3 weeks post hysterectomy: Did I over do it?

It's been 3 weeks post op...yesterday I think I over did it. I was moving around the house a lot and even pulled and pushed some heavy objects without realizing it at least not until I felt the pain...which was immediately ....now I have been in severe pain on my left side to my ribs. I even feel small fibroid like bumps on my left side. How do I know if hurt my self?

If your pain level is above a 5, meaning 6-10, call your doctor's office. Also check your post op instruction papers to review your doc's instructions and when to call recommendations. Sorry about your pain!

What exactly did you do?

I am worried about the exact same thing. I had my TAH just over 3 weeks ago. I scooted some furniture around, pushed a small shopping cart, and opened some heavy doors yesterday. Afterwards I felt a lot of intermittent dull aches all over my left side. I had some gas going on and I took zero pain killers so I'm unsure if it's anything abnormal. I've taken OTC pain meds everyday until recently so I don't even know what's normal for me for sure. Maybe it's just the gas, maybe I'm not used to my normal pain. ??? It's not intolerable or constant pain and no discharge or bleeding. I still hurt some today but not as bad. I called my doc's nurse and she said no pushing or pulling anything that weighs over 10 pounds and I have appt tomorrow. The pushing and pulling I did was less strain on me than carrying a 10 pound object so I'm confused as to why we can't push objects that weigh more even though we're not bearing the weight. Nonetheless, I know over did it yesterday....the heavy doors were the worst thing I did. Light slow stretching help to relieve the majority of the muscle pain. I'm still getting intermittent gas like feeling dull pains in lower abdomen and I'm getting similar pains on right side now too. I feel very mild sensations around vagina sometimes...can't say it's pain really. I just hope this is all part of normal healing.

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Originally Posted by SK72 I called my doc's nurse and she said no pushing or pulling anything that weighs over 10 pounds and I have appt tomorrow. The pushing and pulling I did was less strain on me than carrying a 10 pound object so I'm confused as to why we can't push objects that weigh more even though we're not bearing the weight. Nonetheless, I know over did it yesterday....the heavy doors were the worst thing I did.

What's rather astonishing is how pushing and pulling engages the abs. When we're not dealing with post-op issues, we don't think about it. A personal insight: about 4 weeks post-op I was at work and needed to use the heavy duty stapler to staple 20-30 pages. No problem getting the stapler down off the shelf - it wasn't high up, and weighs way less than a gallon of milk. But when I pressed down on the handle and put my body into it? Yeow I felt it in my abs! I can use the stapler again now, but I've had other instances where I've had swelly belly from engaging in something new, like using a garden hose to spray spider webs off the front porch and eaves over the garage two weekends ago - who knew that used abs?!

The post op videos from HysterSisters are so helpful. Watch the first one, too, even though you're past that - it'll help you see the progression.

Video: Weeks 1-2
Video: Weeks 3-4
Video: Weeks 5-6

Recover well!

Something I learned while recovering and reading these threads since December? If you ask "have I overdone it?" The answer is probably yes!

Pushing and pulling uses your abdominal muscles so much more than you think. We think it's our arms or legs, but it's our core!

NO more pushing and pulling furniture! This isn't time off to get some stuff done - this is recovery, plain and simple!

It's a long road to recovery, but do rest and take it easy so you don't extend the recovery time due to injurying yourself!

I checked out with the nurse fine and she said no more pushing and pulling. She suggested I back into doors if I can't avoid going through them.

She mentioned some key indicators that I was fine: my abdomen was soft, I had no discharge, bleeding, or temperature, and the pain was inconsistent and not severe. If you feel any hard spots in your abdomen, have a temp, abnormal discharge, abnormal bleeding, or a pain that never goes away you should see the doc immediately.

Otherwise, the nurse said the body's healthy response to over doing it is inflammation and pain. When you feel feel it, you need take it easy because not doing so will set you back.

She did say at about 4 weeks I may discharge some blood and this will be incisions healing (from Cervix removal).

It is 4 weeks 4 days now since my hysterectomy and I was the same felt great and probably over did it a bit...Especially as I had no pain after my op and felt great..Over the last 2 weeks felt something protruding out of my vag..Got into see the gyno straight away and they have told me I need another operation now..Can't do it though for another 6 months until the first op has healed...Not happy