Calling all 6 week post op sisters

Hi!!!!!!!I am 6 weeks post op TAH(3/28/02)Saw the Dr. today. Everything looks GREAT and I am doing well. I can go back to work as scheduled on 5/53. I just still MUST be careful to do not heavy lifting. No sit ups and no free weights or machines at the gym that put ANY strain on the abdominal muscles. I am a nurse and posted my fears of lifting at work. I spoke with my boss today and explained to him the situation. He said no problem. They will help me with any lifting that must be done. Im very excited about going back to work. I love my job and miss caring for patients. So enough about me....................How is everyone else doing?????????????????I hope you all are feeling as well as I am. Also that you feel peace about deciding to have this surgery. This was the best thing I did and I did it when I was ready. Hugs and continued health. To all the LIW........I hope I have encourged you just a little! Angela

Angela, I'm so happy you got such a good 6 week Post-Op exam and that your boss is understanding of your situation. Remember you are still a and still need to rest.... and that even though you were given the go-ahead to resume your normal activities, that you must do so s-l-o-w-l-y.

Hi, Angela! I'm 6 weeks, too - had an LAVH/LSO on 3/29/02. Was feeling great by day 11 post op, then overdid again and again. Possibly pulled some internal stitches by reaching high into a cupboard. Had pain from that and from the general overdoing for quite a while, but the pain is gone now except for once in a while depending on what I'm doing, like bending over too much or getting out of the car the wrong way, stuff like that. A couple of days ago I read some great advice on this site - "do only half of what you feel like doing." That's what I wish I'd done. My gyn. says I need to *gradually* resume my daily activities and I've been either doing way too much or laying around exhausted and doing nothing at all, not even walks. I had my six week checkup and he found some undissolved stitch in the vagina so I have to see him again in three weeks to make sure it's totally dissolved. He said I need to have my daily walks (that will also help with the healing of the pulled stitches near my navel). So I am trying to do that.

My husband and I had peace about this surgery, too. We prayed about having peace. I had been bleeding for six weeks (except for two days) and in those six weeks, I ended up in the E/R and had a D&C that didn't work for me. We only had a week and a half's notice about having the hysterectomy. I'm so glad I had this surgery. Every day I thank God I'm not bleeding anymore! Yay!

When you say you shouldn't use free weights, does that include those little one-pound hand weights? I need to firm and tone up my upper arms, shoulders and upper back and I was going to start with those little hand weights. What do you think? Should I wait 'til I get the all clear in three weeks?

Let's all keep in touch, all you six week princesses out there!

Thanks, Angela, for starting this thread! I'm glad you remembered your princess training and you're doing so well!!



~Sue

I'm 6 weeks too and amazed at the difference I am mentally. Once the doc released me to do what I wanted, something clicked in my brain and I felt great all over! I spent the last 2 days working in the yard and have truly enjoyed myself. The sex is another issue, though. We had our 6 week celebration last Thursday night and it did hurt - but I know with time that will get better. I still have slight discharge, swelly belly and tender belly at times, but all else is great. I still feel the need to check the calendar and see when to get those pads out! I don't think it has really sunk in yet!

I’m six weeks post-op too!

I feel FANTASTIC! Just like my pre-op self! With the exception of the scar and the occasional twinge, I feel like nothing happened!

I know I have to continue to be careful and I do, but I do love the way I feel. It came on all of a sudden when a couple of days before my post-op exam I noticed that my energy had returned. It was at that same time that I came to the realization that I would never have a period again.

It’s all good!!!

I feel energy I have not felt in 8 years!
It was worth the preparation and the wait and the painful few days just following surgery.
I feel like brand new woman and I am thrilled to be back at work.
I have absolutely no pain now and my incision is a lovely pink line.
I have started back at my aerobics classes, in a low-impact fashion, of course.
I have not even given one thought to what life was like with a continuous period. Going, going, GONE for good!
-Edie

Hi Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thank you all for your replys. Sue, Betty,Eddie, kab099. I will be glad to keep in touch wilth any of you via e mail!...........Anyway!!!!!!!!!!!Just a freindly reminder. Check all your hiding spots that you keep your tampons and pads in. Remove them and donate them to a womens shelter. I am so happy no more carrying big purses.We can wear white! No more packing an extra suitcase of supplys for vacation. No more ruined romantic getaways...I can go on ladies but I think You get the point!Now about sex..........Well I have 2 teenage daughters at home and my husband works nights so..........As soon as I got in from the Dr. yesterday we got in a "quickie" to see how it worked. It worked fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And that is all I am going to say about that! About the 1lb weights. I haved used them with no pain. Remember let your body be your guide. In closing......You all are the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!This site is such a blessing. Hugs. Angela

Angela, *so* happy for you!!! Thanks for the info about the weights.

Glad to hear from all you six week sisters!! Keep in touch.

Love, Sue

I am 6 weeks post today! I feel really good too. I think I am pretty much back to my old self although I know I am still healing inside. I am still not lifting anything say over 20 pounds. My surgeon said that if I wanted to I could do some light abdomenal exercises. My incision is healing nicely. It rarely itches and I haven't felt any pain in that area in a while. I am surprised I feel so good so soon. I thought I would still be "feeling" post op for up to 6 months!
I am currently on the Vivelle Dot and I haven't had any problems at all adjusting to HRT and this is my 3rd different one ( I changed the first time because the Dr. didn't have samples of the patch I was already wearing, the 2nd time was because I wanted pills instead of patches, and then this last time was because I wanted back on the patches because I found out they are better for you than the oral hrt meds). I have had only a couple of restless nights, none of them lately, and only one night of night sweats. So I consider myself pretty lucky.

Angela and all the other 6 weekers,
I'm so happy to hear everyone's doing so well.

I'm a March 28, TAH also. I had my 6 weeks check up yesterday. Everything's healed. I asked my doctor when I could start water-skiing and he said, "now". I had a very easy recovery and I, too, feel like I never had surgery. I feel good enough to ski, but I think I'm going to wait a little longer on that one. As for sex- wonderful. This was the best thing I ever did.

Cyndi