Recovery advice please

I did absolutely nothing for the first 10 days post-surgery as per surgeon's instructions.  For the next two days, I walked around the house for as long as I wasn't uncomfortable.  At day 12, I went outside for the first time, went up my laneway which is a hill (about 100 feet straight up!) and came back down.  The next day, I got up the laneway and to my next door neighbour - 200 feet away and back.  By the end of 3 weeks, I was walking a little further each day - always remembering I had to get back.  My surgeon told me that walking - even slowly around the house - strengthened all your muscles and helped in recovery.  I had the usual constipation, leaking and fatigue I think most (but not all people) get post surgery.  I also had a blood clot from the bladder resection which they did at the same time as the hysterectomy and anterior and posterior repairs.  That too is gone and I have been totally fine.  I was not allowed to lift anything over 10 lbs for 6 weeks and followed that rule to the letter.  And no housework or even cooking - just walking.  It helped my morale to be moving and I don't know if it helped in my recovery but my surgery was July 3rd and other than that scare with the blood clot, I have been totally fine since then. I have gone back to my normal diet and level of activity - which is heavy.  I am 71 years old.  I returned to my desk job after 4 weeks with no lifting or heavy work.  I do valet parking which involves walking but that was no problem.  Also different for me here in Canada, I was told NOT to do Kegel or pelvic floor exercises for 6 weeks as this could aggravate any possible problems.  At the 6 weeks check-up, I was told to start doing the Kegel exercises at least 5 times a day but never while voiding.  I was told not to try to stop and start peeing until at least six months.  And no pelvic floor exercises in my case.  Total healing will take one year.  I think we are all different though and I would check with my surgeon.  But if you were told to walk by your surgeon, I would encourage you to do so.

All to say, you asked for advice to help in your recovery.  This seems to be very different from country to country but 12 days is very early days anywhere in the world and I am just passing on the instructions given to me which certainly didn't seem to do any harm.

Hope this helps.  Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Nickie