recovery like a c-section???

The more I read the more the recovery sounds like that of a C-section. I had two one with 15hrs labour and 4 hrs pushing.Then On to an emergency C morphine and all. Did however get to stay in the hospital for 4 nights.

Anyone out there had this experience?? Are the recovery periods simular? Swelly belly, gas, no sneezing, walking, only no beautiful baby. Sure sounds close. Please weigh in ladies.

I've had two c-sections and a TVH. And I'm very lucky in that I had very little problem recovering from any of them.

I think the c-sections were more painful due to the abdominal incision. But I think I was more tired following the TVH. I don't know if that's due to age (my last c-section was six years ago), or because I had general anesthesia with the TVH. Or maybe some of both.

I only had very minimal gas problems with any of them. The swelly belly from the TVH went away in about 10 days. I don't feel that I can compare that to the swelly belly following the c-sections, since I never could quite figure out what part of the swelly belly was from the surgery and what was from the pregnancy.

Good luck!

i think my TAH/BSO has been a worse recovery than my csection...maybe worse isn't the right word, but it's taking longer I think...I never had hormone problems after giving birth (3 times, once w/twins) and now I'm just getting the full impact at almost 5 wks postop of starting hrt...I was a lot more mobile and agile after my csection by now...but everyone is different...good luck!

Sirap,
I had an emergency C section , 4 years later a scheduled C section, and now a TAH. The only similarity for me was they were able to use the same incision site. I too thought it would be the same recovery so I was surprised that the TAH was much more difficult. Besides being older now (48 as opposed to being in my 30's for C sections), this surgery took longer and they move things around more, resulting in internal bruising. Also, removing a baby that is supposed to come out is different from removing body parts. It left me feeling much sorer and weak from anemia. I hope I am not scaring you but I wish I had realized ahead of time that it was a more significant recovery. I am doing better each and every day but it was more difficult than I expected. I needed more help when I got home and 3 and a half weeks later am still not up to doing things I did 1 week after C sections. Hope this helps.

Hi Sirap,

With my LSH, I had a swelly belly for about 10 days. Just had to wear very loose clothes. I had a slight right shoulder pain from the gas they use during surgery and it went away in about 4 days. I did not experience abdominal gas. It takes a few days for the bladder and intestines to get in gear.

Walking?? I could walk around pretty good by the 2nd day. Just took it very, very slow. I walked like an "old croney" for the first 2 weeks. I think walking is the best exercise for the first 6 weeks.

I got a greenlight for all activities, including the gym at 6 weeks. I did experience healing twinges around my cervix area for the first few weeks, due to healing. I just used over the counter tylenol for any discomfort after my prescription meds ran out.

I never had a C- section so I can't compare.

Best wishes,

Mary

I know it's human nature to try to compare stuff. Here's my experience:

I've had two c-sections. The first one in 1988 was rough; the second one in 2000 was much easier. Who knows why? The first one had a small bikini incision, the second one a vertical incision from my navel to my pubic area.

My hysterectomy in 2004 was a harder recovery than either of the c-sections. It took longer and there was more discomfort. Maybe it was because I was 4 years older than my last surgery and not in very good physical shape -- I'm sure that played into it.

I think there are many variables that determine how quickly a person recovers from surgery -- the type of surgery (of course), what else is found, etc. etc. I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but this was my experience.

My recovery from the LAVH has been less painful and less tiring than from my two previous c-sections. I was better rested and better prepared for my LAVH, because I knew the date of surgery. I rested, cooked and cleaned before the date. Much easier to do than waddling around with a pregnant tum tum.

My first c-section was done after 19 hours of labor with no success. I was tired because I was suffering from pre-eclamsia (toxemia) and had worked the previous day and going into labor right after I got home from work. Spent the whole night and most of the following day trying to deliver a baby. Needless to say, I was very tired during my recovery.

For my second c-section, my doctor let me off work three weeks early so I was well rested. I did go into early labor, attempted a vaginal delivery, but had a c-section because my baby was so large. I went home two days after delivery and recovered fairly well.

Both c-sections had problems with the horizontal incision in the pelvic region, some gas, and the inability to stand up straight. I had to remember to pull my shoulders up and stand tall. It got easier with time.

As to my LAVH, I had gas problems but not bad and incisions were so minor they hardly caused me trouble at all. I've had a little more problems with nausea but that only lasted a few days and I did need to lose some weight! :>

Overall, at least for me, the recoveries were about the same or even easier with the LAVH than with the c-sections.

Remember though each woman is different as is their surgical recovery.

MissDaisy

Hi!

TAH/SAH is a completely different surgery than C-section, other than the method of entering the body. They are removing a body part (s) and if you are keeping ovaries, detaching partial blood supply from ovaries and bladder/bowel issues are generally more intense. There is much longer healing time.

I had two c-sections waaaaaaaaaaaay back in '79 and '80, so it makes sense that at 46 I'd have a bit more difficulty with surgery but hyst. is definitely very difficult than c-section.

Best wishes xoxoxo

I guess I'm just trying to relate this to something I've been through because it sounds so horrific!!! I know I've come through 2 C's with limited pain. Getting really scared now that the 18th is approching fast. Here I am @ 3o on this site searching for answers that this is going to be ok. Thank you everyone for the support.

Sirap

Sirap,
I really hope we are not scaring you. I can understand your need to relate it to something you have already experienced and got through. I did the same thing BUT please just mentally prepare yourself that you will need more help and time to recover. Don't assume that you will be back on your feet and back doing what you did before as early as when you had C sections. In terms of initial pain its comparable ( or at least it was for me) but what I wasn't prepared for was that I took more time to be able to do things for myself. Do you have someone who can come stay with you when you get home? I needed help for about a week in terms of myself, I needed help a few days more in terms of doing things for my children (getting them up and ready for school). I was just not able to move as quick or as much for a couple of weeks. We are all here for you.