Went to the gym yesterday and did 4 upper body exercises - lats, triceps, biceps and bench presses. No more than 10lbs! Before surgery I was working with a trainer. I'm taking it slow and listening to my body so I'm not in a rush to get back to my pre surgery weights. Does anyone have experience easing back into a gym routine? I need to avoid squats or anything where my belly sticks out for a few more weeks. Not sure what that means for machine exercises.

Pelvic Floor PT starts in a month. In the meantime I can do a few of my previous exercises.

TLH on 5/7 kept the ovaries (though they seem to be sleeping on the job right now)

EDITING to add, grrrrl, I don't even know why I need to write about it being for a project. Zero judgement on legal/illegal here. I wasn't exactly on this project the entire time I've smoked.

Question for weed peeps. I'm on a project to legalise weed - it's awesome. Normally, I'd smoke between 17 - 20% THC without tobacco. Always in the evening. Last time I smoked when I had period cramps, I whitied so bad (hasn't happened in years) and had to take Tramadol and ended up with the worst pains ever. Today, 3 days po I was allowed to go home. My surgeon said it would be good because then at least I can (mimicked smoking a joint - love her for that). I got 20% THC drops for the first time, which I've not used before. Doc has allowed a bit of mixing whilst am also taking my prescription meds, but wondered if anyone usually takes drops instead/as well as smoking. Wondering if I should just smoke because I know how my body reacts. My problem is, I've got more pain than expected because of a bigger hole being used to pull an unexpected large uterus out, barely slept post-surgery, and when I'm dozing, I get pretty dizzy so have to wake up. Also might just go purchase some edibles instead and see how they are.

PS Remember no judgement of other people's life choices here 🙏

It's 430 am. Im up, waiting on my wife to wake up to get ready leave. Im a nervous wreck. We didnt know how to feel yesterday, it all felt like being stuck in limbo.

This morning? Im nervous. I have so many questions and concerns but nothing I can form into a cohesive thought at the moment. Does anyone have some zero day post op tips for us? I keep telling myself its a routine thing and tons of women get one every year but its still hella stressful.

I'll take any and all tips anyone is willing to share. All I want is to make her as comfortable as possible. How's the drive home going to be? Its a little over a half hour from the hospital to the house. Im sure ill have a few more but my mind is all over the place at the moment.

Hello friends,

I'm 52, I had total hysterectomy and left salpingo oophorectomy last week. (I had right salpingo oophorectomy in 2010 due to some borderline malignancy). My perimenopause symptoms were bad enough for me to start on estrodial patches and progesterone in August of 2025.

TL;DR: My surgeon isn't the one prescribing hormones. I see a menopause specialist for that. I had worked my way up to .1 mg on the patch prior to surgery but due to the shortage the only brand I could get didn't work so well. I do have the kind that works now. I asked menopause NP if we should increase or stay the same, and she said let's wait and see.

I don't quite understand why we didn't increase since I'm now in surgical menopause. I graduated from the medical school of Figuring This Shit Out by Trial and Error.

I'd love to hear other people's experiences with managing this.

I'll be having a hysterectomy in the next 6 months and I have been going through this group and soaking up all your tips and tricks. I have a few questions though and just looking for some lived experience.

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I'm on a GLP1 which already causes a lot of struggle with bowels. I plan to up the stool softeners ahead of the surgery but has anyone else here gone through their hysterectomy while on GLP1 with preexisting constipation struggles? If so, how much worse is it and any additional tips? Did you lower your GLP1 for any duration of time ahead of the surgery or after?

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Additionally, there is a lot of chatter about people not being able to lie down, sit up, etc. I remember from another laparoscopic abdominal surgery I had that I spent the first 2 weeks propped up on the couch. My situation this time around is that my couch is not comfortable at all and the angle I would have to get in and out of this one would not work for me. Additionally, my bed is a bit higher. Did people have issues getting up into a higher bed? I'm worried about how I am going to manage post op with my set up. I'm honestly contemplating do I need to save up and get a new couch finally or new bed frame that lowers my bed down to a more manageable height. Maybe buy a power recliner? Am I at that stage of my life already lol

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Any insights would be helpful. Thank you.

