Recovering from a hysterectomy

After havinga hysterectomy, youmay wake up feeling tired and in some pain. This is normal after this type of surgery.

You'll be given painkillers to help reduce any pain and discomfort. If you feel sick after the Anaesthesia , your nursecan give you medicine to help relieve this.

You may have:

• dressings placed over your wounds
• a drip in your arm
• a catheter a small tube that drains urine from your bladder into a collection bag
• a drainage tube in your abdomen (if you've had an abdominal hysterectomy)to take away any blood from beneath your wound these tubes usually stay in place for one to twodays
• a gauze pack inserted into your vagina (if you've had a vaginal hysterectomy) to minimise the risk of bleeding this usually stays in place for 24 hours

You may also be slightly uncomfortable and feel like you need to empty your bowels (do a poo).

The day afteryour operation, you'll be encouraged to take a short walk. This helps your blood to flow normally, reducing the risk of complications developing, such as blood clots in your legs ( deep vein thrombosis ).

A physiotherapist mayshow you how to do some exercises to help your mobility. They may also show you some pelvic floor muscle exercises to help withyour recovery.

After thecatheter has been removed, you should be able to pass urine normally. Any stitches that need to beremoved will be taken outfive to sevendays afteryour operation.

Your recovery time

The length of timeit will take before you're well enough to leave hospital depends on your age and your general level of health.

If you've had a vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy, you may be able to leave between one and four days later.If you've had an abdominal hysterectomy,it will usuallybe up to five days before you're discharged.

You may be asked to see your GP in four to six weeks, but follow-up appointments with the hospital aren't usually needed unless there are complications.

It takes aboutsix to eightweeks to fully recover after having an abdominal hysterectomy. Recovery times are often shorter after a vaginal or laparoscopy hysterectomy.

During this time, you should rest as much as possible and not lift anything heavy, such as bags of shopping. Your abdominal muscles and the surroundingtissues need time to heal.

If you live by yourself, you may be able to get help from your local NHS authority while you're recovering fromyour operation. Hospital staff should be able to advise you further about this.

Side effects

After having a hysterectomy, you may experience some temporary side effects, as outlined below.

Bowel and bladder disturbances

After your operation,there maybe some changes in your bowel and bladder functions when going to the toilet.

Some womendevelop urinary tractinfections or constipation . Both can easily be treated. It's recommended that you drink plenty of fluids and increase the fruit and fibre in your diet to help with your bowel andbladder movements.

For the first few bowel movements after a hysterectomy, you may need laxatives to help you avoid straining. Some people find it more comfortable to hold their abdomen to provide support while passing a stool.

Vaginal discharge

After a hysterectomy, you'll experience some vaginal bleeding and discharge . This will beless discharge than during a period, but it may last up to six weeks.

Visityour GP if you experience heavyvaginal bleeding, start passing blood clots, or have a strong-smelling discharge.

Menopausal symptoms

If your ovaries are removed,you'll usually experiencesevere menopausal symptoms after your operation. These may include:

• hot flushes
• anxiety
• weepiness
• sweating

You mayhave hormone replacement therapy (HRT) afteryour operation. This can be given in the form of an implant, injections or tablets. It usually takes around a week before having aneffect.

Emotional effects

You may feel a sense of loss and sadness after having a hysterectomy. These feelings are particularly common inwomen with advanced cancer ,who haveno other treatment option.

Somewomen who haven'tyet experienced the menopause may feel a sense of loss because they're no longer able to have children. Othersmay feel less "womanly" than before.

In some cases, having a hysterectomy can be a trigger for depression . See your GP if you have feelings of depression that won't go away, as they can advise youabout the available treatment options.

Talking to other women who have had a hysterectomy may help by providing emotional support and reassurance. Your GP or the hospital staff may be able to recommend a local support group.

TheHysterectomy Associationalso provides hysterectomy support services , including a one-to-one telephone support line, counselling, and "preparing for hysterectomy" workshops.

Getting back to normal

Returning to work

How long it will take for you to return to work depends on how you feel and what sort of work you do.

If your job doesn't involve manual work or heavy lifting, it may be possible to return after four to eightweeks.

Driving

Don't drive until you're comfortable wearing a seatbelt and can safely perform an emergency stop.

This can be anything from three to eight weeks after your operation. You may want to check with your GP that you are fit to drive before you start.

Some car insurance companies require a certificate from a GP stating that you're fit to drive. Check this with your car insurance company.

Exercise and lifting

After a hysterectomy, the hospital where you were treated should give you information and advice aboutsuitable forms of exercise while you recover.

Walking is always recommended, and you can swim after your wounds have healed. Don't try to do too much, becauseyou'll probably feel more tired than usual.

Don't lift any heavy objects during your recovery period. If you have to lift light objects, make sure your knees are bent and your back is straight.

Sex

After a hysterectomy, it's generally recommended that you don't have sex until your scars have healed and any vaginal discharge has stopped, which usually takes at least four to six weeks. As long as you're comfortable and relaxed, it's safe to have sex.

You may experience some vaginal dryness, particularly if you've had your ovaries removed and you're not taking HRT.

Many women also experience an initial loss of sexual desire (libido) after the operation, but this usually returns once they've fully recovered.

At this point, studies show that pain during sex is reduced and that strength of orgasm, libido and sexual activity all improve after a hysterectomy.

Contraception

You no longer need to use contraception to prevent pregnancy after having a hysterectomy. However, you'll still need to use condoms to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) .