Relationship, Health and Money

I’ve been brutally honest with you all about my after hysterectomy surgery experience.  While it was one of the best choices I could make for myself, it has also become one of those tough things considering the side effects that are common.  If anyone has had children or multiple surgeries with a catheter, you know that light bladder leakage is a real issue no matter what your age.  So, as part of a program for Poise through the Mom It Forward Blogger Network, I am going to share with you tips for coping with after hysterectomy light bladder leakage issues.

Coping With After Hysterectomy Light Bladder Leakage

Stay well hydrated.  You may be thinking this sounds ridiculous since you are trying to avoid light bladder leakage, but in fact, it helps tremendously.  From my own personal experience, when I am dehydrated, I tend to feel more pressure to urinate.  Then, I am not able to much, and it ends up being even more frustrating.  Staying hydrated will help you to evacuate and flush your kidneys and bladder easier, so you are less likely to feel that uncomfortable pressure between bathroom breaks. This is, of course, just my own personal experience.

Don’t wait too long between potty breaks.  The hardest thing for me now is holding it when I have to wait between potty breaks.  Even though I do Kegels regularly, multiple surgeries and shifting in my lower abdomen after hysterectomy mean I just can’t hold it as long as I use to be able to.  Having light bladder leakage issues, I know I need to plan for more bathroom breaks.  This means as soon as I feel the need to urinate, I had to the bathroom.  It also means that when we travel or happen to be out and about, I make sure to plan for bathroom breaks.

Wear protective pantyliner.  I don’t go a day without my Poise Thin-Shape Light Absorbency Pads.  These are perfect for daily wear since they are thin and comfortable.  They don’t feel like a diaper, but they protect my underwear and pants or shorts from leakage.  I know that despite what I do, there will be times I am going to leak a bit.  Especially, if I cough, sneeze, or laugh a bit too hard.  I don’t want to feel self-conscious all the time.  Poise is my backup plan and a great way to continue my daily life without fear.

I love that these pads, in particular, are super thin, comfortable to wear with any panties, and absorbent enough for those little leaks that occur when I laugh a bit too hard, or even decide to go for a jog to catch my son while he plays at the park.  No matter where I go and what I do, these are ideal for tucking into my purse.  If you haven’t tried them yet, visit www.Poise.com to learn more and grab a free sample!

Don’t be ashamed.  There is so much stigma with light bladder leakage.  It has long been a problem know to those who are obese or older, but young women tend to be ashamed to admit they have a little leakage.  The truth is, a little here and there is really common.  There is no need to be ashamed.  Yes, you can talk to your doctor if it is a sudden change or even a gradual change that is worsening. In fact, I suggest you do just that – be open and honest with your doctor about this issue.  In some cases, there may be a treatment to help.  In others, you’ll be told that wearing a Poise Thin-Shape Light Absorbency Pads is a great choice.  The big thing to remember is to stop hiding your problem.  Don’t be ashamed.  Buy the products that help you function easily, and then speak to your doctor about treatment options as needed.

Light bladder leakage is a problem for many women of all ages after hysterectomy surgery.  If you are like me and dealing with hysterectomy recovery, don’t be ashamed to also wear a Poise product to stay clean, fresh, and comfortable no matter how close you are to a bathroom.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Depend. The opinions and text are all mine.

#AD This is sponsored content written by me in partnership with Depend® brand. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It has been a long time coming, but I am finally ready to share some tips for Coping with Long Term Hysterectomy Side Effects. It’s been almost three years since I underwent a total laparoscopic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Those fancy words just say they took my ovaries, uterus, and cervix using a minimally invasive procedure. Over these three years, I have definitely learned a lot about my body, and being an advocate. When Depend® came to me to do a sponsored post, I knew that once again it was time to bare my soul and share my experiences after hysterectomy with you.

Coping with Long Term Hysterectomy Side Effects

As I mentioned, this is a sponsored post on behalf of Depend and their FIT-FLEX® line of products. While I am writing to share some information from them, this post is really about my own experiences.

