If you do not know what hysterectomy is, let me introduce this concept to you.
It is the removal of the uterus.
I struggled with an enlarged uterus for many years that resulted in heavy bleeding and painful treatment procedures. I had a very painful time, until I finally gave up on it. Previously my doctor has advised me to try birth control pills, a Mirena IUD, acupuncture and a painful endometrial ablation.
Needless to say everything proved too fruitless, until I had no option but to (gladly) remove the uterus. I had multiple discussions with my doctor, and there were several second and third opinions on the procedures that were available and would fit me the best. I finally went for a laparoscopy surgery, by one of the best laparoscopic surgeons in Peshawar, and here is what I learnt regarding my recovery as well as treatment options.
There are two kinds of hysterectomies
1) An abdominal surgery just like that of a C-section. This kind of surgery comes with an exact procedure of C section where there is a big incision and the doctor takes out the uterus instead of a baby. It’s a major surgery that requires a couple of days at the hospital and also has a lengthy recovery period of time.
2) Laparoscopic surgery that involves multiple small incisions performed through a robot. The healing period is less and overall less painful.
My doctor was quite helpful and despite different odds I went for laparoscopic surgery. I was initially told that due to the side of my enlarged uterus going for laparoscopic surgery can be tricky, but after multiple consultations I was confident that laparoscopic surgery was the answer for me. Now after full recovery I can proudly call myself as pro-choice and pro-second opinion.
The Recovery Period
Recovery period was crucial for me. So while searching for the right information, I read everything; from a woman who ran a marathon after a week of surgery to a woman who wished she had taken 6 weeks off from her job. While some stories made me feel very scared, others came across as quite comforting. My doctor has estimated my recovery time to be between two to three weeks.
To my surprise my journey was more on the recovery end. It took me less than a week to feel completely normal. My friends who stopped by at the start of the surgery, actually wondered if I had a big surgery or not. I was pleased with my outcome, but again only if I would have known.
So here are my suggestions if you are also going to undergo the surgery procedure
Pre-surgery
Take everything comfortable that you are going to wear during your surgery. Such as big leggings, a loose camisole and some extra pair of loose shirts. You need to make sure that you are fully comfortable before proceeding with the procedure.
Once you know about your surgery, you need to work on your strength and by that I mean working on your core muscle for strength gaining. I had been conscious about my abdominal muscle and have been already working out for it. Once I realized how I would be headed for the surgery I took it upon me to increase my strength. Of course I discussed it with my doctor and she affirmed to me that having strong muscles can help boost my recovery.
Make sure you are lifting anything heavy. If you lift anything heavier than 10 to 20 pounds prior to your surgery, you can damage your muscles. This can backfire in your situation and can make you more vulnerable to poor muscle strength.
After-Surgery
Opioids can cause constipation. My hospital staff, Rahim Medical centre and hospital, already warned me about this condition. You have to have this uncomfortable conversation with your doctor and steer clear away from anything that causes constipation in the first place. Here is what I used to help with my situation:
- I was prescribed a stool-softener by the hospital.
- Steer away from anything that will cause gas in your system, not only will it be painful but also cause problems to your digestive system.
- Use a laxative or prune juice to help with your condition.
Be aware that pain medicines can have a bunch of other side-effects such as nausea, headaches, dizzy spells, lucid dreaming (yes even that happened), loss of appetite and blurry vision for the first couple of days.
Drinking a lot of water should be your best friend. I discovered that it pretty much helped with everything.
The Bottom Line
My experience with laparoscopic surgery went much better than if I had gone for a regular procedure. Not only did I recover faster, I was easily more motile during my healing period. Make sure you ask the right questions and have a pen-mind towards this procedure.
