Hysterectomy: what you need to know
by editor on Mar.28, 2010, under News
The surgical procedure of a hysterectomy removes the uterus. Surgery is usually the last option when the other viable treatments have failed in alleviating the symptoms. There are different types of hysterectomy performed for different conditions so you might just have your uterus removed, but ovaries, tubes and cervix may also be taken.
The most common reason for having a hysterectomy is extreme period symptoms in an older woman. There are other reasons why a hysterectomy is recommended - uterine prolapse, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, childbirth complications and cancer. Ask for a full explanation from the doctor of the reasons why you need a hysterectomy.
There are two ways to perform this surgery; they are vaginal and abdominal. Without needing an incision in the abdomen, a vaginal hysterectomy patient will usually recover faster and will be less bothered by pain. The reason for the need for surgery, the general health of the patient and her age are all factors that will be considered to assess a woman’s suitability for this method.
You should be prepared for some pain after the surgery, particularly if you had an abdominal hysterectomy. Usually a catheter is inserted during a hysterectomy and stays in place for the first day or two to help drain urine and pain medication will be given to relief discomfort.
Bed rest for a day or two after surgery is usual but then staff will help you walk around a little. The reason for encouraging walking is to lessen the chance of blood clots in the legs. Vaginal hysterectomy patients are usually discharged after 3 or 4 days but abdominal hysterectomy patients have a hospital stay of up to one week.
Your body needs time to heal so make sure you allow at least six weeks, maybe eight, to regain your strength. It is important to rest during this time and don’t do any heavy housework, stretching or lifting.
During your recovery, expect some symptoms. Expect some vaginal bleeding or discharge for a week or ten days; ask your doctor about it if you are concerned. You may experience some menopause-type symptoms, but these will usually subside after a week or less. The symptoms you may experience are hot flashes and sweating, confusion and anxiety and feeling like crying unexpectedly. In cases where the symptoms don’t go away, doctors may prescribe some hormone replacement therapy to alleviate the discomfort.
Your hysterectomy should have no negative impact on your libido, in fact, many women report that it is enhanced. However, if your ovaries have been removed, you may experience vaginal dryness, which can be helped by using a vaginal lubricant or taking estrogen. The body takes time to heal and so allow about 6 weeks for complete recovery before having sex again.
Any emotional symptoms you feel after your surgery will be short-lived. These symptoms don’t last very long because most women feel so much better in themselves. See your doctor if any of these symptoms continue. A doctor should be the point of contact when trying to find info on hysterectomy surgery, Complete Hysterectomy and Radical Hysterectomy.
You need to get more active a few weeks after surgery by taking short walks each day. It is important to take it easy at first, but you can increase your time and distance every few days. Recovery periods can be a bit boring so the exercise will give you something to do as well as helping your recovery. You will need the full recovery time so it is important not to push yourself to recover sooner.
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