There are tons of things that people ask me every day in regards to how my body changed after having a hysterectomy. Sharing these experiences is one of the things I love most about being a blogger. Daily I receive comments on prior blog posts or emails asking about how I cope with different things in regards to hysterectomy side effects. It’s time I dive into this full force to help those of my sisters out there also going through this process.

Types of Hysterectomy you may have had

• Partial hysterectomy: removal of the uterus but leaves the cervix intact. Typically done with an open abdominal incision and more invasive.
• Standard hysterectomy: removal of both the uterus and cervix
• Total hysterectomy: removal of the uterus, cervix, and one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes

Accept that no two people have the same experience

Some things that I am asked on a regular basis, are things I have yet to experience. Other things, I am the queen of understanding because I too have gone through them. When it comes to a hysterectomy – no two people have identical experiences. I can give you advice about what I experienced, but that doesn’t mean that you too will go through those struggles.

My long term hysterectomy side effects:

• Fast extreme weight gain within the first 6 months. I gained over 50 pounds in a short time immediately after hysterectomy.
• Inability to tolerate hormone replacement therapy.
• Hot flashes and overall “temperature” struggles
• Faster body hair growth due to more testosterone

Other common hysterectomy side effects I did NOT experience:

• Insomnia or sleep struggles
• Physical intimacy difficulties or discomfort due to dryness
• Skin changes – more oily or drier than before
• Thinning hair or Greying hair
• Mood swings or emotional struggles
• Feeling like less of a woman without those body parts

Additionally, for me, there were struggles that happened after my hysterectomy that contributed to two of my struggles. Both my weight gain and the temperature struggles I had also had something to do with me having a thyroid disorder and diabetes that was not diagnosed until over a year post-hysterectomy.

Prepare yourself for minor inconveniences

I shared a few years ago about post hysterectomy struggles, but long term there are more things you may have to consider. Coping with these is a case by case situation. They are not something that everyone struggles with after a hysterectomy, and many are short-term.

• Physical discomfort post surgery due to incisions, anesthesia, surgical procedures, and a hospital stay
• Urinary incontinence due to having a catheter placed during surgery, as well as physical difficulty getting up and down fast enough for the bathroom. Some also have incontinence post surgery due to the shifting of their bladder after uterus removal. Pelvic floor weakness is a common struggle for those who have had a hysterectomy or other pelvic region surgery.
• Hemorrhoids and difficulty with bowel movements due to anesthesia immediately after surgery, and/or use of pain medications. This can also continue as your body adjusts to different hormone levels.
• Bloating and “swelly belly” post surgery as your body adjusts and goes back to normal. This is a traumatic surgery to undergo, and it takes considerable time for your body to fully heal.
• Dehydration is a common struggle as you adjust to your body changes. It may feel like the more you drink the more you have to go to the bathroom, but it is because your body is learning to process fluids the right way. Don’t get dehydrated. Ever. It’s just not worth the frustration.

Don’t let anyone tell you to “just deal with it”

One of the best things I did before I had my hysterectomy was to prepare for some of these inconveniences. I remember my husband laughing at the time when I purchased Depend products, but after the surgery, they saved me from some embarrassing situations on a number of occasions. During the healing process, as well as now when I exercise, my pelvic floor just isn’t as strong as it used to be. That results in leakage sometimes that I really don’t want to have turned into a full-blown accident. Depend FIT-FLEX Underwear has the fastest absorbing material inside that kept me dry and comfortable regardless of the situation or location. This was a must with the underwear like slip-on option for bladder leakage with my busy lifestyle.

Others told me this was normal and to expect it. The thing is, incontinence is not a normal part of life for a 34-36-year-old woman. No matter what surgery I may have had. I needed to be heard and to figure out what the reason behind this ongoing issue was, so it could be fixed. While thankful for the Depend FIT-FLEX products that allowed me to feel clean and safe anywhere, I knew it wasn’t a normal thing I should be experiencing. That leads me to my next point.

