Ultra active pre-op; What am I supposed to do for 6 weeks post??

Help!! Prior to having my hysterectomy eight days ago (internal, uterus only), I ran two miles every day, walked, biked, and was swimming/hiking/whatever in between....and taking care of my family (they are already complaining about all the housework they've had to take over)....and working, etc.

How exactly am I supposed to endure the next five weeks?

Plus, I just read that at the six week check-up, you are only supposed to be at 40% of pre-op. Is that true? Is there anyone who has healed more quickly?

And, I will be moving in seven weeks....will I be able to help lift and pack?

Thank you to anyone who can help.

Hi - I do know that everyone heals differently. Like you prior to my surgery I tried to run at least 3 miles several times a week along with going to the gym and working out. I had a 4 week post-op with my doctor and up until that point I didn't do anything except walk. At my 4 week post-op the doctor told me I could do anything I wanted to do just to start off slowly. So at week 5 I started back to the gym, using the stepper for 25 minutes before lifting weights. I did use a very low intensity and also lower weights that what I used pre-op. I have had NO problems and feel great. As far as running goes, I have only tried 2 times and can not even run 1 mile without stopping to walk...I know that will come I just have to work my way back. I do believe that being in good physical shape prior to surgery helped me recover faster...Good luck to you! Thea

Aleksandra,

We all are different. Your Dr and you will be the best judge of when you can resume your activities. You especially! I started back to my regular activities at 6 weeks. And no weights until 8 weeks. My Dr said absolutely not until then. I healed very well and quickly but he knows me and wanted to make sure I was good to me. As I started back it was very slow and extremely easy does it.
Please remember one thing
Never resist a temporary inconvenience if it results in a permanent improvement. HelenM HS. You will have plenty of time to get back into the shape you are used to. If you wreck your recovery you may never get back there.
With your move you will probably be able to do some packing and unpacking. You be the judge. If you feel the abdomin at all, I would refrain from lifting it. Hopefully you have plenty of friends and family who can help you with this move. 7 weeks is still really early for heavy lifting. 6 months is a better mark for being ready for most activities.
Let us know how things go for you!
Blessings
Jody

How do you endure the next 5 weeks? You rest, just like you're supposed to. Remember, you still have that anesthetic in your body that gives you a false sense of feeling great. You don't want to overdo it now and then be hurting later. Take the time to heal. You will likely get back into shape relatively quickly since you were in great shape going into this. Read some books, get some videos. organize your photos, make plans for your move, shop for wallpaper online. Get up and move around a little throughout the day. Before you know it you'll be taking short walks through the neighborhood. Your 6 week visit will be here before you know it, and then you and your doc can decide what's next.

You can do it! It's not easy to do nothing when you usually do everything. I didn't think I could, but I did. I'm a workaholic (well, was a workaholic--I've changed these past few weeks) and diligent with my daily aerobics and yoga. The time really passed pretty quickly and at 10 weeks I'm not quite back to where I was, but at least I can wear all the same clothes!

I WAS RELEASED FOR ALL ACTIVITY AT ONLY 4 WEEKS. ALTHOUGH I STILL CAN'T RUN (NOT EVEN SHORT DISTANCES), I HAVE RETURNED TO ALL PREVIOUS ACTIVITIES. I TEND TO BELIEVE THAT I AM RESPONDING TO ASTHMA FROM ANESTHESIA RATHER THAN THE SURGERY ITSELF. MY DOC SAYS IF IT HIRTS, STOP OTHER WISE DO IT!

and that is YOUR recovery at this point. Tell your family its too bad they have to do more around the house but that is just the way it is and you will let them know if anything changes.
As for what to do....your posting says nothing about your current energy/fatigue level. Yes, it is possible to become relatively active. It is also highly likely you will over-do and pay the price. You need to realize something pretty major was just done and you need to give yourself and your body time to recover.
As you are SITTING/RESTING during the day, start your lists for all the stuff than needs to get done between now and the day you move. If you can do it standing or seated, start going thru stuff and creating piles of whatever you no longer want or neeed--someone else can bag it and get it out of the house. Coordinate all the Utilities etc now--that is just a couple of phone calls and can be done while seated. Line up your help with the move now. If you can swing it, have the new placed cleaned by a cleaning company so you move into a really clean place to start with. If you can swing it, continue to use such a service. If you can't afford, do you know anyone willing to do some extra work at a negotiated price? Try that and see!!
If you can do all of the above without undue fatigue and no discomfort of any kind, SLOOOWLY increase your activity level daily. I would start off with walking only. Check with your MD re: your fitness schedule. You will have to let your bod be your guide--please be kind to it. It doesn't want all the jostling with running. Unless your house is on fire or someone isn't breathing, walk don't run.

Good luck!

Aleksandra, my hospital encouraged me in its discharge papers to walk at least 4 times a day and increase the walking distance gradually. The day I came home from the hospital, I was walking around the block twice. By my 2-week follow-up, I was walking half a mile to a mile each several times a day and feeling great and my gyn was pleased with my progress. On rainy days, I went to the nearest shopping mall and participated in another hospital's mall-walking activities. The mall has benches where we can sit down and rest. I am now 8 weeks post-op and still walking daily.

I give you credit Java. The day I came home from the hospital I could barely walk to the bathroom! I am 5 weeks post op and a few weeks ago my hubby took me out for a 1/2 mile walk- we looked like the tortoise and the hare- I was walking SOOO slow and my DH kept having to wait for me. It did feel good to walk but I was totally pooped after that! I am walking better now but still have that "slow" pace.

Dear Aleksandra,

A gyn has said that you're only 40% healed at 6 weeks, and 100% healed at 6 months to a year. My experience has told me that this is true. There are countless internal stitches inside you were things were rearranged and reattached. I still felt some abdominal tenderness at 8 months.

About your family complaining: Remind whoever is fussing that if THEY were to have major surgery, how much they would appreciate extra help, cheerfully given.

I would be very careful about bending and lifting in conjuction with moving. Get ALL the help doing this from others that you possibly can. It just isn't worth setting back your recovery. You can't "will" yourself to heal quickly...it is a slow process, and you must come to terms with it. You are worth whatever it takes to heal properly...you only have ONE chance at it!

My very best to you...

Linda