Is it possible to overdo pelvic floor exercises?

Have you had a prolapse repair as well Lauday?

No matron said I didn't need it just hysterectomy. Nurse said we shoild ask doctor tomorrow x

Post op care for a hysterectomy is different to a prolapse repair so the information for pelvic floor exercises could well be different. A hysterectomy is not classed as major surgery and recovery is much quicker.

I had hysterectomy and prolapse repair.  Everything I've been told by doctors, other women, and reputable websites says abdominal hysterectomy is painful with a long recovery time and is major surgery.  You really surprise me saying hysterectomy is not major surgery.  Can you please clarify this.

I found this on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website about hysterectomies

"A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. Hysterectomies are performed for a wide variety of reasons. A hysterectomy is major surgery, but with new technological advances, the discomfort, risk of infection and recovery time has all been decreased."

"Robotic-Assisted Radical Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy usually takes 1-3 hours under general anesthesia. You will be hospitalized for at least one night so your physicians can monitor your healing progress. Most patients return to normal daily activities within one week. Your physician will give you detailed instructions so your recovery is unremarkable."

It seems as though the way they are done now, the recovery is a lot shorter and presumably easier than before.  That said, the way docs underestimate the recovery for pelvic floor surgery maybe 1 week is a bit optimistic.  I wonder how ladies who have had both compare them.

that said, I think when a woman who had a hysterectomy can do kegels seems about as relevant as when a woman who had a gall bladder removed can do kegels.  Those are not surgeries on your pelvic floor.

It's quite rare for a hysterectomy to be performed the old way through a large abdominal incision, it's done either vaginally or more common laparoscopically. Therefore it isn't classed as major surgery anymore. I don't think we should be discussing hysterectomy on this forum because there is a separate forum dedicated to hysterectomy. The discussion got sidetracked when Lauday started to post about her hysterectomy.

You you are correct DorryC but I smiled when I read about the Robotic Assisted Hysterectomy because it takes so long but it's definitely a procedure being talked about in the UK.

Oh, oops!  I just grabbed that one because it listed specific recovery times.

What are the recovery times given in the UK for they way a hysterectomy is usually done?

No you are about right for recovery times. A hysterectomy performed laparoscopically is sometimes done as a day case in some areas but usually it's an overnight stay. They say a woman can return to work after 2 weeks. Vaginally it's an overnight stay and recovery about 4 weeks. Oophorectomy is sometimes performed at the same time. An abdominal hysterectomy is performed if a woman has had previous abdominal operations and they are concerned about adhesions or if the surgeon wants to take a proper look if say malignancy is a possibility or has been diagnosed.

Just just to add moira I had an abdominal hysterectomy in 1990 and it wasn't particularly painful and nothing in comparison to prolapse surgery which I found very painful.

We're all different in what we find painful, aren't we.  My prolapse surgery hasn't been particularly painful but most women I've spoken to who have had an abdominal incision have had a lot of pain.

Yes I agree but I was just comparing two different (major) surgeries. I had a rectocele and cystocele repair so I was prepared for it being more painful as I know ladies who have this surgery request more pain relief. I've also had laparoscopic surgery (gall bladder) and I didn't have any pain which is exactly what women say when they have had a hysterectomy performed that way.