Ouch

Hi everyone. I had my hyst last July and thought I would be all healed by now. I started an aerobics class about 3 weeks ago, and it's been fine up until today. This morning in class we were doing step aerobics and I started getting a pain in my abdomin where my uterus used to be. I had to stop working out. I went to the bathroom and when I looked in the mirror, my belly was all swollen. I went home and rested, and beleive it or not, I feel just fine now! It's been about 4 hours, and the swelling is gone, and it doesn't hurt anymore. Still a little tender though. What the heck happened? I know we're supposed to get back into exercise gradually, but this is ridiculous. Shouldn't I be all healed by now? Maybe I'm one of those who takes a whole year to recover.

Hi Zia --

Well...........I'm not sure what happened. Did you maybe get a little more enthusiastic in class or move differently than you have before? I'm just glad that you are feeling better now and whatever was causing you pain and was only a temporary thing!

When I was about 5 months post-op, I mowed the lawn.........and made the mistake of pushing against the lawnmower handle with my belly............MAJOR OUCH!! And like you, I thought I was all healed. I had for a little while that afternoon but then again I had swelly belly for what seemed like forever EVERY afternoon for most of 9 months!!

Take care of yourself!!

Ann
TAH/BSO 1/5/01

Thanks Peachy. You mentioned that you had swelly belly for about 9 months... did it go away after that? I still get that. Not every day, but whenever I "overdo" it physically. It's been about 2 years since your surgery, so I just have to ask, is it better now? I do feel better now at 8 months post-op than I did earlier, but it sure seems to take a long time to totally heal!

Hi Zia--

YES I am happy to report that somewhere between about 9 months post-op and a year post-op, one day I realized that my swelly belly had disappeared.........and had NOT returned. I had gotten so used to appearing late every afternoon or evening that I'm not even sure when it disappeared.......one day I realized it just wasn't happening anymore. Now please remember that not everyone has it hang around for that long........and I think part of the reason that my did hang around for as long as it did is because I am a very active person (some of my buddies call me "hyperactive" as in I am ALWAYS doing something, just about, can't sit still.........unless the sun is out and I'm at the beach!!) and because I went back to my gym at 7 weeks post-op.............started out at 2 days per week, then 3 days per week as I felt stronger, then back to my usual 4 to 6 days per week. I do sometimes think if I had taken it easier a little longer, maybe the swelly belly would not have been my companion for quite so long......but who knows?!?!
And yes........it does take a long time to heal. I know the docs will tell you 6 weeks healing time, but I think that's because that's what insurance companies will pay for time off due to surgery. I know I was not fully healed inside for many months after my surgery.
But I can tell you this.........at 2 years and 2 months post-op I am in better shape and feel better than I have in years and years..........so HANG IN THERE!!
Good luck to you --
Ann
TAH/BSO 1/5/01