Become an advocate for your health

Only you can truly know how your body feels. There are so many things out there that you can feel or struggle with that are overlooked because your doctor or nurse doesn’t know what it feels like to be inside your body. Learn to become your greatest advocate. In my case, I had a wonderful doctor who I loved, but I just felt that he was overlooking the unreasonable weight gain. “Once you lose weight this will get better” was not the answer I needed.

I sought out other physicians, and after trial and error a few times, I found a doctor who is amazing and truly listens. She looked at me as an individual with physical struggles, not as an obese woman with side effects. After some appropriate lab work was completed, we found out I had further thyroid struggles than initially diagnosed, and also that I was diabetic. Her listening ear and my decision to advocate until I was heard meant I could get on track. The right medications meant my thyroid started working, and my blood sugar was in control. As a result, the weight started coming off slowly, and many side effects disappeared completely.

If you are a caregiver, become an advocate for your patient

Whether you are a caregiver of someone who is bedridden, or just the one helping out after a friend or spouse has a hysterectomy, you too must be an advocate for your patient. That sometimes looks like making phone calls until a doctor gets back to you with test results. Other times it is making your patient more comfortable going through daily life as they heal.

That’s why I love the Depend brand, and especially the FIT-FLEX product line. Knowing that I personally can fit into their undergarments without struggles helped me make it to the gym to workout without fear of having an accident. If your patient is ill but still wants an active lifestyle as much as possible, then FIT-FLEX gives them the comfort option of an underwear-like product that protects from unitary incontinence embarrassment. Their line of products has a much larger variety of sizes to fit the needs of your unique patients! To receive a free Depend Caregiver Toolkit, please visit -. For more information, follow Depend on Depend.com and Facebook.

Thank you Healthy Choice for sponsoring this post. Visit your local retailer to pick up your own Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamer or Original Cafe Steamer meal today!

If you’ve been following my progress on our Facebook page about my journey toward having a hysterectomy and the after hysterectomy care involved, you know the last two weeks have been pretty tough.  While I am recovering well, it’s definitely something that requires a lot of downtime and healing.  Since part of my doctor’s orders included not cooking, I knew I needed some healthy meal options for after hysterectomy surgery.

It’s really important when you have any kind of surgery to make sure you are eating and drinking as directed when you take medications.  Since I was prescribed some pretty heavy duty pain medications, I was told I would need a good snack or meal with each tablet to prevent nausea.  I tend to have issues with pain medications making me sick to my stomach, so I was definitely going to focus on eating before I took my medications.  However, I was also told not to cook since I needed to be off my feet.  Instead of giving in to take out for every meal, I decided to focus on a few healthy options instead.

Healthy Meal Options For After Hysterectomy

As you plan for a hysterectomy, you’ll find out there are a lot of restrictions that make it tough to do just the regular daily tasks like fixing lunch or dinner.  That’s why these healthy meal options are so perfect!  Some things to consider when choosing healthy meal options are below.

Frozen meals with healthy and hearty options.  Being able to have a frozen meal like the Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers that does not require a lot of preparation to have on hand is ideal for anyone having surgery. Not only does it save you time prior to your surgery when the preparation is so time-consuming, but it is going to take you only minutes to prepare when needed post surgery. With Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers, you have chicken, beef, pork, and even amazing vegetarian options that are healthy, hearty and easy to prepare even if you have restrictions like I did post surgery.  100 percent natural protein sources with no artificial ingredients make me feel good about this being a healthy meal option after hysterectomy.

Portion controlled options. One of the biggest things I struggle with after surgery is not having much of an appetite.  While I knew I needed to eat enough to keep from being sick with my medications, I also didn’t feel like having a really heavy or large meal.  Smaller portions in frozen Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers meals are ideal for this.  Not only do you know you aren’t going to have tons of leftovers to deal with, but you’ll also know it is enough to satisfy your hunger and fill your tummy before time for antibiotics or pain medications.  For me, this was a necessity.

Variety of flavors.  There is something about being stuck at home for a few days that makes me crave all of the things I’m not allowed to get up and cook easily.  Take out is so expensive and often unhealthy, but having frozen entrees on hand in a variety of flavors is the perfect solution.  Especially if you are on a budget like I was.  For around $3.29 each, I could have a different special lunch every day for less than takeout would have been.  You can easily grab the Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Chicken Margherita with Balsamic like I enjoyed regularly, or the Chicken Fried Rice if you prefer.  This helps you manage lunches while your family is away at work or school, and gives you just what you need to make eating easier after a tough surgery.

