Can anyone tell me when it is safe to bend down? How about just a slight bend to get something out of a cupboard? I am keeping a journal so when I have my op (hopefully in February) I will know exactly what I can do and what I cannot! I am planning it like a project and hope to come out the other end 100% fit, with all problems solved (fingers doubly crossed!) Warmest Wishes, Jacqui
it depends if you are cut, i had a vaginal hysterctomy, i had everything out apart from my overies, Had my op on the 22 september and been great, you forget that you shouldn't lift anything for a while, Im just going back to work 5th jan tomorrow but still have to be very carful not to lift anything too heavy as it takes at least 6/9 months before your fully recovered, I hope all goes well for you and good luck
suzie
Ok Jacqui... I can share my thoughts..
Had a full abdominal done on Nov. 11th.. 22 staples put in..
I was in the hospital 2 days.. home that night... SO MUCH PAIN TO GO TO THE BATHROOM... needed to start "stool softners"...
Dr. told me take 2 at bedtime, it did help the next day... I did that for a few weeks.
Have the pillow ready.. CAN'T COUGH, LAUGH OR SNEEZE.. and even with the pillow you will feel "something", but not as bad.
I stayed downstairs, made a "makeshift" bed... everythng I needed and more by my side: slippers, magazines, computer, water, pad & pen to write down pills/times.. crackers.. it helped!
Now I realized to sit up and get up.. OH NO... NOT GOOD.. I called doc... she said to stay on your "side" and "LOG ROLL" off... so you roll sideways and get up.. BOY DID THAT HELP! I am a pro-log roller now!
Bending... I can tell you... I moved my 91 yr old father in with me just a week before my operation (he is dying of cancer)... I have to LIFT his legs at night to get him in bed (also on the main floor, made the dining room a bedroom)..
When I tried to bend and lift... OH BOY... BAD... BAD PULLING FEELING.. I called doc... she told me how to bend..
She said IF I needed to bend... to wait really until the 2nd week, and then to SQUAT, and LEAN forward to bend... I tried it... HELPED A LOT!
There is LESS PRESSURE when you squat and lean to bend to get something... if you just bed over you are working your abdominal area.. but try to SQUAT and lean a bit... I am still doing that now to help my dad, or other things...
That's cool you have a journal.. wish I did one too.
Amazing process this is.. something NONE OF US HERE will EVER forget!
Fingers crossed with ya! All the best! Mary - USA
Hi
I didnt bend down for the first 3 weeks then after that just bent the correct way with legs bent,you need to listen to your body and dont force it to do something it cant, I guess everyone heals different and depends on extent of hysterectomy carried out, good luck for Feb.but expect weeks before you should do anything, I had a travel kettle for 4 weeks as wasnt able to lift the kettle
Many thanks Luisa, obviously this is going to be very slowly, slowly, I think some pampering should be high on my list, and not rush anything. Hope you are recovering well. Warmest Wishes Jacqui
Hi Susan, so glad you are recovering well, good luck at work tomorrow, ease yourself in gently. My surgeon said I would have a vaginal hysterectomy providing all is as planned, he is going to stitch my bladder back, sort out my cystocele and anything else that needs sorting out (thank goodness). It seems recovery is better with a vaginal hysterectomy so I have my fingers crossed for that. Have a good day at work tomorrow. Warmest Wishes Jacqui
Hope that all works out for you Jacqui... vaginal is MUCH MUCH better... still will be sore, but I think a lil' easier to heal than the belly cut.
Hope the plans are carried out, and it will be a smooth thing for you!
Keep us posted!
Susan.. I'm off to work too tomorrow! Here we go!! Let me know how you felt after your first day!
Mary 
Hi Mary, grateful thanks for your help. Your doctor sounds amazing. So sorry to hear about your father, and poor you having to care for your father when you are going through recovery, and you are having such a tough time. You seem to have everything well organised though, just be very careful. It is very hard isn't it when we all just want to be fit and active again and get on with life!
Funny enough I have been practicing log rolls, excellent way of getting up. I have been watching Michelle Kenway on YouTube. She is a physiotherapist specializing in the pelvic floor and how to strengthen before and after the operation. I use her video as my coach when I am doing my kegels. She seems to push me that bit further, hopefully it is all helping. She is worth a look on YouTube at PelvicExercises.com.au
I have written down the squats in my journal, all ready for action.
I have to take movicol every day because I have diverticulitis, so I have been told to take 2/3 each day after the op. Nothing worse than that bathroom pain!
Thank you so much Mary for sharing your journey with me, I wish you all the luck for the future, and give your father a hug from me.
Warmest Wishes Jacqui
thank for the kind not Jaqui...
I will tell you..... dad fell out of bed 2x, the 2nd week at my home... of course, that was my FIRST week home from hospital 
I LEAPED off the couch to get him, forgot about me.. and WOWIE ZOWIE did I feel it... you CAN'T lift a person up off a floor.. no way!