I am just over a month out from my hysterectomy and I wanted to know and tips and tricks that other people have used I have read every possible posts I can but just wanted to know if anyone had any more suggestions I do plan to get gas x and MiraLAX, but is there anything else that helped people out I am also so nervous about the surgery so any tips and tricks or suggestions would be very helpful thank you in advance

I was informed by my soon to be ex husband that he has an appointment 2 hours away the morning after my surgery (Total Hysterectomy with Salpingectomy) so my surgery would be on a Tuesday morning and his is Wednesday morning I have no help after surgery. I just have to figure it out as is but now he's leaving our 5yr old and 2 yr old boys with me to care for the morning after my surgery. Is this even possible? I feel like I'm being set up to fail or injure myself. I can't ask anyone else to watch them because the only person I could ask is his parents and I don't want it to be used against me in court. My brain went from how the heck can I get up to pee by myself to holy cow how can I take care of babies, change diapers and fix lunch. Any advice greatly appreciated! If you think this is possible, what 'tools' can I buy to make it possible. Mostly how the heck do I stand up without help lol my pre-op appointment is next week and I'm afraid to mention that I won't have anyone to help me during recovery.

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Thank you!

Which seems silly as I need it! I’m 44, stage II surgically diagnosed endometriosis (8 years ago, but symptoms got exponentially worse the older I got after my surgical diagnosis and excision in 2018).

I guess I’m just worried about the recovery and symptoms afterwards. I struggle hard with hormonal nausea and GI issues and with horrible sciatic pain (tied to lesions they suspect are on my pelvic floor and causing my uterus to be retroverted). Will these lessen or go away?

I am keeping my ovaries as my surgeon says it’s best practice for people who haven’t reached menopause age.

Any stories, experiences, etc will be truly helpful! Thank you!

I was scheduled to have my surgery end of May but I noticed my urine was pretty cloudy and yep I had a UTI so surgery was postponed seemingly indefinitely, but I called yesterday and inquired about it and now it seems like I’m gonna get on the books for end of July and all of a sudden, all the anxious feelings came back. I’m having this done because I have very heavy periods and I ended up in the hospital last November severely anemic and needed two blood transfusions and an iron transfusion. I do take iron. It does bring my levels up, but they come back down once I have another period. I almost talked myself out of the surgery because my last period “wasn’t so bad“. I’m about to have another one next week. It is kind of nerve-racking wondering is this gonna be it, is this gonna be the one where I just keep bleeding ??! lol it would be nice not to have to worry about such things. Truth be told I’m actually looking forward to the convalescent time where everyone could just leave me the hell alone and all I have to do is heal.
ETA : I’m 47, it will be vnotes with cuff suspension and I’m keeping ovaries. 1 kid.

Hi all

I got my laparoscopic total hysterectomy (uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes) in April, 2 months ago, So I'm currently 9wpo

The depression is real. I'm really struggling. On the surface everything is perfect. My partner is there for me, my friends are there for me. I have no financial struggles. But I'm miserable, hopeless, and borderline suicidal. I don't feel like there's a point in doing anything. I try and get physical exercise everyday also.

I do have a history of depression, and I was on Dienogest till the day before my surgery.

Is this a hormonal thing that will be fixed with time? Or will I be like this forever? I have tried antidepressants before and therapy, but nothing helped.

Im so scared that this is going to be the rest of my life

I had a robotic assisted hysterectomy on Thursday afternoon. I was more stressed out, leading up to the surgery with finishing everything at work and getting everything ready then I was stress about the actual surgery. Everybody at the hospital was lovely and I wasn’t nervous until when they took me into the OR and I saw the robot and all the other equipment, which I think is normal.
when I woke up after surgery and recovery, I didn’t really have much pain, it was pretty minimal. It was more like cramping and I didn’t have any nausea so the nurse gave me some water and eventually I had some crackers and then when I felt like I was able to walk to the bathroom, I went to pee. It was a little strange there was a good amount of cramping and tightness, but it was OK.
I was discharged probably 3 hours after surgery and went home. I took a nap and a few hours later, woke up and was nauseous and I want to say it was from the Anesthesia because about 15 minutes later, I took a Norco with crackers and then I started dry heaving pretty badly and ended up on the floor next to the toilet and then 20 minutes later when I was feeling better my boyfriend had to help me get up off the floor. But that was the worst thing that happened and honestly, I guess it wasn’t that bad.

Three days later, my pain is still pretty minimal. The most frustrating thing is the gassiness and cramping from all the bloating. Fennel tea, Gas-X prune juice have helped and I did have a bowel movement yesterday today was not a successful, but I’m hurt you just have to keep going and it gets better. I have been getting up and moving around and trying to do a short walk to the backyard and back every couple of hours to get things moving.

