I am two and one half weeks in recovery from a total hysterectomy with also bilateral removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes. I am in mid sixties and had a tumor by one ovary and swelling by the other and also new growth in uterus. Prior to removal, my uterus had old fibroids inside and attached to outside that I had chosen to leave and wait for them to disintegrate following menopause. Fortunately, no cancer was found. My abdominal area is swollen and does seem to increase as the day progresses. The incision areas are sore but do not look infected. I had vaginal surgery with robotic assistance.
I really miss my daily walks with my dogs and had thought I could resume them after four weeks, maybe six weeks at most. I am beginning to doubt that now. One of them is eighty pounds and the other is about thirty. I must walk them on a leash, and can not guarantee that at some point in our walks that they may get excited and pull hard. I am a little disappointed that the information provided to me before and after surgery, was not up-front about the swelling, continued incision site discomfort, and length of recovery time. Finding this site and the postings of other women, following their procedures, is a reassurance that what I am experiencing is “normal”.
Does anyone have an explanation of why our abdominal areas experience swelling during the day and/or things we can do or avoid, or things we can consume or avoid consuming that may help to reduce or manage the swellings?
no strenuous activity till at least 6 weeks .. but please reme it takes your body 12 wks to make strong scar tissue to hold everything in place.
you are st risk of prolapse if yiu do too much. I refrain from walking heavy dogs for at least 3 months as yiu are still healing internally.
the more your on your feet the more swollen you will become I the evening.
rest as much as your can and yiu will be fine. one chance of recovery yiu have.
good luck
oh thank you I’m 3 months on after total hysterectomy and the tight pain and swollen tummy is still bad so glad to know others are experiencing the same as me. You think is it just me am I healing right. the hospital say 8 weeks and you’ll be back to normal. utter rubbish. I’ve got to go back to work next week just praying I manage 
good luck to all out there with sore swollen tummies. try to stay positive but easier said than done x
I agree totally.. takes up to 6 months for swelling yo subside and up to 12 mths for internal healing to recovery.
its major surgery ladies x
its reassuring to read im not going mad and what i am experiencing seems pretty normal .
im 4 weeks in following abdominal total hysterectomy with fallopian tubes , ovaries and cervix all removed .
looking at my recovery plan i thought i would feel more able by now. pfft i was wrong !!!
if sat upright to long tummy swells and starts to hurt .
if i run my fingers across top of skin on tummy it sends pins and needles through it as well as a slight burn . im in my 40s so the night sweats and feelings of anxiety have been an eye opener too lol i was not an anxious person before my ovaries were gone … hello menopause i think !
hope all of you and myself included recover soon and we get some normality back .? look after your selves all . 
It took me a year to fully recover. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done! I feel amazing!!! Wishing you the best
that’s exactly it you feel like you’re on your own no support from hospital or Dr. I’m taking Angus cactus to help with the menopause symptoms so far I’m only having hot flushes. But that’s not to say i haven’t had anxiety some days you’re rock bottom. So keep healing gently and take it one day at a time.
Thanks your comments are very reassuring. It makes you realise there’s light at the end of the tunnel 
thank you , i am so glad to hear that .
Heres to feeling amazing
Here here , the hospital were great when i was there and my Gp has been kind . However not one of hem explained the after feelings or just how long healing would take . Everything written on the internet by professionals say we will feel normal within 8 -12 weeks . !
i take it none of them have had the operation :-d
i will take a look at Angus Cactus .
thank goodness for threads like this . hope your starting to feel more yourself For me now its back to feet up and watching a bit of daytime tv and then some art ( well adult colouring lol ) xx
you will go through menopause if yiur ovaries have gone..
excellent you cant best a bit of adult colouring for me it was making paper mache balloons 
definitely rest while you can all the best for your recovery.
Hey I’m 4 weeks post op tomorrow. what you are describing with the pins and needles and burn like pain is exactly what I’m getting. it’s driving me mad! i went to see a nurse practioner who confirmed it was nerve pain and prescribed a low dose gapapentin. My tummy is so swollen like a massive overhang! physically I’m walking quite a lot, have done from day one. walking 9 - 10k steps a day now and whilst walking feel fine, it’s when I stop! can’t sit still at all. however i must say I’m sleeping like a log! I have a v shaped pillow in bed and it’s been a life saver.
