Hysterectomy Information for Women About to Have Surgery
A hysterectomy refers to the surgical removal of the uterus. There are several types of treatment that can be tried before the surgery is recommended, as a final approach. Some hysterectomies remove the uterus, other include the cervix, while a radical hysterectomy will see the removal of uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
There are numerous reasons why a hysterectomy needs to be performed, but the most common is painful, heavy periods in a woman passed her child-bearing years. Other reasons include pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, prolapse of the uterus, problems during pregnancy or childbirth and some cancers. The doctor you are seeing is the best person to ask why you need to have the hysterectomy.
There are two ways to perform this surgery; they are vaginal and abdominal. Patients who have a vaginal procedure usually recover faster and experience less pain because there has been no incision and therefore no stitches. This method isn’t suitable for every woman; a lot depends on her medical condition, her age and her general health.
Some pain and discomfort are to be expected after a hysterectomy; this will be more severe after an abdominal procedure. Hospital staff will offer you medication to relieve any pain and you may have a catheter to help pass urine for a day or two.
After a day or so of bed rest, you will be allowed up and you need to walk for a while each day. This light walking is to reduce the risk of clots forming in the blood vessels of the legs. Patients who have had a vaginal procedure stay in hospital for about 3 or 4 days whereas those who have had abdominal surgery stay for 6 to 7 days.
You will need a recovery time of 6 or 8 weeks at home to allow wounds to heal and muscles to mend. Arrange someone to help you during your recovery period so you can avoid any heavy lifting, stretching or bending.
There will be certain symptoms you can expect during recovery. Expect some vaginal bleeding or discharge for a week or ten days; ask your doctor about it if you are concerned. It is quite common to have some menopause symptoms after your surgery, but these usually go away after several days. Some of the symptoms you may have are confusion, anxiety, sweating, hot flushes and emotional distress. Some women, whose symptoms persist, are prescribed HRT (hormone replacement therapy) by their doctors.
Many women are worried about how a hysterectomy will affect their sex drive but most women report an improvement in this area. vaginal lubricants help to remove any discomfort of vaginal dryness which is common after the ovaries are removed. Your body needs time to heal and so abstaining from sexual intercourse for about 6 weeks after your surgery is recommended.
Many younger women feel a sense of loss after their hysterectomy and may have other emotional issues. Most patients find that they feel much better after their surgery that the symptoms disappear quickly. If you find that some of these issues are continuing, ask your doctor for advice. You should always consult a doctor when needing information on hysterectomy recovery, Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Pain After Hysterectomy.
After a few eeks at home, start going for a short walk to regain fitness and maintain your normal weight. It is important to take it easy at first, but you can increase your time and distance every few days. Light, frequent exercise like this will help your full recovery. You will need the full recovery time so it is important not to push yourself to recover sooner.
For all medical issues ask your doctor this is for entertainment only
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