Abdominal Surgery vs. C/Section

Does anyone have any insight/experience with both Abdominal Hyster and previous C/Section? I have read that the hyster is much worse but can't seem to figure out why? Could it be that after the C/Section you are kinda euphoric with the baby and know you have to take care of it, and you are unable to really realize how uncomfortable you are? I mean, after the hyster, your uterus is not throbbing like after the C/S, and your only discomfort is the incision.
I just can't imagine how one could be worse? Please share your experience.

i had 2 c-sections... my first 1 was difficult as it was an emergency c-sec, i found it difficult to stand straight afterwards..
my 2nd one was planned(kinda) and i had an epaderal which was awsome and didnthave any problems at all...was walking around after i could feel my legs.
my hyster i had a ton done to me, so it was a little different then the c-secs.
i cant say worse really, but it was hard to stand straight afterwards... the incision site didnt hurt more it was more like my belly. i also think it depends on the type of hyster your having...if there are adhesions and that kind of stuff.. it is not worse or better, it is different b/c your body is missing an organ now, so your overies if your keeping them need to adjust after or if removing them you need to adjust to meds... and the most important thing here is no matter how uncomfortable you may feel after wards it is still better then how your feeling now, there is light at the end of this tunnel, before you know it you'll be fine

Hi

I had 4 c-sections.

They are just 2 completely different kinds of surgeries. The only thing in common is the abdominal incision.

Here is a link you might find helpful, Abdominal Hysterectomy compared to a c-section

I actually was relatively pain free after my hysterectomy ( I think all the nerves around my incision were dead after the 2nd c-section), but I was very careful to not "overdo". I suffered pretty bad pain internally at 5 weeks, but that was when I was tired of resting and went and did too much .

The hormonal side affects were the worst part of the hysterectomy recovery for me, but I had my ovaries removed and had major short term memory issues. In time and with the right HRT though, my brain is working again

s and Best Wishes,
Kay

As Kay said, they are different. I had 2 c-sections with very quick recoveries. I expected the hyst to be the same. Recovering from the abdominal incision was the easy part - internally tho you feel like your insides have been "messed with". Much more exhaustion, but am also 16 years older than the last c-section. I had an easy recovery overall. It is important to do what they tell you - no lifting, or overdoing it.

some of it might depend on what you have removed. if you have your ovaries removed and have hormonal issues, it can slow the recovery down. if you keep your cervix and ovaries, you have the recovery from the abdominal incision and having an organ actually removed but hopefully not hormone issues. everyones recovery is very different. good luck with your surgery

Like the others have said, they are two different surgeries; however, I think there might be a tiny bit of truth in what you wrote in your OP.

I know that right after my 1st daughter was born (c/s), I felt motivated to get moving quickly - afterall, I had a newborn to care for. I had to get myself better ASAP. With the Hyst., I think there wasn't that "need" to get better quickly, therefore, it seemed a bit more slowgoing and maybe a bit more harsh. I had no motivation to get moving again. Then again, it could have been where I was just really enjoying being waited on hand and foot, too.

Also, my incision seemed to, strangely enough, be quite a bit longer than my C/S incision. Don't really know why, but it was almost a hip-to-hip cut. I think that possibly attributed to more discomfort for me as far as the actual incision is concerned.

Good luck!

My daughter was born at 26 weeks via an emergency c section a little over 6 years ago and had a horizontal cut. I was in a fair bit of pain the day after but by day 2 I was walking from my bed to the chair to pump and to the bathroom and the next day I was discharged and walking from the NICU at one end of the hospital to the Ronald house at the other end multiple times a day. I was off the percocet by the end of the first week and bounced back really well.
I went into my TAH thinking it would be the same so imagine my surprise when I found out it was totally different.
I just stopped taking the morphine last week but still needing ibuprofen in the morning and evening. As for feeling human again that has just begun in the past few days and I will be 3 weeks post op on Thursday.
I lost my uterus, cervix and tubes but did keep my ovaries. They aren't functioning too well just yet though so I am fighting with some menopausal symptoms still.
The hyst isn't so much a worse surgery just like the others have said it is just different.