Generally, after the hysterectomy, the recovery period lasts around six to eight weeks, as prescribed by the doctor. Mostly the recovery time after a vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy remains shorter. The recovery time and care after post-surgery depends on the age of the woman and underlying health condition. However, till that time, a healthy lifestyle no longer remains an option. It becomes a necessity that you need to adopt a healthy lifestyle anyhow to remain fit after your hysterectomy treatment.
If you have recently gone through the treatment and are concerned about what to do, you can find answers to your questions here. We have come up with this article after briefly consulting with Dr. Chaitali Mahajan Trivedi, the best doctor for Hysterectomy treatment in Mumbai at Nanavati Superspeciality Hospital. We have collected information about how you can take care of your body after a hysterectomy, so let’s start now!
Tips For Recovery After Hysterectomy
Diet Changes
Listed below are some of the diet tips to follow to recover after hysterectomy surgery. These suggestions will help to promote healing and prevent the risk and complications chances.
- Consuming a lot of legumes and whole grains like muesli, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, and cereals are all the perfect fibre choices. Also, red and black kidney beans and rich in antioxidants and fibre.
- The perfect balance of lean protein, such as skinless chicken, fatty fish like salmon (high in omega-3 fatty acids), and vegetable protein, is required. Try to avoid eating fried foods and saturated or trans fats, such as butter, salad dressing, margarine, and sweets; instead, you can use good fats such as vegetable oils like olive oil and peanut oil for your food.
- For a smooth and fast recovery, taking an adequate amount of calcium is required. Get at least 1,200 mg of calcium and vitamin D daily for strong bones. You can add three to four 8-ounce servings of low-fat dairy each day or take supplements like canned salmon, yoghurt, broccoli, hard cheese, and orange juice.
Physical Activities
After hysterectomy surgery, you can walk and stretch, there is no limitation of not doing it. In fact, walking is one of the best ways to recover and heal more quickly. However, if you anyhow feel tired or weak after a walk, you can rest or take a nap. You can use the stairs and make sure your speed remains slow at first. As it takes time for your body to heal, make it easier and easier. It is also suggested to avoid lifting objects greater than 20 pounds for at least six weeks after surgery. However, you can resume driving after two weeks if you feel well enough and stop your medication after consulting your doctor.
Bowel Functions
The first bowel movement usually occurs 4-5 days after the surgery. You can also experience “gas” pain post-surgery. In order to relieve the pain and discomfort, drink hot liquids and go for a walk. Also, you can take a stool softener and a mix of laxatives until you have stopped taking the pain medication or your stools become unusually loose.
Body Changes
You can expect vaginal discharge for up to eight weeks post-surgery. In some cases, women may experience an increase in vaginal bleeding for at least 24 hours. Though bleeding after surgery is normal, if it persists or becomes very heavy, you should immediately call your gynaecologist and seek medical help.
Sexual Activities
It is usually recommended to avoid putting anything into your vagina, including douch products, tampons, and any sexual activities for at least eight weeks. After a certain time, if you experience physical changes, such as vaginal shortening, decreased vaginal sensation, complications reaching orgasm, or loss of vaginal lubrication, you should consult your doctor right away.
Hygiene/ Incision Care
Try to keep the incision clean and pat dry. Wash it every day with warm water and mild soap. Rinse and pat dry it thoroughly. Check the incision area every day for swelling, drainage, or wound opening. And in case you have drains, make sure you wash them by taking a sponge bath or a shower, ensuring that the drain and incision areas are dried carefully.
Medications
If you experience a lot of discomfort when your activity starts to increase, try taking pain medications one hour before the activity. Take all the prescribed medication before your pain becomes severe. However, if your pain doesn’t get relieved by medications, consult your gynaecologist right away. Meanwhile, some pain medication may result in constipation. So, to prevent constipation while reducing your pain, drink more fluids, include more high-fibre foods in your diet, and take a stool softener, laxative, or milk of magnesia daily.
Menopause Symptoms
If you have not already gone through menopause naturally and your ovaries are also removed while undergoing hysterectomy, in this situation, your body goes through surgical menopause. As a result, you will no longer menstruate and experience menopause symptoms, such as
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Skin thinning
Because of the loss of estrogen production from your ovaries, you will be at increased risk of getting diagnosed with bone loss, which indicates a high risk of developing a bone fracture. Not only that, you are also at increased risk of getting heart disease, which affects all post-menopausal women.
To ease the surgical menopause symptoms and to lower your risk of developing osteoporosis, your doctor may recommend hormone therapy.
Emotional Well-Being
Women who may have undergone a hysterectomy (whether their ovaries were removed or not) are at a higher risk of developing depression than any other women. And that is not enough; some women may also get disturbed due to their loss of fertility. Thus, if you are experiencing depression symptoms and getting sad most days without exactly knowing why, or if you are losing interest in activities that you once enjoyed, be sure to consult with your doctor.
The-Bottom-Line
Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which your uterus is removed. After surgery, you cannot become pregnant and no longer menstruate. Reasons for this surgery may include abnormal bleeding, fibroids, and uterine prolapse. And the recovery time generally lasts four to six weeks, depending on the type of surgery you are undergoing. However, the treatment success rates also depend on the doctor whom you are consulting.
One can consult Dr. Chaitali Mahajan Trivedi, the best gynaecologist in Mumbai at Nanavati Superspeciality Hospital. She holds 20+ years of experience in performing hymenoplasty, labiaplasty, mentoplasty, genital rejuvenation treatments, sexology, and fertility-enhancing treatments along with hysterectomy. To start your treatment, consult her by visiting Nanavati Superspeciality Hospital today!
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