LSH - One Year Post Op Success

Today is one year to the day that I had my LSH. Many thanks to this site as it helped me tremendously. I had my ups and downs but I am happy and healthy today. I wanted to share a bit of my journey and things that helped me in hopes it helps someone else. Me: 45, no kids, had 3 big old firbroids that made my periods long, heavy, and painful. Got the diagnosis Feb/2010 but waited until Dec/2010 to have my LSH (I was scared). By the time I went in I was as big as someone 5 months pregnant.

While I had a hard time with the bowel prep and producing a bowel movement (which kept me in the hospital for 2 days) and having to go home with a catheter for 10 days, I did see and feel visible improvements beginning 3 days post op. Here are things that helped me:

- Drank prune juice post op to help with bowels
- Snacked on bowls of fruit
- Ate good healthy foods/salads beginning day 3 post op (chicken, protein shakes, lots of water). No chips, starchy foods, fatty foods.
- Walked - started inside the house, moved to walking outisde around the block day 6 post op. Light gym activity day 9 post op
- "Training" for surgery - I increased my fitness/gym activities and paid extra attention to eating healthy and clean starting 3 weeks pre-op
- I kept on my pain meds religiously, using my phone as an alarm to remind me even during the night. Also Colace helped me with my bowles and I also stayed on Advil. After day 3 I was comfortable and didn't stop my pain meds until day 7 post op. I stayed on Advil until 2 weeks post op to help with swelling
- I stayed in good spirits - hated the catheter but laughed as I could pee standing up!
- Slowly got back into my workouts as I was able a few weeks post op
- Started surfing again 4 weeks post op (small waves and only for short period of time) - was cleared by my doctor for this.
- Swelly Belly - yep, but it went down over time (weeks).

It's been so nice not having to carry big pads and ulta tampons. My periods now are 2-3 days of discharge per month as I kept my cervix.

The LSH incisions are so small - barely noticeable in a bikini. It amazes me how they can do this; I'm very glad I had this type of hysterectomy.

HysterSisters.com helped me tremendously! I posted every day during my recovery and used the site to get information about what was going on inside of me. Hearing other women's stories gave me strength - it was also good using the Post Op forum to share info with other women who had surgery at the same time I did. It basically kept me sane - I wasn't alone in this.

I decided to have the hysterectomy because my periods were interfering with my life. I'm active/fit and my periods were taking me down half the month or more.

I'm happy I did this and am very happy with the results.

Best wishes to all the other HysterSisters; may your journey be healthy and successful.

"SurfingSister"