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How to take care of yourself during the post hysterectomy period!
How do I prepare for my post hysterectomy? Hysterectomy is an inpatient procedure — meaning you're admitted to the hospital to have it done. Be prepared to be away from home and work for a short time.
How long you'll be in the hospital depends on what type of hysterectomy you have, how your surgery goes and what your doctor recommends.
Some women leave the recovery room with the catheter that was placed before surgery to keep the bladder empty. The sooner the catheter is removed the better. Bladder infections can develop, if you leave it after 24 hours. While it may take you a few weeks or months, depending on which surgery you have had, to recover from the hysterectomy - there are a few things you can do to speed up your hysterectomy recovery.
At home after the post hysterectomy procedure:
• a) Take all the pain relievers prescribed by your doctor. It's very unlikely you will get addicted to pain killers because of your hysterectomy... what is crucial is to be as comfortable as possible during your post hysterectomy period.
• b) Make sure you have enough sanitary pads for vaginal bleeding and discharge. You may have some discharge and bloody drainage for several days after your hysterectomy.
• c) Use heating pads - buy one or two. Place one over the abdomen and another under it, if necessary. Do not sleep with a heating pad in direct contact with the skin because it is not safe and it may burn you.
• d) Limit your movement at the beginning or if your doctor authorizes it take some short walks to keep your blood circulating and prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. Take it slow, and make sure you save all household activity for another time. Ask family, friends or hire a cleaning company to do your housework. Limit your bending for a few weeks and don't lift anything heavy after the surgery. • e) While in bed listen to your favorite music, television programs or read your favorite books. Use headphones if necessary at home or in the hospital. • f) Learn to relax and enjoy this quite time in your life so you can improve a lot faster. To be relaxed strengthens your immune system. • g) Avoid all lifting after the surgery and during the post hysterectomy period (ask others to do it for you). • h) Do not climb stairs or drive a car during this recuperation period (ask family and friends to help you). • i) Do not prepare your own meals for a few weeks. Ask a friend or family member to do it for you or order them from some business that could deliver them to you.
• j) Find assistance from your family or friends and move very slowly when trying to get up into a seated position.
• l) Don't dink alcoholic beverages please for a few weeks (especially while taking medication).
• m) Avoid aspirin and dairy foods during the post hysterectomy time because dairy products will not help you with constipation. The pain medicine you will be taking during the post hysterectomy time will tend to make you constipated.
After hysterectomy and during hysterectomy recovery make sure you:
• Eat healthy, because your body needs nutrients to heal (even if you don't feel like it). Eat cold-water fish as well as turkey, chicken, organic bread, soups, salads, vegetables and broths.
These vitamins will help improve your sleep, will make you less susceptibility to colds, flu’s and viruses, will increase your energy levels and provide you with sharper and clearer mind.
• Take time to heal and take care of yourself. Soon you will be feeling better!
• Don't forget to drink filtered water. And since most of life is "consumption and elimination", you need to consume 8-10 glasses of water daily to adequately "flush" your system of toxins which would otherwise build up and cause some level of discomfort or illness.
• Your first two weeks at home will be the most difficult. So take the opportunity to sleep, relax, read, listen to music, eat healthy food until your post hysterectomy is over. Don't forget to smile and laugh at least once a day...
• At the end of two weeks you should start moving around, feeling better every day that goes by, and slowly getting back to your normal activities.
• As you improve during this post hysterectomy recovery time, talk to your doctor about when you can start exercising.
Exercise will definitely speed up your post hysterectomy progress. Take walks or use your treadmill when you are home. Exercise! Exercise as soon as your doctor authorizes it. Moderate exercise will improve your immune defenses and antioxidant levels.
• All post hysterectomy women should be using "Natural Progesterone Cream" supplementation immediately.
Since there's no ovulation, your body no longer makes this vital hormone. This supplementation should be your first choice. It's crucial!
You just use the amount you would have if your body were still making it as part of your monthly cycle.
Natural progesterone cream is absorbed into the bloodstream on a continuous basis as the body needs it. Massage 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cream twice daily to any of the following areas: hands, belly, inner arms, face, neck, thighs, buttocks and breasts until absorbed, alternating application sites.
Use for 21 days or as needed. Discontinue for 7 days and repeat every month (this timing mimics your natural cycle). Read more about natural progesterone cream supplementation here!
• If you are postmenopausal or post hysterectomy, you should also be using
After menopause or if you are post hysterectomy, your levels of estrogen production go down 40-60 percent and progesterone production ceases.
Use 2.5 to 5 mg of estriol cream daily or every other day, if you are experiencing hot flashes and night sweats.
If you are taking estrogen, you should also take natural progesterone for balance. This means that you should use estrogen WITH progesterone to keep your hormones balanced. Progesterone helps neutralize the dangers of excess estrogen.
During the week following the procedure, watch for the following symptoms:
• Temperatures over 100.6 F (check two or three times a day). You need to have a thermometer at home to measure your temperature. Call your doctor for advice if your temperature goes up. • Dizziness • Swelling • Bleeding at the catheter insertion site • Return of fever or pain after symptoms have subsided
Some questions to ask your doctor...
• 1- What medications will be used to treat pain, both in the hospital and post hysterectomy? How long do I need to take the medication for? • 2- How long should you expect to be released from work to recover from the uterine fibroid embolization or hysterectomy? • 3- How long will you be in the hospital? • 4- What kind of post hysterectomy follow-up care is typical, and who should you return to or consult with after the procedure for additional care, your gynecologist or your surgical physician?
At the Hospital:
• Prepare a list of important phone numbers and store them in a convenient place during the procedure. Be sure to find out who to call and for what, specifically, in terms of the procedure and recovery period. • If your doctor is unavailable following the procedure, ask for the name and number of an alternative physician to call and add it to your phone list. If you have an emergency at home in the post hysterectomy period, you may want to have more than one option. • You may be at the hospital for 2 or 3 days depending on what type of hysterectomy you may be having.
Post hysterectomy related articles.
What are the symptoms of adult diabetes? Learn more about hysterectomy side effects. Learn about exercise for hysterectomy. Different types of hysterectomy surgery. Other Pre and Post Hysterectomy information here! Yoga basic positions explained. More side effects of a hysterectomy and partial hysterectomy. Are there any hysterectomy alternatives to womens health issues?
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Are you worried about your post hysterectomy period? Well, remember that you will be much better soon.
