Walking too much, too soon??

I had a laparoscopically assisted Vaginal Hyst. and to me the pain hasn't been bad. Now, 8 days after surgery and I had the bright idea to walk about 1/2 mile, which I've been doing little jaunts but walked that today and now my entire stomach hurts. Is it normal to hurt again after something as small as 1/2 mile?

YES. Although I had a TAH and you had a LVH (which means your recovery should be easier than mine), my entire stomach still hurts if I walk too much. Or too fast. Or hills. I was in fairly good physical shape before (e.g. worked out 3-4 times per week, didn't give a 3-mile walk a second thought), and 1/2 a mile is about what I can do comfortably now (I'm 8 wks post-op). Take it slow...even though you had LVH, you still have a lot of internal healing to do. As I understand it, some soreness is normal after walking. Bleeding or anything unusual is not normal and warrants a visit to the dr.

Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I just think I should be feeling better than I am. But, then again, patience is not my strong point. Are you still off work or do you work outside the home? My Dr told me to be off 4 wks and then she'll release me after I see her. I was hoping to return to work sooner but I guess only time will tell.

I only walked to the end of the street and was in paaaaaaaaaaaain.

I just realized that you're just 9 days post-op! There is no way I could have even walked 1/2 a mile that early. I probably would have melted into the pavement somewhere along the way. Patience is not my strong point, either, ESPECIALLY because I am otherwise very active. Regarding work, I am a college professor. I poked my head in during weeks 3 & 4, but not for long. I was told not to do that and I probably shouldn't have...I just had cabin fever and had to do something. I started half days for weeks 5 & 6, then increased to full days during weeks 7 & 8. My dr said he preferred that I not return to work for the full 6 weeks and then consider half days, but that if I felt good enough, I could try it, very little and very carefully. I had my 6 week check on 9/18 and was released with no restrictions.

I am lucky because I don't punch a clock...am not regulated to put in 8 full hours every day. As long as I teach my classes and fulfill office hours, I can do some work at home if necessary, and that has helped me a lot on "bad" days. My biggest issue right now is not terrible pain but extreme fatigue. If I do too much one day, then I'm tired-to-the-bone exhausted the entire next day. I get abdominal muscle pain and bladder pain when I overdo, especially stairs and walking too fast. I also still get the swelly belly, can't wait for that to quit. It's better if I sleep well and take it easy, worse if I overdo. That sort of sums it up.

So hang in there. Put your feet up and chill out a little longer. As the other hystersisters told me, I am now telling you: "You only get one chance to heal properly the first time!" You'll have all the time in the world later to do whatever you want, and you'll feel better doing it. Take care of yourself, Rhonda

Walking is very very good and you will be able to go a little further with less discomfort each day. When you feel discomfort just stop and take some deep breaths then walk a little slower(if it's possible to walk any slower). Each day you will feel better but it's great for fighting off adhesions as well as insanity. Listen to your body when it says enough and remember that however far you go, you have to get back too.

When people look at you funny, smile back at them and they don't know what to think! I walked in my nail salon today and they commented right way that I was walking normal. I felt good hearing that.

Keep on truckin'!!

I started walking 4 days after surgery and I had an incision. Walked 3 blocks but the nurse indicated that was to much so went to 1 block everyday and that proved to be much better for me. Just to get outside made me feel better.

Yes I did the same nine days after the op - just walked to the local store and back (about half a mile) and paid for it that evening with cramping pains. I had to rest all last weekend and then last week, I gradually started building up the walking again and seem to be fine. I think slowly and gradually is the key! It's so frustrating not being more active isn't it -- I usually work out 4 times a week and I'm really missing it but won't be tempted to go back until I'm definitely ready ...

My friends are all yelling at me to not be doing anything and just take it easy but I'm not used to just laying around leisurely all day and not doing anything. I mean, I still fold laundry, rinse dishes, take a little walk, etc but to me that feels like nothing. I was hoping to return to work at 3 wks but the way things are looking I'm starting to wonder if that's possible. My sugeon said 4 wks but I thought surely I could do before that. I sat outside this afternoon and walked around the yard a bit and rode 5 miles in to town with my hubby and I'm exhausted tonight. It makes me wonder, who are you and what did you do with my other body?