Nutrient dense vegetables. One of my favorite things about the Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers is how many of them include a lot of vegetables.  When your body is healing, you really need that nutrition to help keep your immune system strong.  I especially loved the stir fry options since they featured so many great vegetables that fueled my body.

If you are planning to have a hysterectomy in the near future, make sure to have some healthy meal options on hand.  You’ll need help making meals for a few weeks, so these handy and convenient options you simply heat in the microwave are ideal.  They are easy and safe for you to get out of the freezer by yourself, and of course, are satisfying when you need something to taste great.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Many of you know that I am approaching surgery next week, so sharing these items for after hysterectomy should come as no surprise.  However, you may not know that I have contracted to share a sponsored post with you about Depends Silhouette Active Fit Briefs.  Why is this significant with this post?  Because I never thought I could honestly share a reason to buy them until now.  In fact, they are one of the first things on my must haves list and I am actually happy to share reasons why.

At 33 years old I never imagined I would have a hysterectomy and be looking at menopause.  However, life and illness have a way of taking some things end up being the best possible choice for your health.  I didn’t think I would have major back surgery at 32, but I did and am much healthier and happier because of it.  One thing I learned fast, though, after my back surgery, was how important incontinence protection is.  Bladder leakage was no longer something that happened only when you are older.  Post-surgery last year I was faced with a whole new level of struggles when it came not wetting my pants.

Why?  Because post-surgery your body goes through a lot of changes.  If you had a catheter during surgery, your ability to hold in urine can be much less.  Your body is also a lot slower and in a lot more pain than normal.  So, as you think you need to use the bathroom, it may take you two to three times the amount of time than normal to get up and make it to the bathroom.  What happens when you wait a little too long?  You end up with some bladder leakage.  That is why I can say with certainty that having something on hand to protect you post-surgery is seriously a necessity. This year, I won’t be caught off guard.  I already have my Depends Silhouette Active Fit Briefs packed and ready.

Must Have Items For After Hysterectomy Surgery

Incontinence Protection:  I’ve already shared some of the reasons for this, but I’ll share again.  Post surgery you will likely not only find holding urine in a bit more difficult as the muscles and post-catheter strength of your pelvic floor won’t be as they were before.  You’ll also be moving a lot slower for a few days, so getting to the bathroom on time could be a real issue.  The reason the Depends Silhouette Active Fit Briefs are a good choice is because they are low-rise and won’t rub against incisions around your navel like other undergarments and products would.  It’s also really cool that this brand, in particular, is working hard to remove the stigma of light bladder leakage with their #Underwareness movement. Nobody should be embarrassed by physical symptoms beyond their control.

Plenty of liquids to stay hydrated:  Water is the best, but things like cranberry juice are also recommended.  Even though you will be pumped full of fluids during surgery, the pain medications and antibiotics you may be given post-surgery can really zap your body.  You’ll need even more fluids to keep you body hydrated.  Bottled water is convenient and easy to have extra near your bedside.  Cranberry juice a few times a day is a great way to ward of UTI’s, but make sure you are drinking pure and not the sugar-laden varieties.

Your favorite snacks for medication times.  Pain medications will be a must for at least a few days post-surgery and if you are like me, they can make you really nauseated if you don’t eat with them.  Since you may need them between meals at times, it’s important to have easy to eat snacks on hand.  I prefer apples, bananas, cereal bars or peanut butter and fruit.  In fact, last year post-surgery I kept a bottle of water, banana and cereal bar on my bedside table at all times so if I woke up in the middle of the night needing medication I could just grab a snack, the medication and water right there without waking my Beau.

