Vaginal Cuff ?'s

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Originally Posted by Scaredchic Thank you, and yes I can walk. I have been walking since 2.5 hours after surgery. I pace around my house just to walk and then I thought I remembered reading that sitting upright is not good. I don't want to do anything to hurt myself. This is truly a change for me as I am on the go all of the time normally. Maybe it is just that my butt is not use to being sat on this much, hahahaha

Ah, definitely not a desk jockey! I wish you well, my dear. As an alternative, lie on the floor and put your feet on the couch ! Seriously, it can help with fluid retention, as can lying on your left side. Research has shown that left-side lying can help you get rid of more fluid than right-side lying - not sure why, but it works :-)

Regarding sitting 'indian style'. It may not hurt your cuff, but it's not a good idea to sit that way. After surgery there is always a risk of blood clots and sitting that way could contribute towards a clot, especially in a person prone to them. Think of a garden hose; if you kink it the water will not flow freely. When you sit with your knees bent in that fashion you are cutting off the free flow of blood through your veins. It's always a good idea to sit with your feet up after abdominal surgery.

In addition to all the great comments already posted, I just wanted to add that I have felt pressure on and off in the vaginal area since my surgery, especially in the first 2 months. I still get the feeling at 5 months. The surgeon and my regular gyn have both checked the vaginal cuff and said it is beautifully healed, so I know the pressure isn't a sign of the cuff coming undone (I was terrified for weeks that it was, so believe me, I know how worrisome that pressure can be). My surgeon didn't have an explanation for it, but what I've read and heard from a friend's doctor is that it is very normal to feel vaginal fullness or like something is going to fall out of your vagina when recovering from a hysterectomy, that this is the tissues healing. When I get it now, I think it's because I am working out again with (very light) weights and slight incline on the treadmill and occasional dryness.

Really listen to your body, avoid grocery carts for a long, long time (I still get that tugging/full feeling when I try to push one), and just STOP any activity that makes you feel like you are straining in any way. Don't bear down when you go to the bathroom (hence the need to keep things soft), and try to find comfortable ways to sit that do not strain your core. Take care!!!

Thank you all for the advice I greatly appreciate it.

With the cuff, have any of felt fullness up there. My husband says maybe it is swelled as I have been really good about just walking and resting but with that there I do get a little nervous when I feel it.

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Originally Posted by Carolinagrl42 In addition to all the great comments already posted, I just wanted to add that I have felt pressure on and off in the vaginal area since my surgery, especially in the first 2 months. I still get the feeling at 5 months. The surgeon and my regular gyn have both checked the vaginal cuff and said it is beautifully healed, so I know the pressure isn't a sign of the cuff coming undone (I was terrified for weeks that it was, so believe me, I know how worrisome that pressure can be). My surgeon didn't have an explanation for it, but what I've read and heard from a friend's doctor is that it is very normal to feel vaginal fullness or like something is going to fall out of your vagina when recovering from a hysterectomy, that this is the tissues healing. When I get it now, I think it's because I am working out again with (very light) weights and slight incline on the treadmill and occasional dryness. Really listen to your body, avoid grocery carts for a long, long time (I still get that tugging/full feeling when I try to push one), and just STOP any activity that makes you feel like you are straining in any way. Don't bear down when you go to the bathroom (hence the need to keep things soft), and try to find comfortable ways to sit that do not strain your core. Take care!!!

Thank you for that advice. I had both adenomyosis and a prolapse so that pressure feeling does concern me too...today it is like a fullness and I just cannot get comfy sitting.

I have not heard sitting upright will hurt anything. The nurses where ok with me getting out of the castle bed and sitting for awhile.

You may have been looking at a post where someone was having difficulty sitting. I find sitting on a hard chair brought on some pain but sitting on soft chair or couch has worked for me.

Let me know if sitting really is a no no - then I will need to change my routine since sitting has been a large part of my days since returning from the castle.

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Originally Posted by Garden15 I have not heard sitting upright will hurt anything. The nurses where ok with me getting out of the castle bed and sitting for awhile.

My nurse got me up the first day post op and let me sit in a chair with my feet up. It was a pleasant change from spending all day in bed.

Can any of you"feel" that there is something different up there? I notice it more when I sit and I am not sure if I am starting to feel it because it is healing or if it is normal to feel it up there. I have not added any new activity so I know it is not over doing it so I was just curious. I think out of the whole procedure, this cuff makes me the most unsettled.

Since I have come across this post, question: if riding in a car makes the vaginal cuff throb, sting and sore should I be concerned? I refuse to even drive and I will be 4wks post op tomorrow. Just riding in the car makes it hurt and throb.

If it were me I'd be concerned. Why not call your doctor and let him/her know? Do you have a post op appointment scheduled soon?