 weeks post-op for hysterectomy, cystocele and rectocele.....have recovered realy well but am confused about what I can/or cannot do in the long term. I am scared to damage anything, obviously. My dr said I can do anything at all when I am past the 2 months but I read about weight restrictions of 20 lbs, no squatting, etc .......I do yoga and am at level 2, doing headstands (attempting backbends, etc). Can I do that again at 2 months? I also go to the gym and work on a strider and do floor exercises and weights - before, e.g. I would lift 90lbs with my legs on themachines or 75lbs with my arms - can I go backto this sort of thing? My male trainer at the gym doesn't know - said to ask the dr (also male)- who says I can do anything. However, I did ask the dr in the hospital (who was female) and she felt that I should be careful with weights. It's so confusing. I am 63 but did work out a lot before this operation. Also, I mountain biked - so do fairly steep hills, etc - can I return to this? If I can return to all these - when? is the magic question!! Thanks for your help.

Hi Rositam,
I'm 9 weeks post similar surgery and I've had the same concerns as you. If you search the HysterSisters site (box at the top right of the screen) you'll find posts that show the range of post-op recommendations that surgeons make to women who've had posterior repairs. In most cases there is a lifetime lifting restriction.

The recommendation from my surgeon is to build up exercise gradually. At my 6 week appointment he said I can do "anything" without weights. I questioned him more closely about that as I work very strongly in yoga and pilates on core muscles, which have just been stitched back together. He did his best to answer sensibly and eventually siad he wasn't sure. I decided that actually he doesn't have this sort of expert knowledge - he is good at cutting and stitching, after all. I'm going to seek out a physiotherapist who is a pelvic floor expert to get the detailed information that is specific for me.

At the moment I am not up to doing anything much by comparison with my exercise regime pre-op, so I will not be overdoing it for a while.

I'm glad you put up this post. I'm interested in all the responses too.

J