I had an abdominal hysterectomy on the 12th March, only had my uterus removed. I know it's still early days but the internal pain is unbearable at times. I have pain when urinating and when I open my bowels. Was tested for water infection came back negative. The pain is mainly on my right side and radiates into my hip area. I've no appointment to go back to my consultant. I'm on medication to soften my stools to enable me to open my bowels. I'm eating a good balanced diet. Just wondering if anyone can give me any advise on how long I should expect the pain to go on for. I understand it's quite an invasive surgery and things can moved around and need time to settle back down but I've no idea how long I should put up with the pain before I make an appointment with my doctor.
Hi lynda
im 6 weeks TAH on Thursday......lat about 3 week stage I was having similar pains it lasted for a couple of days and I still have odd internal pain now ( I had my cervix removed).... I find rest, warm baths with Dead Sea salts and regular pain killers helps.....make sure you are getting plenty of rest....often the pain is an indication your doing too much.....however if you start to experience any abnormal discharge or pain on urinating do go back......hope you start to feel better soon c
Go see your doctor, don't wait 
I tell you, I thought the hardest part after surgery was pooping!!
I do want to say that my doctor said no bathing or swimming for 6 weeks post op. to help prevent infection, but that's my doctor 
Really....it's confusing all this conflicting advise......I've been bathing (not with bubble bath) but with Dead Sea salts a couple of times a week from about 2 weeks post op......was your op abdominal or vaginal......I've found bathing very relaxing and (touch wood) no signs of any infections...
I just don't think they give you enough information when you are discharged. I've had two sections before so just expected it to be like that but I suppose the main difference is you've had bits cut away internally. I've done nothing but rest since I had the op so I know the pain is not being caused my doing too much. I've only showered I've not bathed yet, maybe I should try that. I understand that bladder,bowels etc are moved around during the operation and can be irritated but it's hard to determine what's normal pain and not normal pain. I'm going to give it till the end of the week and go and see the doctor just for peace of mind. Thank you for your replies. A consultant don't always have the answers if they've never experienced it. Xx
I would check your discharge instructions or call the doctors office before you bathe. I was told not to for 6 weeks.
Some doctors are different. My hysterectomy was done vagionally they said nothing for 6 weeks. I'm going back in for a laprascopic procedure May 8th to remove my fallopian tunes and test to see if they find any other cancer, those instructions said no bathing, swimming, or intercorse for 2 weeks post op.
I wasn't told not to bathe I can kind of understand if you've had it vaginally. Hope everything goes well when you go back for your next procedure x
Hi Lynda
Like Erin, I was told not to bathe or swim for 6 weeks after surgery. I had an abdominal hysterectomy 5 weeks ago. I am still uncomfortable and find it difficult to sit down for more than a couple of hours at a time. I still also have pain when urinating, passing wind and when I open my bowels. I have rang the nurse at my surgeon's practice and she assured me that it is part of the healing process. I cannot wait for the day to arrive when I wake up and feel good...more than a little frustrated right now. I hope you feel better soon. x
Hi, sorry to hear about the pain. Def no bathing for Vaginal hsyterecomy or TAH with Cervix-for obvious reasons, that internal healing needs to be left alone to heal. I am 17 weeks post TAH and still get twinges, pains, and tenderness occasionally. I remember the pains around weeks 3-5 which were tender and pulling, I took neirofen, and rest. We hurt whilst healing as our bodies tell us when to rest..see Hsyter systers website, lots of information and forums, speedy recovery and rest well..
Thank you you kind of feel like your suffering alone and a bit blindsided coz you don't know what to expect. I'm just hoping each day gets better and eventually your our bodies healing will be at the stage of "light at the end of the tunnel". I'm kind of regretting having it done at the min but I know that will pass, hopefully. Hope you continue to recover well xx
Yeah I've just found that page on Facebook. It's just so good to be able to ask advice etc from people who've gone through it. I know we are all different and our bodies heal differently but it's like anything you don't truly understand till you've been through it yourself. X
I also have the no bathing, swimming, sex for six weeks rule. Abdominal surgery, everything removed except ovaries.