Something to occupy your mind during recovery.  For at least a few days after hysterectomy, you will need to lay still and rest.  You will likely sleep a lot the first day or two, but after that, you’ll still need to rest but may be awake and bored.  There are a lot of great things to occupy your time.  Television and movies are always options, as are card games with your kids, reading a book (I chose one about menopause) and adult coloring books or magazines.  If you like to knit or crochet, this could be a great time to do that as well.

Stool softeners for at least a week or two post-surgery.  After hysterectomy, you’ll find a lot of everyday tasks won’t be as simple as they use to be. Remember that even if you have this done laparoscopically, it is still a very invasive surgery.  That means your pelvic muscles will be sore, as well as the fact that you will have some internal and potentially external stitches to protect.  Straining for a bowel movement can not only be painful, but could cause tears or rips that would lead to infection or potentially additional surgery for repair.  Stool softeners (Colace) once or twice a day are one of the best ways to make your bowel movements post-surgery easy to manage.

Pillow for your tummy.  I didn’t need this with my back surgery, but I have been warned by many friends who have had the same surgery I am having that this is super helpful after hysterectomy.  A pillow to hold against your tummy when you cough, sneeze, or even have to ride in the car can protect incisions and help you brace those muscles to minimize the pain.  I love my travel neck pillow since it is small, convenient and fits easily between my stomach and the seat belt in our car.

Post-surgery meals and household help.  You will be ordered to not drive for a few days post-surgery, but most doctors will also tell you that you don’t need to be up and down, lifting or preparing meals or doing housework for a few weeks.  Prepare in advance with some freezer meals, or ask someone to be there to help you after hysterectomy surgery.  If your spouse has any paid time off, you will want them there at least for the first few days.  After that, depending on the age of your children and whether you had a traditional abdominal hysterectomy or laparoscopic surgery you may still need help at home.  You may be okay at home alone for awhile, but if you need to pick up kids or prepare meals you will need help or to have as much prepped in advance as possible.

These are what I feel are the must-haves for after hysterectomy surgery.  I am sure I will find out a few of the things as I recover next month from my own surgery.  One thing I know for sure is that I won’t be worried about incontinence protection when I have the sleek and comfortable Depends Silhouette Active Fit Briefs on hand.

Right now, Depend is bringing #Underwareness to everyone.  Nobody should feel ashamed of light bladder leakage.  Especially when this is a physical symptom beyond their control.  For every picture or video shared on social media using #Underwareness and featuring Depend products the brand will donate $1 up to $3,000,000.  This campaign will raise money to be donated to charities that advance research and education regarding bladder leakage.  To support the cause and get a free sample of Depend Silhouette Active Fit you just need to follow the link to Underwareness.com

Well, I have made it past the dreaded post-op after hysterectomy, and I am here now to share some of my tips with you for how to survive the first days, weeks, and months after this life changing surgery. Whether you chose this, or a health concerned forced this upon you, a hysterectomy is nothing to laugh about.  This is indeed, one of the most invasive surgeries your body will heal from.  Do not, I repeat, do NOT take this lightly. Now, let me dive into some of my experiences and tips for you.

Tips For The First Days After Hysterectomy

This post contains affiliate links.

Let me start by telling you, my situation is rare for most younger women.  I am only 33 as I write this, and I have just had a complete hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy.  In layman’s terms, that means I had not just my uterus removed, but also both of my ovaries, tubes, and my cervix.  I literally had all of my reproductive organs removed from my body.  This is a common surgery, but rare for someone without existing cancer.  I plan to share more about my reasons for this procedure soon but want to give those looking for tips a good look at what I experienced in the first few days after hysterectomy.

Get help for at least the first 1-2 days.  Not only will you need a ride home from the hospital after surgery, you will need someone at home with you at least for a few days.  It is better if you have someone to help for a week or two, but that isn’t always possible.

