3 1/2 weeks post hysterectomy: Swelling After Walking

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Originally Posted by Jan1014 Wow! It sounds like you are doing well! I had swelly belly for a long time after the surgery. It was over a year before I could wear jeans again- and I lost 20 pounds! I could have never walked a mile that soon. I found that if I did too much, it took me a couple of days to rest and recover, so I eventually decided to not be so hard on myself. Around five weeks I started going to the gym and walking on the treadmill. It was nice because I could set it slow and hold on to something! So I guess my advice to you is that it's better to recover successfully than reach a goal. Listen to your body. You are doing well!

Wow! You went to the gym at 5 weeks! Even to do the treadmill I am in awe! It seems for now that my body is ok with 1.5 miles 2X per day. I will see if I can increase next week, but if my body doesn't like it I will ease back. I see the doctor for my next follow up appointment next Weds and will ask her when I can return to the pool, lift weights, and dance class. From the posts I have read I won't be surprised if she says wait unit 12 weeks. It is frustrating because I am a regular gym rat, but my body has to be in charge of the process right now. Yeah for loosing 20 pounds!! I have already lost 10 after the surgery. I think my body had "bulked up" to support those huge fibroids. I think this is a good time from me to re-assess what works best to support my health going forward. Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate it!!

I will be at 3 weeks tomorrow. Last week I tried 2 20 minute walks per day and on the second day I was back on the couch with Advil and a heating pad. I got some good advice on this site though. I am trying 5-10 minute walks about 4times per day. At least I get to see around the block or see a few kids at the park.
Should we be pushing just a tiny bit through soreness walking at this stage? To strengthen? Or is it doing damage???
Hang in there. I am tall also and usually walk quickly for at least an hour. This is slow going and frustrating.

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Originally Posted by April blues I will be at 3 weeks tomorrow. Last week I tried 2 20 minute walks per day and on the second day I was back on the couch with Advil and a heating pad. I got some good advice on this site though. I am trying 5-10 minute walks about 4times per day. At least I get to see around the block or see a few kids at the park. Should we be pushing just a tiny bit through soreness walking at this stage? To strengthen? Or is it doing damage??? Hang in there. I am tall also and usually walk quickly for at least an hour. This is slow going and frustrating.

At 3 weeks post I would say try the shorter walks more frequently. I am 5 weeks post and just getting to 20 minute walks twice a day. Also I recommend that you use gel ice packs instead of heat. It reduces the swelling better. You can pick a gel ice pack in the pharmacy section of your local drug store. Also I found that I could not do my full "tall girl walking stride" until I past the 4th week. It is frustrating I know...but it is better to go slow. Hang in there! Things get much better after a few more weeks!

I really enjoyed going to the gym since I had my surgery in the winter and couldn't walk outside. I got board walking around my house! I started just walking at the gym and graduated to the treadmill and I found I could walk for longer amounts of time using the treadmill because I had something to hold on to and support myself. It also helped me to regain my stride again. Really a blessing! I loved walking after my surgery and wanted to do it often, but not for long. They didn't let me go back to the pool until week 12 or 13. My belly was still so swollen that I floated around! It was pretty funny! I also had huge fibroids and I think you are right about your body bulking up to support them. Just like having a baby. The 20 pounds came right off. I'm glad that you are being careful and listening to your body. Everyone is different!

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Originally Posted by April blues ...Should we be pushing just a tiny bit through soreness walking at this stage? To strengthen? Or is it doing damage??? Hang in there. I am tall also and usually walk quickly for at least an hour. This is slow going and frustrating.

BJFranke has this great saying. She says it's not a push-through recovery, it's an *ease-through* recovery.

Think of someone who's having a hard time doing something because they're out of shape. You might recommend that they push themselves more to gain strength.

Now think of someone who's in shape but they're having a hard time doing something because they've got the flu. You would tell that person to go home and rest! They're already strong, but they need to heal.