I still have internal pain at 6 weeks in fact it is getting more intense as I do more
Hi Lynda.I too feel like you,once you come out of hospital you are on your own.I had a TAH with tubes and both ovaries out nine weeks ago
I was doing ok till week 5 ,and just assumed the pain was normal. Had real problems with bowels so stopped prescribed painkillers .Then had two infections that needed antibiotics and a further visit to A and E at week 6.No follow up was arranged when i left hospital so my doctor ask for an appointment to be made in the hope they would scan me as she thinks fluid in the pelvis is still causing the pain.Saw the actual consultant last week who says its where the abdominal muscles ate not joining back together evenly and the severe pain i still have on right hand side of scar going into the groin are is where the final permanent stich is that's really tight to hold everything in place now.He has referred me for heat and ultrasound treatment at a specialist physiotherapist.😞I am still not convinced it isn't something else though so am going to pay for a private scan to be done.So here i am still not driving,signed off for another four weeks,bored out of my mind but still shuffling round like an old lady whilst waiting for a physio appointment.I laugh out loud when i read all your wonderful posts about resuming sex,at this rate i cant see me ever bring up for it again and i am only 50
Lynda if you really feel something isn't right don't let it drag on,like i have. I know i just accept whatever i am told as you assume they know best. But get this and this is some.thing my husband just cannot get his head around"Before the op you had a scan and legs in stirrups for an internal at nearly every clinic appointment,about five of them, and yet here you are at week nine and not once has a doctor nor the consultant checked you internally to make sure you are healing properly or arranged a scan to check. Food for thought.....
Hope you feel better soon but list.en to your head you know your body better than anyone else.Sharon x
Hi, it's interesting to read the pathway at around 5/6 weeks..I'm 6 weeks tomorrow abdominal hysterectomy and last week felt I had really turned the corner....I've felt rubbish the last 48 hours....lots of internal pain and swollen belly,feel really tired and generally uncomfortable....bowels playing up again with constipation.....I have no follow up appointment and I called my surgery for a review for a further sick note and they have just booked me in for a telephone call.....I'm just hoping I'm having a bad couple of days x
Hi,
It seems that there is a general milestone at week 6, where the major healing has happened in the 1st cycle. I was back at f/.t work, with lots of driving at week six followinh TAH. I totally rested during 6 weeks healing, no lifting, moving too fast ext, and gently built up walks. General twinges, swelly belly will persist for up to 12mths, as that is the total healing time.-according to many fellow 'systers' at Hyster Systers. Be kind to your selves, and if the pain is sever, seek medical advice..and listen to your body, Hyster Systers has hysterecomy checkpoints in your healing, so well worth visiting their website for a wealth of info..
Aaawww I really hope you get sorted and get some answers, they sometimes make you feel like your exaggerating your symptoms but like you say you know your body best. We are all individuals with different healing times, some are luckier than others. Make sure you persist though if you still don't feel right. In all honesty nobody should have to pay private for a scan to get to,the bottom of an issue but unfortunately that seems the only way to prove you "don't feel right" good luck.
Mine is still early days so maybe i'am trying to run before I can walk. I'm usually a very active person so to sit and do nothing is hard but I'm totally listening to my body and resting completely and only doing short walks around the house to keep my circulation going.
I will make an appointment with my doctor if I continue to feel this way. One of the doctors from the practice rang me yesterday with my water sample results informing me it had come back clear, he didn't really know why I would be in pain but to book an appointment with him to get checked out. Doesn't give you much faith does it but there is a fantastic female doctor at my practice so I'll just book in to see her.
with all operations there should be a follow up check up appointment, to turn round and say "I don't need to see you again" is so wrong. Who knows what's going on inside.
Hopefully we will all see light at the end of the tunnel, thank you Lynda xx
Hope you start to feel better again and they can give you some answers. It's a good job there are forums like this where we can all sound off each other. Sometimes we just think "oh I'll leave it it's probably all part of the recovery and I don't want to be a mither" but you know your body better than anyone. Good luck I hope you get it sorted xx
Yeah I've joined the hyster systers Facebook page. I don't know how you managed to return to work so early but everyone is different. Thank you for your advise xx