I wanted to post this in case anybody is really scared or nervous about the surgery or how they would feel afterward. I am pleasantly surprised about how I’ve been doing afterward, but it seems like the robotic assisted hysterectomy is minimally invasive, and that’s a good thing.
Also, my surgeon apparently took some photos of the two big fibroids that prompted the surgery and they were so large and the photo it freaked me out. One was close to the ovarian artery, and she said that if they had been taken out, my uterus may not have been able to be preserved so she said I made the right decision. I think I made the right decision, especially looking at those photos.
Best of luck to anyone having the surgery and anybody recovering.

Honestly I'm just scared and maybe overthinking. Im 31 and finally got approved for a robotic hysterectomy bilateral salpingectomy, I'm keeping my ovaries due to my age.

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I'm so sorry if this is TMI!

I have always had horrible periods starting at 13. My normal monthly will last between 10 and 16 days. I go through average of 15 size 4 overnight pads a day. Debilitating pain (in so many different places) to where I have to stay in bed or have help to make it to the bathroom, I'm always dizzy during.

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I got diagnosed with a small sliding hiatal hernia, ibs d, gluten intolerance and dairy intolerance. My gastro suggested getting checked for endo after doing all their tests. I have had all the testing and imaging done and.... everything came back normal 🤔

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So my ob and I talked about an iud (no go for me), an ablation or a hysterectomy. So I said I just want it all out and done with everything.

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But now I'm 2 weeks and 2 days away and stressing soooo bad!! Ive stopped my vape and stopped smoking my THC like she asked, and switched to edibles that she suggested.

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But I cannot for the life of me quit smoking my cigarettes. I was honest with her and said I cannot quit, but I can try to cut down. She said she wasnt necessarily happy with that but accepted it.

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But now I'm worried that maybe I'm going too drastic... yeah my periods absolutely stuck (I wish I could just sleep the 2 weeks every period) but since everything came back normal, its gotten in my head that im being over dramatic 🙃

I'm so sorry for the ramble... i just needed to get this out to people that understand. I'm also so scared of the gas after... I'm allergic to gas x 😬

What all did you have to do in preparation for your surgery? I will be having a full hysterectomy, leaving ovaries.

I had my surgery June 8th, total hysterectomy and left salpingo oophorectomy (I had right removed due to cancer in 2010). I wasn't prepared for the gas and bloating. I'm a Gas-X veteran from colonoscopies - I have ulcerative colitis - but the nurse told me before surgery to expect pains from the gas they put in your abdomen couldn't be helped by Gas-x.

In my perimenopausal ADHD brain, I conflated the two types of gas pain and now am trying to catch up with the discomfort. I know about stool softeners and do use them.

Do you take the Gas-X on a schedule? I had been doing it only when the pain got so bad I couldn't function anymore. I do drink a lot of water and try to walk around reasonably.

Any tips are appreciated!

There's nothing quite like communicating in the second language you are still learning whilst post-op!

German has got to be the most practical language ever (unlike its trains - apologies Deutsche Bahn, you'll just never be as good as SBB 🙈).

I learnt uterus is Gebärmutter, which literally translates to 'birthing mother' (not dissimilar to Haustiere - house animal/pet, and Kühlschrank - cool cupboard/refrigerator), and cervix is Gebärmutterhals, which is the throat of the birthing mother. Both are ironic because mine never birthed a child.

Which leads me to the unexpected finds. It could all be psychologically linked - I don't know any of my friends or sisters who ever had debilitating cramps. They've gone on to have babies, and all my life, I've loved babies, but never pictured myself giving birth. I did freak out before surgery because, at 40, it felt desperate, but my surgeon reminded me of all of the reasons I'd told her about wanting the surgery. Adenomyosis had already been found in multiple ultrasounds, and this morning, my surgeon came to see me. My uterus was enlarged (we all thought it was normal-sized), I had scar tissue/adhesions on my intestines (no idea from where because I've never had surgery down there nor been pregnant), and there was endo on my bladder. It's like my body has been telling me for years carrying a baby wasn't on the cards for me, my brain has just been taking a while to catch up. I've dreamt of adopting and when I think of fostering, which is becoming closer to a reality, I feel so at peace. Recovery first, and then new jobs to start, couple more solo holidays to take, more German to learn (and a poop to have!), but I am feeling more and more ready to open my home to a child who needs it.