I too am a tall woman who likes to walk fast, with long strides. It felt really great when I could finally "hit my stride" again! Keep walking - you'll get there. :-)

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Originally Posted by Jan1014 I really enjoyed going to the gym since I had my surgery in the winter and couldn't walk outside. I got board walking around my house! I started just walking at the gym and graduated to the treadmill and I found I could walk for longer amounts of time using the treadmill because I had something to hold on to and support myself. It also helped me to regain my stride again. Really a blessing! I loved walking after my surgery and wanted to do it often, but not for long. They didn't let me go back to the pool until week 12 or 13. My belly was still so swollen that I floated around! It was pretty funny! I also had huge fibroids and I think you are right about your body bulking up to support them. Just like having a baby. The 20 pounds came right off. I'm glad that you are being careful and listening to your body. Everyone is different!

I am so glad you hung in there and went to the gym-even in winter. Some folks look outside and just won't go...even in sunny CA where I am from. You did it and that is very encouraging to me. Yes-pool at 12 or 13 weeks is what I'm thinking. I was going to insist that the doctor send me back sooner...but then I started to think about the fact that the pool at the local YMCA where I work out is a public pool, then thought better of it. Better to keep that incision clean until it is SURE to be healed up! I think you are right about or weight gain and loss being due to the fibroids. Also I no longer need to take progesterone as part of my HRT and I think that is a factor too. Thanks again your your reply. Have a wonderful day!

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Originally Posted by SurprisedInNB . . . it's not a push-through recovery, it's an *ease-through* recovery. Think of someone who's having a hard time doing something because they're out of shape. You might recommend that they push themselves more to gain strength. Now think of someone who's in shape but they're having a hard time doing something because they've got the flu. You would tell that person to go home and rest! They're already strong, but they need to heal. . .

YES!!!!! Thank you for the great illustration.

Hi Ladies!

I had my two week incision check on Tuesday, and was told to walk an hour a day in the Metroparks to get rid of the swelly belly. We walked around Costco for an hour later that day and I was exhausted, with shaky legs afterwards, but felt good a couple hours later. Yesterday, we walked around a supermarket, again I was tired and soon after spotted, but felt better later. I think I might have overdone it though, because I started cramping last night in bed and had more spotting today. I'm going to follow everyone's advice, and pace myself.

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Originally Posted by connaki Hi Ladies! I had my two week incision check on Tuesday, and was told to walk an hour a day in the Metroparks to get rid of the swelly belly. We walked around Costco for an hour later that day and I was exhausted, with shaky legs afterwards, but felt good a couple hours later. Yesterday, we walked around a supermarket, again I was tired and soon after spotted, but felt better later. I think I might have overdone it though, because I started cramping last night in bed and had more spotting today. I'm going to follow everyone's advice, and pace myself.

Hi Connaki it's Minervacat1. I am now almost 7 weeks post TAH now since I did my original post. I found that I could reduce the swelling by: going slowly and working up to more miles and time; breaking up my walks to 2x per day, instead of trying to do an entire hour at once; and using a frozen gel ice pack as soon as I returned. (In fact I used the gel ice packs as often as I could around the house.) I am up to 1.5-2 miles 2x per day. The swelling and discomfort is better, but it is not all the way gone. I think it just takes time. Best of luck to you!!

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Originally Posted by Minervacat1 Hi Connaki it's Minervacat1. I am now almost 7 weeks post TAH now since I did my original post. I found that I could reduce the swelling by: going slowly and working up to more miles and time; breaking up my walks to 2x per day, instead of trying to do an entire hour at once; and using a frozen gel ice pack as soon as I returned. (In fact I used the gel ice packs as often as I could around the house.) I am up to 1.5-2 miles 2x per day. The swelling and discomfort is better, but it is not all the way gone. I think it just takes time. Best of luck to you!!

Hi Minervacat1!

Thank you for your kind words! It's lovely knowing their are others that can relate to our circumstances, and are willing to share stories and advice. I'll be employing those gel ice packs later, and trying out the split up walks tomorrow, thank you for that recommendation.

I hope all is going well with your recovery, and life is better now with one less thing to worry about.