Lots of post say with an abdominal hysterectomy you should have a drain in tummy. I didn’t have one, did anyone else? I imagine it wouldn’t be so swollen and fluid like if I had?
it’s been so great reading all these comments and knowing that this is all fairly normal. thanks ladies and hope you all recover beautifully xx
the nerve pain is annoying for sure , im now five weeks one day and the nerve pain although still there is no where as bad as it was last week . like you walking about is ok , I am aware if i do to much the nerve pain is worse the next day but that just reminds me that like all of us i have been through a major op and need not be so hard on myself and need to be more careful .
i did not have drains either although i did expect them , but suspect if we did have them it would increase risk of infection which gratefully so far i have been infection free .
thank goodness for v pillows i have one too .
take care of yourself and hope your nerves dont get on your nerves too much lol xx
I’m at 4.5 weeks. My doctor explained the pain that cut nerves produce. They shoot signals that go nowhere and it causes a lot of stabbing pain. Don’t forget that organs have to shift and adjust too. The stretching causing pain as well. I had a 2.5 lb fibroid removed along with my uterus, tubes, and cervix. That’s a lot of trauma to our bodies.
The swelly belly is painful as well. An abdominal binder helps a lot. I have it a little tight during the day and loosen it a bit at night. They sell some good ones at Amazon. My doctor suggested I use it for at least 8 weeks, but recommended wearing it at home after work for 12 weeks or longer.
My doctor said not to expect to feel “normal” for at least 6 months. She said many patients don’t feel “normal” for an entire year.
I get discouraged as well because I still feel like I did 2 weeks ago but remind myself that I will no longer suffer with heavy periods. I will no longer miss out on outings or miss work because of my period. I hated being a prisoner in my own home because I had to change pads every 20 - 30 minutes. The accidents were too much!
Hang in there with me!
I believe this thread is 3 years old hun. yiur doctor is correct in timing 1 year is about right. it’s a hell of a trip but we end up stronger for it.
keep it up hunxx
I’m at 4.5 weeks. My doctor explained the pain that cut nerves produce. They shoot signals that go nowhere and it causes a lot of stabbing pain. Don’t forget that organs have to shift and adjust too. The stretching causing pain as well. I had a 2.5 lb fibroid removed along with my uterus, tubes, and cervix. That’s a lot of trauma to our bodies.
The swelly belly is painful as well. An abdominal binder helps a lot. I have it a little tight during the day and loosen it a bit at night. They sell some good ones at Amazon. My doctor suggested I use it for at least 8 weeks, but recommended wearing it at home after work for 12 weeks or longer.
My doctor said not to expect to feel “normal” for at least 6 months. She said many patients don’t feel “normal” for an entire year.
I get discouraged as well because I still feel like I did 2 weeks ago but remind myself that I will no longer suffer with heavy periods. I will no longer miss out on outings or miss work because of my period. I hated being a prisoner in my own home because I had to change pads every 20 - 30 minutes. The accidents were too much!
Hang in there with me!
Thanks. I was actually trying to reply to Amanda. Not sure what went wrong. Pain killers? lol
thank you for taking time to reply
i am now 6.5 weeks , abdomen feeling much better just minor sensations when you touch it , struggle to wear trousers as this still causes discomfort but no biggy lol
my main issue now is that sadly i think i may have developed a small posteria prolapse which is very uncomfortable on and off … mostly on 
i have the physio this week so am hoping they can give exercises that will help as the thought of further surgery does not thrill me as i need to get back to work !
ive been good with doing nothing but follow my recovery plan but think its just one of those things and to be fair i think if i look back i may have had a very minor prolapse after childbirth , which for some reason now has got worse .
however on upside , like you , no more flooding every month and ruined holidays and family days out . So heres to recovery and life without flooding .
hope your recovery is going well .xx
This was a great explanation. I’m 3 weeks post and getting those sharp shooting pains all over the place. Oddly one on entire left side of body - which I’m just hoping is related to the surgery and not a hernia or something.
I’m glad I found this forum and what you wrote because I had the laparoscopic hysterectomy and everything I found online was saying 2 weeks! I’m like no way!!
And yes, thinking about what life was like before this is a good reminder to be patient.