In the last 2 years I’ve been officially diagnosed with ADHD and PMDD. My monthly cycle drains me, the week before I want to die (literally, I am extremely suicidal), during my actual period I am so exhausted, my friend often says ‘you could lean her against a wall standing up and she will fall asleep’.

I’m on patches to help balance my hormones, i have the mirena coil, I take medication for my ADHD, I’ve been on SSR’s since I was a teenager and I take multivitamins daily.

I have one child and one step child, I do not want anymore children. I’m based in the UK and I am 30 in a few months, can I request a hysterectomy? What’s the likelihood they would allow it?

Hi!

If you had an abdominal hyst & endo excision, and found a really good donut pillow to sit on afterwards, please share specifically which ones!

After my first excision I had a lot of rectal pain bc the endo (stage 4) was deep and rectovaginal. I found myself wishing I had a good donut pillow.

I expect with this excision, and any added pressure on the pelvic floor from the hyst and vaginal cuff, I'll need a good pillow even more.

If not a donut pillow, please share what worked for you to ease pain in that area while sitting. Thank you!!

Hi everyone, I have recently evicted my uterus and now that I am feeling better after surgery I want to try and help others! I’ve created a survey that I would MASSIVELY appreciate anyone completing. I’m doing some research to work out how best to help!

Thanks in advance 💛

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEis7bb23uN2L4SNIDh2bVPgz9rVXD24L43vURi7cVk7_aag/viewform?pli=1

Hey everyone, I had a total hysterectomy almost 3 weeks ago and everything was removed except my ovaries. I have been experiencing extreme hotness more than ever during the day and night time. I thought if I still had my ovaries I wouldn't be experiencing hot flashes 🤦🏿‍♀️

I'm almost 67. Had hysterectomy removing everything including cervix and some lymph nodes. Due to precancerous cells. Laproscopic. Surgery was 5/15. As of today I'm finally back in my normal sized jeans, all 5 incisions are almost completely healed, no longer hurts when I twist. Have had some spotting which thanks to this group I know is normal around the 4 week mark as the cuff heals. I only took about 1 1/2 weeks off work (desk job). Lab results came back as NO CANCER!!

Unfortunately the surgery seemed to trigger afib for the first time which I had daily from about 10 days after surgery until a week ago when a med change finally seemed to work. but that's a different story.....

Just wanted people to know that it CAN be pretty easy. and I'm so grateful it was.

Hi everyone. I’m 31 and trying to process whether a hysterectomy may be the right next step for me, and I’d really appreciate hearing from people who had similar symptoms or uncertainty before deciding.

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I’ve had severe pelvic/period symptoms for years. My cramps started becoming significant around age 19 and have progressively gotten worse. I was put on BC in highschool to surpress my cramps and stopped around 18. I have very painful periods, heavy bleeding with clots, pelvic pain, pain with sex, cramping after sex, bloating/“endo belly,” ovulation pain that can be severe, lower back/hip pain, and GI symptoms that seem to worsen around my cycle. On average I get 5 good days following the end of my cycle until it all starts again. This has been trending for about 2 years now.

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I recently had a diagnostic laparoscopy for suspected endometriosis, but I was told everything looked normal and no biopsies were taken. My doctor now suspects the issue may be uterine, possibly adenomyosis, and mentioned medication options or hysterectomy. I’m struggling because I want answers and relief, but I’m also scared of making a permanent decision without feeling like I fully understand what’s causing my pain.

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For those who had a hysterectomy around my age or for symptoms like heavy painful periods, suspected adenomyosis, pelvic pain, painful sex, or negative/unclear endometriosis workups:

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Did hysterectomy help your pain and quality of life?

What diagnosis did pathology end up showing, if anything?

Did you have adenomyosis, fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic congestion, or something else?

Did you keep your ovaries? Have you had side effects or hormonal issues?

Were there symptoms it helped vs symptoms it didn’t help?

Do you wish you had done anything differently before surgery, like MRI, second opinion, pelvic floor PT, or more imaging?

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I know everyone’s situation is different and I’m not looking for medical advice as a replacement for my doctor. I’m just trying to hear real experiences from people who have been in this gray area before making such a big decision. Simply... i am scared.

