Commonly Asked Questions
I'm happy to answer any questions anyone wants to pop me in an email (fibroidlizzie -at- yahoo.com).
Here are some things Cindy asked in the comments area. I figure for every person that emails me or leaves a comment, there must be others wondering the same thing.
The recovery time for your incision or scar seems to be a long time. And you state that the swelling and tenderness still seems to bother you at times even up till this month. I was wondering if this is normal? It just floors me to think that even after 6 or 8 weeks you are still to have problems.
I don't really consider them problems. First of all, I heal very slowly. I don't know why, but my husband and I can go out hiking and get scratched up and his will heal over in a few days and mine will still be there weeks later. So the slow healing of the incision area for me is probably not typical.
Also, I keloid. I think some of my discomfort at the moment is the incision area creating a scar. I've noticed more a white fiberous line in the center that is spreading. There's not much I can do about this, but it does itch a bit. If I weren't keeping a diary specifically on this subject, I'd never mention it.
As for the infection - again, if it's my body rejecting a stitch, that's probably an immune response that's atypical. I mention it because it's what's going on with me, so that other women like me will be able to see someone else's experience, but it's not something everyone will experience.
Also did you read anywhere about possible problems with your pelvic floor or bowel problems because the support is no longer there from the uterus? Also are you still suppose to have a period after your uterus is removed? So many questions I hope I am not over whelming you. But it sounds like you are doing great.
No, you're not supposed to menstruate after you have your uterus removed. Studies have shown that 5-10% of women who retain their cervix and one or both ovaries will have cyclical bleeding. But, it really doesn't bother me. I know it bothers some women, but I just think it makes me feel normal.
If you keep your ovaries you should still have hormonal cycles. You'll ovulate (the egg is just reabsorbed from wherever it lands in the uterus), you'll get PMS and you might have some symptoms that you used to associate with your period.
As for my pelvic floor support, I'm having no issues at all with that. My bladder is behaving perfectly normally, my cervix is in the right position, etc. In fact, fibroids are probably bad for the pelvic floor - they're heavy and press on things. Also, I think genetics may help out here. Some women have great pelvic floor muscles and ligaments. My sister had a TAH about six years ago and has not had any prolapse issues. Neither did my grandmother who had a SAH/BSO.
Remember that though most women are cleared for normal activity at 6 to 8 weeks, you're not fully healed internally for 6 months to a year. There's a lot going on inside of use, stitches dissolving, tissues knitting together and blood supplies being restored. I've been getting the swelly belly because my body has not restored all the little blood vessels in my abdomen to cart off the fluids that seem to gather there.
Think about it like you broke your arm. The cast comes off, but that doesn't mean that it's healed completely. Just healed enough for the restriction of the cast to be gone.
Some women make the mistake of thinking that the swelly belly is fat and needs to be exercised away. It's really the worst thing you can do for it. It irritates the tissues and keeps the body from concentrating on healing. You wouldn't exercise on a swelled ankle thinking that it'll heal faster, it's the same way with abdominal surgery.
A support site like hystersisters helps to give you a much more accurate picture of what happens after a hysterectomy, short term and long term. Doctors really aren't aware, because they only see their patients when they're brave enough to call back with a problem.
Let's face it, my complaints are small. And mostly of my own doing by not allowing myself the time to recover properly. Some was forced on my, and some I forced on myself. I went back to work too soon, I took on too many activities too early and then I had to travel for a funeral at 12 weeks (a red eye and carry my own luggage).
Everyone else - feel free to add your questions.
Posted by Elizabeth M. on March 18, 2005 10:54 AM
