New here and just had a hysterectomy

Body: 

Hi!
I just had a transvaginal hysterectomy and while I didn't find this website until recently, I am still interested in all of the healthy lifestyle changes I can make. Does anyone have any suggestions on where I should start?
Thanks,
Annette

Hi Rabbit Hunter and welcome. We are glad you are here. All women who have been taught incorrect posture throughout their adolescent and adult lives, need to return to natural posture for the sake of their hips, spine and pelvic organs…..and overall health. The sooner this happens, the more lumbar curvature you can restore. I suspect this is the case for the post-hysterectomy woman more than anyone else – that the sooner you start this work, the better your results can be. You are now missing the “hub of the wheel”, and the round ligaments to help you keep your remaining organs forward, so there is a bit more of a challenge there. But we have members who are doing just that and making a successful go of it. Because frankly, there is nothing else to be done at this point – not for any of us! No other solutions out there. So you want to do whatever possible to avoid the other organs prolapsing into the space, while at the same time helping to minimize the skeletal changes that can occur over time after hysterectomy. So keep reading, and ask your questions here – this is a great community and we do touch on virtually every aspect of good health. Lots of great discussion. - Surviving

I did buy the book and some tapes and I am anxious to get started. I am only 6 weeks out and I still have stitches inside. My doc has advised no sex for at least another 2 weeks and no heavy lifting for at least 3 weeks. I go back to work in 2 weeks and I just want to be as healthy as I can be.

I'd avoid the heavy lifting for longer than that if you can. And figure out the posture first - once you have the basics, you can start to do things in a way that won't exert undue pressure on the organs. It's a process! Good luck! - Surviving

She said to wait until I am 3 months out before lifting heavy.

Hi Rabbit hunter,
I've just been here a few weeks myself so I can't give you much advice. But I notice the doc tells you no lifting for three weeks. From what I have learnt from this WW site I would not lift anything heavy ever. My doc suggested surgery for front anterior prolapse. I saw another doc who said I should'nt have surgery. I don't know what stage pop I have . I have been walking and sitting in WW posture for last few weeks. About a year ago I got the achy pressure when I would be walking for about an hour, I got this every single time I went to the shops. I would feel great then suddenly the achy feeling came back. I checked again a few days ago and my pop has definately moved back a bit. Went to supermarket yesterday , walking around for a while waiting on the ache to start. Couldn't believe it , I was in the shops for two hours and abs no pressure or aches. Used to have to come home and lie down to ease the terrible feeling I would get. lift nothing at all that is heavy. I bend from the waist keeping lumber curve, so I must be doing something right. I have learned so much in only a few weeks that I just feel great. I don't know if it will stay like this but I feel it will if I take care what I am doing. I am taking no chances by lifting anything so I think you should be careful about lifting stuff too.

I agree with willhealmyself about no heavy lifting ever. It's been 6 mo for me, and I was told after surgery not to lift anything heavier than 15 lbs. Well I didn't lift anything period because I didn't feel very secure lifting something that heavy after surgery. so now I'm still playing it safe, even though I was told that I could return to all my normal activities. I don't want to tear those stitches loose at the top of the vagina. I want to make sure they are completely healed. So please be careful. Coping

Forgot to add that I probably would have listened to my Drs. had I not acquired knowledge about heavy lifting from Whole Woman. After about a month I had my first follow up, and was told that the inside stitches hadn't healed yet, and I was told not to lift anything more than 20 lbs for a month. Well heck! there's no way that I would have even attempted to lift that much especially with the stitches not being healed. What are these people thinking?