My gynecologist did my surgery at 7am and I was home by 2pm that day. That is actually pretty normal with LAVH (laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy).  However, it is not uncommon or a bad thing for your doctor to have you stay in the hospital for 1-2 days post surgery for observation.  If they offer and it is paid for, take them up on it.  Having nothing to do but sleep and watching tv really is amazing.  Your body needs to rest after a traumatic surgery, plus you are at risk o

Having nothing to do but sleep and watch tv really is amazing.  Your body needs to rest after a traumatic surgery, plus you are at risk of ripping sutures and incisions if you do too much too soon.  In fact, almost every surgeon or gynecologist will tell you that you are to do not much more than get up to use the bathroom, showers, and getting a drink for at least two weeks post surgery.  While it may seem like you feel great right away, I have read too many horror stories to test the theory. Stay in bed. Rest.  I didn’t, and by day 10, I was wishing that I had.  After hysterectomy, your body has a lot of internal healing to do.  Just because the scars on the outside don’t look bad, doesn’t mean you don’t have a lot going on inside your body.

Expect to sleep. A lot.  Anesthesia can linger in your body for multiple days.  It can also cause many individuals to have side effects like nausea and dizziness for a few days post surgery. One of the biggest things you will notice for at least the first week, is that you feel the need to nap a lot more often.  This is because of lingering effects of anesthesia, pain medication, and simply because your body has to heal from the inside out. Your body needs rest.  Sleep helps you heal.  It is not weakness to need naps for easily 8-12 weeks post hysterectomy.  This is a major change.  It’s not a simple surgery.  Even though you can be in out of the OR in under an hour, your body will take months to years to adjust.  If you feel tired, listen to your body.  Get comfortable and sleep.

Your body needs rest.  Sleep helps you heal.  It is not weakness to need naps for easily 8-12 weeks post hysterectomy.  This is a major change.  It’s not a simple surgery.  Even though you can be in out of the OR in under an hour, your body will take months to years to adjust.  If you feel tired, listen to your body.  Get comfortable and sleep.

If you aren’t sleepy, you will still need to rest.  Keeping some books, magazines, favorite movies, and games on your phone handy can be relaxing while your body heals.

Stay hydrated.  During surgery, you will be given IV fluids.  You may feel like you are water logged on the first day of or after surgery.  In fact, it is rather common to need to urinate frequently on the day of surgery.  However, between lingering effects of anesthesia and any pain medication you take after leaving the hospital, your body is much more likely to become dehydrated.

Another common concern post surgery like this is having a UTI occur.  Due to irritation caused in some women by the use of a catheter during surgery, it can easily lead to a urinary tract infection.  Sleeping, not feeling like eating or drinking, and even occasional vomiting due to the medications post-surgery can lead to your body being dehydrated.  Dehydration is a quick way to end up back in the hospital, or at the least to deal with a frustrating UTI that causes a fever and painful urination.

I find that drinking bottled water works best since our water isn’t great.  You can easily use a water filter, or a fruit infusion water bottle to give it some flavor.  If you can’t get any more water in, consider things like sipping warm tea, bone broth, or even occasionally fruit juices.  You want to avoid sugar as much as possible during the healing process, so soft drinks should be avoided and juices limited.

I lived on green tea for a few days.  You can find a great teapot set and invest in your favorite herbal teas instead of coffee.  This helped me to stay hydrated and helped with constipation mentioned below.

Don’t skip stool softeners.  If there is one thing you don’t want after hysterectomy surgery, it is to be constipated.  This is especially of concern when you have your cervix removed and the doctor creates a vaginal cuff.  Any extra pressure in that region can create tears or cause sutures to come out before your body is ready.  This could easily lead to additional surgery or even things like bladder or bowel prolapse.  When I say this is a serious thing, I mean that 100%.  You do not want to strain at all to have a bowel movement.

Stool softeners (Colace) are recommended and may even be prescribed by your doctor post-surgery.  Taking these 2-3 times a day for at least the first week or two is highly recommended.  The other suggestions that I was given and found useful are below.

• Smooth Move Tea
• Hot Tea with Lemon
• Coffee
• High fiber diet
• Fiber supplements

If you are extremely constipated post-surgery, your doctor may recommend using something like a laxative suppository, enema, or even a bottle of magnesium citrate to get your bowels moving safely.

Talk to your doctor about alternative pain medications.  I was prescribed Percocet after hysterectomy surgery.  This was extremely strong pain medication that I really didn’t need after the first few days.  I was told that using ibuprofen was fine.  Some individuals will be told that acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a safer choice if there are potential bleeding disorders.

