The journey back to running

I had my surgery on Jan. 8th. My doctor urged me to walk during my 6-week post-op period, and said it would help me heal faster. He simply advised me to stop walking as soon as I felt discomfort. He also cleared me to run at 6 weeks. I began running at exactly 6 weeks after my surgery. Boy, did I feel out of shape! But, on the other hand, it REALLY felt good to get out and run (even if I was huffing and puffing after 5 minutes). Like you and most other runners, I also run "to stay sane" (and because I do not like watching what I eat)! This week, I am FINALLY back up to my pre-surgery weekly mileage.

The one thing I found most helpful that doesn't seem to be that common (based on what I've read on this site) is that my doctor made me wear an abdominal binder (like they typically prescribe for hernia operations) for the entire 6-week post-op period. While I frequently cursed him as no one else seemed to have to do this, I religiously wore the thing. He promised that wearing it would make the swelling and scarring less bad. I don't know how much it helped the scarring (since I have no basis of comparison). But, it did help with the swelling in that I did not have any at all. I credit the binder for that! Plus, when I started back running, I kept the binder on (even though by then I was allowed to take it off), and did not have any pain while running.

Anyway, I hope this helps. What I am trying to say in a very long-winded sort of way is that if your doctor thinks you need the surgery, get it. You will get through not being able to run. And, when you are able to run again, you will appreciate running even more than you do now!

Hi everyone -
I haven't been on in awhile. Tomorrow is 9 weeks post op for me and since going back to work & taking new classes, I have been crazy busy.
Fun2run, I think your doctor & my doctor have a lot in common. I was given very similar advice & restrictions. Although he didn't even mention a belly binder, I did wear a light girdle and I think that helped with swelling...I still have a little bit of swelling, but not much. I'm starting to think I've just grown a pooch and I have to learn to love it? Not!! I am pretty much back to the running I was doing before I had surgery, which was fairly light due to my uterus putting pressure on my bladder - I could not run more than 30 minutes at a time without having to pee and I was afraid of getting too far from the potties! I'm not having any of that, and although I'm not as fast as I was, I think my endurance is back to what it was & I'm working on my speed. I am not real concerned with speed typically...I run because I like it and I focus mostly on distance in miles and length of time. I have had some problems with one of my calves cramping lately...was told it was due to not drinking enough, so I have tried to ease up on running this week and doing other things. I am supposed to run a 5K on Saturday & I'm trying to let my muscles rest a little bit for that...I'm not sure what's going on with that, but at least I know it has nothing to do with my female parts!
Hope all of the other active ladies are doing well and getting back to their routines...I haven't been in the threads much.
Have a great week!
Jill

I'm about 3.5 weeks post op. Has anybody set their treadmill to any sort of incline? My treadmill does about ten different incline levels and I am up to level 2 at this point. Woo hoo! Pre-op, I could do about a level 7. Oh, well. I'm sure I'll get back there.

I accidentally RAN from my car into the drug store today without thinking. Got as far as the sidewalk and thought "THAT was stupid". I don't hurt and it didn't cause me any pain. I just know that I'm not supposed to do it yet.

I am really feeling GOOD this week, so I guess I had an "invincible" moment or something. I'll try not to do that again, for a while.

It's great to hear that you're all getting back into running. I'm really looking forward to it! Take care and keep sharing your stories. They really are encouraging!

Hey everyone! I am so glad to have found this forum - I am almost 6 weeks post-op now!

Like some of ya'll I really kept up my running right till the day of surgery - and I feel really good now - I haven't run yet but have been walking quite a bit and feel like I'll be ready to get back to running very soon!

I love hearing the positive stories from those further out from surgery that have started back up running again. It's so heartening to know that we'll be back there again - eventually. It's hard to sit and do nothing.

Thanks for the support and sharing - this is great! I'll try to share my experience as I get stronger too - maybe it'll encourage someone else!

Di

Hello ladies,

I'm back to running a bit. Tuesday will actually be 9 weeks so I've been running a couple of times. I totally over did it just shy of 8 weeks, but I got back on track much faster than I expected.

I was a beginner runner anyway, (only running since May), and my medical issues are a lot bigger than just my hystee, but it feels SOOOO good to be running again. I ran with a lot of walking mixed in on Tuesday and Thursday and today I walked 12 miles. Unfortunately, before I knew I was having surgery, I registered for a huge half marathon so I needed to know I could do 13.2 in under 4 hours walking. So, now I know I can and will start mixing in running on my weekend long slow distance. I did run a little after I had walked the first 10 miles today.

I look forward to being back to running 7 miles straight, even if it is at a 12 minutes per mile pace :-) Heck, I didn't start running until I was 38, LOL.

I was actually off running for closer to 4 months, so I have a big hill to climb getting back in shape, but I'm in this life for the long run! What do you think, Boston 2014? So if I can run, you young pups, and life long runners can do it easy!

Great news on your running, sounds like you are going to be fine. I find it encouraging to see someone who has had a rectocyle return to running. I have been told so many different things, but you are living proof that it can be done. I am scheduled for a hysterectomy rectocyle and cycstocyle on April 23 and hope to begin running sometime during the summer. Signed up for Disney Marathon in January but I think I may walk run it. I am an older runner also and want to run for the rest of my life so I guess I cant rushe the healing process! See you in Boston, 2014 sounds great!

Hi Breezy,
Wow, if you are signed up for a marathon in the next year then you are way ahead of me The rectocele is no problem at all for running. I still get the swelly belly from the long distances, but I may be pushing the envelope a bit. The rectocele, cystocele, and prolapse, (if you have one) aren't from running so they won't slow you down after your surgery or send you back for another round under the knife. (No matter what my Mother in Law things, )

Disney will be a blast!! I'm hoping to do the Disneyland 1/2 marathon in California in 2009 with a bunch of people from my running forum. Did you see the recent issue of Runner's World with the article on running and aging? It was very encouraging. I definitely plan to run for life.

This will be my first marathon, (hopefully). I want to do one before I am too old, but more and more people are doing them now who are my age and older so..... I have done a couple of half marathons at Disney in Orlando and they are the BEST! You will have a wonderful time in CA, there is great food, enteraintment, the whole atmosphere is fun, you really dont notice that you are running so many miles. Your comments on my return to running are very encouraging, I cant believe what a supportive comminity if women there are out there. Keeping my thoughts positive and stress free until my surgery. Keep me posted with your progress in running and how you are feeling.

I am post op 8 weeks and going to attempt my first run this coming weekend. Up to this point I have walked quite a bit, and am able to climb stairs with no problems. I am still tired and sore at the end of the day, but that is lessening each day. I am concerned about relapse, if I push it, I pay for it! I am however, almost willing to pay for it just to get my muscle tone back! I still have no regrets, my energy level, although is low at the end of the day, is far better than before the TAH.

Hi Everyone,

I just stumbled on to this forum. I’m nearly five weeks post op and I’ve been walking three miles every other day for about four weeks.

I’ve had a pretty easy recovery, which my doctor credits with me being in good shape before the surgery. He said I’d be able to run at 6 weeks, but I worked in the garden for a bit after my walk last Saturday and definitely felt it in my belly, so I’m a little nervous about running too soon.

I also can’t wait (in a perverted sort of way) to do some crunches. I hate seeing all of my hard work turn to flab.

Margaret