New here with question!

Hi all- I am new to this board and so happy that I found all of you. I will be having a TVH on 4/26 and have a question for you. What is the average time that it took before you could go back to work after a vaginal hysterectomy. I have a fairly sedentary job, am 52 years old and in relatively good health. I have a co-worker who had a TVH when she was 31 and she said she was only out of work for one week. Anyway, thanks for all of your help.

Peggy R.

Hi Peggy! I'm 54 and had a TVH in Feb. I stayed out 6 weeks.At my 4 week check up the Dr. said I could go back to work if I wanted to but he originally approved 6 weeks so I went with that.I'm a hostess in a busy restaurant and the thought of standing for hours and moving tables was what kept me from rushing back.I also was fortunate to have a little disability check coming in each week.I would recommend staying out as long as you can and healing well. Good luck!

Wow! I think returning to one week is a little ambitious.

This is what I would do if I were you: I'd apply for a 6-week leave and see how you feel. This is major surgery -- are you in a big hurry to get back to work?

Take this chance to heal well. If you really feel top-notch after, say, 4 weeks, then you can amaze everyone by coming back part-time a couple of weeks early. But why push it?

I had a TAH, which I can be more difficult to recover from -- but not always. The only real difference between the TVH and the TAH is that I had an external incision. You're still going to have hundreds of internal stitches that still have to heal!

That's just my advice, of course. Also remember, your co-worker was 21 years younger than you when she had her surgery. Maybe she had other pressures to get back sooner.

My best to you.