3 weeks post total hysterectomy & BSO recovery, large fibroid removal with 10 cm incision

Hello, week 3 tomorrow night after surgery. Finding many light tasks to do at home,due to making myself go slowly and not overdo it. Day trip two days ago, 200 kms away, one way trip, to watch son row in city, on one day.was brilliant to get out, however, I was in quite some pain on way home. Took tramadol on way home, which eased off the pain. Haven't been taking any meds for a few days before this.
Sometimes by night time I need to lay flat as too much pain in tummy fold of skin, which is very bruised, and above my incision. I am becoming mindful of the need to maintain rest.
Getting some surgical menopause symptoms- headaches sometimes, and emotional and flushes. However bearable.
I am wondering as my ovaries and every girl bit except vagina and vault removed, at 52, should I be looking at any replacement hormones to uptake what my ovaries would be telling my pit gland to secrete normally into old age?
Appreciate any feedback about this before I see my specialist in 3 weeks.
Am grateful fir not having any infection to date... Wind is still a problem... I have read somewhere my insides/ bladder will be angry for a while, and this should subside?
Appreciate this forum...
Regards, Carol

Carol! It really is amazing how the simple task of "daily living" can take its toll on our bodies. I discovered post-2 weeks how just sitting upright for 2 hours caused my back to ache horribly and my tummy to swell more. Rest and reclining were definitely still better, and I would rest 30-45 minutes after doing things. When we traveled at about 11 days (a trip just a little longer than yours), we stopped 2-3 times just so I could get out of the car.

I dealt with bowel issues up through 7 weeks. I'd get constipated easily and I could feel much tumbling and churning - I had to stay on top of it with the right foods. Choose whole grains and fiber, dark leafy greens, seeds, nuts, fruit (dried, fresh or frozen), and cut back or cut out highly processed foods which are more difficult to digest. My go-to solution was Fiber One original cereal (any cereal with about 13-14g of fiber per serving will do); dried prunes; and prune juice icky-ick throughout the day. With that, drink water-water-water, enough to float a canoe - otherwise you're just making rocks .

I'm 54 and retained my ovaries, mild menopausal symptoms. Women usually benefit from some "dribbling" of hormones with our ovaries as we age. With surgical menopause you won't have that, so HRT is indeed something to talk to your doctor about. Start keeping a journal of your symptoms, and triggers if any. Doctors love that kind of documentation . Meanwhile, unless you are a cancer risk and can't do estrogen, boost your estrogen intake with food choices like soy (edamame/mukimame or soy milk or tempeh and tofu), dried fruits, seeds & nuts, chickpeas, yams, bran cereals - it's a list very similar to the list that keeps your digestive system going. It all works together!

Hello, Thankyou for your reply. We have both been eating healthy for some time now as been following low sugar diet and food based on Mediterranean style food mainly. I can clearly see after this op why eating healthy is advantageous... Thanks for the soy advice... I will try his too.. Am eating almonds for snacks, so presume they are good fibre base too.
I hope your recovery is going well. I am 52, so am guessing was pre menopausal in any case. Hopefully some eostrogen will help with mood and flushes a little.
I will start documenting these... Oh and up in the night with restlessness which seems to have increased since op... I really feel satisfied when I have slept well.
All the best, carol: