Vaginal hyst Dec 4 - what's realistic recovery time?

Hi gals!
After 8 years of bleeding 20-25 days a month, pain suddenly appeared. I was diagnosed with adenomyosis after an ablation 2 years ago and after trying everything from hormones to Chinese herbs to acupuncture to naturopathy to taking out stock in Tampax, I finally decided on the inevitable. My surgery, being done vaginally, keeping ovaries, no lap assist, is Dec. 4 and now I'm freaking out and have thought that maybe 6 boxes of tampons a month and no sex life isn't so bad. Just kidding, really. I've gotten a lot of info from this site (some of it scares me even more!), but I know things will have to improve. I just have concerns about recovery and how the household will run during the holidays. Anyone out there who can realistically tell me what to expect? Seems I see most of the info on AH as opposed to VH. I've tried to get as much as possible in order for the holidays, but being the kind who isn't easily kept down, I worry that I'm gonna overdo it. Thanks for whatever input you can give me.
Aloha from lahaina lady in waiting!

Hi, I had a LAVH BOS two weeks ago. I'm getting around great and will probably go back to work after Thanksgiving holiday (desk job). The first week is tough, mainly getting up and down from bed or chair. It's amazing how much you use your stomach muscles without realizing it. I started driving at 1 week out. Just take it slow and see how you do. The best of luck to you.

Hi, Lahaina lady,

I had a TVH/BSO at age 48. It took six weeks before I felt normal again.

You won't have the abdominal incision, but you'll still have hundreds of internal stitiches, just as if you'd had a TAH. My doc told me to spend the first two weeks after my surgery reclining, with my feet elevated. After that, I was able to slowly and gradually begin to get back to normal. But as I said, I didn't feel normal again until I was six weeks postop.

If you check the pulldown menus on the Hystersisters home page, you'll find the stories of other women who've had a TVH.

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes,
Helen

Thanks for your input ladies...and after seeing
that one of you felt OK after 2 weeks and the
other after 6 weeks, I guess there's no way
that I can know where I'll fit in. But I really
do appreciate the input. Guess I'll just have
to accept whatever comes my way!

I felt okay at 2 weeks, and I COULD have gone back to work (desk job) if I absolutely HAD to, but I didn't WANT to, so I didn't, and the doctor said "REST!" I had my 6 week post op check today and I've been cleared to do anything at all that I feel like doing, and I'm beyond the stage where I might damage something. The doc did say, however, that as far as fatigue, it really is about a 3-month recovery.

just remember your freezer is your friend. I pre-cooked and froze meals pre-op, then my freezer died and had to move my bounty to my bros. Dh has done wonderfully on the laundry and cleaning, without to much micro-managing on my part. The house is well stocked with supplies and that saves Dh from shopping.

I had LAVH, removal of my remaining ovary and rectal/bladder repairs 10-28. Within a week, I was able to stand in the kitchen and do things like reheat meals, soft-boil an egg. I tossed clothes in the washer too, but DH jumped my case for that one. Three weeks post op, I can putter around de-cluttering the counter, wipe bath fixtures and fold laundry. I am very careful to observe that five pound weight limit, but lot of stuff I can do within my limitations. I haven't had any trouble bending from day one. That isn't the case with everyone tho, but I also don't push the bending.

One thing I am glad I did was to do a calendar of due dates for bills and set up my regular payments in on-line banking. I got brain fog bad and paying the mortgage was not in the forefront, back end or side section of my brain at all. I also typed up phone list for Dh's wallet and my hospital bedside table with numbers for my docs, their services, their cell phones etc. Had two girlfriends I called with my phone card too in the castle. Using it at home and it beats getting up to go find my address book.

I am also relying on emailing my dh at work to communicate with him. Typical male thing, give him a list of five items, he will remember the first two and that's it if it isn't written down. Less running around for him if he can swing by the store on the way home and pick up the few items we have needed.

I had a TVH, kept ovaries, and the first week altho the pain isn't too much, mine wasn't, I did not have the energy to do much the same goes for the second week, The third week I actually had pain and that is when I guess the stitches are disolved pretty much and your own muscles are taking over. By fourth week I felt pretty good and even wanted to do things and go out and about. Mostly you are tired I think. Even when you feel great, at least this is how it was for me, I'd do something and it took alot out of me. I had to remind myself that there was ALOT of work done internally and that I had major surgery and that is why I'd get so tired. I am finally at nine months realizing I'm not as tired as I was and getting my energy level back.