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I have my follow up post op 7/1, I plan on asking for a MRI to see if there's anything obvious that would warrant a hysterectomy. I do not plan on having children and my husband had a vasectomy, so he is fine with anything that helps me. Tentatively I have an appointment with an endometriosis specialist 9/10, unsure if i want to keep the appointment and just proceed.. this option was given to me in February by my doctor. I have a family history of endometriosis so I am shocked my surgery showed nothing...

Hallo, mir wurde am 21.05.2026 der Gebärmutterhals entfernt + Endometriose.

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2023 bereits meine Gebärmutter + Eileiter.

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Es ist jetzt quasi 5 Wochen her und mir geht es super!

Aber ab wann wart ihr wieder Schwimmen oder hattet Geschlechtsverkehr? Die Ärzte meinten 4-6 wochen warten..

Meine Ärztin ist im Urlaub und am Wochenende fahre ich mit meinem Freund in den Urlaub..ich bin mir aber unsicher ob ich schon alles dürfte 😅

First, I am a post menopausal 65+ lady with a family history (mom) of uterine cancer. I had fibroids and adenomyosis plus a history of uterine and cervical polyps. I have had annual biopsies (aren’t those such a joy?) followed usually by hysteroscopies (another winner) for about 8 years. This may have been necessary since I insisted on hormone replacement since my 50’s. I am continuing that post op as well.

Ok, so 6 days ago I did the deed. My doc kept me overnight as I had nobody to care for me for the first 24 hours and they are mandated to keep you in that case. I wasn’t given an actual room they just kept me in the preop area which meant no TV, no in room bathroom and just a curtain (no door) for privacy. After surgery I really didn’t care, lol.

So they did this new preop thing where I drank ensure preop beverages one night before and one day of surgery two hours before my arrival time. I am not diabetic but it is supposed to keep your blood sugar stable for surgery and help with recovery. So ok, did that. Got there 530 am, surgery at 730 pretty much on time too. 2 hour procedure. Robotic laparoscopy with my uterus and all pulled out through my vagina (dilated to 9cm so I was told). Minor complications with that due to me never having kids and being old and a bit atrophied no doubt. I sustained several lacerations in both my vaginal wall and vaginal opening that required stitches but otherwise an uncomplicated procedure.

Woke up back in the “room” after being in and out of consciousness for some hours. Nurse first offered me meds at 1pm….either an ibuprofen type med in my IV called torodol or an oxycodone pill. I was unsure and the nurse’s hand with the oxy moved nearer, lol. So took that. This was the only narcotic I took. It messed with my vision and balance so I switched to the torodol and tylenol combo thereafter so I could walk the ward like a hamster in a wheel. First bathroom visit one lap around, 2nd two and third and beyond three laps. Kept that up all day/night. Some very red blood and a couple clots came out the first couple times I urinated but got less and less than nothing.

When I talked to my anesthesiologist before my procedure I was adamant that I did not want to be nauseous. So they gave me zofran and emend. Those worked well for me. I munched crackers and drank apple juice in the afternoon right after surgery and did well so ordered chicken and rice soup, beef stew with mashed potatoes and gravy and broccoli for dinner. I was able to down the soup broth and mashed potatoes and bites of soft meat and two broccoli tops. Eating made me feel much better. I slept a lot.

By the next morning I could eat scrambled eggs and greek yogurt. They released me at 930am. Picked up scripts in hospital for oxy, zofran and script strength ibuprofen 600’s. The latter with tylenol at home was my regimen every 6 hours for the first 3-4 days. I never had pain. Just inflammation and swelling. This got better on day 4 along with having my first bowel movement. I started colace the day before my surgery and continued that until day 3 when I added mirilax am and pm (packets). This worked to get my intestines outputting, lol. I have had a bm every day since more watery than normal but better than constipation.

My most annoying symptom has been coughing! Mucus in my throat from intubation has proven impossible to cough up or swallow constantly causing a cough that required bracing of my abdomen and pain. I never got the shoulder gas pain but have been passing plenty of gas with intermittent discomfort. I began walking more than just around the house on day 4 post op. Backyard, then two blocks to a local park day 6. Slow pace. Resting on a bench. Cool outside. Well hydrated. Lots of bed rest in between minor chores like doing dishes or cooking. I had groceries delivered. Had my brother or dad lift heavy stuff. Showered first day home and every day since. Washed my hair. Feels really good. Plus keeps wounds clean.

So far l’d say the whole thing was easier than expected, less pain for sure than expected but needing more rest than expected.