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How is everyone else doing 6 months on?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Sally_66
Sally_66

hi there had my TAH back in November and I'm curious to know how most people are. I'm back into exercising regularly and much less fatigued but occasionally I get the odd twinge and I think it is taking me longer to get up to my usual rates in power walking and swimming. I guess this is  normal and people tell me it can take a year to feel fully fully recovered. How about you guys?

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • JayT563
    JayT563 Sally_66

    Posted

    Hi Sally,

    Well I have no experience with TAH, but major many major surgeries  do take around a yr to recover fully.  Not to go off topic, but showing you an example. I had sugery on my ankle/fibula with an addition of a plate and screws for life and I was back to 98% around 15mths.  I say 98% because certain things I do effect my leg and foot now and always will. 

    Now are you trying to figure out how long recovery will be so you can get back to excerising how you were prior to this or just the recovery it self because of the twinges and weird feelings there?    

  • elsbeth23
    elsbeth23 Sally_66

    Posted

    hi sally. im due to have hysterectomy. and same age as you.wondered if there is any difficulty walking up and downstairs .thanks elspeth
    • kathrynjs
      kathrynjs elsbeth23

      Posted

      Hi Elsbeth

      I read your question and I had a TAH 4 months ago and as we have a two storey home I walked up and down stairs from the 4th day when I arrived home from hospital. It was very slow going and I only attempted them once a day for the first few weeks. Hope all goes well for you.

      Kathryn

    • elsbeth23
      elsbeth23 kathrynjs

      Posted

      hi kathryn.mine will be a TAB as well. i have move into another flat as mine is awful. but just realised i have n o help at home but loo and bedroom upstairs.so not sure how this will work.hope things are going well for you kathryn,was TAB easier or worse than you thought it would be.elspeth
    • kathrynjs
      kathrynjs elsbeth23

      Posted

      I'd be lying if I said it was a breeze. Probably more frustrating than anything. Having to manoeuvre in and out of bed and the lounge chair posed the biggest issues. My physio said push and never pull to move about. Is there anyone that can stay with you for the first couple of weeks at least? I couldn't have coped on my own.
    • elsbeth23
      elsbeth23 kathrynjs

      Posted

      did you have a lot of help at home kathryn.whatwith tryin to move organising bills packing. little sleep little soley. Cause of organising that really totally exausted not havin time t eat. .were you in relativley good health bofore op. elspeth
    • kathrynjs
      kathrynjs elsbeth23

      Posted

      Yes, my husband took 3 weeks Carer's leave. After that my parents came to stay and cared for me for the next 2 weeks. I was very fortunate to have everyone's help. Considering you are not to lift anything or hang out washing etc for 6 weeks post op, I think it would be very difficult without assistance. I wasn't really that fit before my op. I was having a lot of problems associated with fibroids and previous surgery that I wasn't sleeping well and hadn't been for months before my my operation. I feel for you having to cope with a move and surgery. You must be a very strong woman. x
    • elsbeth23
      elsbeth23 kathrynjs

      Posted

      hi kathryn, pleased you had a lot ofhelp the first few weeks. have lost the flat. at least i got my money back. also i had to get a supplement from the hospital because my weight is so low just over 7stone.they said it would help see me through the operation but there was mix up and i ended up with no supplement and no op. my gp came round he is tryin to sort it all out.ihope they sort another date fastcan you do alot more or are you still findin things tough or is it just certain things now ivehadhardly any sleep. for weeks.the same ayou before your op.elsbeth x i feel like a zombie!
    • VauxhallGirl
      VauxhallGirl elsbeth23

      Posted

      The hospital is supposed to be satisfied that you will be able to do stairs as soon as you get home. I was only shuffling down the hospital corridor when they sent me home, but I did try the stairs, and was surprised how little pain it caused me. If you haven't got a handrail or bannister it might not be so easy...I sort of used the strength in my arms to take some of the strain.

       

  • kathrynjs
    kathrynjs Sally_66

    Posted

    Hi Sally

    I am 4 months post TAH. I have really only started my daily walks a few days ago. I have been doing pelvic floor exercises since about week 8. Just wondering if at any time when you started exercising more did you feel different downstairs (almost like something is stuck or maybe just an awareness that something feels different)? I mentioned it to my GP as I am fearful of a prolapse and she said it's unlikely. She did however say that everything will still be moving around and settling into a new position and this will take about 6 months to really settle. Would be great to hear your experiences with this, given you are at the six month mark. Many thanks.

    Kathryn

    • Sally_66
      Sally_66 kathrynjs

      Posted

      Hi there. I tried to do short walks in the early days and gradually built up to normal tasks like walking round the supermarket but very very gradually. I went back to teaching on a phased return at 13 weeks and found it very tough. It was only during the Easter holidays I really seemed to turn a corner and since then started the daily power walks and swims. I built up my swimming gradually: 10 lengths and a rest x 4. Then 20 lengths x2 and now I do 40 continuously but I have built that and my walking up over 7 weeks. Though my stamina has improved I have noticed that all my muscles need toning. I keep meaning to do Pilates but I am battling big time constraints too. Had to climb over a fence the other day and that was a bit of a struggle. Guess I started pulling on muscles I hadn't really used. I'm supposed to be rock climbing, abseiling and canoeing with my class next week - bit apprehensive to be honest. I have had that "something down there feeling" a few times but it has never lasted. i have kept up my pelvic floor exercises but do think I need help with my core and balance - that just isn't what it used to be before fibroid problems. 
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