My mother had a hysterectomy when she was around 45 – and she said to me, “I don’t understand why women feel as if they are no longer a woman, and believe their husband/lover won’t want anything to do with them anymore?”

She also said it was the best thing she had done!

I have to agree with her.  I had a hysterectomy at 32 – for medical reasons – and it was the best decision I had ever made about my body.  The relief was outstanding – and life changing.

What’s Life Like After Hysterectomy?

For me, there was no more pain! Not just menstrual pain – but 24/7 aching / stabbing pain of varying degrees – with no moments of pain freedom.  That was a very big plus – like winning the lottery really.

I didn’t realise how stressful chronic pain could be to every aspect of your life – until it was no longer there…  some of you might relate to this.

No more hormone cycles – my family, friends and colleagues – really appreciated this one.  I was so bad with PMT – I had to write in my diary – 1 week in 3 (yes, I also had a short cycle) – “do not make any important decisions this week”.

Intimate Relations - improved significantly because there was no more pain to ruin the moment.

Numbness – there was numbness in my abdomen around my scar for up to 1 year … bridging the scar with acupuncture treatments was a big bonus for this healing quicker – once I discovered this solution.

Core muscles - I don’t know how other people have gone after abdomen surgery – but my core muscles were affected.  There is obvious tenderness for a couple of months – but I quickly started doing my abdomen exercises – and as healing happened increased these exercises.  I found the yoga routines – Cat Cow Flow and Salute to the Sun were exceptionally helpful for improving my core strength – along with some other pilates and yoga exercises done regularly throughout the week.

Meditation – I used creative visualization to improve the healing process to my abdomen.  I did this daily – and I believe it not only helped with healing my physical body, but healing my emotional and spiritual bodies from the invasive trauma of surgery.

For meditations that will help you recover from surgery go to Before After Surgery Toolbox.

If you would like to share your life after hysterectomy story, others would really appreciate reading what you did to heal in any or all areas of your life.

I’m going to write this article from the perspective of personal experience.

There are five different types of hysterectomy.

1. Total abdominal hysterectomy
2. Vaginal hysterectomy
3. Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy
4. Laparoscopic supravaginal hysterectomy
5. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy

Depending on which type of hysterectomy you choose or is decided for you will depend on how long you are in hospital, how long before you can return to work, how long before you recommence intercourse, and how long before you can return to your normal activities.

Unless you are having options 4 or 5 above, generally, you are told to take at least 4-6 weeks off work and not to do any lifting – or reaching up for 6-8 weeks. It can feel like a really long time that you don’t have to hang the clothes out!

For the first three options, it would be fair to say there is an anticipated 6 week recovery period before you return to “normal”. The gynecologist will examine you during a follow up visit about 6 weeks after surgery to make sure that everything has healed properly and to ask if there are any worries or concerns about life post-hysterectomy.

It is at this visit that you will most often be given the good news that you can recommence sexual intimacy.

The Incision

When you have a hysterectomy, the incision may be along the top of the pubic hairline (horizontal) or from the navel into the pubic hairline (vertical). If you have a choice, the horizontal cut is preferable. Both from an aesthetic and a recovery point of view.

I had two horizontal surgeries and one vertical surgery. I found that the recovery time after the horizontal surgeries was quicker. There didn’t appear to be as much internal pulling when I moved and I didn’t experience any numbness around the horizontal scar.

Recovery Hint

You will be given gentle rehabilitation exercises from the physiotherapist. DO THEM!!! I found that after each of my abdominal surgeries – my core strength was affected adversely. By doing these abdominal exercises in a disciplined way – YES - that means every day, I was able to strengthen my core and not have to stop and cross my legs before I laughed, coughed or sneezed … this is most embarrassing when you are half way across a zebra crossing during peak hour traffic!!!

I found Pilates to be the best form of exercise to rehabilitate after I had fully recovered. Before full recovery, I did gentle yoga exercises that were uncomfortable to begin with – but I persisted and got great results. I strongly urge you to persist if you think of giving up!!

For more detailed information, I found this site gives an excellent overview of the five kinds of hysterectomy.

If you want to reduce the recommended 6-8 weeks recovery time for the more invasion types of hysterectomy to 3-4 weeks - I really recommend you buy the Before After Surgery Toolbox, do the healing meditations and read the book in the Toolbox.