I also did cleaning and cooking... and well... TOO MUCH
I split open in 2 places I was scared.. thought something was going to come out, lol... but it was just the incision.. I guess they sew internally too... she had to "re-seal" me with Silver Nitrate... omg.. it was BLACK GOO! reminded me of the filler they use on cracks in the road, lol..
But I am Italian... I am a worker bee.. miss my daily work outs... I am not where I should be right now, but ... it will come
Sounds like you are ON THE BALL with things... I think that helps BIG TIME! Who would want to be clueless!??!
I am giving my dad a hug now, from my friend "Jacqui" He is not doing well at all.. he has stage 4 stomach cancer... and he was given 3-6 months in sept... I see him declining... but I am glad he is with me... 91 .. .how awesome is that!?!?
It's too bad so many people have to have operations to "repair" themselves, or diseases... makes me sad... but we have to get stronger, the strong will survive !!!!
Hugs from the USA
Hi Mary, so sorry to hear about your father falling out of bed. It must have been a big fright for you, and gosh you did a lot of damage to yourself. Trouble is you have no choice do you, you are coping with a very difficult situation. Good job you are a very strong person. Fingers crossed your wounds heal up quickly and you can get back to looking after your father. Please be careful won't you, it must have been so frightening when you split open. You are right it is very awesome that your father is 91. Gosh he must have seen some things in his life span. Take care both of you, and enjoy the time you have left with him. You are a very brave lady. Lots of hugs from England.
Thanks Jacqui!
Not sure if I am very strong...but I "try"
I went to work today, first day, 2 months off..
WOW.. I was exhausted by end of day... of course, no breaks, no lunch.. I was TOOOOOOO busy... I had some veggies at my desk..
I did get those side pains from sitting so much.. I have to get up tomorrow and move a lil'.
My dad was in the airforce, WWII.. yes.. the stories are incredible!
From war, to working in a tobacco field, to shining shoes! Unbelievable..I am enjoying every day with him... and they are getting to the end.
When I came home from the hospital, my dad cleaned my incision.. he took care of me! It was awesome!
Thanks for the kind note! Helps to know i have some friends, no matter where in my corner
Mary - USA
Hi Mary, sounds like you were doing too much at work, take it easy and pace yourself. It brought tears to my tears thinking of your dad cleaning your incision, how lovely, make the most of every day with him.
Remember to take your breaks at work. The work will still be there for another day. You need to build up your strength gradually. Lecture over now Mary. Must have been amazing hearing about your dad's time in a tobacco field. Lovely hearing from you.
Love to both of you, take care, Jacqui
Hi, I had a LAVH (vaginal) hysterectomy and I bent down to pick something off the floor at 2 days post op, no problems just so long as the object you are picking up isn't heavy.
Would like to add that obviously we are not all the same and whereas I could do this, you may not be able to, I didn't have any pain whatsoever after my surgery, I was very lucky and have remained so.
I agree a TAH and vaginal recovery are so different in recovery terms.mine was a total abnominal and you just can bend for ages or lift for several weeks.
Cant not can.
your a very luck lady phoebe.glad to hear your recovery is nice snd quick but still go easy.
Yes, I count my lucky stars, I read some of the horror recovery stories on here and feel slightly guilty, I didn't need any pain relief right from waking up from the anaesthetic and haven't since coming home either, I actually think my surgeon waved a magic wand and didn't cut me at all! 
the trouble is it is very easy to forget I have had major surgery 3 weeks ago and I catch myself sometimes about to lift or pull something heavy, fortunately I have stopped just in the nick of time, my husband goes beserk at me.
Hi Phoebewhite, your recovery sounds wonderful, hope I am as lucky. You must have done your preparation work very well. It seems that our bodies tell us really what we can and cannot do. I just don't want to do anything silly and ruin all the good work hopefully that the surgeon has done.
Warmest Wishes Jacqui
I hope you have a stress free recovery too Jacqui.
I didn't do much prep at all, I read articles and also the bumpf the hospital gave me, I did buy things such as peppermint tea and gentle laxatives because you really do not want to get constipated, this can cause all kinds of problems, and the tea was to help with wind pain, but if you eat plenty of fruit and veg you should be ok and drink plenty of water as well.
Phoebe.
Hi Phoebe, I'm well stocked with Movicol from the doctor. I have to take this because of Diverticulitis, have been told to take 3 a day until I get back to normal. I eat loads of fruit and veg and drink lots of water, because I don't eat anything manufactured, or wheat, sugar or Lactose. All to do with getting my bladder in as good shape as possible for its repair. Also I have got down to 2 lbs below my ideal weight (surgeon said this is the best weight for the repair to hold!) so I am hoping this will all help the recovery. This site is brilliant, I have met so many lovely people like yourself all eager to help a 'newee' like me along. Take care Jacqui