Other ways to help relieve pain can be using a heating pad, wearing a belly binder (only if suggested by your doctor), changing positions regularly, and even holding a pillow across your abdomen for mild pressure.  Make sure to be careful if using a heating pad since your skin will be numb in the incision areas.  Always use a towel or cloth between your body and the heating pad for safety. Never fall asleep with a heating pad on (unsupervised).

Another consideration is that a lot of women have more pain from the gas left in your abdomen post-surgery than the incisions themselves.  Keep Gas-X on hand and do as much light walking as you can tolerate to help break up the gas bubbles and relieve the pain.  This can last for 3-5 days post-surgery, so having that on hand right away is a smart move.

Expect the hormones to be crazy.  I had my ovaries removed which put me into immediate surgical menopause.  I know that my emotional hormonal craziness of the first few weeks and months is not typical for everyone.  That said, even if your ovaries are left intact, anything that involves changing or removing your reproductive organs can change your hormone levels.  Illness and even your body recovering from surgery can.  Do not discount your emotions and hormonal fluctuations.  Expect them to be a bit out of whack for a few weeks to the first month if you kept your ovaries.

If you, like me, are in surgical menopause, there are other tips I will share later that are more directly related to hormone replacement and options that help.  If you are not in menopause but still feel like your hormones are really out of whack after 4-6 weeks, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor to do some lab work and double check when you go in for your post-op check at 6-8 weeks.

You may also find that the loss of your uterus can bring about a different depression.  For many women, this is a connection to their children or even the children they wished they could have had.  It can create a lot of emotions.  This is perfectly normal. That said, medical treatment for depression is highly recommended.  Counseling, medications, and evaluation are necessary to make sure you are safe and able to heal both physically and emotionally. In the meantime, talk to your loved ones about this and ask for them to be patient and helpful when you find yourself unable to control your emotions after hysterectomy surgery.

Eat a healthier diet.  Post surgery can be very frustrating if you don’t have much help at home.  Planning ahead for your recovery period is really important for your ability to heal.  This includes planning a healthier diet for after hysterectomy surgery.  Your body really needs healthy foods to help you heal.  That means you don’t need to be indulging in a ton of junk food, sugary treats, or fast food.  These things will only slow down the progress of healing.

Plan ahead with menu plans for healthy foods, freezer meals and Crockpot meals, and healthy snacks. The week before my surgery, we went grocery shopping and stocked up on things like carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, and celery that I like to dip in low-fat red pepper hummus.  We also had some low-fat string cheese, bone broth, juice, fresh fruit (cantaloupe, pineapple, watermelon, and grapes) on hand for snacking and staying hydrated.  For easy meals, we had chicken, frozen vegetables, and a few easy to heat soup recipes like our Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls Soup and Beef Vegetable Noodle Soup in the freezer.  I am lucky that my Beau cooks a lot and didn’t mind taking care of meal time for the first month after surgery.

If you won’t have help at home, make sure to do as much preparing as possible. Find some easy to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that are nutritious.  Even things like oatmeal, granola, fresh fruit, and yogurt can be good choices.  Sandwiches with lots of lean meat and vegetables are easy to make, and if all else fails, you can grab some healthier frozen meal options.

Wear comfortable clothing.  Your body will go through a lot of changes.  You’ll be bloated and uncomfortable for several weeks.  Don’t expect to get comfortably back into your favorite jeans right away.  Wear leggings, yoga pants or skirts that are not binding on your abdomen.  With incisions from traditional surgery or even laparoscopic surgery, you’ll want to avoid anything that rubs against them too much.

As I continue through the recovery process, I will continue sharing my thoughts and experiences with you for after hysterectomy.  I know this is a lengthy post, but I am sure that in the first days after your surgery, you will be glad for some first-hand experience.

More Health Tips:

• What To Pack For A Hospital Stay Post Surgery
• Healthy Meal Options For After Hysterectomy
• Setting Realistic Weight Loss Goal